Three generations can run ScreenlyOS, and each is selectable when you write the image. Two of them are what we would put a new screen on.
Boards
| Board | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 | Supported | The most capable of the three, and the one to pick for a new build. |
| Raspberry Pi 4 | Supported | The common choice, and what our own standard player is built on. |
| Raspberry Pi 3 | Not recommended | The oldest generation. It runs, and a screen already on one keeps working, but it is not what to build on today. |
All three show content at up to 1080p. That ceiling comes from what we support on this hardware rather than from the board you pick, so a newer board does not raise it. For 4K you need a Screenly Player Max.
Memory
Use a board with 2 GB or more. More memory is better, and it is the specification most worth paying for on a self-build.
Which to pick
For a new screen, buy a Pi 5. It has the most headroom, and it is the generation that will stay current longest.
A Pi 4 is the safe choice if you already have one, or if you are buying second-hand.
Do not build a new screen on a Pi 3. A screen already running one keeps working, so there is nothing to do today, but it is not the board to standardize on.
If you have a fleet of Pi 3s and are planning around them, talk to us first. What that generation receives differs from the newer boards, and we would rather tell you exactly where it stands than have you plan on an assumption.
Power
Use the official power supply for your board. Undervoltage on a Pi shows up as a screen that reboots or freezes at random, which looks like a software fault and is not one.
Next
The card matters as much as the board. See SD cards.