Elecrow Pi 5 PCIe to M.2 NVMe board: specs
Elecrow adapter board that joins the PCIe connector of a Raspberry Pi 5 to an M.2 M key slot for an NVMe drive.
Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe interface and M.2 M-Key interface | source Specification |
| Drive sizes | Supports SSD2280, 2340, 2242 (as written by the maker) | source Specification |
| Working input current | 3.3V 1.5A | source Specification |
| Dimensions | 56 mm x 85 mm | source Specification |
| Weight | 18.6 g | source Specification |
| Boot | Can boot the system from the NVMe SSD, or be used for storage only with the system booting from a TF card | source Description |
| Indicators | Dual LED indicators | source Description |
| In the box | 1 expansion board, 4 copper pillars, 1 flex cable | source Package List |
| Host PCIe link | Raspberry Pi 5 PCIe connector is Gen 2.0 x1 by default | source Raspberry Pi connector for PCIe |
Power
| Value | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | 3.3 V, 1.5 A working input current (maker's figure) | source Specification |
Pinout
We don't publish a pin table for this part: no official source we could verify gives one. Check the labels printed on your module, and see the notes below.
The maker page gives no pin table for the board; its flex cable joins the Pi 5 PCIe connector.
Build with it
Project ideas for the Elecrow Pi 5 PCIe to M.2 NVMe board. Each link opens Soldr with the prompt filled in; Soldr assigns the pins, checks power and shows how to wire every part.
- A Raspberry Pi 5 that boots from a 2280 NVMe SSD on an Elecrow adapter board: The maker page lists 2280 drives as supported and describes booting from the NVMe SSD. Use the official 27 W supply for the Pi.
- Pi 5 storage server: The maker says the SSD can be storage only while the system boots from a TF card, so the Pi can stay on a microSD card. Learning project for network sharing.
- Pi 5 sensor database: The maker page notes a concave top that leaves the 40-pin GPIO header easy to reach, so an I2C sensor module can sit on the 3.3 V pins. Learning project.
Common mistakes
- Sizing the supply from the drive's rated current. The maker notes that the 2.5 A or 3 A on an SSD label is the limit in X4 mode, and the Raspberry Pi 5 only supports X1 mode (source: link, Note).
- Expecting the Pi to see the drive on its own. If the board is not a Raspberry Pi HAT+ device (the maker page does not say it is), Raspberry Pi documentation says to add dtparam=pciex1 to config.txt; booting from it also needs BOOT_ORDER=0xf416 and PCIE_PROBE=1 (source).
- Fitting a drive the board does not list. Check the maker's size list (2280, 2340, 2242 as written) against your drive before buying (source: link, Specification).
Not covered by the official source
- No datasheet, schematic or wiki page for this board was found; the maker's product page is the only source, so the page is PARTIAL.
- The maker page lists the drive size '2340', which is not a standard M.2 length; it is shown as written.
- The maker page does not say whether the board follows the Raspberry Pi HAT+ specification.