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RP3A0 is Raspberry Pi’s custom system-in-package (SiP), not a complete Raspberry Pi board. It combines a Broadcom BCM2710A1 processor die with 512 MB of LPDDR2 memory. Raspberry Pi uses it in the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and as the computing foundation of Compute Module Zero.
RP3A0 at a glance
| Specification | RP3A0 |
|---|---|
| Package type | System-in-package (SiP) |
| Processor die | Broadcom BCM2710A1 |
| CPU | Four 64-bit Arm Cortex-A53 cores |
| Nominal clock | 1 GHz |
| Memory | 512 MB LPDDR2 DRAM, integrated in the package |
| Main products | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and Compute Module Zero |
| Wireless | Product-dependent; not part of the basic RP3A0 package |
| Bare-chip availability | No ordinary retail source is verified by the available product material |
Raspberry Pi’s processor documentation describes RP3A0 as its first SiP and identifies it as the processor package used by Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. See the Raspberry Pi processor documentation.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
New Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Board (3B+) Raspberry PI 3B+ (1GB) (3B Plus) | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter PRO Kit - 4GB RAM | $159.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (2GB) | $78.54 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Raspberry Pi 5 8GB | $200.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 Kit | $349.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What is inside RP3A0?
RP3A0 contains the BCM2710A1 silicon die and 512 MB of LPDDR2 DRAM in one package. The processor provides four 64-bit Cortex-A53 cores running at a nominal 1 GHz.
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The BCM2710A1 die is associated with the BCM2837 generation used in Raspberry Pi 3 products. However, saying that “RP3A0 is a BCM2837” is imprecise. RP3A0 is a different package strategy: it combines the BCM2710A1 processor die with memory for a compact Raspberry Pi platform.
Older Raspberry Pi Zero designs used package-on-package memory, with DRAM mounted above the processor. The larger, faster processor design used for Zero 2 W made that arrangement less convenient. The SiP approach allowed Raspberry Pi to fit substantially more processing capability into the Zero form factor.
RP3A0 is not a complete computer
The package should be separated from the board or module surrounding it. RP3A0 itself does not automatically provide:
- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- microSD storage
- USB, HDMI, camera, or GPIO connectors
- Power-input circuitry
- A carrier-board interface
- eMMC storage
Those features depend on the product built around the SiP. This is why an RP3A0 marking does not identify a complete Raspberry Pi model and does not, by itself, prove that a device has wireless connectivity.
Rank #2
- Includes Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Model B with 1.5GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU (4GB RAM)
- Includes Pre-Loaded 32GB EVO+ Micro SD Card (Class 10), USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Premium High-Gloss Raspberry Pi 4 Case with Integrated Fan Mount, CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- CanaKit 3.5A USB-C Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply (US Plug) with Noise Filter, Set of Heat Sinks, Display Cable - 6 foot (Supports up to 4K60p)
- CanaKit USB-C PiSwitch (On/Off Power Switch for Raspberry Pi 4)
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is the best-known RP3A0-based product. It adds the PCB, power circuitry, connectors, wireless hardware, and storage interface needed to make the SiP a usable single-board computer.
The Zero 2 W provides:
- 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN
- Bluetooth 4.2 and Bluetooth Low Energy
- microSD storage
- USB 2.0 OTG
- Mini HDMI
- CSI-2 camera interface
- Unpopulated 40-pin GPIO footprint
- H.264/MPEG-4 1080p30 decoding and H.264 1080p30 encoding
- OpenGL ES 1.1 and 2.0 graphics
Raspberry Pi’s product material claims approximately 40% higher single-threaded performance and five times the multi-threaded performance of the original single-core Raspberry Pi Zero. These are product-level comparisons, not universal benchmark guarantees; workload, software, thermal conditions, and clock settings affect the result. A Newark listing is for the complete Zero 2 W board, not a bare RP3A0 package.
Compute Module Zero
Compute Module Zero extends the RP3A0 platform into a solderable system-on-module for custom hardware. It is intended to be mounted on a carrier board rather than used as a connector-equipped standalone computer.
Rank #3
- Broadcom BCM2711, Quad core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.5GHz
- 1GB, 2GB, 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM (depending on model)
- 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE Gigabit Ethernet
- 2 USB 3.0 ports; 2 USB 2.0 ports.
- Raspberry Pi standard 40 pin GPIO header (fully backwards compatible with previous boards)
According to Raspberry Pi’s Compute Module Zero product brief, the module measures 39 × 33 × 2.8 mm and uses 132 castellated connections on a 1 mm pitch. Listed capabilities and options include:
- 512 MB LPDDR2 memory
- Wireless and non-wireless variants
- Lite versions without eMMC
- 8 GB or 16 GB eMMC variants
- 28 GPIO pins
- Four-lane CSI and DSI interfaces
- USB 2.0, DPI, composite video, and HDMI interfaces
- 5 V DC power
- Operating-temperature specification of −20 °C to +85 °C
Compute Module Zero shares the RP3A0-based computing platform with Zero 2 W, but it is not simply a Zero 2 W with its connectors removed. Its mechanical interface, storage options, wireless variants, and carrier-board requirements are different.
