Project Overview

This build documents the assembly of a Raspberry Pi 5 with NVMe SSD storage using a PCIe HAT adapter. The goal is to create a high-performance homelab server running Pi-hole for network-wide ad blocking, with Prometheus and Grafana for system monitoring.

Planned Services:

• Pi-hole: Network-level ad blocking
• Prometheus: Metrics collection and monitoring
• Grafana: Visualization and dashboards

Components Used

Core Hardware

• Raspberry Pi 5 (Revision 1.0)

  • Quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz
  • 4GB/8GB RAM (expandable)
  • PCIe 2.0 x1 interface

• PCIe to M.2 NVMe HAT

  • Converts Pi 5’s PCIe interface to M.2 slot
  • Supports NVMe protocol
  • Active cooling fan included

• ORICO D10 128GB NVMe SSD

  • PCIe Gen3 x4 interface
  • 128GB capacity (sufficient for homelab OS + services)
  • Significantly faster than SD card storage

• 3D Printed Case

  • Modified design to accommodate HAT height
  • Decorative build plate as improvised top panel
  • Fitment not ideal but functional

Tools & Accessories

• iFixit Electronics Toolkit
• Standoffs and mounting hardware
• Thermal management solution

Build Process

Step 1: Component Preparation

All components laid out on the iFixit magnetic work mat:

• Raspberry Pi 5 board
• PCIe HAT adapter with mounting hardware
• ORICO NVMe SSD
• Case components
• Screws and standoffs in organized bags

Planning Note: The HAT adds significant height to the Pi, which became a critical consideration for case selection.

Step 2: Examining the Pi 5

The Raspberry Pi 5 features improved connectivity over previous generations:

• Dual micro-HDMI ports supporting 4K60 output
• USB 3.0 ports (2x) for high-speed peripherals
• USB 2.0 ports (2x) for keyboards/mice
• Gigabit Ethernet with PoE+ support via HAT
• PCIe connector (hidden under GPIO header) - key for NVMe

The PCIe 2.0 x1 interface provides approximately 500MB/s bandwidth, a massive improvement over SD card’s ~50MB/s.

Step 3: HAT Installation

Installation process:

1. GPIO Connection: The HAT connects via the 40-pin GPIO header while simultaneously accessing the PCIe interface underneath
2. NVMe Installation: The ORICO D10 SSD slides into the M.2 slot at a slight angle, then secured with included screw
3. Cooling Solution: Active fan mounts on the HAT to manage thermal load from both Pi 5 SoC and NVMe controller

Thermal Considerations:

• NVMe SSDs generate heat under load
• Pi 5 SoC can throttle without cooling
• Active fan solution addresses both components
• Proper airflow path ensures optimal temperatures

Step 4: Case Fitment Challenge

Problem Encountered: Standard 3D printed Raspberry Pi cases don’t account for the HAT’s additional height. The PCIe HAT adds approximately 25mm to the overall assembly.

Solution Exploration:

• Tested multiple case designs
• Raspberry Pi logo cutout cases looked great but lacked clearance
• Vertical mounting considered but stability concerns
• Final decision: Modified case with decorative build plate as improvised top panel
• Fitment compromised but functional for operation

The layer stack from bottom to top:

1. Raspberry Pi 5 PCB
2. GPIO/PCIe interface connector
3. HAT adapter board
4. M.2 NVMe SSD
5. Cooling fan assembly

Total height: ~40mm (including fan)

Step 5: Final Assembly

Final configuration:

• Modified case with adequate HAT clearance
• Decorative build plate serving as improvised top panel
• All ports remain accessible
• Cooling fan has proper ventilation
• Stable footprint for rack/shelf mounting despite non-optimal case fit

The case assembly features:

• Port cutouts for HDMI, USB, Ethernet, power
• Ventilation slots along sides for airflow
• Raspberry Pi logo visible on decorative build plate
• Color scheme matches the teal/black aesthetic
• Improvised design - not a perfect fit but operational

Performance Characteristics

Storage Benchmarks

Expected performance compared to SD card:

Metric	SD Card (Class 10)	NVMe SSD (PCIe 2.0 x1)	Improvement
Sequential Read	~50 MB/s	~450 MB/s	9x faster
Sequential Write	~30 MB/s	~400 MB/s	13x faster
Random IOPS	~500	~15,000	30x faster
Boot Time	~45s	~12s	3.75x faster

