RPI 4, 2G and RPI Zero W projects

[ssfc72]

I have ordered a RPI 4, 2G board and a RPI Zero W board, plus some accessories from Buyapi.ca, today. :-)

I am interested in a couple of projects where the Pi Zero W (a very small stripped down Pi with wifi) is used with a very small audio amplifier board, to build a very small, Internet radio receiver.
Another Pi Zero project is to use the PI Zero to build a very small, very low power FM transmitter.

The  RPI 4 is to replace the RPi 3B that died, on me. There are also nice projects that make use of the RPi 4, as well. :-)

[fox]

I'll be looking forward to your reports on the rPi4!

[ssfc72]

From what I have read, in comments about the RPi 4, is that it runs quite hot.  If the RPi 4 is doing any moderate to heavy computing then you need to provide the CPU with active cooling.  Either a very large, heavy heatsink or better, a very good fan or fan/heatsink.  Any enclosure, would of course, need to be well ventilated.

[ssfc72]

My RPi 4 and RPI Zero W and accessories arrived in the mail today. :-)

[Jason]

My RPi 4 and RPI Zero W and accessories arrived in the mail today. :-)

Sweet! Did you get it with a big heatsink or fan as Fox suggested? I noticed the Raspberry Pi 3 ran hot, too. In the summer, it'd show the thermometer whenever I was doing much of anything on it. But when I put it near my personal desk fan, I noticed that disappeared. So, I had a cooler, and didn't know it!

[ssfc72]

Yes, I got the heatsink package that has a large rectangle heatsink to cover the 2 adjacent chips and there are 2 small fans that mount on it.

[fox]

What case did you buy? Could you post the names/brands of everything you bought for your rPi4?

[ssfc72]

I didn't buy a case, yet, because it looked like the one's  they had, did not have any ventilation slots to let the heat escape the enclosure. I will search elsewhere for a better case.
Here is a snapshot of what I ordered.  Note, I bought the 2G RPi 4, because I thought the extra $30 for an additional 2G of memory was a bit excessive, for a 4G RPi 4.
They had a better, slightly higher price fan system with a small circuit board to better control the fan but I didn't want to  block access to the header pins, that this circuit board may have resulted in.

[Jason]

Is the mini-HDMI to HDMI for the Rpi Zero?

[ssfc72]

Yes, the adapter is to use with the RPi Zero.

[Jason]

Be sure to let us know what you do with the devices, particularly the Zero. I'm interested in what it's capable of. At one point, they were giving them away with a UK Linux magazine. How much did it cost you?

[ssfc72]

The RPi Zero W was $21.  I had to also pay shipping but I was ordering the other items, as well, so it basically didn't cost anything for shipping.

[Jason]

Decent price. Who would have imagined even 10 years ago that we could get a mini computer for under $50?

[fox]

We never did find out what you used the RPi 4 for. I had forgotten that you bought the 2gb model. Did that turn out to be too limiting for your use? As you know, I am again considering buying a 4 to replace my 3B, but I still don't know whether it's worth an extra $30 to buy the 8 gb model. I would buy a 4 gb at minimum.

Also, what are you using the zero for?

[ssfc72]

I haven't used my RPi 4 yet, because I bought it to replace the Pi 3b that died. Since then I was able to get the Pi 3b working again, so there was no pressing need to start using the RPi 4.  Now however, the Pi 3b has died again, so I will now have to setup the RPi 4 as an internet radio.

My very first post in this message Forum, also mentions why I bought a Pi Zero with wifi ( to also turn it into an internet radio). :-)