CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Extreme Kit - 128GB Edition (8GB RAM)

The Raspberry Pi 5 may be the newer and more powerful board, but this CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Extreme Kit is still a really good device and can do a lot more than people realize. If you want a small computer that is flexible, dependable, and useful for all kinds of projects, this is still a great buy. What makes this kit so nice is that it comes with what you actually need to get started. You are not just getting the board. You are getting the 8GB Raspberry Pi 4, a 128GB preloaded microSD card, the power supply, case, cooling, cables, and accessories that make the setup feel complete instead of half-finished. CanaKit specifically includes the 128GB card, fan, heatsinks, 3.5A USB-C power supply, PiSwitch, and dual micro-HDMI cables in this bundle, which is a big part of why it feels like such a convenient package. Even though it is not the Pi 5, the Pi 4 8GB is still very capable. It has plenty of RAM for a wide range of tasks, and with features like Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, wireless connectivity, and dual 4K display support, it can still serve as a mini PC, media box, emulator machine, smart home controller, light server, or project platform without feeling outdated. Raspberry Pi’s official specs list those exact strengths, and CanaKit describes the Pi 4 as offering desktop-class performance compared to entry-level x86 systems. I also like that this kit feels practical for everyday use. The included cooling and proper power supply matter, especially if you are running it for longer periods or using it for more than just simple experiments. CanaKit says the fan-and-heatsink setup is part of the Extreme Kit design, and that extra stability makes a difference. Overall, this is still an excellent Raspberry Pi kit. No, it is not as powerful as the Pi 5, but it is still a very capable little machine that can do a ton of useful things. If you want a complete Raspberry Pi setup with solid performance, lots of flexibility, and plenty of room for learning and projects, this is a great choice.

The SD card comes loaded with 32-bit OS options as they are stable out-of-box. Calling ‘uname-m’ will indeed return ARMv7l which is a 32-bit proc. This is due to the capabilities of the OS. Same scenario if one downloads and calls ‘lshw.’ While the 32-bit OS cannot recognize 64-bit architecture, please rest assured these ARE 64-bit procs. Downloading a 64-bit OS like Ubuntu Mate or Twister allows one to unlock the potential of the 64-bit architecture. The kit is very well made and easy to assemble. There are no screws to hassle with; everything is designed with precision, allowing the enclosure to fasten via friction for a resilient assembly. Passive heatsinks attach via an adhesive thermal pad while a small fan easily attaches to the enclosure. Lending to the intuitive design of the case, the fan actively extricates heat through the raspberry-stamped top, while drawing in cool air from the opposite side of the case. I definitely recommend the kit as it includes everything needed for a turnkey system (minus I/O peripherals of course). I anticipate ordering additional units very soon!

The kit fully met my expectations, went together easily, and runs like a champ. I plan to use it for getting my Linux skills back up, learning Python programming, and doing some electronics experimentation. My longer term goal is to get into robotics as a hobby, after all, a retired old fart needs a hobby. I bought the 8 GB version and I doubt Linux will need that much memory, but the extra memory is good for future proofing. All of the cables take up more room than the computer - LOL. I would recommend this kit for anyone wishing to build their own system, In case is shows up, there's a rating category for a touch screen, but this kit does not include a screen.

I used this kit together with a Freenove Starter Kit to build many of the 26 projects supported by the Freenove kit. The two kits blend seamlessly and provide a easy way to assemble simple projects demonstrating many aspects of computing and electronics. The processor board fits into the case nicely and allows access to all the many ports as well as the 40 pin connector that connects to the Freenove kit via a ribbon cable. The operating system and a lot of software was preloaded into the micro SD card and made setting up the processor easy. I was not able to get tech support from CanaKit, but was directed to the Raspberry Pi forum where I got good support. I found it convenient to use the VNC Viewer app on my PC as a remote terminal rather than a separate keyboard and mouse dedicated to the Raspberry Pi. However, I found that it was necessary to have a TV connected to the Raspberry Pi vie HDMI in order for the remote terminal to function. I learned via the forum that I needed the Version 11 Bullseye OS to easily avoid this problem, and my kit loaded the Version 10 Buster OS. I decided to stay with present VNC Viewer terminal setup and just keep TV connected. All in all a great way to learn about computers and a base from which to build all kinds of projects.

This machine marks the first actual desktop computer I've had in ages, and it's an interesting little piece of work. Instructions were simple and straightforward, and worked quite well right out of the box. Not superfast, but still very useful overall. All that's needed to use it is a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. And it works quite well with my wireless mouse and keyboard. Perhaps the only downside with mine at least is getting the Bluetooth to work. And given the 8GB version is now hard to come by, getting the more advanced version is a plus. Great little project item.

Ok

Superb and matching my expectations

This is being delivered in Australia. However it does not support Australia power sockets. You need to get an adapter to make it work in Australia and then deal with it’s not fitting appropriately and getting unplugged every now and then.

Complete set to get you going with the Rasberry Pi in no time. The only downside is that it comes with an American power adapter. For use in the UK, you must get a converter

High quality product worth the asking price

Na