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Raspberry Pi 3 uses a 64-bit ARM CPU, while its predecessors used 32-bit ones.

How does this affect software compatibility?

Can all of the old 32 bit binary packages for Raspberry Pi 1 and 2 be properly run on it? Or have most of the Raspbian packages already been recompiled for the new architecture?

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    While the OS software is identical (as in the answer) the Pi3 requires different drivers and different Device Tree settings due to the changes in hardware.
    – Milliways
    Commented Mar 31, 2016 at 23:04

1 Answer 1

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While the processor in the Pi 3 is 64bit. The new chip is fully backward compatable and it uses the same 32bit OS, hence all programs will continue to work. Additional information can be found in this question.

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  • How does it work with the same image file (if it does)? It has firmware, dev tree, kernel overlays and config.txt for both versions? For what SoC the kernel is compiled?
    – Velkan
    Commented Jun 3, 2016 at 8:28
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    @Velkan If you have a NEW question, please ask it by clicking the Ask Question button.This is not something that can/sjould be answered in a comment.
    – Steve Robillard
    Commented Jun 3, 2016 at 8:30

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