Product description
NVMe Base is a PCIe extension board for Raspberry Pi 5. Simply populate it with an M-key NVMe SSD (2230 to 2280 sizes supported) and mount it under your Pi for a compact and fast storage solution - It even comes with rubber feet!
It's the perfect solution for turning your Raspberry Pi 5 into a file server, media centre, reverse proxy, etc. - really any task that benefits from large amounts of fast storage, especially with random high operations per second (IOPS) workloads. In short it's a game changer!
NVMe base follows the new "PIP" design guidelines provided by Raspberry Pi ensuring that it will be easy to use and be supported long term by updates to Raspberry Pi OS - though it is very early days and things are improving rapidly there!
Raspberry Pi Firmware
For the most hassle-free experience, make sure your Raspberry Pi OS is up to date, and your RPi 5 firmware is updated to 2023-12-06 (Dec 6th) or newer. This supports all the features of the RPi PCIe spec and means you don't have to mess with config files to get started.
Base Kit
NVMe Base PCB with M.2 Slot (M-Key)
'PCIe Pipe' Flat Flex Cable
4x Rubber feet
M2 bolt and 2x nuts for SSD mounting
4x 7mm M2.5 standoffs for base mounting
8x short M2.5 bolts for base mounting 4x long M2.5 bolts for 'pass-thru' mounting with a HAT
rive compatibility
We have tested NVMe Base with the following M.2 NVMe drives successfully. We have usually tested one drive from one batch, so this is not comprehensive, or an 'Approved' list, but it's a good guide for drives to seek out:
AData Legend 700
AData Legend 800
AData XPG SX8200 Pro
Axe Memory Generic Drive
Crucial P2 M.2
Crucial P3 M.2
Crucial P3 Plus M.2
Inland PCIe NVMe SSD
Kingston KC3000
Kioxia Exceria NVMe SSD
Kioxia Exceria G2 NVMe SSD
Lexar NM620
Lexar NM710
Netac NV2000 NVMe SSD
Netac NV3000 NVMe SSD
Origin Inception TLC830 Pro NVMe
Patriot P300
Patriot P310
PNY CS1030
Sabrent Rocket 4.0
Sabrent Rocket Nano
Samsung 980
Samsung 980 Pro
Team MP33
Western Digital Black SN750 SE (Phison Controller)
' Maybe' List. Works with quirks/not ideal.
These drives either needed extra power, were a bit quirky when we tested them or we've had reports of them being problematic. It may just be the drive we had, but they're probably best avoided.
Kioxia BG4 2230. Performance very patchy. Runs at quite a high temp.
Samsung 970 EVO Plus. Runs at a higher temp. Needs to be quantified.
WD Blue SN550. Our fresh unit could be used as storage but could not be booted from.
WD Red SN700. Slow to boot first time, but worked and booted OK.
WD SN740. Our fresh unit worked well. YMMV.
WD Black SN770. Our fresh unit worked fine. YMMV.
'Avoid' List. We've had problems or reports of problems.
WD Green/Blue/Red/Black not in the above list. Variable results or not working because of quirks of a SanDisk controller/firmware. Our SN350 and SN570 prevented the RPi 5 from booting at all especially.
Otherwise most M.2 NVMe drive (Not SATA!) you have lying around should work fine.
It's the perfect solution for turning your Raspberry Pi 5 into a file server, media centre, reverse proxy, etc. - really any task that benefits from large amounts of fast storage, especially with random high operations per second (IOPS) workloads. In short it's a game changer!
NVMe base follows the new "PIP" design guidelines provided by Raspberry Pi ensuring that it will be easy to use and be supported long term by updates to Raspberry Pi OS - though it is very early days and things are improving rapidly there!
Raspberry Pi Firmware
For the most hassle-free experience, make sure your Raspberry Pi OS is up to date, and your RPi 5 firmware is updated to 2023-12-06 (Dec 6th) or newer. This supports all the features of the RPi PCIe spec and means you don't have to mess with config files to get started.
Base Kit
NVMe Base PCB with M.2 Slot (M-Key)
'PCIe Pipe' Flat Flex Cable
4x Rubber feet
M2 bolt and 2x nuts for SSD mounting
4x 7mm M2.5 standoffs for base mounting
8x short M2.5 bolts for base mounting 4x long M2.5 bolts for 'pass-thru' mounting with a HAT
rive compatibility
We have tested NVMe Base with the following M.2 NVMe drives successfully. We have usually tested one drive from one batch, so this is not comprehensive, or an 'Approved' list, but it's a good guide for drives to seek out:
AData Legend 700
AData Legend 800
AData XPG SX8200 Pro
Axe Memory Generic Drive
Crucial P2 M.2
Crucial P3 M.2
Crucial P3 Plus M.2
Inland PCIe NVMe SSD
Kingston KC3000
Kioxia Exceria NVMe SSD
Kioxia Exceria G2 NVMe SSD
Lexar NM620
Lexar NM710
Netac NV2000 NVMe SSD
Netac NV3000 NVMe SSD
Origin Inception TLC830 Pro NVMe
Patriot P300
Patriot P310
PNY CS1030
Sabrent Rocket 4.0
Sabrent Rocket Nano
Samsung 980
Samsung 980 Pro
Team MP33
Western Digital Black SN750 SE (Phison Controller)
' Maybe' List. Works with quirks/not ideal.
These drives either needed extra power, were a bit quirky when we tested them or we've had reports of them being problematic. It may just be the drive we had, but they're probably best avoided.
Kioxia BG4 2230. Performance very patchy. Runs at quite a high temp.
Samsung 970 EVO Plus. Runs at a higher temp. Needs to be quantified.
WD Blue SN550. Our fresh unit could be used as storage but could not be booted from.
WD Red SN700. Slow to boot first time, but worked and booted OK.
WD SN740. Our fresh unit worked well. YMMV.
WD Black SN770. Our fresh unit worked fine. YMMV.
'Avoid' List. We've had problems or reports of problems.
WD Green/Blue/Red/Black not in the above list. Variable results or not working because of quirks of a SanDisk controller/firmware. Our SN350 and SN570 prevented the RPi 5 from booting at all especially.
Otherwise most M.2 NVMe drive (Not SATA!) you have lying around should work fine.
