Dear Raspberry Pi Team,
I’d like to submit a product proposal that I believe addresses a clear market gap and could strategically expand the Compute Module ecosystem.
Core idea:
A Compute Module 5 without onboard RAM, paired with a CM5 IO Board featuring two standard SO-DIMM RAM slots, enhanced by PCIe 3.0 x4, USB, and SATA connectivity for modern high-performance peripherals.
Technical mockup for illustration:
(see attached image)
Why this approach makes sense
1. Modularity over variant complexity
A RAM-less CM5 with SO-DIMM slots would:
- drastically reduce SKU complexity
- simplify supply chains
- lower production costs
- give customers flexible RAM options (4–64 GB or more)
2. Growing demand in industrial and edge markets
Integrators increasingly require:
- scalable memory
- replaceable components
- long product lifecycles
- PCIe bandwidth for NVMe, 10GbE, AI accelerators, RAID controllers
- USB and SATA for storage applications
3. Thermal and mechanical advantages
Moving RAM to the IO board:
- reduces thermal load on the CM5
- allows for a more compact and robust module
- enables IO board customization per industry (AI, storage, automotive, etc.)
4. Expanding the audience without disrupting the core
This product wouldn’t replace existing CM variants — it would extend the ecosystem upward:
- Makers and hobbyists stay with classic models
- Professional integrators gain a powerful, modular platform
- Raspberry Pi strengthens its position in edge computing
I’d be happy to elaborate on technical details or use cases if this concept resonates with your team.
Best regards,
Fabian
I’d like to submit a product proposal that I believe addresses a clear market gap and could strategically expand the Compute Module ecosystem.
Core idea:
A Compute Module 5 without onboard RAM, paired with a CM5 IO Board featuring two standard SO-DIMM RAM slots, enhanced by PCIe 3.0 x4, USB, and SATA connectivity for modern high-performance peripherals.
Technical mockup for illustration:
(see attached image)
Why this approach makes sense
1. Modularity over variant complexity
A RAM-less CM5 with SO-DIMM slots would:
- drastically reduce SKU complexity
- simplify supply chains
- lower production costs
- give customers flexible RAM options (4–64 GB or more)
2. Growing demand in industrial and edge markets
Integrators increasingly require:
- scalable memory
- replaceable components
- long product lifecycles
- PCIe bandwidth for NVMe, 10GbE, AI accelerators, RAID controllers
- USB and SATA for storage applications
3. Thermal and mechanical advantages
Moving RAM to the IO board:
- reduces thermal load on the CM5
- allows for a more compact and robust module
- enables IO board customization per industry (AI, storage, automotive, etc.)
4. Expanding the audience without disrupting the core
This product wouldn’t replace existing CM variants — it would extend the ecosystem upward:
- Makers and hobbyists stay with classic models
- Professional integrators gain a powerful, modular platform
- Raspberry Pi strengthens its position in edge computing
I’d be happy to elaborate on technical details or use cases if this concept resonates with your team.
Best regards,
Fabian
Statistics: Posted by fffgggfffgggfff — Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:44 pm — Replies 3 — Views 94