Abstract created by Good Solutions AI
In abstract:
- PCWorld showcases 10 sensible Raspberry Pi initiatives that rework the versatile mini-computer into helpful residence gadgets like sensible TVs, music gamers, and funds PCs.
- These beginner-friendly initiatives embody creating community storage techniques, Wi-Fi vary extenders, and residential theater PCs, with some appropriate with the inexpensive Raspberry Pi Zero.
- The Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 fashions provide vital efficiency enhancements for duties like net searching and media streaming, although rising part prices are growing machine costs.
The Raspberry Pi single-board laptop and all its variants have captured the imaginations of DIY lovers and budding hobbyists alike. With the most recent mannequin, the Raspberry Pi 5, the mini-PC is extra succesful than ever, with an upgraded four-core 2.4GHz system-on-chip (SoC) that’s as much as 3 times sooner than earlier fashions.
A lot of the protection you’ll see across the net focuses on the extra fantastical initiatives—magic mirrors, transportable gaming handhelds, clever drones, and so forth. These maker masterpieces definitely present what kind of energy the sub-$100 mini-PC is able to within the arms of somebody with somewhat creativeness and a bin filled with spare electronics.
However most individuals, notably rookies, received’t use the Raspberry Pi to whip up loopy creations. There are near-endless sensible makes use of for this bare-bones package, from media streaming to extending the vary of your Wi-Fi community, as the next 10 initiatives display. Time to place that lil’ laptop to actual work. Heck, many of those initiatives will even work with the $10 Raspberry Pi Zero — an excellent element to recollect with fashionable RPi costs rising on account of RAM shortages.
Additional studying: I constructed a maxed-out Raspberry 5 PC with an SSD for below $200. You possibly can too
The unique $35 Raspberry Pi could have been revolutionary to makers, but it surely took off with PC lovers as nicely due to its potential to double as a dirt-cheap home-theater PC. That attract could have waned a bit lately as devoted gadgets just like the Chromecast hit the streets at equally low costs, however utilizing a Raspberry Pi as a media-streaming field nonetheless presents much more energy than these streaming-centric sticks, particularly when you have a sizeable native media assortment.
There are a slew of HTPC-centric Raspberry Pi working techniques on the market, every revolving round slapping your HD movies on the large display screen. is constructed across the in style Kodi media heart software program (previously XBMC), whereas transforms your Pi into the final word Plex streaming field. The $21 Raspberry Pi TV Hat accent, in the meantime, can grant your mini-PC the flexibility to learn over-the-air TV alerts.
Give a dumb TV smarts
Likewise, when you have a dumb TV that you just’d like so as to add net searching and different fundamental computing talents to, the Raspberry Pi does the trick with out costing anyplace close to as a lot as a correct residence theater PC. You’ll wish to use a Raspberry Pi 2, 3, or 4, although—the unique Pi and the Raspberry Pi Zero are simply pokey sufficient to be irritating for basic duties. With the appropriate case, the Pi can look downright fashionable in your house theater, too.
Bonus: Should you’re connecting the Raspberry Pi to your TV, you need to use it to stream net movies, too!
File storage server
It’s also possible to have your Raspberry Pi play wingman for the opposite gadgets in your own home, serving as a centralized machine that performs useful duties.
Living proof: You need to use the mini-PC as afor basic file storage when you join an exterior USB onerous drive to the machine. Hit these hyperlinks for technical particulars, and one tip when you’re planning to transform the pc to a file server: Use a wired ethernet connection slightly than Wi-Fi when you’re ready. Be sure you seize a strong exterior drive, too!
Wi-fi community printer
Printing isn’t as prevalent because it was once, however the Raspberry Pi may also help you rework that chunky outdated USB printer in your closet right into a networked printer that each machine in your own home can use.
You’ll want an influence supply for every gadget, clearly, in addition to a USB connection between the gadgets, however setting it up is fairly simple. This walks you thru the method step-by-step.