Does RP3A0 include Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
No—not as an inherent feature of the SiP. The Zero 2 W adds 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2/BLE. Selected Compute Module Zero variants add 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0/BLE. The differing Bluetooth specifications demonstrate why wireless features must be checked at the product level rather than inferred from the RP3A0 marking.
Rank #4
- Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB RAM: Model SC1112 featuring a quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz. Enhanced Connectivity: Includes dual 4K micro HDMI ports, USB-C power input, and high-speed USB 3.0 ports. PCIe Expansion Support: FPC connector enables M.2 NVMe SSDs when using compatible adapters. Fast Storage Options: Works with microSD cards for booting, or optional NVMe storage for advanced projects. Built for Projects & Learning: Ideal for programming, home labs, DIY electronics, automation, and Linux-based development.
How fast is RP3A0?
The standard specification is four Cortex-A53 cores at 1 GHz with 512 MB of RAM. Raspberry Pi documentation indicates that operation up to 1.2 GHz may be possible with suitable cooling, but 1.2 GHz should not be treated as the normal guaranteed speed. It is a cooling-dependent overclocking possibility.
The 512 MB memory capacity is suitable for lightweight Linux systems, automation, gateways, cameras, and modest computer-vision workloads. It is restrictive for browser-heavy desktops, multiple large containers, demanding multimedia pipelines, and memory-intensive AI workloads. Newer Raspberry Pi platforms are preferable when performance or RAM headroom matters more than the Zero form factor.
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The Zero 2 W uses thick internal PCB copper layers to help spread heat away from the processor. Raspberry Pi’s design discussion reports an uncased board running a particular LINPACK stress test indefinitely without throttling at 20 °C ambient. That result is specific to the stated test and conditions; it is not a guarantee for every enclosure, workload, or ambient temperature.
Best Value
- COMPLETE KIT: Development kit includes Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, IO Board, protective case, cooling system, antenna kit, power supply, and essential HDMI/USB cables
- POWERFUL PROCESSOR: Features BCM2712 64-bit processor with ARM Cortex-A76 architecture for high-performance computing capabilities
- DEVELOPMENT READY: IO Board provides comprehensive connectivity options including HDMI and USB ports for versatile prototyping and embedded solutions
- THERMAL MANAGEMENT: Includes dedicated cooler and heatsink system to maintain optimal operating temperatures during development
- CONNECTIVITY: Comes with antenna kit and multiple USB/HDMI cables for immediate setup and testing of wireless applications
Compute Module Zero’s −20 °C to +85 °C rating is a module specification, not a promise that every carrier-board design will maintain maximum performance throughout that range. Enclosure airflow, copper area, heat spreading, power delivery, and sustained workload must be considered in the complete product.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do markings such as RP3A0-AU mean?
RP3A0 is the package designation. The RP3 portion has been attributed to Raspberry Pi’s package naming, while A0 indicates the initial package version or revision. A marking such as RP3A0-AU is therefore a package marking, not the name of a separate Raspberry Pi board.
Additional four- or six-digit markings are commonly interpreted as manufacturing or order-date codes. That interpretation should be treated as attributed guidance rather than proof of an electrical revision unless a current official marking specification confirms it. Do not assume that every suffix or date code identifies a different processor feature set.
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The available official product material documents RP3A0 as part of Zero 2 W and Compute Module Zero. The distributor listing identified above is for a complete Zero 2 W board, and no verified ordinary retail listing for a bare RP3A0 package is established here.
For practical purposes:
- Hobbyists and developers: use Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W for a complete, ready-to-use board.
- Product designers: prototype software and hardware concepts with Zero 2 W, then evaluate Compute Module Zero with a custom carrier board.
- Repairers: treat RP3A0 as one component of the board; diagnosing the complete power, storage, wireless, and connector circuitry is still necessary.
- Bare-chip seekers: do not design around RP3A0 procurement without direct supply confirmation.
Is RP3A0 interchangeable with BCM2837 or BCM2710?
No. RP3A0 contains a BCM2710A1 die associated with the BCM2837 generation, but it is not established as a simple pin-compatible replacement for BCM2837 or BCM2710 packages. The usable interfaces depend on the surrounding board or module design. Compute Module Zero, for example, exposes its own 132-pad mechanical and electrical interface.
Choosing the right RP3A0-based product
| Need | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small standalone Linux computer | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W | Includes wireless, connectors, microSD support, and power circuitry. |
| Prototype for a compact product | Zero 2 W, then Compute Module Zero | The board simplifies experimentation; the module supports carrier-board integration. |
| Solder-down production design | Compute Module Zero | Designed for a custom carrier board and offers wireless and eMMC variants. |
| High-RAM or high-performance workload | A newer Raspberry Pi platform | RP3A0’s 512 MB and older Cortex-A53 CPU may be limiting. |
Compute Module Zero is the supported design path when a product needs the RP3A0 platform in a custom enclosure. A commercial design still requires carrier-board engineering, high-speed layout, power and thermal planning, manufacturing capability for castellated modules, and EMC and regulatory work.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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