Pimoroni NVMe Base: High-Speed Storage for Raspberry Pi 5
The Pimoroni NVMe Base is an expansion board engineered to address the most significant performance constraint found in micro-computing environments: micro-SD card storage limitations. Standard flash memory cards work reliably for modest…
By Hannah Barnett 9 min read
Pimoroni NVMe Base
Aaawave
Very good
Our score: 9.0/10
Scores are out of 10, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback.
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The Pimoroni NVMe Base is an expansion board engineered to address the most significant performance constraint found in micro-computing environments: micro-SD card storage limitations. Standard flash memory cards work reliably for modest embedded workloads, but they often suffer from low random input-output speeds, vulnerability to filesystem corruption during unexpected shutdowns, and limited read-write endurance. Designed specifically to pair with the single-board architecture of the Raspberry Pi 5, this bottom-mounted board provides an M.2 M-Key slot driven by a dedicated PCI Express x1 connection. It transforms the single-board computer into a robust development system, local server, or media workstation capable of sustained throughput and responsive daily operation.
In this detailed Pimoroni NVMe Base review, we evaluate whether this hardware peripheral delivers the reliability and physical stability demanded by technical builders. Our assessment explores the physical contents included in the package, detailed Pimoroni NVMe Base specs, mounting clearances for multiple drive lengths, and practical considerations for initial configuration. We also examine operating system boot capabilities, thermal implications of under-board drive placement, and how this hardware platform stacks up against alternative expansion options available on the market.
What You Get With the Pimoroni NVMe Base
The product package arrives as a dedicated hardware kit designed to give builders all the physical fasteners and connection cables required to mount an M.2 drive beneath the computer board. The listing provides the following items out of the box:
In the box
- NVMe Base printed circuit board with an integrated M.2 slot (M-Key)
- PCIe Pipe custom flat flexible ribbon cable
- Four adhesive rubber feet for desktop placement
- One M2 bolt and two M2 nuts for fastening solid-state drives
- Four 7mm M2.5 threaded standoffs for mounting the base beneath the main board
- Eight short M2.5 bolts for securing the base to the standoffs
- Four long M2.5 bolts for pass-through mounting when using an additional top HAT
Key Specifications
| Brand | AAAwave |
|---|---|
| Model Number | PIM699 |
| Hardware Interface | PCI Express x1 |
| Host Device Compatibility | Raspberry Pi 5 |
| Drive Form Factor Support | M.2 sizes 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 |
| Drive Interface Slot | M-Key M.2 connector |
| Operating System Support | Raspberry Pi OS (Linux) |
| Included Storage Capacity | 0TB (drive not included) |
| Style Name | Classic |
| UPC | 810094904456 |
All 13 attributes from the listing
| Brand | AAAwave |
|---|---|
| Model Number | PIM699 |
| UPC | 810094904456 |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Number of Packs | 1 |
| Manufacturer | AAAwave |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Best Sellers Rank | #486 in Single Board Computers (Computers & Accessories) |
| ASIN | B0CX754H4D |
| Hardware Interface | PCI Express x1 |
| Compatible Devices | Raspberry Pi 5 |
| Style Name | Classic |
| Style | Classic |
Figures as published by the manufacturer on the Amazon listing.
Physical Clearance and Form Factor Flexibility
The physical footprint of an expansion board determines what types of enclosures, drives, and accessories you can incorporate into a build. The Pimoroni NVMe Base mounts beneath the single-board computer rather than sitting atop the standard 40-pin GPIO array. By anchoring underneath, the board leaves the top surface of the processor board clear, allowing builders to run active cooling fans, heatsinks, or supplementary hardware boards without vertical physical conflicts. The included set of four long M2.5 bolts also facilitates stacked installations where top-mounted HAT accessories share the mounting pillars.
Drive form factor versatility is one of the strongest technical attributes of this extension unit. The printed circuit board features multiple mounting holes along its length, allowing it to accommodate four distinct M.2 drive sizes: 2230, 2242, 2260, and full-length 2280 cards. Many builders deploy compact 2230 or 2242 modules salvaged from handheld gaming units, while others install full-sized consumer solid-state drives such as the ssd 990 pro to maximize capacity. Securing the drive requires fastening the included M2 bolt and nuts through the corresponding mounting hole for your specific module length.
