Description

The Official Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+ is the standard-setting PCIe expansion accessory designed by Raspberry Pi Ltd specifically for the Raspberry Pi 5. Built strictly to the Raspberry Pi HAT+ specification, it features automatic hardware identification and auto-configuration via onboard EEPROM logic when running the latest Raspberry Pi OS.

By tapping into the Raspberry Pi 5’s single-lane PCI Express 2.0 bus (0.5mm pitch, 16-pin FPC connector), the M.2 HAT+ bridges high-bandwidth M.2 Key-M peripherals directly to the processor. It delivers sustained data transfer speeds up to 500 MB/s, eliminating MicroSD card read/write limits. Beyond NVMe solid-state storage, it is fully optimized to power high-throughput AI inference modules (such as the Hailo-8L NPU found in the Raspberry Pi AI Kit).

Technical Specifications

Board Assembly & Clearance Guide

                      [ M.2 Peripheral (2230 / 2242) ]
                            |               |
  +-------------------------v---------------+-------------------------+
  | [ M.2 Key-M Slot ]                             [ EEPROM Auto-ID ] |
  |                                                                   |
  |=================== Official M.2 HAT+ PCB =========================|
  |        [ 16mm Stacking Header ]      [ Threaded Spacers ]        |
  +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
             |                                              |
             +---------> Fits Over Raspberry Pi Active Cooler

Software Configuration (config.txt)

On current builds of Raspberry Pi OS, the M.2 HAT+ is auto-detected via its EEPROM. To enable PCIe Gen 3.0 speeds or configure direct NVMe OS booting:

1. Enable PCIe Gen 3.0 Transfer Speeds:

   Open /boot/firmware/config.txt and append:

   Plaintext

   dtparam=pciex1
   dtparam=pciex1_no_max_autoprofile
   

2. Configure NVMe Boot Order in EEPROM:

   Run sudo rpi-eeprom-config --edit and update the boot sequence parameter:

   Plaintext

   BOOT_ORDER=0xf416
   

Key Features & Highlights

• Official Raspberry Pi Design: Fully compliant with the Raspberry Pi HAT+ specification with automatic driver and device tree loading.

• High-Speed PCIe 2.0 Bandwidth: Delivers transfer speeds up to 500 MB/s for fast application launches, database operations, and system boots.

• Robust 3A Power Delivery: Onboard power circuitry delivers up to 3A to demanding NVMe drives and neural network accelerators.

• Seamless Active Cooler Fit: Supplied with a 16mm GPIO stacking header and tall brass standoffs, allowing simultaneous installation with the official Active Cooler.

• Dual Device Compatibility: Supports both high-speed NVMe storage drives and Hailo-8L / Hailo-8 M.2 AI acceleration modules.

Common Applications

• Ultra-fast NVMe OS boot drive and primary storage for desktop-style Raspberry Pi 5 setups.

• Edge AI vision stations running neural network inference via Hailo-8L / Raspberry Pi AI Kit.

• Local high-performance web hosting, database storage, and home automation servers.

• Compact Network Attached Storage (NAS) nodes and media streaming centers.

What’s Included in the Box

• 1 × Official Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+ Board

• 1 × 16-Pin Flexible Flat Cable (FFC PCIe Cable)

• 1 × 16mm 2×20 GPIO Stacking Header

• 4 × Threaded Spacers, Screws, and M.2 Drive Fixing Nut Pack

Why Buy From Aryabot?

• 100% Official Raspberry Pi Stock: Authentic Raspberry Pi Ltd hardware sourced directly through authorized distribution channels.

• Quality Checked: Pre-inspected for FPC ribbon pin alignment, standoff thread tolerances, and EEPROM detection.

• GST Invoice Provided: Tax-compliant B2B invoices generated for academic institutions, research labs, and commercial clients.

• Fast Pan-India Dispatch: Anti-static protective packaging shipped directly from our Noida fulfillment warehouse.