{"id":23299,"date":"2026-01-19T15:29:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T20:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=23299"},"modified":"2026-06-22T14:42:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T18:42:16","slug":"vin157","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin157\/","title":{"rendered":"Raspberry Pi Zero"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Raspberry Pi Zero\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"raspberry-pi-zero\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Raspberry Pi Zero<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-160x160.png\" alt=\"First Ever icon\" class=\"wp-image-21940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-240x240.png 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-360x360.png 360w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>[Vin157]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Raspberry Pi Zero\" class=\"wp-image-23484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Raspberry Pi Zero holds a Guinness World Record since 2017 for the smallest fully functional personal computer, a testament to its ultra-compact design measuring just 65x30mm and weighing only 9 grams. This feature, combined with its $5 price tag upon 2015 release, made it a landmark in computing history by democratizing access to programmable hardware for education and experimentation, much like the BBC Micro or Commodore 64 did in prior eras. In a university museum context, it exemplifies the shift to pocket-sized SBCs that fueled maker movements and STEM outreach, with massive popularity evidenced by millions sold and its role in the best-selling British computer line.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Raspberry Pi Foundation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Single Board Computer (SBC)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 2015<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>:&nbsp; $20 ($5 in the USA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: ~1,000 (~1 GIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    \n    <dl class=\"cu-description cu-component-updated\">\n        \n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-hardware-specifications\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Hardware Specifications\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-hardware-specifications\">\n            \n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: Broadcom BCM2835 SoC with single-core ARM11 CPU at 1 GHz.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b<strong>Memory<\/strong>: 512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u200bPorts\/Connectivity<\/strong>: Micro USB OTG (data), Micro USB power, mini HDMI, unpopulated 40-pin GPIO header, composite video header, CSI camera connector (v1.3+).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b<strong>Storage<\/strong>: MicroSD card slot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b<strong>Power<\/strong>: 5V via micro USB, ~0.5-1.5W consumption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b<strong>Wireless<\/strong>: None (base model; added in Zero W).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b<strong>GPU<\/strong>: Broadcom VideoCore IV.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b<strong>Dimensions<\/strong>: 65 mm x 30 mm x 5 mm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b<strong>Weight<\/strong>: 9 grams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/dl>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tale-of-the-tape-raspberry-pi-zero-vs-hp9830a\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tale of the Tape: Raspberry Pi Zero vs HP9830A<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s compare the world&#8217;s first desktop from 1972 vs the world&#8217;s smallest PC from 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Spec<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>HP9830A<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Raspberry Pi Zero<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Ratio<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>MIPS<\/strong><\/td><td>0.075<\/td><td>1000<\/td><td>13,333 times faster<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Weight<\/strong><\/td><td>17kg<\/td><td>9g<\/td><td>1,888 times lighter<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Memory<\/strong><\/td><td>8 kb<\/td><td>512 MB<\/td><td>64,000x more memory<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cost<\/strong><\/td><td>$40,000<\/td><td>$20<\/td><td>2,000x less expensive<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Size<\/strong><\/td><td>65x30x5 mm<\/td><td>495x483x178 mm<\/td><td>4,364 times smaller<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Raspberry Pi Zero on top of a  HP9830A\" class=\"wp-image-23308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260119_151218469-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Raspberry Pi Zero vs HP9830A<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    \n    <dl class=\"cu-description cu-component-updated\">\n        \n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-operating-system-programming-languages\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Operating System &amp; Programming Languages \n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-operating-system-programming-languages\">\n            \n\n<p><strong>Operating System<\/strong>: Raspbian (now Raspberry Pi OS), a Debian-based Linux distribution optimised for ARM hardware,<br><strong>Supported Languages<\/strong>: Python, C\/C++, Java, Scratch, and BASIC variants<\/p>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-notables\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Notables\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-notables\">\n            \n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Guinness World Record: Since 2017, holds title for smallest functional PC at 65x30mm and 9 grams.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sold out worldwide (20,000 units) in 24 hours on Nov 26, 2015; bundled free with MagPi magazine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>$5 USD board redefined entry-level computing, cheaper than many peripherals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200bRevived 1980s &#8220;build-your-own&#8221; ethos like ZX Spectrum, amid Cambridge academics&#8217; push to fight CS enrollment drop.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ultra-low-cost ARM SBC; sparked pocket robotics\/IoT boom with GPIO focus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;The $5 Pi&#8221;; ad slogan: &#8220;100 billion MIPS per dollar!&#8221; &#8211; (actually 200 MIPS\/$)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helped Raspberry Pi become UK&#8217;s best-selling computer; museum staple for maker\/STEM democratisation.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/dl>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Andrew Miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/5bucks-pie.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/5bucks-pie-400x200.jpg\" alt=\"Raspberry Pi Zero\" class=\"wp-image-23302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/5bucks-pie-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/5bucks-pie-160x80.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/5bucks-pie-240x120.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/5bucks-pie-768x385.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/5bucks-pie-360x180.jpg 360w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/5bucks-pie.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Raspberry Pi Zero [Vin157] The Raspberry Pi Zero holds a Guinness World Record since 2017 for the smallest fully functional personal computer, a testament to its ultra-compact design measuring just 65x30mm and weighing only 9 grams. This feature, combined with its $5 price tag upon 2015 release, made it a landmark in computing history by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[124,90,123],"class_list":["post-23299","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-single-board-comp","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23299"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25117,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23299\/revisions\/25117"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=23299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}