PRODUCT DETAILS
Extension Board
› HARDWARE OVERVIEW
- The X1011-12V supports four M.2 NVMe SSDs (2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 sizes), offering up to 8TB total capacity with 2TB drives. This is tailored for “4x storage for AI workloads & NAS,” ideal for storing large AI datasets (e.g., training models) or serving as a high-volume NAS for media libraries or backups—far beyond what a single drive or microSD can offer.
- It leverages the Pi 5’s PCIe 2.0 x1 interface (5 Gbps max), delivering ~400-430 MB/s aggregate bandwidth (split to ~100-120 MB/s per drive in parallel, per Jeff Geerling’s tests). This suits AI tasks needing fast random access or NAS setups with multiple users, outperforming USB 3.0’s shared bandwidth for multi-drive scenarios.
- Unlike the standard X1011 (which uses pogo pins and Pi’s USB-C power), the X1011-12V requires a separate 12V DC5521 input (removing pogo pin power sharing). This ensures sufficient current (up to 10A via DC/DC converters) for four NVMe SSDs without taxing the Pi’s 3A USB-C limit—crucial for power-hungry AI or NAS workloads with sustained drive activity.
- Mounted under the Pi 5, it preserves GPIO for HAT stacking (e.g., POE or sensors) and supports HAT+ STANDBY mode (auto-off on shutdown). This makes it a compact, integrated solution for complex builds where top-side space is needed—think AI edge nodes or NAS with cooling.
- It supports NVMe booting (with firmware post-May 2024), enabling a fast OS drive alongside bulk storage—perfect for AI caching or NAS file serving (though limited by the Pi’s 1 Gbps Ethernet unless upgraded).
› APPLICATIONS
This expansion board is perfect for developers looking to build high-performance computing solutions, data servers, or even media centers with extensive storage requirements. With support for up to four NVMe SSDs, users can configure RAID setups for data redundancy or enhanced performance. It's also ideal for AI and machine learning projects requiring fast data access and storage. The X1011-V12 can be customized with different cooling solutions to manage heat generated by high-performance SSDs, and its compatibility with Raspberry Pi 5 opens up opportunities for integrating wireless communication modules for IoT applications.
› DOCUMENTATION
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