Notebookcheck Logo

Raspberry Pi: HAT board enables the installation of an SSD and adds faster Ethernet

W01 U2500: New HAT for the Raspberry Pi comes with a fast network connection and SSD port.
W01 U2500: New HAT for the Raspberry Pi comes with a fast network connection and SSD port.
The WU01 U2500 is a new, particularly easy-to-install expansion board for the Raspberry Pi 5, which allows the installation of an NVMe SSD and for quick connection to a network.

52Pi now has a new expansion board for the Raspberry Pi on offer in the form of a HAT. Such a board can be plugged in relatively easily and no complicated wiring is required. The W01 fulfills two functions: it allows for the installation of fast and large storage, and enables a faster network connection.

Specifically, an M.2 SSD in the M.2 2230 and M.2 2242 formats can be added via a PCIe lane. The 85 x 56 x 15.15 mm board is also equipped with a faster Ethernet port, which should achieve a data transfer rate of up to 2.5 Gbit/s. This can be useful, for example, when using the Raspberry Pi 5 as network storage. While the SSD is connected via the PCIe lane, a USB connection is installed for the Ethernet port.

The network solution is supplied with 5 volts and 650 mAh, while the power supply of the NMVe SSD depends on the SSD used. The GPIO pins can still be used and are looped through, meaning that various sensors and actuators can also be added when the board is installed. Currently, the board has a price tag of $29.99.

The range of HATs for connecting PCIe SSDs to the Raspberry Pi is very large. Geekworm, for example, offers the X1001, which is currently available on Amazon for just under $15. However, it lacks a faster Ethernet connection.

The SSD is connected via PCIe, the network module via USB.
The SSD is connected via PCIe, the network module via USB.

Source(s)

static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
Mail Logo
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2024 05 > Raspberry Pi: HAT board enables the installation of an SSD and adds faster Ethernet
Silvio Werner, 2024-05-15 (Update: 2024-05-15)