Is Raspberry Pi 4 Still Viable for Running a Bitcoin Node?

Hey all, I've been getting into Bitcoin tech lately and decided it's time to run my own node. But I keep hearing Raspi isn’t a viable option anymore. Apparently, they say Start9 is no longer recommending it because even the 8GB model struggles with the blockchain growth, especially after ordinals came into play. Anyone else hearing this?

Refurbished mini-PCs are the way to go, right? I found some on Amazon that are cheap and often come with a warranty. Sure, they're pricier than a Raspi, but you get decent specs. For instance, one has an i5 and 16GB RAM. You’ll need more storage, but that can be found for a reasonable price.

Totally agree. Slow disk speeds and limited RAM can definitely bottleneck the system. If you're set on using Raspi, I think UmbrelOS is a solid choice. It has a user-friendly interface and is compatible with tons of hardware if you switch later on. Personally though, I’d go for an Intel NUC. You can find good models with an i5 and 16GB RAM.

Honestly, I just can’t understand how people still choose Raspi for nodes. I had an old i7 laptop with only 8GB RAM and a spinner drive, cost me nada. Just swapped in a 2TB SSD and got the whole blockchain loaded in under 20 hours. You can find decent gear on eBay for under 100 bucks.

Electricity usage with Raspi is a plus, yeah. Low power consumption is nice, plus it takes up little space compared to a full PC. But seriously, what's the recommended minimum specs for running a node now? Can you start one on a laptop with just one core?

Nope, that ain't gonna cut it! You’d want at least an i5 model like the 6500T or something similar. My old i7 can still run fine with Linux Mint and some upgrades. It’s been stable for over a year now, no issues.

Comparing a free i7 laptop isn’t fair though. Not everyone has easy access to old hardware. And let’s not forget energy costs. A Raspi is better on power long-term. If you’re mining, you probably have cheap electricity too.

I’ve got Raspi, old laptops, and PCs all running nodes. Each has ups and downs. Raspi is small and cheap with low power use, but it can be slow. Used laptops? Good for portability, but you never know how the last owner treated them.

Yeah, laptops can do the job, but if you think they'll survive 24/7, think again. Just keep the fans clean and avoid the ones with power-hungry CPUs.

I've used tiny PCs, laptops, and more. Those compact Intel ones are great because they use under 30 watts a day. That’s like nothing in terms of power costs. They've been my favorite for running nodes.

Same here, I’ve got a couple running 24/7. Just be aware that changing a laptop fan can be more hassle than a desktop’s. At least with a mini-PC, you avoid some of those issues.

I didn’t mention mini-PCs, but they really shouldn’t be overlooked. They’re compact and energy-efficient. Some are even passive-cooled, so they’re super quiet compared to Raspi. Plus, better hardware overall.

Using 30 watts means paying a bit each year. But a Raspi can save a lot in comparison. Still, running costs can add up.

Yeah but the NUCs are often more expensive than other mini-PCs. I’ve noticed that in the used market too it’s odd.

I found an i5 6500T with 16GB RAM for cheap. Your costs for power can make a big difference depending on where you are. If you’re paying a lot per kilowatt, you’ll definitely feel the burn.

Totally, Raspi’s biggest win is low electricity and silence. But the Raspberry Pi 5 just dropped and it’s supposed to be much faster. It might still hang in there for Bitcoin nodes, but it's pricier than older models.

I checked that! The Raspberry Pi 5 does need a fan for cooling, unlike some models that could run silently. Specs are nice, but it's limited to 8GB RAM.

Yeah, it sounds like a step up, but it still maxes out at 8GB RAM. It’s definitely not gonna be a quiet setup with that fan either.

Big advantage using Rpi4 for me is that it spends little electricity and it can work silently (in same cases), but I am not if it still works fine for Bitcoin node. There is new Raspberry Pi 5 released recently and it is 2-3 times faster than previous generation, and I think this won't have any issues for bitcoin in next few years. This is going to be more expensive, so if you already have old laptop that you don't use you can just use that instead.

found a link https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-5/ "Does Raspberry Pi 5 need active cooling? Raspberry Pi 5 is faster and more powerful than prior-generation Raspberry Pis, and like most general-purpose computers, it will perform best with active cooling. The Raspberry Pi Case for Raspberry Pi 5, with its integrated fan, is one way to provide this." wants a fan so it is not silent maxes at 8gb ram more specs from website "Features: VideoCore VII GPU, supporting OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2 Dual 4Kp60 HDMI® display output with HDR support 4Kp60 HEVC decoder LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM (4GB or 8GB) Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi® Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) microSD card slot, with support for high-speed SDR104 mode 2 × USB 3.0 ports, supporting simultaneous 5Gbps operation 2 × USB 2.0 ports Gigabit Ethernet, with PoE+ support (requires separate PoE+ HAT) 2 × 4-lane MIPI camera/display transceivers PCIe 2.0 x1 interface for fast peripherals (requires separate M.2 HAT or other adapter) 5V/5A DC power via USB-C, with Power Delivery support Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin header Real-time clock (RTC), powered from external battery (battery sold separately)" I have purchased from them . https://www.canakit.com/raspberry-pi-5-8gb.html?cid=USD&src=raspberrypi but $159  and you need a bigger sd stick https://www.amazon.com/PNY-Elite-Class-Flash-Memory/dp/B08NCBVTJS/ref=sr_1_7_sspa? so 159 + 119 = 278  or go external ssd for 89. which is 159+79= 238 https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Portable-Photographers-MU-PE1T0S-AM/dp/B09VLK9W3S/ref=sr_1_6? I have run rasp pi's and do not like them for this task but my power cost is less so getting a laptop on eBay and adding parts keeps me under 200 and it is better for me than a rasp pi.