The best way to add quick M.2 equipment to your Raspberry Pi 5

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+ for Pi 5 is offered to pre-order now from CanaKit, PiShop.US, and Sparkfun for about $12. 
• A straightforward manner so as to add M.2 peripherals to the Raspberry Pi 5.
• Might trigger overheating beneath sure circumstances.

The Raspberry Pi 5 is, no doubt, the greatest Raspberry Pi up to now. Not like its predecessor, it is fairly simple to accumulate, and it is a stable, sturdy platform for constructing initiatives. Moreover, the Raspberry Pi 5’s single-lane PCI Specific 2.0 interface makes connecting M.2 peripherals comparable to NVMe drives and AI accelerators simple.

Additionally: Finest M.2 SSD drive

A Raspberry Pi HAT ({Hardware} Hooked up on High) that I have been eager to check is the M.2 HAT+. Having now had an opportunity to make use of it, I’ve to say I am impressed. This add-on may allow the Pi 5 for use in fascinating initiatives.

View at Sparkfun

Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+

• PCIe interface: PCIe 2.0 (could be set to three.0 by the person)
• M.2 compatibility: M-key 2230 and 2242
• Energy: As much as 3 amps
• Efficiency: As much as 450 MB/s
• GPIO: Move-through by way of included 16mm stacking header
• Dimensions: 65mm x 56.5mm
• Provided {hardware}: 16mm stacking header, threaded spacers and screws, and knurled double-flanged thumbscrew to safe and help the M.2 peripheral

The M.2 HAT+ attaches to the 16-pin, 0.5mm pitch FPC connector on the Pi 5’s board with a brief ribbon cable:

This connector is often simply accessible, however as a result of all my Pi 5’s are in circumstances I needed to take away the board to suit the PCIe cable:

Somebody with smaller palms or extra endurance may have the ability to match the cable with the board within the case, however I’ve massive palms and little endurance.

Additionally: Discovering Raspberry Pi: The place to purchase the most recent mannequin and its alternate options

If you could use — or assume you may want — the GPIO pins, bear in mind to suit the stacking header to deliver the headers to the HAT:

With the cable fitted, it is time to safe the board to the risers, and we’re then prepared to suit the M.2 peripheral:

With the HAT put in, it is time to match an M.2 peripheral. 

Additionally: These are my 3 must-have Raspberry Pi equipment

Many M.2 peripherals can be found, from storage drives to AI accelerators. Right here, I’ll use an M.2 SSD. This space is the place the official Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+ differs from different M.2 HATs I’ve used — sure, there are others out there — as a result of the peripheral labored straightaway and I did not encounter compatibility points with any of the storage drives I examined. 

For the efficiency assessments, I used a 256GB Transcend M.2 PCIe Gen3x4 2230 NVMe drive that mixes good-quality efficiency and reliability, and has a aggressive price ticket.

The drive is secured utilizing a knurled thumbscrew:

Organising the drive is sort of simple when you’ve already achieved some work along with your Raspberry Pi, and the method is well-documented on the Raspberry Pi web site. 

I examined the efficiency of the M.2 HAT+ and obtained figures hovering round 410 MB/s, which is greater than acceptable, and I may most likely optimize this determine extra given the time. However for these assessments, I saved every thing inventory. 

One factor that I did discover when stress-testing and benchmarking was that the M.2 HAT+ and SSD drive remained fairly cool in use. Nevertheless, as a result of the cooler was sandwiched between two boards, I observed temperatures spike to 60°C/140°F, and the most well liked bit was within the hole within the HAT. 

Whereas not an issue, I may see this warmth probably turning into a problem if the mission is housed in several circumstances, in higher-temperature environments, or if the {hardware} is pushed tougher.

However apart from that potential situation, this HAT, and the Pi 5, carried out flawlessly.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

Want so as to add M.2 peripherals to your Raspberry Pi 5? Whilst you may have the ability to get away with utilizing one of many many third–occasion HATs which are on the market, I do just like the efficiency and reliability of this official M.2 HAT+. And for $12, it is a no-brainer selection.