# NVMe Base for Raspberry Pi 5 – NVMe Base

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** PIM699 · **Brand:** [Pimoroni](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/pimoroni-australia) · **GTIN:** 769894024881
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/nvme-base-for-raspberry-pi-5-nvme-base.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/nvme-base-for-raspberry-pi-5-nvme-base.html.md))

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

> ⚠ This product strictly requires the use of a M.2 NVMe SSD, it is INCOMPATIBLE with M.2 SATA SSDs! Please ask if you are unsure of compatibility

## Pricing

- **Price:** $26.20 (inc GST) — $23.82 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $22.86 (exc GST) · 25+ $22.15 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- In stock, ships same business day if ordered before 2PM (Australia/Sydney).
- We can dispatch 56 today, and up to 1100 more in 7–12 days.

## Description

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 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](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/pcie-connector-standard_30560c72f82.pdf) 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!

Suitable for use with 250GB, 500GB, 1000GB, and 2000GB SSDs.

****Kit 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:**

We have tested NVMe Base with the following drives successfully:

- 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](https://core-electronics.com.au/crucial-p3-500gb-gen4-nvme-ssd.html)
- 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
- Sabrent Rocket 4.0
- Sabrent Rocket Nano
- Samsung 980
- Samsung 980 Pro (500GB/1TB)
- Team MP33
- Western Digital Black SN750 **SE** (Phison Controller)
 
But pretty much any M.2 NVMe drive you have lying around should work fine. Check out our benchmark results over at [pibenchmarks.net!](https://pibenchmarks.com/user/pimoroni/)

**Note:** pibenchmarks.net for some reason lists the Kioxia Exceria LRC10Z500GG8 as a 2.5" SATA SSD - this is an error in their data, it is, of course, an M.2 NVMe disk!

****Getting started:****

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/config.txt`** file like this:

 ```
<strong><code>[all]dtparam=pciex1_gen=3</code></strong>
```

Save and reboot - your drive is ready to use!

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

1. Format the drive using [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/)
2. Shutdown
3. Remove your microSD card
4. Power back on
 
****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 we know 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?
- We do not recommend WD Green SSDs at this time. Drives such as the SN350 are temperamental with the CM4 and RPi 5.
- The final shipping design and included hardware will differ very slightly though the photos here do reflect how it will look, and the performance will not be changed!
 
**Documents:**

- [Installation guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odG7FbptgWQ&ab_channel=Pimoroni)
- [Getting started guide](https://learn.pimoroni.com/article/getting-started-with-nvme-base)

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/P/I/PIM699-1.jpg)