Raspberry Pi 4? or Pi 3B+?

[mojojojo490]

Hi, i am about to buy the Raspberry.
Although you have the version 4 or 3B.
I don't see any version 4 marks on the forum.
Is it possible / to advise to buy the version 4?

Thanks.

[Solderbro]

On my 3B+ (Raspbian Buster) there is minimal system load for the CPU and little Ram is in use. This does not look like a situation to put in on a system with more power or memory. For me this only would make sense, if the raspi is doing lot more tasks that require more CPU or memory.

Bildschirmfoto vom 2019-08-09 18-35-31.png (16.69 KiB) Viewed 8323 times

Solderbro

[EddyG]

Go for the 4B+ because you can choose for a little bit more memory. Just in case you find out that you could do other thing with the Raspberry too.
B.t.w. looking at the above cpu and memory usage does not say that much. It is just a snapshot of that moment.
Look at the 'Log" (Protokoll) screen there you get an overview of days, weeks and months.
My system does some housekeeping on Saturday early in the morning and has a max. cpu of close to 50% at some point.

[Thorgal789]

Same for me (raspberry 3+), I have a bug this night, so I have a "10 % peak" with a looping script but it stay all the day under 5 %.

log cpu.png (34.63 KiB) Viewed 8255 times

Domoticz can run on a Raspberry 0, depend on what you want to do, but by defaut you don't need so much power. Take the one that is heating the less.

[mojojojo490]

Thanks for the feedback.
It is a good idea to get a little more memory in case of more posibilities

So i have now the Raspberry 4B with Raspian. (my first Linux experience )
With the specs:
1 x Raspberry Pi 4 Model B / 2GB
1 x 32GB Micro SDHC (Raspbian)
1 x Copper coolingblock (Heatsink) Raspberry Pi

This last one because i read lots of heat problems on the internet.

Time to start with Domoticz in the free hours

Mojo

[LouiS22]

Thanks for the feedback.
It is a good idea to get a little more memory in case of more posibilities

So i have now the Raspberry 4B with Raspian. (my first Linux experience )
With the specs:
1 x Raspberry Pi 4 Model B / 2GB
1 x 32GB Micro SDHC (Raspbian)
1 x Copper coolingblock (Heatsink) Raspberry Pi

This last one because i read lots of heat problems on the internet.

Time to start with Domoticz in the free hours

Mojo

My advice: check if Pi4B has already got the boot from USB feature (I know it wasn't available upon launch) and either boot from a USB drive or a USB-SDD solution. Much more reliable.

[EddyG]

If you want some good cooling then look here https://geekworm.com/collections/raspberry-pi-4 But buy on Ali.
I use these without the fans on my Raspberry Pi 3B+ https://geekworm.com/collections/raspbe ... h-dual-fan
No noise and the max. temperature will be 45 deg. C on the Raspberry.
With fans (and noise) the temperature will drop to below 40 deg. C.

[jake]

If you want some good cooling then look here https://geekworm.com/collections/raspberry-pi-4 But buy on Ali.
I use these without the fans on my Raspberry Pi 3B+ https://geekworm.com/collections/raspbe ... h-dual-fan
No noise and the max. temperature will be 45 deg. C on the Raspberry.
With fans (and noise) the temperature will drop to below 40 deg. C.

Wow these things are huge! I added a little standard alu cooling block to my pi, but that dropped the cpu temp only a few degrees. It is still around 60'C without the cover of the case on it.

[Dnpwwo]

I don't agree with the general responses here.

Bigger, faster CPUs and memory are not always better:

• This will be on 24/7 and RPi 4s consume about 30% more power apparently
• Heat dissipation is an issue and the set up is more complicated to deal with it
• My advise is don't use your Home Automation system as a general server, stability and reliability is king. Have a dedicated RPi for it

I have followed my own advise and bought another RPi 3 in the last month while I transitioned to a new set up

[heggink]

Totally agree. The more you develop Domoticz, the more dependent you get and taking it out for maintenance just because you have a couple of other apps running on the same system is not a good strategy. My pi3b does domoticz and domoticz only. I have another (couple of) pi('s) that run other stuff which I can change at will without interfering with the home automation.

