Raspberry Pi 5 Vs 4 Is The Speed Increase Worth The Heat Management

The Raspberry Pi 5 represents a significant leap forward from its predecessor, delivering faster processing, improved graphics, and enhanced peripheral support. But with this performance boost comes a notable rise in thermal output. For hobbyists, educators, and developers relying on compact or passive cooling setups, the question arises: is the speed increase worth the added complexity of heat management? This article dives into real-world benchmarks, thermal behavior, use-case implications, and practical strategies to help you decide whether upgrading is truly beneficial.

Performance Gains: What’s New in the Pi 5?

The Raspberry Pi 5 introduces several architectural improvements over the Pi 4. At its core is the Broadcom BCM2712 SoC, a 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4 GHz—up from the Pi 4’s 1.5 GHz Cortex-A72. This shift brings not only higher clock speeds but also a more modern CPU microarchitecture, resulting in roughly 2–3x better single-threaded performance according to independent benchmarks.

Additional upgrades include:

• A dedicated RP1 I/O controller chip, offloading USB and PCIe functions from the main SoC.
• Improved GPU (VideoCore VII) supporting OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2.
• Dual 4Kp60 HDMI outputs with HDR support.
• Faster dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.
• Support for PCIe 2.0 via an M.2 adapter, enabling NVMe SSD booting.

In practical terms, these changes mean smoother desktop operation, quicker code compilation, better emulation performance, and stronger capabilities for machine learning inference and computer vision tasks.

Tip: To fully leverage the Pi 5’s speed, pair it with fast storage like an NVMe SSD via M.2 adapter—microSD bottlenecks can mask CPU gains.

Thermal Output: How Hot Does It Get?

With greater performance comes greater power consumption and heat generation. The Pi 5 draws more current under load and reaches higher temperatures than the Pi 4, even with similar workloads. Independent thermal testing shows that under sustained CPU stress (e.g., running stress-ng --cpu 4), the Pi 5 can reach surface temperatures exceeding 80°C without active cooling—close to its throttling threshold of 85°C.

In contrast, the Pi 4 typically stabilizes around 70–75°C under the same conditions when equipped with a basic heatsink. While both models benefit from proper cooling, the Pi 5 demands it far more aggressively.

The new model includes dynamic clock scaling based on temperature, meaning performance automatically drops when overheating occurs. In lab tests, uncooled Pi 5 units saw clock speeds dip from 2.4 GHz to as low as 1.8 GHz after just two minutes of full-load operation. This throttling undermines the very performance users expect from the upgrade.

“Thermal design is no longer optional on the Pi 5—it's a prerequisite for consistent performance.” — Dr. Linus Bennett, Embedded Systems Researcher, University of Cambridge

Comparative Analysis: Pi 5 vs Pi 4

Feature	Raspberry Pi 4	Raspberry Pi 5
CPU	Quad-core Cortex-A72 @ 1.5 GHz	Quad-core Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz
GPU	VideoCore VI	VideoCore VII (supports Vulkan)
RAM Options	1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB	4GB, 8GB
Max Power Draw	~7.5W (under load, 4GB model)	~12W (under load, with peripherals)
Idle Temp (ambient 22°C)	~45°C (with heatsink)	~50–55°C (with passive cooler)
Load Temp (no fan)	~70–75°C	~80–85°C (throttling begins)
Storage Interface	USB 3.0 / microSD	PCIe 2.0 (NVMe capable), USB 3.0
Cooling Requirement	Recommended	Essential

The data clearly illustrates that while the Pi 5 delivers superior computational throughput, it does so at the cost of higher energy density and thermal intensity. This makes it less forgiving in enclosed spaces or fanless enclosures—common setups among media center builders and industrial users.

Real-World Use Case: Home Lab Server Upgrade

Consider Alex, a homelab enthusiast running a Pi 4-based server for Pi-hole, Mosquitto MQTT broker, and Home Assistant. After upgrading to a Pi 5 for faster boot times and snappier UI response, Alex noticed frequent CPU throttling alerts in Grafana dashboards despite using the same aluminum case with built-in heatsinks.

Investigation revealed that the combined load of Zram compression, Docker containers, and Zigbee2MQTT pushed the SoC temperature above 83°C within 10 minutes. Only after installing a small 5V fan connected to GPIO pins did the system stabilize at 68°C under load, maintaining full clock speed.

This example underscores a key insight: in continuous-operation scenarios, passive cooling may no longer suffice. The Pi 5’s performance advantages are conditional on adequate thermal management—a hidden cost that wasn’t as critical with the Pi 4.

