Waveshare has recently launched the PCIe TO PCIe x1 Board (C) which is a PCIe FFC connector to standard PCIe x1 slot adapter board for the Raspberry Pi 5. But while searching for more details about the board, I also found out about other solutions from 52Pi and Spotpear, which are a bit older, but still worth taking a look because of their unique features and low cost.
These Raspberry Pi PCIe x1 slot adapters allow users to connect expansion cards such as network cards, storage controllers, and other PCIe peripherals to the Raspberry Pi 5. Additionally, the board features a dedicated 12V power header and DC jack, which supplies power to the 12V pins of the PCIe slot, for power-hungry devices. These features allow for applications like AI acceleration, high-speed networking, and storage expansion.
Waveshare PCIe TO PCIe x1 Board (C)
The Waveshare PCIe FFC to PCIe x1 Adapter Board (C) allows Raspberry Pi 5 to connect standard PCIe x1 devices using a flexible FFC cable. Unlike rigid PCB risers, this adapter comes with a base plate where the PCIe card and the Raspberry Pi are placed. This board supports PCIe peripherals, including NVMe SSDs, network cards, and AI accelerators, and features a dedicated 12V power jack.
Waveshare PCIe TO PCIe x1 Board (C) specifications
- Compatibility – Raspberry Pi 5 and potentially other boards with a compatible FFC connector
- Interfaces
- PCIe x1 Gen2/3 slot for PCIe x1, x4, x8, and x16 devices (electrically x1)
- 16-pin FFC connector for Raspberry Pi 5
- Power – 12V 4-pin header or DC jack for powering the 12V pins of the PCIe slot
- Dimensions – 85 mm x 37.5 mm
The Waveshare PCIe TO PCIe x1 Board (C) is available on Amazon for $21.99 with a mounting kit or the Waveshare store for $12.99 plus shipping. There’s also a wiki, but it’s empty right now.
52Pi P02 PCIe Slot for Raspberry Pi 5
The GeekPi/52Pi P02 PCIe Slot for Raspberry Pi 5 is another expansion board that converts the Raspberry Pi 5’s PCIe FFC interface into a PCIe x1 slot for connecting various PCIe devices. Like the Waveshare board, this is also compatible with x1, x2, x4, x8, and x16 PCIe devices, and supports both PCIe Gen2 and Gen3 standards.
The main difference compared to the Waveshare model is that this board integrates a built-in 12V, 1A power supply circuit (using power from the USB-C adapter connected to the Pi5) and an option for an external 12V power input for high-power PCIe cards. The board also has gold-plated signal traces that ensure high-speed, reliable connectivity, meeting PCIe 3.0 signal requirements.
52Pi P02 PCIe x1 Slot specifications
- Compatibility – Raspberry Pi 5
- Interfaces
- PCIe x1 Gen2/3 slot for PCIe x1, x4, x8, and x16 devices (electrically x1)
- 16-pin FFC connector for Raspberry Pi 5
- Power
- Built-in 12V power supply (1A max output) circuitry
- External 12V power input for higher-power PCIe cards
- PCB
- Gold-plated PCB for improved electrical performance
- Ultra-short PCIe signal traces for stable high-speed data transmission
- Meets PCIe 3.0 signal integrity requirements
- Dimensions – 85 mm x 80 mm
The 52Pi P02 PCIe Slot is available on Amazon for $29.99 or $23.35 on Aliexpress with free shipping. Alternatively, it can also be found on the 52Pi’s store for $21.24. The wiki has more details to get started with the adapter.
Spotpear Pi5 PCIe Standard Slot Adapter
While searching Aliexpress, I found the “Pi5-PCIe-Standard-Slot-Adapter”, another cheap ($12.70) PCIe FFC connector to PCIe x1 slot adapter board for the Raspberry Pi 5. Like other boards, this board also supports a PCIe x1 interface and is compatible with both PCIe Gen2 and Gen3 standards. Designed with short traces it fully meets PCIe 3.0 signal requirements. Additionally, it includes an external 12V power supply circuit for power-hungry devices. But unlike other boards, this board sits on top of the Pi and converts the male head of the Pi to email headers.
Spotpear Pi5 PCIe Standard Slot adapter specifications:
- Compatibility – Raspberry Pi 5
- Interfaces
- PCIe x1 slot with PCIe Gen2/3 support
- 16-pin FFC connector for Raspberry Pi 5
- Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO header
- Design – Short trace routing for improved reliability and signal integrity
- Power – External 12V power input for higher-power PCIe cards
- Dimensions – not mentioned
The Spotpear PCIe Standard Slot Adapter can be purchased directly from Aliexpress for $17.17, and more information can be found on the Spotpear store.
All in all, the Raspberry Pi PCIe x1 slot adapters provide PCIe expansion for the Raspberry Pi 5 using off-the-shelf PCIe cards. Waveshare and 52Pi support various PCIe device sizes and include 12V external power options, with 52Pi featuring a built-in power supply and gold-plated PCB. Spotpear is the cheapest one among all with basic PCIe x1 support and an external 12V input. Just select the product that better matches your requirements.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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