Tiny $10 Raspberry Pi 5 PCie Board Brings Low-Cost, High-Speed Storage – Tom’s Hardware

Pineboards, formerly known as Pineberry Pi, has introduced the HatDrive! Nano, a compact 55x34mm M.2 HAT for the Raspberry Pi, offering high-speed NVMe storage and PCIe compatibility. Priced at just €9 (around $10), this tiny board promises to revolutionize storage solutions for Raspberry Pi enthusiasts. With its efficient design clearing the Raspberry Pi Active Cooler’s heatsink and including a 3-Amp buck converter for optimal performance, the HatDrive! Nano is set to be a game-changer in the world of Raspberry Pi accessories. What challenges have single board computers faced with not being able to work with PCIe, what unique features does the board offer to address cooling challenges, and how might this compact yet powerful board expand the possibilities for Raspberry Pi projects?

The Rapid Evolution of Single Board Computers

The power of technology integration is reshaping the landscape of single board computers, as the miniaturization of devices enables smaller, more energy-efficient designs. However, the reliance on micro SD cards for storage and a restricted set of ports due to the absence of Peripheral Component Interconnect Express is restricting the capabilities of these computers, impeding their ability to optimize performance and expand functionality. The Raspberry Pi, a popular model in the single board computing sector, is facing similar challenges in its bid to enhance data transfer speeds and accommodate additional peripherals, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to meet the growing demands of a rapidly evolving industry.

For example, the reliance on micro SD cards with limited speed and capacity is a major constraint in the optimization of single board computers like the Raspberry Pi. The slow performance of micro SD cards reduces the ability to accelerate applications efficiently, while the small storage capacity restricts the amount of data that can be stored.

This leads to a higher cost per unit, as additional storage devices are needed to meet the growing demands of embedded systems and other applications, thereby increasing the cost and size of the system. Thus, the combination of slow speed and limited capacity of micro SD cards impedes the ability to enhance the performance and efficiency of single board computers, hindering their potential for future growth and expansion.

To address the challenges posed by the lack of PCIe support and the limitations of micro SD cards, the industry must focus on advancing storage technology for single board computers like the Raspberry Pi. Enhancing storage speed and capacity will help to accelerate application performance, improve data access, and expand storage options, thereby increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of these computers in various applications.

The integration of faster storage solutions, such as SSDs, and larger memory cards, such as SDHC and SDXC, is essential to meet the growing demands for high-performance and cost-effective embedded computing solutions. However, in order for these technologies to be made available to single board computers, it is critical that PCIe is integrated into the next-generation of machines.

The HatDrive! Nano: Enhancing Raspberry Pi Projects with High-Speed Storage and Efficiency

In an exciting development, Pineboards has unveiled the HatDrive! Nano, a compact M.2 HAT measuring 55x34mm, designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi and utilizing the Raspberry Pi 5’s PCIe connection. Formerly known as Pineberry Pi, this cost-effective device is now available at a price of just €9 (approximately $10), making it an ideal addition to Raspberry Pi projects. The HatDrive! Nano facilitates high-speed NVMe storage while supporting PCIe devices, offering a significant upgrade in storage capabilities for the Raspberry Pi ecosystem.

The HatDrive! Nano is engineered with efficiency in mind, incorporating a 3-Amp buck converter for stable power delivery and minimal heat generation. This design also allows for optimal heat management, ensuring the board operates efficiently and effectively. The compatibility of the HatDrive! Nano with the Raspberry Pi Active Cooler further enhances heat management, making it an ideal choice for projects requiring high-performance computing.

The compact design of the HatDrive! Nano supports 2230 and 2242 M.2 M-key boards, providing a speed advantage over traditional MicroSD storage solutions. Despite its small size and non-HATA compliance, the board is easy to install with only two screws, maintaining access to GPIO pins for connecting additional peripherals and expansion boards. This installation method also allows for the hatdrive to be removable, further adding to its versatility.

The support for various PCIe-based devices takes the HatDrive! Nano beyond standard storage solutions, opening up new possibilities for engineers and makers. The combination of high-speed NVMe storage and PCIe compatibility makes the HatDrive! Nano a valuable addition to any Raspberry Pi project, enhancing data access speed and efficiency.

The Future of Project Development

The introduction of the HatDrive! Nano board represents a significant advancement that helps engineers to surpasses traditional MicroSD storage. This compact and cost-effective board, equipped with a PCIe interface, paves the way for faster and more efficient data processing, paving the way to a new level of project complexity and performance.

The addition of NVMe support and other PCIe boards to the HatDrive! Nano board opens up new possibilities for the Raspberry Pi community, setting a higher standard for project innovation and data management. By providing a low-cost, high-speed storage solution, the board’s impact on the community is substantial, encouraging the development of more advanced and sophisticated projects that require high-capacity storage.

The inclusion of PCIe connections on the HatDrive! Nano board also sets the stage for future Raspberry Pi models to build upon this foundation, potentially enhancing system performance further. This development establishes a new benchmark for the series, cementing the Raspberry Pi’s position as a powerful and versatile platform for project implementation.

The HatDrive! Nano board represents a significant milestone in the evolution of Raspberry Pi hardware, marking a shift towards faster, more reliable, and higher-capacity storage solutions. As the demand for advanced computing capabilities continues to grow, this board’s impact will be felt across the board, unlocking new possibilities for project design and optimization.

Looking ahead, the future of Raspberry Pi projects will be shaped by the HatDrive! Nano board’s innovative storage capabilities, paving the way for more efficient, cost-effective, and high-performance computing solutions. This chapter marks the beginning of a new era of innovation, advancement, and optimization in the Raspberry Pi community, as the HatDrive! Nano board sets the standard for the future of project development.