Getting Started With Raspberry Pi 3 B+
Tags: raspberrypi, pi, 3, model
Published: 2021-11-16 19:28:04

Raspberry Pi 3 B+ is Raspberry Pi's newest, fastest single-board computer. It comes with a 900 MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU along with 1 GB of LPDDR2 SDRAM. Running Kodi Media Center for Kodi 16.0
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/p1obee0a099akh1hgzxf.png)
The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ is the latest in the line of small, single-board computers available to the general public. Sporting a 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, this new model has 1GB of RAM and 4 USB ports (3x on one side, 1x on the other). The shape has stayed mostly identical to previous models but it now includes two 40 pin GPIO headers for connecting sensors and peripheral devices like motors or fans. The most obvious change in the Raspberry 3B+ is the addition of two new mounting holes on both sides for mounting to a case or bracket.

The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized computer designed to encourage children (and adults) to explore computer programming.
It's capable of doing everything you'd expect a desktop computer to do, from browsing the internet and playing high-definition video, to making spreadsheets, word-processing, and playing games. It also plays high-definition video at 1080p. The best part about it is that it can do all this for just $35 (less than you'd pay for an iPad).

##Raspberry Pi 3 B+ Initial Setup
The Raspberry Pi 3 delivers 1.4 times the processing speed of its predecessor using the same Broadcom BCM2837 64-bit ARMv8 quad-core processor. The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is powered by a 1.2 GHz ARMv8 64-bit quad-core CPU made by Broadcom with VideoCore IV dual-core GPU, 1 GB LPDDR2 SDRAM, and BCM43143 WiFi onboard. 

##What is the difference between Raspberry Pi B+ and Raspberry Pi 3?
The [Raspberry Pi 3B+](https://www.theengineeringprojects.com/2018/07/introduction-to-raspberry-pi-3-b-plus.html) comes with the same hardware as the previous model, but it has an additional 40 pin GPIO header on one of its sides. This is to allow for mounting your device with a bracket or case, similar to what you can do with ODROID- X2.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8medeezuapa3shb9scwu.png)
The Raspberry Pi 3 adds new features that are not currently available on the B+. This includes support for Bluetooth 5, 802.11ad WiFi support, 2.4 GHz dongle support, and faster networking options including Gigabit Ethernet and twice as fast wireless USB devices.

##Why Raspberry Pi B+?
The Raspberry Pi 3 is the best-selling single-board computer in the world! If you already have a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3, there is no need to upgrade to the new model. The only reason to get the B+ model is if you're looking for an even faster machine, or if you're looking to put your device into a case/bracket. This model also allows you to access all of the GPIO ports available on it, unlike its predecessor that only allowed access to 21 GPIO pins.

##What does "B+" mean in the product name?
When they released the Raspberry Pi 3 in November 2017, we had originally planned to call it B+ to indicate that it was the second iteration of the core technology used in the Raspberry Pi 3. However, in March 2018 they decided to make a change and renamed it simply as Raspberry Pi 3. They've now released B+, which is the same as the Raspberry Pi 3 but with some minor changes to the following:
* Added two more USB 2 ports bringing the total to 4 USB 2 ports.
* Added a new [LAN8742 ethernet chip](https://www.microchip.com/en-us/product/LAN8742) connected to the main processor via SPI. This provides twice the networking performance and uses less power than before. This is built into the PCB, rather than as a separate chip, and has all four network speeds (10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 Mbps) onboard.
* Increased RAM to 1GB.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0cuapuphg0x6sonamoe0.jpg)

##Is my Raspberry Pi 3 B+ model like my original Raspberry Pi B+?
The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ does not have any differences from its original Raspberry Pi 2 or B model that you would be able to tell with your naked eye, but the following list highlights the changes.

The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ is available in four different colors - blue, green, red, and black (sold separately). These colors are only available on the new model with no option for buying an older model with these colors. The color change also means that you cannot mix and match different components between models since colors don't match up.

##Are there any differences between B+, and B models?
B+ model has similar specifications to the B model but a 40 pin GPIO Expander Header is added on one side of the board for a more secure mounting solution. It is up to you which one you would choose based on your use case.

##Are there any differences between B+ and A+/B/2/3?
B+ model has the same architect as the previous models. Despite having a processor with Cortex-A53, B+ hods on to ARMv6 for its firmware architecture. The only advantage is that it comes with twice as many USB ports as before (4 instead of 2).

##What equipment is needed to set up a Raspberry Pi 3 Media Center?
You will need Raspberry Pi 3, SD Card, case/bracket, Keyboard, Mouse, and Monitor or TV. If you would like to use a keyboard and mouse, you will need a USB Hub to connect these. If the Raspberry Pi has Bluetooth, download and installs the package, so you can pair your keyboard and mouse.

You will also need A stable internet connection with access to the official Raspberry Pi media center website (raspbmc) or OSMC. The OSMC interface is fast and easy to use. If you are running OSMC on your computer, creating an installation USB will take less than 60 seconds!