Underneath the base board, four adhesive rubber feet can be applied to the corners. These rubber pads prevent metallic standoffs or drive solder pads from making direct electrical contact with workbenches. They also raise the entire dual-board assembly slightly above flat surfaces, ensuring air can circulate beneath the solid-state drive module during sustained write cycles.
Installation Workflow and Hardware Setup
Executing a clean Pimoroni NVMe Base setup requires deliberate handling of miniature hardware fasteners and a flexible flat printed circuit cable. The included PCIe Pipe ribbon cable bridges the top-facing PCIe FPC port on the host board to the matching connector located on the underside expansion board. Because flexible printed circuit cables are sensitive to creasing, builders must align the ribbon cable carefully into the locking connectors without applying excessive lateral force or twisting the traces.
The mechanical assembly follows a logical sequence. First, the four 7mm M2.5 standoffs are aligned with the corner mounting holes of the computer board and secured with the provided short M2.5 bolts. Next, the M.2 drive is slotted into the M-Key receptacle at an angle and held flat against the board using the M2 hardware. Once the solid-state drive is physically immobilized, the ribbon cable is seated into both connectors, and the base board is bolted directly to the underside of the standoffs.
Because the unit uses standard M2.5 and M2 sizing, having a magnetic precision screwdriver set is recommended during assembly. Taking time to ensure the flex cable sits completely parallel inside both connector housings avoids intermittent drive detection issues. Once assembled, the two boards form a rigid, compact sandwich that remains structurally durable during transport or desk reorganization.
System Responsiveness and Direct Solid State Booting
Achieving stable high-speed performance depends directly on configuring a reliable Pimoroni NVMe Base boot sequence. Out of the box, the Raspberry Pi 5 firmware checks for bootable media on its micro-SD slot and USB buses before looking at secondary interfaces. By updating the board’s bootloader EEPROM settings within Raspberry Pi OS, builders can configure NVMe storage as the primary startup target. Running the operating system root filesystem directly from the PCIe interface eliminates the latency spikes, app launch pauses, and file read delays associated with flash memory cards.
The hardware runs via a PCI Express x1 connection, providing direct memory access to the host processor. While the default specification for this single-board bus operates at Gen 2 speeds, the interface significantly outperforms standard external drives attached via USB 3.0 ports. Even when comparing local PCIe access to high-performance portable drives like the sandisk professional pro-g40 ssd, internal PCIe bus integration removes external cable snag risks and delivers lower latency for continuous operating system operations.
Builders seeking a Pimoroni NVMe Base compatible SSD should note that while most standard NVMe M-Key modules operate seamlessly, drives requiring non-standard power draws or legacy protocols may experience intermittent initialization. Selecting a dependable consumer drive like the ssd 990 evo plus ensures consistent link negotiation over the single PCIe lane and prevents power supply brownouts when executing demanding compilation or indexing jobs.
Thermal Dissipation and Workstation Stability
Operating high-speed solid-state drives in confined single-board computer setups introduces distinct thermal challenges. NVMe controller chips generate noticeable heat when handling sequential read and write streams. Because the board mounts the drive underneath the main logic board, heat rising from the drive warms the underside of the computer if airflow is obstructed. Builders using the board in continuous, heavy-duty server environments should monitor controller temperatures during prolonged read-write cycles.
The design mitigates heat trapping primarily through open physical geometry. Because the board does not enclose the drive inside a sealed case, natural convection dissipates heat into the surrounding air. Using the supplied rubber feet elevates the board roughly two to three millimeters above desk surfaces, allowing cool air to draw in beneath the printed circuit traces. In workstations subjected to constant file transfers, applying a thin copper or aluminum stick-on heatsink to the drive controller provides additional thermal headroom.
Equally critical is keeping the processor board cool above the storage layer. Since the expansion unit leaves the upper face of the computer completely unobstructed, builders can install the official active cooler or third-party heat pipes without running into clearance problems. This physical separation prevents processor throttling from impacting drive read speeds, ensuring the entire system maintains stable clock rates during heavy database tasks.
