Pineboards Expands Raspberry Pi 5 with High-Speed Storage & Networking

Embedded World 2024 showcased some of the most exciting advancements in embedded computing, and Pineboards (formerly Pineberry Pi) stood out with its latest range of add-on boards designed for the Raspberry Pi 5. As one of the first companies to develop HATs (Hardware Attached on Top) for the Pi 5, Pineboards continues to expand the capabilities of this popular single-board computer.

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Watch Ian talk about Pineboards (formerly Pineberry PI) at Embedded World in this episode of The Electromaker Show

With a focus on storage expansion, high-speed networking, and PCIe-based enhancements, Pineboards introduced several innovations at the event. These include NVMe storage boards, a groundbreaking 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet card, and a PCIe switch board that enables multiple device connections. These upgrades bring professional-grade functionality to Raspberry Pi 5 users, making it a more powerful tool for developers, engineers, and tech enthusiasts.

Expanding Raspberry Pi 5 with Pineboards’ Innovations

Pineboards has been at the forefront of Raspberry Pi 5 expansion, introducing a range of HATs and PCIe-based accessories that enhance the board’s capabilities. These add-ons provide faster storage, better networking, and improved connectivity options, making the Pi 5 more versatile for a wide range of applications.

Key Add-Ons Showcased at Embedded World 2024:

  • NVMe Storage Boards: Designed to offer high-speed, expandable storage, Pineboards introduced two variants—one with a standard top-mounted footprint for accessibility and another with a bottom-mounted configuration for a sleeker setup.
  • 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Card: This is the first commercially available 2.5GbE expansion designed for the Raspberry Pi 5, enabling significantly faster networking speeds for data-intensive applications.
  • PCIe Switch Boards: These allow users to connect multiple devices simultaneously, such as dual NVMe drives or a combination of an NVMe drive and an AI accelerator like the Coral TPU for image recognition tasks.

Why These Innovations Matter:

  • Brings enterprise-level storage and networking performance to the Raspberry Pi 5.
  • Enables AI processing, data analysis, and industrial applications with ease.
  • Helps developers maximize the Raspberry Pi 5’s PCIe potential, expanding its real-world use cases.

Pineboards continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with Raspberry Pi 5, giving users new ways to customize and optimize their projects.

Pineberry

Live Demonstrations and Key Features

At Embedded World 2024, Pineboards showcased their latest Raspberry Pi 5 expansions and demonstrated them in action. The hands-on presentations highlighted how these add-ons improve performance, usability, and connectivity for developers and engineers.

NVMe Storage Boards:

  • Two versions were introduced—one with a top-mounted design for easy access and another with a bottom-mounted layout for a compact build.
  • Boosts storage speed significantly, making the Raspberry Pi 5 suitable for high-performance computing tasks.

2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Expansion:

  • Provides the fastest available networking solution for Raspberry Pi 5.
  • Perfect for use cases like networked storage (NAS), IoT applications, and industrial monitoring systems.

PCIe Switch Board:

  • Allows multiple devices to run on the Raspberry Pi 5’s single PCIe lane.
  • Demonstrated use cases included running dual NVMe drives and integrating an AI accelerator for machine learning tasks.

Real-World Impact:

  • Pineboards' expansions make the Raspberry Pi 5 far more versatile in both personal and professional applications.
  • These add-ons open up possibilities for edge computing, AI development, and high-speed networking.

The Future of Raspberry Pi 5 Expansion

As the Raspberry Pi 5 continues to gain traction, expansion solutions like those from Pineboards are becoming essential for users looking to push the board’s capabilities beyond its standard configuration. These add-ons not only unlock new performance levels but also introduce features typically reserved for enterprise hardware.

With Pineboards leading the charge in Raspberry Pi expansion, the possibilities for customization and high-performance computing on the Pi 5 are set to grow exponentially.

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