Lengthen your own home’s Wi-Fi community
Raspberry Pi doesn’t make the house networks you employ, however it may make the house networks you employ higher when you configure the mini-PC as a wi-fi vary extender, tapping into the machine’s ethernet and USB ports. Doing so may also help your Wi-Fi sign attain the farthest corners of your own home and assist wipe out lifeless zones.
Configuring the machine to bolster your own home community will take a little bit of time, and also you’ll want to purchase a USB Wi-Fi adapter to do it, however once more, it’s comparatively simple with a information. Try.
Previous-school gaming emulator
Gaming emulators are a authorized grey space, however there’s little question that utilizing the Raspberry Pi as a butt-kicking console emulator is a well-liked use for the machines. It could play video games from all kinds of consoles proper on as much as the PlayStation 1 period when you handle to snag some authorized sport ROMs, although the older the system being emulated, the higher the efficiency.
Curious? Try PCWorld’s full information to turning your Raspberry Pi right into a retro gaming console for the complete scoop.
A music streaming machine
The Raspberry Pi’s media chops aren’t restricted to video streaming alone. Quite a few working techniques have additionally been launched that rework the machine right into a high-fidelity music participant when related to a speaker, form of like a extra highly effective, versatile model of Chromecast Audio.
he varied music-oriented OSes accessible provide completely different options; poke across the FAQs and options of every to see which is correct in your wants. Listed below are tutorials on the right way to have your Raspberry Pi flip dumb audio system into sensible music options withand(pictured), each of which supply cell apps so you may management your tunes along with your cellphone.
Study programming
You may at all times use the Raspberry Pi because it was initially supposed, too: As a low-cost introduction to programming and laptop science. The mini-PC’s loaded with all kinds of software program that encourages deep-level tinkering.
Past the command-line terminal, you’ll have to wade in typically, you’ll additionally discover variations of Wolfram Mathematica, Python program creation instruments, and Scratch, an animation coding IDE for youths, within thethat the Raspberry Pi Basis encourages new customers to put in. Get sensible!
Play Minecraft
Or you possibly can play Minecraft. There’s a free Raspberry Pi model of Minecraft that anyone can obtain for free of charge. Even higher, it’s designed to show you the right way to use the Python programming language as you construct out the world. (Hey, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella did say that a part of the explanation the corporate bought Mojang was to lure children into laptop science.)
and bounce in.
Inexpensive productiveness PC
With choices of 2GB, 4GB, and now 8GB fashions, the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 pack a heftier punch than earlier RPi iterations—making them appropriate for fundamental on a regular basis duties like net searching, watching video streams, and doc enhancing. Establishing one as a PC goes quick, too, with the majority of the hour setup time dedicated to ready for the working system set up to finish.
As a starter or secondary laptop, it’s onerous to beat, particularly given its construct value of $100 (and even much less, when you go for the 2GB model and never the 4GB). Try PCWorld’s full information in the right way to put collectively a $100 Raspberry Pi PC for every part you’ll want.
Loopy superior experiments
Let’s end the place we started. When you’ve wrapped your head across the Raspberry Pi’s potential, why not attempt your hand at a type of awe-inspiring ingenious initiatives? PCWorld’s take a look at 10 insanely revolutionary, extremely cool Raspberry Pi creations may also help with the inspiration, whereas the undertaking guides at,, and the are able to stroll you step-by-step by means of the actually superior stuff just like the magic mirror above.
Additionally take a look at our roundup of the greatest Raspberry Pi kits. Whether or not you’re a beginner who simply desires to get all of the fundamentals with one buy, or an skilled tinkerer seeking to construct a specialised undertaking, a package may very well be the best way to go.
Editor’s be aware: This text is up to date periodically to incorporate new information, most not too long ago to resurface these initiatives for Pi day (March 14, 2025) and be aware rising costs on account of RAM shortages.
