Raspberry Pi accessory boards with NVMe support: Embedded World 2024

Pineberry, a name swiftly becoming synonymous with Raspberry Pi enhancement, has carved a niche for itself by introducing a series of add-on boards that promise to redefine the boundaries of what's possible with this beloved microcomputer.

Pineberry's offerings are a leap towards greater functionality, versatility, and power for the Raspberry Pi. During the final hour of day 2, we had the pleasure of talking with the founder of Pineberry, Michał Gapiński and he kindly showed us their lastest offerings:

Pineberry's Breakthrough with PCI Connectors

The cornerstone of Pineberry's innovation is their basic NVMe drive board, available in two distinct variants, this board is designed to cater to the diverse needs of the Raspberry Pi community. Whether it's the standard top footprint variant for easy accessibility or the bottom placement option for a sleeker, more integrated setup, Pineberry ensures that flexibility and performance go hand in hand.

Through this breakthrough, Pineberry not only opened new avenues of expansion for the Raspberry Pi but also set a new standard for what users can expect from their microcomputing projects. The introduction of these NVMe drive boards signifies a significant step forward in enhancing the Raspberry Pi's capabilities, providing users with unprecedented levels of speed and storage flexibility.

Expanding the Raspberry Pi Ecosystem

Pineberry's initiative aims to empower users with more versatility and customization options than ever before, setting a new benchmark for what's achievable with the Raspberry Pi platform.

One of the most impressive things in the Pineberry lineup is the introduction of the first commercially available 2.5 Gig Ethernet card designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi. This significant upgrade in connectivity options opens up a new realm of possibilities for high-speed networking projects, enhancing the utility of Raspberry Pi in professional and hobbyist setups alike.

Pineberry has innovated with boards equipped with PCIe switches, a strategic move that multiplies the Raspberry Pi's expansion capabilities. These boards allow for the attachment of multiple devices simultaneously, such as dual NVMe drives or a combination of a drive and a Coral TPU for AI image recognition, heralding a new era of multi-functional Raspberry Pi projects.

Diverse Applications and Customization

These boards have been ingeniously designed to cater to a wide range of needs, from sophisticated AI image recognition tasks to the creation of custom routers, showcasing the versatility that these innovations bring to the Raspberry Pi platform.

At the heart of this customization potential is the "commander of all hats" board. This uniquely named board serves as a cornerstone for users looking to tailor their Raspberry Pi setup to their precise requirements. It facilitates the connection and integration of multiple add-on boards, enabling users to craft a setup that's perfectly aligned with their project's demands. Whether it's combining a 2.5 Gig Ethernet card with an NVMe drive for enhanced networking capabilities or integrating a Coral TPU for advanced AI applications, the possibilities are virtually limitless.

With these advanced options for customization, Pineberry is not just offering tools for expansion; they are providing a canvas for creativity and innovation. Users can now mix and match components with unprecedented ease, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with Raspberry Pi and transforming it into a powerhouse tailored to any task or project.

Pineberry's Future Innovations: The Audio Board

As Pineberry continues to push the envelope in Raspberry Pi expansion, they are set to introduce another groundbreaking innovation: the audio board. This upcoming addition to their product line represents a fusion of high-quality audio capabilities with the practicality of NVMe storage, all within the familiar footprint of a Raspberry Pi add-on board.

Engineered with audiophiles and multimedia enthusiasts in mind, the audio board integrates a high-fidelity DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) from Texas Instruments, alongside a dedicated headphone amplifier chip. This combination not only elevates the audio output quality of the Raspberry Pi but also simplifies the setup for high-quality audio projects. Whether it's for a professional-grade audio workstation, a high-end music player, or an immersive multimedia experience, this board is designed to deliver exceptional sound quality.

The inclusion of an NVMe drive slot further enhances the board's appeal, offering users the ability to easily expand their storage for audio files, projects, or any other data-intensive applications. This unique blend of audio performance and storage convenience underscores Pineberry's commitment to innovation and their dedication to meeting the diverse needs of the Raspberry Pi community.