The idea of running a full Windows 11 desktop on a $80 Raspberry Pi 5 board seems like alchemy—transforming hobbyist hardware into something resembling a functional PC. Yet recent developments in the Windows-on-ARM ecosystem have made this improbable feat achievable, albeit with significant caveats that demand careful consideration before diving into such a project.

The Technical Foundation

At its core, this transformation relies on two critical components: Microsoft’s ARM64 version of Windows 11 and custom UEFI firmware developed by the community-driven WoA Project (Windows on ARM). The Raspberry Pi 5’s quad-core Cortex-A76 processor (clocked at 2.4GHz) and up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM technically meet Windows 11’s base requirements—unlike earlier Pi models. However, Microsoft’s official hardware mandates, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, remain unmet. Community workarounds bypass these checks, but this voids official support.

Storage demands also pose hurdles. Windows 11 ARM requires a minimum 64GB drive, necessitating high-speed microSD cards (A2-rated) or USB 3.0-attached SSDs for viable performance. The Pi 5’s new PCIe 2.0 interface finally enables practical SSD booting—a critical upgrade from the Pi 4’s USB 2.0 bottleneck.

Installation Workflow: A Reality Check

The process isn’t for the faint-hearted:
1. Firmware Prep: Flashing the Raspberry Pi UEFI firmware (like the open-source "RPi5 UEFI" from pftf) to enable Windows boot
2. Image Creation: Using WoA Project’s deployment tools to build a bootable Windows 11 ARM image
3. Driver Injection: Manually adding Pi 5-specific drivers for Wi-Fi (Broadcom BCM2712), USB controllers, and GPU acceleration
4. Post-Setup Tweaks: Disabling memory-hungry features like Cortana and visual effects

Benchmarks reveal stark limitations. In Geekbench 5 tests, the Pi 5 scores ~450 (single-core) and ~1,600 (multi-core)—roughly one-third of an Intel i3-10100. Disk speeds via USB 3.0 SSD max out at 350MB/s, half that of entry-level laptops.

Performance Realities: Where the Pi 5 Shines (and Stumbles)

Use Case Viability Notes
Office/Web Browsing ★★★☆☆ Edge runs smoothly; avoid >5 Chrome tabs
Media Playback ★★★★☆ 4K video playback works via VLC; Netflix DRM requires workarounds
Light Gaming ★★☆☆☆ Runs Hollow Knight at 720p/30fps; 3D titles mostly unplayable
Development Work ★★☆☆☆ VS Code functions; compilation times 3–5× slower than x86 counterparts
Educational Use ★★★★★ Ideal for programming/OS experiments; low-cost classroom deployments

Surprisingly, the custom Adreno GPU driver manages DirectX 12 support, enabling basic gaming. Titles like Cuphead and Stardew Valley run at 720p, but modern 3D games remain impractical. For retro emulation, DuckStation (PS1) runs flawlessly, while Yuzu (Switch) struggles with single-digit FPS.

Critical Advantages: Why Consider This?

  • Cost Efficiency: A complete Pi 5 Windows setup costs under $150—one-fifth the price of entry-level Windows laptops
  • Energy Sovereignty: At 7–12W under load, it sips power compared to desktop PCs
  • Educational Value: Provides hands-on experience with UEFI, driver development, and ARM architecture
  • Specialized Use Cases: Digital signage, kiosks, or lightweight POS systems where x86 is overkill

Open-source advocates praise the project for democratizing access to Windows development environments. As Raspberry Pi engineer Gordon Hollingworth noted, "The Pi’s role in reducing computing’s barrier to entry extends to exploring proprietary ecosystems."

The Risk Landscape: Proceed With Caution

Driver Instability: Despite progress, critical components remain problematic:
- No hardware video decoding acceleration, straining the CPU during playback
- Bluetooth audio frequently drops out due to immature drivers
- Sleep/resume functionality is entirely unsupported

Security Trade-Offs: Bypassing TPM and Secure Boot creates vulnerabilities. Without Microsoft’s HVCI hypervisor protection, the device is ill-suited for sensitive data.

Update Fragility: Windows Update often breaks custom drivers, requiring manual reinstallation. Major feature updates (like 23H2) risk bricking the installation entirely.

Warranty Implications: Flashing non-certified firmware violates Raspberry Pi Foundation’s warranty terms.

Comparative Context

Alternatives like Intel NUCs or mini-PCs offer native Windows support at higher price points ($300+). For pure media center use, LibreELEC on Pi 5 outperforms Windows. Even Microsoft’s own ARM ambitions—like the Snapdragon-powered Surface Pro 9—highlight the Pi’s limitations: Qualcomm’s Oryon CPU cores are 4× faster than Pi 5’s Cortex-A76.

The Verdict: A Proof of Concept, Not a Daily Driver

This experiment triumphs as a technical showcase—proving Windows 11 can run on sub-$100 hardware. It delivers genuine value for tinkerers and educators, but performance gaps and stability issues prevent mainstream use. As WoA Project lead René Schulte observed, "This isn’t about replacing your workstation. It’s about making Windows accessible where it couldn’t go before."

For now, transforming a Pi 5 into a Windows PC remains a fascinating DIY achievement—one that demonstrates both the ingenuity of open-source communities and the hard boundaries of hardware limitations. As ARM evolves, future Pi models may narrow this gap, but today’s implementation serves best as a learning tool rather than a productivity solution.