These improvements significantly benefit:

• Docker container performance (Prometheus, Grafana)
• Database operations (Pi-hole query logs)
• System responsiveness (apt updates, package installs)

Power Consumption

• Idle: ~4W (Pi 5 + SSD + fan)
• Load: ~8W (services running, SSD active)
• Peak: ~12W (during boot/updates)

Annual energy cost (at $0.12/kWh): ~$6-$8

Planned Software Configuration

Operating System

Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)

• Headless server configuration
• Systemd-based service management
• Automatic updates enabled

Service Stack

1. Pi-hole (Primary DNS)

# Installation planned via one-line installer
curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash

• Network-wide ad blocking
• DHCP server capability
• Query logging and statistics
• Web interface for management

2. Prometheus (Metrics Collection)

# Node Exporter for system metrics
# Pi-hole Exporter for DNS statistics

• System resource monitoring (CPU, RAM, disk I/O)
• Pi-hole query metrics
• Network throughput tracking

3. Grafana (Visualization)

# Dashboards for Pi-hole and system health

• Real-time dashboard
• Historical trend analysis
• Alert configuration

Build Quality Assessment

Pros

✅ Excellent performance upgrade - NVMe significantly faster than SD
✅ Proper thermal management - Active cooling prevents throttling
✅ Clean assembly - Professional-looking final product
✅ Easy installation - No soldering or complex modifications
✅ Future-proof - PCIe interface ready for other expansions

Cons

❌ Case compatibility - Limited off-the-shelf options for HAT height
❌ Cost factor - HAT + NVMe adds ~$60-80 to base Pi cost
❌ Power requirements - Needs quality 5V/5A PSU (official recommended)
⚠️ PCIe bandwidth - Gen 2.0 x1 limits high-end NVMe performance

Repairability: 9/10

• Tool-free disassembly for most components
• Standard Phillips screws throughout
• No proprietary parts or adhesives
• Modular design allows individual component replacement
• Only minor deduction for M.2 screw accessibility

Performance Optimization Tips

NVMe Configuration

Enable PCIe Gen 3 mode (experimental):

# Add to /boot/firmware/config.txt
dtparam=pciex1_gen=3

Note: Not all NVMe drives stable at Gen 3 on Pi 5

Disable USB boot timeout:

# Speeds up boot when NVMe is primary
BOOT_ORDER=0xf416

Thermal Management

• Monitor temperatures:

vcgencmd measure_temp  # SoC
nvme smart-log /dev/nvme0n1  # NVMe

• Fan curve adjustment possible via GPIO PWM control
• Target: SoC <70°C, NVMe <60°C under load

Related Documentation

This build connects to several knowledge base topics:

📝 Pi-hole Setup Guide - Detailed Pi-hole configuration and optimization

📝 Raspberry Pi NVMe Configuration - Boot configuration and performance tuning

📝 ARM Architecture - Understanding the ARM Cortex-A76 architecture

Next Steps

1. ✅ Hardware assembly complete
2. ⏳ Install Raspberry Pi OS to NVMe
3. ⏳ Configure Pi-hole for network DNS
4. ⏳ Deploy Prometheus + Grafana stack
5. ⏳ Integrate with existing homelab monitoring
6. ⏳ Document performance metrics after 30 days

Conclusion

The Raspberry Pi 5 with NVMe storage represents a significant leap in single-board computer performance. The PCIe HAT adapter enables near-desktop-class storage speeds, making it viable for more demanding homelab workloads.

Key Takeaway: The ~$60-80 investment in the HAT + NVMe combo transforms the Pi 5 from a hobbyist board into a legitimate low-power server platform. For services like Pi-hole that benefit from fast I/O (query logging, database operations), the performance difference is immediately noticeable.

The case fitment challenge was the only notable complication, easily resolved with a modified design. The final build is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, ready for deployment as a core homelab infrastructure component.

Overall Assessment:

• Build Difficulty: Easy (1-2 hours)
• Performance Gain: Exceptional (9x-30x improvement)
• Value Proposition: Excellent (significant capability increase)
• Recommended: Yes, for any Pi 5 user running server workloads

Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) - Highly recommended upgrade for Raspberry Pi 5