Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 launched in 32 variants for as low as $25

The all-new Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 has launched officially. A successor to the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+, the new variant comes more than a year after the Raspberry Pi 4 was introduced. According to the company, it will be offered in 32 variants and you can order one today starting at $25. The new Compute Module 4 is built on the same 64-bit quad-core BCM2711 application processor as the Raspberry Pi 4. It is said to offer faster CPU cores, better multimedia, and more interfacing capabilities compared to the previous-gen Compute Module 3+. For the first time, the company is also going to offer a choice of RAM densities and a wireless connectivity option.

The Compute Module 4 comes is said to bring in a new form factor and a compatibility break with earlier Compute Modules. Instead of the JEDEC DDR2 SODIMM mechanical standard that came with I/O signals on an edge connector, you now get I/O signals on two high-density perpendicular connectors -- one for power and low-speed interfaces, and one for high-speed interfaces. In doing so, Raspberry has managed to reduce the overall footprint of the module letting users achieve smaller form factors for their products.

Coming to specifications, the Compute Module 4 offers support for dual HDMI interfaces at up to 4K resolution, a single-lane PCI Express 2.0 interface, 28 GPIO pins, dual MIPI DSI display, and dual MIPI CSI-2 camera interfaces. It will be offered in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM, and optional 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB eMMC flash storage.

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For graphics, you get VideoCore VI, OpenGL ES 3.x, 4Kp60 hardware decoding of H.265 (HEVC) video. There is also support for 1080p60 hardware decoding and 1080p30 hardware encoding of H.264 (AVC) video. Apart from Gigabit Ethernet PHY with IEEE 1588, the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 has optional 2.4GHz + 5GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity.

Additionally, there is a new IO Board that has been launched alongside the Compute Module 4. According to the company, this will break out all the interfaces from the Compute Module to standard connectors. You get two full-size HDMI ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a MicroSD card socket, Gigabit Ethernet jack, PCI Express socket, 40-pin GPIO connector, 12V power input jack, camera and display connectors, and a real-time clock with battery backup. The IO board will cost $35.

There is also the new Compute Module 4 Antenna Kit that comes with a whip antenna, a bulkhead screw fixture, and a U.FL connector to attach to the socket on the module.