The short answer
No, the Pi board inside the Raspberry Pi 400 cannot be changed.
The board inside is a custom compute module that is permanently integrated into the keyboard housing. It is not a standard Raspberry Pi 4 board, and it cannot be removed, replaced, or upgraded without destructive disassembly.
Pi 400 design
The Raspberry Pi 400 is designed as an all-in-one keyboard computer, not a modular system. Unlike a standard Raspberry Pi 4 that sits in a case, the Pi 400 uses a custom-designed board that is:
- Integrated directly into the keyboard chassis
- Connected to the keyboard matrix and ports via internal traces
- Cooled by a large aluminum heatsink built into the keyboard body
- Not designed for removal or replacement
This integrated design allows the Pi 400 to have excellent passive cooling and a clean, compact form factor, but it comes at the cost of modularity.
What's inside
The Raspberry Pi 400 contains a custom compute module that is approximately double the size of a standard Raspberry Pi 4 board. This module includes:
- Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 CPU (same as Pi 4)
- 4GB LPDDR4 RAM (fixed - not upgradeable)
- Integrated connectivity (GPIO, USB, Ethernet, HDMI)
- Custom PCB layout optimized for keyboard integration
Why it's different: Unlike a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (which is removable and designed for embedded systems), the Pi 400's internal board is not a standard compute module and is not meant to be user-serviceable.
Upgrading options
If you need more performance or flexibility than the Pi 400 provides, consider these alternatives:
- Use a standard Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5: These boards can be upgraded, swapped, and placed in different cases. See our Pi 5 vs Pi 4 comparison.
- Connect external hardware: The Pi 400's GPIO header (accessible via a rear slot) allows you to expand with HATs, sensors, and other accessories.
- Use USB expansion: Add USB storage, peripherals, or even a powered USB hub for more devices.
- Boot from NVMe (if supported): Some users have successfully booted Pi 400 from NVMe drives via USB adapters for faster storage.
Bottom line: The Pi 400 is designed as a fixed-spec keyboard computer. If you need upgradeable RAM or a swappable board, a standard Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 in a case is the better choice.