Exploring the Feasibility of Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Clusters as an Alternative to Advanced Process Chip Computers

Faced with the challenges of utilizing advanced process chips, this study explores and verifies the feasibility of using Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (RPi 4B) clusters with mature process chips as an alternative to desktop computers that utilize more advanced process chips. By constructing a multi-node RPi 4B cluster and comparing its performance with that of a single x86 architecture computer equipped with an i5-12490F processor through HPL (High-Performance Linpack) and Hadoop benchmark, the study found that a cluster of 13 RPi 4B units can achieve comparable performance to a single x86 architecture computer in the HPL test, with significantly higher energy efficiency. Although there is still a performance gap in processing big data tasks, optimizing the cluster’s hardware configuration and software system is expected to yield substantial improvements. Through this study, we aim to provide a potential solution for countries, regions, or organizations that struggle to obtain or afford advanced process chips. Furthermore, we hope to encourage people to consider how to improve computational performance through algorithmic optimization, architectural innovation, and other means when faced with limitations in chip technology, in order to meet the growing demand for computation.