Pimoroni NVMe Base Pros and Cons
Pros
- Supports M.2 drive sizes from 2230 through 2280
- Preserves GPIO header access via under-board mounting
- Complete mounting hardware package included
- Direct PCI Express x1 peripheral connectivity
- Enables rapid operating system boot from solid-state storage
Cons
- Drive not included with bare extension board
- Delicate flex cable requires careful handling
- Exclusively compatible with the Raspberry Pi 5
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Is the Pimoroni NVMe Base Worth It
Determining whether the Pimoroni NVMe Base is worth it comes down to how heavily you rely on storage throughput and system responsiveness. If your single-board computer functions primarily as a lightweight learning toy, educational platform, or basic IoT sensor collector, running standard micro-SD cards remains completely practical. For these light workloads, the investment in extra hardware and solid-state media does not produce a meaningful change in daily utility.
Conversely, for technical professionals deploying the computer as an everyday desktop machine, self-hosted file repository, code build station, or database container host, this board is an exceptional upgrade. The transition from flash memory card speeds to a direct PCIe storage pipeline eliminates file system bottlenecking, dramatically accelerates package installs, and avoids the catastrophic silent data corruption risks common to heavily written memory cards.
The inclusion of all necessary mounting bolts, standoffs, pass-through hardware, and the custom flexible ribbon cable provides a turnkey mechanical solution. The board delivers a clean, professional profile that keeps top-side GPIO access open while providing full compatibility across four standard M.2 lengths, making it a reliable foundation for any serious micro-workstation build.
Other Options to Consider
| Model | Our score | Why it is here |
|---|---|---|
 AaawaveNVMe Base for Raspberry Pi 5 M.2 HAT PCIe Extension Board (M.2…Reviewed here |
9.0/10Very good | The model reviewed on this page. View listing |
 ReflectixReflectix EXPO4050 Series 4" x50' Expansion Joint, No Size, No Color |
8.6/10Good | Reflectix EXPO4050 Series 4" x50' is an expansion joint material designed for physical concrete construction and residential building projects, offering thermal insulation and expansion relief for architectural work rather than electronic storage expansion for micro-computing hardware. View listing |
 SeeedstudioSeeeduino XIAO Expansion Board with Quick Prototyping Rich peripherals, No Soldering Needed… |
8.4/10Good | Seeeduino XIAO Expansion Board is tailored for micro-scale microcontroller prototyping with Seeed XIAO modules, featuring solderless peripheral breakouts, display headers, and CircuitPython support that suit embedded electronics hobbyists rather than builders seeking high-capacity operating system storage. View listing |
 Udevqal3PCS ESP32 S3 Expansion Board with Power Supply, GPIO 1-to-2 Expansion 44Pin… |
10.0/10Excellent | 3PCS ESP32 S3 Expansion Board serves embedded IoT developers working with ESP32-S3-WROOM modules who require 1-to-2 GPIO expansion and an included 9V 2A power adapter, making it ideal for multi-pin sensor arrays rather than PCI Express workstation upgrades. View listing |
Scores are out of 10, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback. Prices are the ones on the listing when this page was written.
FAQ
Which solid-state drives work with the Pimoroni NVMe Base?
The board accommodates M-Key M.2 solid-state drives across four standard physical sizes: 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280. The drive must use the NVMe protocol over PCI Express; older SATA-based M.2 drives are physically incompatible with the M-Key slot and electrical interface.
Can the Raspberry Pi 5 boot directly from the Pimoroni NVMe Base?
Yes. By configuring the bootloader EEPROM settings in Raspberry Pi OS, you can instruct the computer to boot directly from an installed NVMe drive without requiring an auxiliary micro-SD card to initiate the startup process.
Does the Pimoroni NVMe Base interfere with top-mounted HAT accessories?
No. Because this unit installs beneath the computer board using included standoffs and connects via an under-board ribbon cable, the upper 40-pin GPIO array remains completely unobstructed for standard HATs and active coolers.
What operating system is required for this expansion board?
The board is designed for use with Raspberry Pi OS, a specialized version of Linux that includes native kernel support for the single-board computer’s PCI Express interface and automated storage mounting tools.
Does the package include a solid-state drive?
No. The package provides a bare expansion board with a storage capacity of 0TB, meaning builders must supply their own compatible M.2 NVMe solid-state drive separately.
What is the model number of this Pimoroni expansion board?
The manufacturer model number listed for this specific hardware extension unit is PIM699.
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