NVMe Base for Raspberry Pi 5 – NVMe Base

Add super-fast storage to your Raspberry Pi 5 allowing for lightning-fast boots, NAS use, and snappy applications!

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 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!

Includes

• 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

Drive compatibility

Single samples tested; firmware and power/thermals may affect results. This is a guide, not an “approved” list.

Tested Working

• AData: Legend 700, Legend 800, XPG SX8200 Pro
• Axe Memory: Generic Drive
• Crucial: P2 M.2, P3 M.2, P3 Plus M.2
• Inland: PCIe NVMe SSD
• Kingston: KC3000
• Kioxia: Exceria NVMe SSD, Exceria G2 NVMe SSD
• Lexar: NM620, NM710
• Netac: NV2000 NVMe SSD, NV3000 NVMe SSD
• Origin: Inception TLC830 Pro NVMe
• Sabrent: Rocket 4.0, Rocket Nano
• Samsung: 980, 980 Pro (500GB/1TB)
• Team: MP33
• Western Digital: Black SN750 SE (Phison Controller)

“Maybe” List – Works with Quirks

• Kioxia BG4 2230: Patchy performance, runs hot
• Patriot P300: Controller variation, some incompatible
• Patriot P310: Controller variation, some incompatible
• PNY CS1030 (250GB): Reports of failure
• Samsung 970 EVO Plus: Runs hot, some boot/load issues
• Samsung 980 Pro (250GB): Reports of failure
• WD Blue SN550: Storage works, but no boot
• WD Red SN700: Slow first boot, then OK
• WD SN740: Worked for us, YMMV
• WD Black SN770: Worked for us, YMMV

Avoid List – Known Problems

• KingSpec NX Series
• Kingston OM8SEP4256Q-A0
• Transcend 110Q (TS500GMTE110Q)
• WD Green / Blue / Red / Black (other than listed above): Variable results, often fail. SN350 & SN570 prevented boot entirely.

Otherwise, most M.2 NVMe drives (not SATA!) you already have should work fine.

Check out the benchmark results over at pibenchmarks.net!

Getting Started

• Video: Installing the Pimoroni NVMe Base on Raspberry Pi 5 ?
• Learn: Getting Started with NVMe Base for Raspberry Pi 5  ?

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.

Software update on the RPi OS should do this for you, but to force it you can:

• Open a Terminal (Ctrl-Alt-T)
• Run sudo raspi-config and choose 'Latest' under Advanced Options > Bootloader Version

Running sudo rpi-eeprom-update in the Terminal will tell you which version of firmware is running.

PCIe 3 Mode

To enable experimental and not-officially-supported PCIe 3 mode, add the following line to the [all] section at the end of your Raspberry Pi /boot/firmware/config.txt file like this:

[all]
dtparam=pciex1_gen=3

Save and reboot – your drive is ready to use!

Formatting the NVMe and Booting from NVMe

If you want to boot from the NVMe drive, follow these extra steps:

1. Make sure your firmware is updated as above!
2. Format the drive using Raspberry Pi Imager
3. You can do this with your NVMe Base installed by booting the RPi 5 from SD card and running Raspberry Pi Imager from the start menu.
4. Open a Terminal (Ctrl-Alt-T)
5. Run sudo raspi-config
6. Choose NVMe/USB boot under Advanced Options > Boot Order
7. Reboot your RPi 5

Notes

• Always power off your RPi and disconnect the power supply before installing or uninstalling the NVMe Base.
• NVMe Base offers a general-purpose PCIe x1 connection – while most people want to add fast storage, in theory you can use other devices with it. We just can't help you make them work! :-D What Would Jeff (Geerling) Do?