System Requirements

System Requirements

Everything you need to run Lights Pi.

Raspberry Pi

Lights Pi supports both Raspberry Pi 3B+ and Pi 4 with automatic optimizations for each model.

Raspberry Pi 4 (Recommended)

• 2GB RAM minimum, 4GB+ recommended
• Better performance for 10+ fixtures
• Faster web interface
• Can run additional services
• USB 3.0 ports
• Price: ~$55 (4GB model)

Raspberry Pi 3B+ (Budget)

• 1GB RAM (sufficient for most setups)
• Works great for <10 fixtures
• Automatic performance optimizations
• Lower power consumption
• More affordable
• Price: ~$35

Pi 3 Optimizations: When Pi 3 is detected, Lights Pi automatically reduces GPU memory, disables Bluetooth/HDMI, increases swap, and optimizes CPU governor for better performance.

Storage

MicroSD card for the operating system and configuration.

• Minimum: 16GB Class 10 or better
• Recommended: 32GB UHS-I (U1) or better
• Brands: SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston (avoid no-name brands)

Network

WiFi or Ethernet connection for remote access.

• WiFi: 2.4GHz or 5GHz (Pi 3B+ and Pi 4 support both)
• Ethernet: Gigabit on Pi 4, 100Mbps on Pi 3B+
• mDNS: Automatic discovery via lights.local
• Dual WiFi: Configure two networks for redundancy

Power Supply

Proper power supply is critical for stable operation.

• Pi 4: USB-C, 5V 3A (15W) official power supply
• Pi 3B+: Micro USB, 5V 2.5A (12.5W) official power supply
• Warning: Underpowered supplies cause instability and corruption