Sent from phone.

[ben53252642]

+1

If there is a Domoticz outage in my house, its a big problem.

Recently I rebuilt my server rack and everything was down for a night (expected), I'll never forget the experience...

Getting into bed and realizing I can't just yell at Alexa to turn off all the lights. Then having to get out of bed and walk around to 11 light switches all in different locations and switch about 15 switches, then continuing to turn off all the lamps and hue lights manually etc...

And waking up in the middle of the night and the lights not coming on when I get out of bed.

If you start building a system I think there is a very good chance you will become dependent on it.

[EddyG]

Then it is good to have a kind of master/slave system.
I have a two RPi 3B+, one with RFXCOM and other stuff, and one with 2 RFlinks
Except for my Z-wave and Zigbee everything else (critical) is duplicated.
So when 1 is out then the other will function.
I have everything on LUN's on my Synology, so when Synology is out, I boot from the SD-card and are up again.
When 2 RPi's and Synology dies, then I am in the dark and have to do a lot of stuff manually. I do not think that will happen soon.
B.t.w. And everything is powered by 2 APC UPSes, even my rollershutters.

[lost]

Getting into bed and realizing I can't just yell at Alexa to turn off all the lights.
(...)
If you start building a system I think there is a very good chance you will become dependent on it.

I would not setup a device with a connected mic in my bedroom (not even in my home in my case): Recent events/confidence showing these supposed all-IA managed voice recognition stuff are connected to humans for anything unusual + unwanted activation is quite common.

A GAFA-Mic in the bedroom, well, I prefer using a remote than someone listening if I have good sex! And if a careless worker dig on a fiber someday, with internet outage that can last for days or even weeks depending on damage level, this still works because if my devices can report outside, nothing depends from a third party connection.

[lost]

Although you have the version 4 or 3B.
I don't see any version 4 marks on the forum.
Is it possible / to advise to buy the version 4?

Go for the 3B, the 4 is already waiting a refresh from the (Broadcom-)Raspberry foundation because of it's thermal problems and the 3 is already overkill for Domoticz (few CPU usage as others said) and just a small radiator for passive cooling is enough to stay in the 48/50°C range. With the heat-wave we had in France, 60°C was reached worst case. And my PI is inside a closed furniture close to my internet modem-router that also heats...

As well, if you plan to use z-wave, looks the USB3 of the PI4 does not work correctly with probably the best controller (z-stick gen5). Quite unclear, PI staff says this is a conformance problem of the stick but for the USB-C, conformance problems looks to be on PI side (another issue with this last version).

=> On top of PI team denies, looks PI4 is not their best hardware.

[emme]

I agree to NOT use pi4 for domoticz...

PI4 is intend to be used as a video/desktop appliance, not as a server.
more.. it has problems wit hheating dissipation and power consumption.

I'm using a Pi3b+ with node, Alexa, Domoticz, daily Backup, and it does not reach 30% of CPU.

TRUST the PI3!!!

[mojojojo490]

Thanks for yours answers.
Unfortunately and despite of all the replies, i have bought the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B / 2GB Starter Kit complete.
Included with:
32GB Micro SDHC (Raspbian)
Casing Transparant
a coper heatsink

I do serveral tests with domoticz and as a newbie in this world, i am reading a lot of information on the forum
Again, thanks for all the replies.

[ben53252642]

Thanks for yours answers.
Unfortunately and despite of all the replies, i have bought the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B / 2GB Starter Kit complete.
Included with:
32GB Micro SDHC (Raspbian)
Casing Transparant
a coper heatsink

I do serveral tests with domoticz and as a newbie in this world, i am reading a lot of information on the forum
Again, thanks for all the replies.

Ok if your going to run Domoticz on the Pi with the default Ext4 file system just be aware that it will be very sensitive to sudden power loss (likely to cause data corruption) and that the SD card will eventually wear out (the forum has many stories).

Rule number 1: make sure you keep backups!

With that said, enjoy and welcome to Domoticz!

[mojojojo490]

Thanks, i Will follow-up your lead.
And find out whats the best, USB or SD card