Recommended Hardware
External USB SSD drive
Brand/Model | Comment | Link* | |
---|---|---|---|
Samsung T7 2TB USB 3.2 | recommended for most users compatible with Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 |
https://tweakers.net/ |
Tip
Some external disks consume more power than Raspberry Pi can deliver via USB. For Raspberry Pi 5 max power output of USB ports is 600mA if using a 3A supply, 1600mA if using a 5A supply. You can edit /boot/firmware/config.txt and add usb_max_current_enable=1 to disable current limit. This flag is enabled by default in the Web3Pi image. Please read the documentation: https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/raspberry-pi.html
m.2 NVMe drive
Those drives need adapters
Brand/Model | Controller | Comment | Link* | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Micron M.2 2230 2TB | Silicon Motion SM2269XT |
single side design ~4 W (Max) small 2230 form factor low power consumption low heat |
Product page More Info |
|
Sabrent Rocket Q4 2230 2 TB | Phison PS5021-E21T |
single side design ~4 W (Max) small 2230 form factor low power consumption low heat |
Product page More Info |
|
Sabrent Rocket 2280 2TB | Phison PS5012-E12S-32 |
single side design |
Product page More Info |
|
Samsung 980 Pro 2TB | Samsung Elpis (S4LV003) |
single side design 7.2 W (Max) |
Product page More Info |
|
Kingston KC3000 2TB | Phison PS5018-E18-41 |
double side design 10.0 W (Max) high performance wide availability |
Product page More Info |
|
Crucial P5 Plus 2TB | Micron DM02A1 |
single side design 8.6 W (Max) |
Product page More Info |
|
Crucial P3 2TB | Phison PS5021-E21T |
single side design low cost wide availability |
Product page More Info |
|
Kingston NV2 2TB | Silicon Motion SM2267XT |
single side design low cost wide availability |
Product page More Info |
|
Teamgroup MP44S 2230 2TB | Phison PS5021-E21 |
single side design small 2230 form factor low power consumption low heat |
Product page More Info |
Tip
Double-sided NVMe M.2 memory modules (with memory chips on both sides of the PCB) may not be fully compatible with every adapter due to physical dimensions, specifically the height of the M.2 slot in the adapter/enclosure.
NVMe HAT for Raspberry Pi 5
Brand/Model | Comment | Link* | |
---|---|---|---|
Pimoroni NVMe Base | tested high quality double side friendly |
Product page Shop |
|
Raspberry Pi m.2 Hat | official tested high quality double side friendly 2230 and 2242 form factors other form factors can be used, but they require their own mounting and extend beyond the outline |
Product page Shop |
|
Pineboards HatDrive! Bottom | tested high quality double side friendly 2230, 2242, 2280 form factor |
Product page Shop |
|
Pineboards HatDrive! Top | tested high quality double side friendly 2230 and 2242 form factors other form factors can be used, but they require their own mounting and extend beyond the outline |
Product page Shop |
|
Pineboards HatDrive! Nano | tested high quality double side friendly 2230 and 2242 form factors other form factors can be used, but they require their own mounting and extend beyond the outline |
Product page Shop |
|
Waveshare 26583 | tested high quality double side friendly 2230 and 2242 form factors other form factors can be used, but they require their own mounting and extend beyond the outline |
Product page Shop |
|
KAmodRPi5 PCIe-M.2 | We do NOT recommend it. We had problems with this adapter. |
Product page/Shop | |
Geekworm X1001 | We do NOT recommend it. The adapter is designed to deliver 1A 5V power. It is not enough for a 2TB NVMe. Poor quality ribbon cable |
Product page/Shop |
microSD card
Flashing a microSD card takes time, but it can be reduced by using a fast device. Additionally, using a fast micro SD card results in a shorter booting time.
The recommended capacity is 32 or 63 GB.
A few examples:
Brand/Model | Comment | Link* | |
---|---|---|---|
SanDisk Extreme Pro | Product page | ||
Samsung EVO Plus | Product page | ||
Silicon Power 3D NAND | Product page | ||
SanDisk Ultra | Product page | ||
SanDisk MAX ENDURANCE | Product page | ||
Lexar Professional 1000x |
Enclosures for Raspberry Pi 5
Brand/Model | Comment | Link* | |
---|---|---|---|
Argon NEO 5 M.2 NVMe | +good cooling +metal -inconvenient access to the microSD card -m.2 slot not compatible with double side NVMe (easy modification possible with utility knife) |
Product page Shop |
|
Argon NEO 5 | +easy acces to microSD card +good cooling +metal |
Product page Shop |
|
Argon ONE V3 M.2 NVMe | +good cooling +metal -m.2 slot not compatible with double side NVMe (easy modification possible with utility knife) |
Product page Shop |
|
Argon ONE V3 | +good cooling +metal |
Product page Shop |
Enclosures for Raspberry Pi 4B
Brand/Model | Comment | Link* | |
---|---|---|---|
Case justPi | assembly instructions | Product page Shop |
|
Argon One V2 | Fan control needs additional configuration as described by the manufacturer manual |
Product page Shop |
|
Argon One V2 m.2 | Fan control needs additional configuration as described by the manufacturer manual |
Product page Shop |
USB to NVMe adapters
Brand | Link* | |
---|---|---|
ZenWire | Product Page | |
RIITOP | Product Page | |
QOLTEC | Product Page |
or other similar
*Sample links result from a quick Google search mainly for the reader's convenience & quick price reference; we invite you to do your own research and find local hardware providers.