Upgrading from Pi3 to Pi4

Organ1zedcha0s

I setup a functioning pi 3b+ a year ago for retropie, but I am thinking about upgrading to a pi4.

What on the SD could I keep, what should I delete? Should I start from scratch? Can I keep my games at least?

Also what model would be best? Another question is if I can reuse my case with its heat sink and fan.

Thanks for any help.

mitu

@Organ1zedcha0s said in Upgrading from Pi3 to Pi4:

What on the SD could I keep, what should I delete? Should I start from scratch? Can I keep my games at least?

You'll need to start with a new image, but you can back-up your games/BIOS/configs and transfer them over - https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Updating-RetroPie/#backup-option-2

Also what model would be best?

Any model would work.

Another question is if I can reuse my case with its heat sink and fan.

Unlikely, since the board connectors have changed from the previous model.

VictimRLSH

You might be able to use your fan, since it will plug into the same GPIO pins, but the case itself isn't going to fit. The heatsinks are differently shaped but will definitely be better than nothing. THOROUGHLY clean off the old adhesive with a razor blade and then rubbing alcohol. Also make sure you have heat transfer tape and not ordinary mounting tape (which has the OPPOSITE effect). The heatsinks also go on different chips than the Pi 3. Here is a video showing where to put them. Again, they won't quite fit right but will still provide cooling. If you don't have heat transfer tape, thermal paste will work, but if your Pi is going to be moved around much or in a portable application the heatsinks could skate around.

The Pi 4 needs all the help it can get with cooling, if you stress it and you don't have a fan and heatsinks, it WILL throttle.

Organ1zedcha0s

@VictimRLSH I think I will just buy a new set. (Fan, case, heat sinks). Thank you for all of the info though!

Organ1zedcha0s

@mitu Thank you. That will work for me. I didn't think about using Samba Shares to back them up!