The SD card was preloaded with the 32-bit Raspberry Pi OS, but due to my being a beginner, I didn't realize I'd overwrite that immediately by installing RetroPie, the retro gaming emulator I chose.

However, if you've gone looking for a Raspberry Pi 5-ready RetroPie ISO image to install the operating system from since the Pi 5's October 2023 release, you've probably come up empty.

The Raspberry Pi made its name as a powerful and affordable computer. At $10, the entry-level Raspberry Pi Zero is great for DIY, even if it can't do as much.