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Blog PCIe / PCI Express on the Raspberry Pi 4 B? Apparently So!
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  • Author Author: cstanton
  • Date Created: 12 Jul 2019 2:05 PM Date Created
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  • raspberry pi 4 model b pcie
  • raspberry pi 4 model b pci express

PCIe / PCI Express on the Raspberry Pi 4 B? Apparently So!

cstanton
cstanton
12 Jul 2019

With the advent of the new SoC as part of the Raspberry Pi 4, we have also brought with it a USB 3.0 connection amidst other things. Part of this functionality requires certain high-speed pathways from the processor, and those allow for a standard called PCI Express.

 

Those of you who are familiar with typical Personal Computers (PC) will be familiar with PCIe, especially if you build your own computer. It's the current standard used for expansion hardware, and allows connections to WiFi, Sound and Graphics cards. Usually they are rated PCIex1, x4, x8, x16, etc. Depending on how many 'lanes' they have to allow data to transfer and even some connections like SATA can be put through them.

 

Well, people want that on the Raspberry Pi as well, for some reason, and some similar Single Board Computers (SBCs) have them already.

 

Someone has hacked it in, Tomasz Mloduchowski in fact.

 

image

 

This is definitely not for the faint of heart. Currently to get access to the correct pins on the processor, because every connection is underneath the silicon, it requires that you desolder the USB 3 chip to get the board to bare all:

 

image

 

Which gives access to those sweet, sweet pins

 

image

 

I certainly don't envy the solder skills required to get this setup with the right surface mount components though!

 

image

 

There's certainly a lot of practical work to go to make this sensible in any way, if at all, and there's definitely scope for writing support into the Linux operating system for helping it along, if it is even worthwhile at all!

 

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You can read more details about the great work here: Raspberry Pi 4 B+ - PCI Express

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Top Comments

  • geralds
    geralds over 6 years ago +1
    Cool work! Definitively! But but,,,, On the other hand: If I want to install a PCI slot, I use a finished motherboard. It will work with PI, but did Raspberry think about offering it? Hm ... can be. You…
  • geralds
    geralds over 6 years ago

    Cool work! Definitively! image

    But but,,,,  On the other hand:

    If I want to install a PCI slot, I use a finished motherboard.

    It will work with PI, but did Raspberry think about offering it? Hm ... can be.

    You can also buy a finished industrial motherboard with a PCI slot. The market is full of it.

    If you think, "But the price!" --- ok, well, what does such an industrial motherboard cost compared to the PI? - That's what I think.

    The price is surpassed so sure, in contrast to the price of the already available on the market many motherboards with PCI slots.

     

    Fine Work!!!

     

    Best Regards

    Gerald

    ---

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  • clem57
    clem57 over 6 years ago in reply to macona

    Duh!

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  • macona
    macona over 6 years ago

    Under the Silicone? You might mean silicon unless someone went through the trouble of potting the board.

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  • technified
    technified over 6 years ago

    Very cool!

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