Managing Heat: Practical Cooling Strategies

To maintain peak performance on the Pi 5, adopt a layered cooling approach tailored to your application:

1. High-Mass Heatsinks: Use copper or aluminum heatsinks with large surface area. The official Raspberry Pi 5 Active Cooler includes a 25mm fan mounted atop a substantial finned block and integrates seamlessly with the GPIO header.
2. Forced Airflow: Even a low-noise 5V fan directed at the SoC can reduce temperatures by 15–20°C. Consider cases designed for airflow, such as those with vented sides or top-mounted fans.
3. Thermal Pads and Conductive Materials: Apply high-quality thermal pads between the SoC and any metal case components to improve heat dissipation.
4. Software Monitoring: Install tools like vcgencmd measure_temp, psutil, or netdata to monitor real-time temperature and detect throttling events.
5. Undervolting (Advanced): Some users have safely undervolted the Pi 5 via config.txt settings, reducing power draw and heat with minimal performance loss. However, stability must be rigorously tested.

Tip: Enable the watchdog script in Raspberry Pi OS to log thermal events: sudo apt install raspi-config && sudo raspi-config nonint do_boot_behave 1.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up Effective Cooling

1. Choose the right case: Select one with ventilation and support for active cooling (e.g., official Pi 5 case with fan).
2. Install the heatsink: Securely attach a high-quality heatsink to the SoC using pre-applied thermal adhesive or thermal tape.
3. Mount the fan: Connect a 5V fan to the designated GPIO pins (pins 4 and 6)—the Pi 5’s fan connector simplifies this.
4. Test under load: Run a stress test: sudo apt install stress-ng && stress-ng --cpu 4 --timeout 5m.
5. Monitor temperature: During the test, run watch -n 1 vcgencmd measure_temp to observe thermal behavior.
6. Adjust if needed: If temps exceed 75°C, consider improving airflow or adding secondary heatsinks to the RAM or I/O chip.

When the Upgrade Makes Sense

The Pi 5 shines in applications where responsiveness and throughput matter most:

• Desktop replacement: Faster web browsing, smoother video playback, and improved multitasking.
• Gaming and emulation: Runs RetroArch more fluidly, supports N64 and PlayStation 1 titles at full speed with less audio stutter.
• AI/ML prototyping: Better suited for lightweight TensorFlow Lite models due to CPU and memory bandwidth improvements.
• Industrial automation: Enhanced real-time control with reduced latency thanks to the RP1 I/O controller.

However, for headless servers, simple IoT sensors, or projects running lightweight scripts, the Pi 4 remains a reliable, cooler, and more power-efficient option. If your project doesn’t stress the CPU beyond 50%, the Pi 5’s speed advantage may go largely unused—while its heat output still requires attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my old Pi 4 case with the Pi 5?

No. The Pi 5 has a revised form factor with relocated ports and different mounting points. Cases are not interchangeable. Additionally, older cases lack provisions for the Pi 5’s required cooling solutions.

Does the Pi 5 always run hot, even at idle?

Not excessively, but it runs warmer than the Pi 4. Idle temperatures typically range from 50–58°C depending on ambient conditions and case airflow. This is normal and not harmful, as long as load temperatures stay below 85°C.

Is the performance gain noticeable in everyday use?

Yes, particularly in GUI responsiveness, app launch speed, and multitasking. Tasks like compiling Python packages or loading complex web dashboards feel significantly snappier. However, the difference diminishes if the system throttles due to heat.

Conclusion: Balancing Speed and Thermal Responsibility

The Raspberry Pi 5 delivers a meaningful performance uplift over the Pi 4, making it the most capable single-board computer the foundation has ever released. Yet this power comes with a thermal tax: sustained high performance requires deliberate cooling measures that were optional luxuries on earlier models.

For users pushing the limits of what a Pi can do—running AI models, hosting multiple services, or building high-end retro consoles—the upgrade is justified, provided you invest in proper cooling. But for simpler applications where efficiency and reliability trump raw speed, the Pi 4 remains a compelling choice.

The true value of the Pi 5 isn’t just in gigahertz or teraflops—it’s in how well you manage its thermal envelope. When cooled effectively, it performs brilliantly. When ignored, it throttles itself into mediocrity. The speed increase is worth it, but only if you’re willing to manage the heat.

💬 Have you upgraded to the Pi 5? Share your thermal setup and performance experience in the comments below!