Raspberry Pi 5
For a desktop, learning to code and projects with room to grow. This page's shopping list is built around Pi 5.
Shop this setupYour first Pi.
Let’s bring it to life.
From the box to your first boot. Everything you need, in the order you need it.
Beginner friendlyStart small. Build confidence.
At your own pace No experience needed Desktop setup guide
01 / Meet your Raspberry Pi
A real computer.
An open invitation
to make something.
A Raspberry Pi is a complete computer on a palm-sized board. Add storage, power and a screen, and you can use it like a desktop. Connect electronics to its pins, and your code can interact with the world around you.
Use it like a computer
Browse the web, open apps and get comfortable with a Linux desktop.
Learn by trying things
Write a little code. Make a game. Change something and see what happens.
Give your ideas a physical side
Read a sensor, light an LED or start exploring automation.
Have a Raspberry Pi Pico? That’s a microcontroller, not a desktop computer. Its setup is different; you’ll find its separate pinout reference below.
02 / Find your starting point
Choose your board.
Start with the kind of project you want to make. Already have a Pi? Keep it — just match the accessories to your model.
Raspberry Pi 4
For everyday coding and familiar DIY projects. Match your power supply and case to Pi 4.
Explore Pi 4 kitsRaspberry Pi Zero 2 W
For compact, lightweight builds. Extra connection adapters make it a less direct first desktop setup.
Explore Zero 2 W kitsThe shopping list on this page is for Raspberry Pi 5. Pi 4 and Zero models have different power and case requirements. Illustrations are not wiring diagrams.
03 / A few things before you begin
Gather the essentials.
Use what you already have. Pick up what you’re missing. Each item below links to the matching product at Vilros.
The computer
Raspberry Pi 5
The board at the heart of this setup. The shopping list below is matched to Pi 5.
4GB / Board Only$110.00
Storage + operating system
Preloaded microSD card
Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit), already installed. Try booting it before rewriting the card.
32GB$21.99
Power for Pi 5
Vilros 27W USB-C supply
A Pi 5-compatible supply with a 5V / 5A output. Reliable power for the board and connected USB devices.
Black$14.49
Connect your screen
Micro-HDMI to HDMI cable
Micro-HDMI for the Pi 5; full-size HDMI for your screen. Choose a length that reaches your desk.
1 FT / Black$6.99
Type + point
Wireless keyboard + mouse
Vilros 11-inch keyboard and mouse combo. Already have USB input devices? Use those instead.
Standard$28.99
Your display
Raspberry Pi 15.6″ monitor
Or use an existing HDMI TV or monitor. This monitor has no wall supply; USB power from the Pi limits brightness.
Red-White / Monitor only$120.00
Also useful
Cooling, card writing and your first electronics projectRecommended for Pi 5
Vilros WAVE cooling case
Protection, passive cooling and a PWM fan in one Pi 5 case. No separate cooling kit needed for this choice.
Standard$14.99
For writing an OS
USB microSD card reader
Use with another computer to write or reflash your card. Skip it if your computer already has a suitable reader.
Standard$6.99
For your first GPIO project
Physical computing bundle
A breadboard, jumper wires, LEDs, resistors and more for experimenting. Not needed for first boot.
Standard$18.99
Your existing Wi-Fi is enough. Pi 5 has built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet; no Wi-Fi adapter is needed. Keep your network name and password handy. Connection options ↗
USD price snapshots: October 19, 2026. Current pricing is on each product page.
04 / Give your Pi its software
One app. Your OS, ready to go.
Raspberry Pi Imager takes care of choosing, downloading and writing the operating system. No separate OS download or manual formatting step.
Compatible OS already on your card? Try booting it first.Skip ahead
- 1
Get Raspberry Pi Imager
Install Imager on another computer, then connect your microSD card with a card reader.
Download Raspberry Pi Imager - 2
Choose your Pi, OS and card
Select your exact board, then Raspberry Pi OS with a desktop, and the card you want to write.
- 3
Personalize. Write. Verify.
Set your username, password and network details. Let Imager write and verify the card, then eject it safely.
Raspberry Pi Imager
Your Pi starts here.
Choose. Customize. Write.
DEVICERaspberry Pi 5
OPERATING SYSTEMRaspberry Pi OS (64-bit)
STORAGEYour microSD card
Ready to write →
Writing erases the selected card. Check its name and capacity, and back up anything you need before continuing.
05 / The first little milestone
Plug in. Power on. Hello, Pi.
Make the connections with the power disconnected. Your power supply is the last thing to plug in.
- 1
Fit the case and cooling
Follow the case instructions and handle the board by its edges. Keep it off metal or conductive surfaces.
- 2
Insert the card and connect your desk
Connect your prepared microSD card, HDMI screen, keyboard and mouse. Turn on the screen.
- 3
Connect power last
Plug the correct supply into the Pi’s power port. Allow the first startup to finish.
- 4
Finish setup and explore
Complete any prompts, connect to your network and install available updates. Open an app and try it.
One habit worth learning now: shut down from the system menu and wait for shutdown to finish before unplugging power.
06 / From code to the real world
Meet the pins that make things happen.
GPIO means General Purpose Input/Output. These pins let your Pi read inputs and control electronics. Start with a guided LED or button project.
A small connection.
A whole new possibility.
Use the reference for your exact board. A GPIO number is not the same as a physical pin number.
The Pico is a separate microcontroller family. Its reference is listed individually — not combined with the Zero.
Wire safely: disconnect power before changing connections. GPIO inputs use 3.3V logic, not 5V. Use appropriate driver circuits for motors and relays; don’t power them directly from a GPIO signal pin.
07 / A little help along the way
Hit a bump? Start here.
Check one thing at a time. These are useful first checks before rebuilding your setup.
My screen stays black.
Check the screen's selected HDMI input. On Pi 5, try HDMI0, the micro-HDMI connector nearest USB-C power. Connect the display before powering up, and try another cable or screen if possible.
The Pi will not boot.
Power down, reseat the microSD card and check that its OS supports your board. Test with a suitable supply. Reflash with Raspberry Pi Imager if needed, after backing up anything you need from the card.
I see a low-voltage warning.
Check the supply and connections. For the Pi 5 setup on this page, use its 5V / 5A-capable supply; a USB-C phone charger is not automatically an equivalent replacement.
Wi-Fi will not connect.
Check the network name, password and country settings. Pi Zero 2 W uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. On a Pi 4 or 5, Ethernet is also useful while you check wireless settings.
My preloaded card is not working.
Confirm it is intended for your board. Back up needed files, then write a compatible OS with Imager. Contact Vilros with your board model and card details if the issue continues.
Your next chapter
First boot is just the beginning.
Start with one small project. A little code, a blinking light, something that wasn’t there before.