{"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":"2026-02-11T19:26:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T00:26:44","slug":"vin157","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin157\/","title":{"rendered":"Raspberry Pi Zero"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Raspberry Pi Zero<\/h2>\n<p>[Vin157]<a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/first-place-400x400-1.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-21940 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/first-place-400x400-1-160x160.png\" alt=\"First Ever icon\" width=\"89\" height=\"89\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/first-place-400x400-1-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/first-place-400x400-1-240x240.png 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/first-place-400x400-1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/first-place-400x400-1-360x360.png 360w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/first-place-400x400-1.png 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 89px) 100vw, 89px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\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.<a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-23484\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Raspberry Pi Zero\" width=\"284\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251210_003617565-1-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 284px) 100vw, 284px\" \/><\/a><span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Raspberry Pi Foundation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Single Board Computer (SBC)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 2015<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>:\u00a0 $20 ($5 in the USA)<\/li>\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: ~1,000 (~1 GIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"slideme\"><dl class=\"slideme__list\"><dt class=\"slideme__term\"><a href=\"#slideme-hardware-specifications\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"slideme-hardware-specifications\" class=\"slideme__heading slideme__trigger\">Hardware Specifications<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"slideme__description\" id=\"slideme-hardware-specifications\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><p><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: Broadcom BCM2835 SoC with single-core ARM11 CPU at 1 GHz.<\/li>\n<li>\u200b<strong>Memory<\/strong>: 512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM.<\/li>\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<li>\u200b<strong>Storage<\/strong>: MicroSD card slot.<\/li>\n<li>\u200b<strong>Power<\/strong>: 5V via micro USB, ~0.5-1.5W consumption.<\/li>\n<li>\u200b<strong>Wireless<\/strong>: None (base model; added in Zero W).<\/li>\n<li>\u200b<strong>GPU<\/strong>: Broadcom VideoCore IV.<\/li>\n<li>\u200b<strong>Dimensions<\/strong>: 65 mm x 30 mm x 5 mm.<\/li>\n<li>\u200b<strong>Weight<\/strong>: 9 grams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/dd><dl><\/div>\n<h3>Tale of the Tape: Raspberry Pi Zero vs HP9830A<\/h3>\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<table style=\"height: 144px; width: 58.2529%; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #b5bde8; border-style: solid;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px; border-color: #dedede;\">\n<td style=\"width: 9.54487%; height: 24px;\"><strong>Spec<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.97%; height: 24px;\"><strong>HP9830A<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.1994%; height: 24px;\"><strong>Raspberry Pi Zero<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.4201%; height: 24px;\"><strong>Ratio<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 9.54487%; height: 24px;\"><strong>MIPS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.97%; height: 24px;\">0.075<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.1994%; height: 24px;\">1000<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.4201%; height: 24px;\">13,333 times faster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 9.54487%; height: 24px;\"><strong>Weight<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.97%; height: 24px;\">17kg<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.1994%; height: 24px;\">9g<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.4201%; height: 24px;\">1,888 times lighter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 9.54487%; height: 24px;\"><strong>Memory<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.97%; height: 24px;\">8 kb<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.1994%; height: 24px;\">512 MB<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.4201%; height: 24px;\">64,000x more memory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 9.54487%; height: 24px;\"><strong>Cost<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.97%; height: 24px;\">$40,000<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.1994%; height: 24px;\">$20<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.4201%; height: 24px;\">2,000x less expensive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 9.54487%; height: 24px;\"><strong>Size<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.97%; height: 24px;\">65x30x5 mm<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 15.1994%; height: 24px;\">495x483x178 mm<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 12.4201%; height: 24px;\">4,364 times smaller<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div id=\"attachment_23308\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 400px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-23308\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Raspberry Pi Zero vs HP9830A\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20260119_151218469-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raspberry Pi Zero vs HP9830A<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"slideme\"><dl class=\"slideme__list\"><dt class=\"slideme__term\"><a href=\"#slideme-operating-system-programming-languages\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"slideme-operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"slideme__heading slideme__trigger\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages <\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"slideme__description\" id=\"slideme-operating-system-programming-languages\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><p><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW136206418 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\"><strong>Operating System<\/strong>: Raspbian (now Raspberry Pi OS), a Debian-based Linux distribution optimised for ARM hardware,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"my-0\"><strong>Supported Languages<\/strong>: Python, C\/C++, Java, Scratch, and BASIC variants<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/dd><dl><\/div>\n<div class=\"slideme\"><dl class=\"slideme__list\"><dt class=\"slideme__term\"><a href=\"#slideme-notables\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"slideme-notables\" class=\"slideme__heading slideme__trigger\">Notables<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"slideme__description\" id=\"slideme-notables\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><p><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Guinness World Record: Since 2017, holds title for smallest functional PC at 65x30mm and 9 grams.<\/li>\n<li>Sold out worldwide (20,000 units) in 24 hours on Nov 26, 2015; bundled free with MagPi magazine.<\/li>\n<li>$5 USD board redefined entry-level computing, cheaper than many peripherals.<\/li>\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<li>Ultra-low-cost ARM SBC; sparked pocket robotics\/IoT boom with GPIO focus.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;The $5 Pi&#8221;; ad slogan: &#8220;100 billion MIPS per dollar!&#8221; &#8211; (actually 200 MIPS\/$)<\/li>\n<li>Helped Raspberry Pi become UK&#8217;s best-selling computer; museum staple for maker\/STEM democratisation.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/dd><dl><\/div>\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Andrew Miles<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/5bucks-pie.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-23302 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/5bucks-pie-400x200.jpg\" alt=\"Raspberry Pi Zero\" width=\"400\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/5bucks-pie-400x200.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/5bucks-pie-240x120.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/5bucks-pie-160x80.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/5bucks-pie-768x385.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/5bucks-pie-360x180.jpg 360w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/5bucks-pie.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\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":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Raspberry Pi Zero - 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