---
slug: pi5-m2-hat-in-two-cases
title: "Pi 5 M.2 Hat in Two Cases"
date: "2024-09-08T08:01:50-04:00"

pics:
  pic-case:
    css: "image"
    tip: "Pi 5 with M.2 hat in official case."
    sources:
      - "/files/posts/pi5-m2-hat-in-two-cases/official-case-1024.webp"
      - src: "/files/posts/pi5-m2-hat-in-two-cases/official-case-1024.jpg"
        width: 1024
        height: 771
  pic-kksb-case:
    css: "image"
    tip: "Pi 5 with M.2 hat and active cooler in KKSB case."
    sources:
      - "/files/posts/pi5-m2-hat-in-two-cases/kksb-case-1024.webp"
      - src: "/files/posts/pi5-m2-hat-in-two-cases/kksb-case-1024.jpg"
        width: 1024
        height: 771
---

Last month I installed the [official M.2 hat][hat] on a [Pi 5][pi5].
I'd heard this combination would fit in the [official case][case] with
the fan and lid removed, but had trouble finding a picture of the
result.

Here is a picture of the [Pi 5][pi5] with the [M.2 hat][hat] in the
[official case][case] with the fan and lid removed:

[{{< pe-figure "pic-case" >}}][pic-case]

I also installed a [1TB 2230 NVMe SSD][nvme] (shown above) and [set up
NVMe boot][nvme-boot].

This worked, but I was unhappy having the disk was exposed like a muscle
car supercharger.  I also noticed CPU throttling during CPU-intensive
tasks because of the additional heat and reduced airflow from the [M.2
hat][hat].

I added an [active cooler][] and switched from the [official case][case]
to a [KKSB Case for Raspberry Pi 5][kksb-case], a taller metallic case
with more airflow.

Assembly was a hassle; the [KKSB case][kksb-case] has a lot of screws,
does not come with instructions, and does not have enough room inside to
access some of the screw holes.

Once I got everything assembled I was happy with the result:

[{{< pe-figure "pic-kksb-case" >}}][pic-kksb-case]

[hat]: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/m2-hat-plus/
  "Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+"
[case]: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-5-case/
  "Raspberry Pi Case for Raspberry Pi 5"
[pi5]: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-5/
  "Raspberry Pi 5"
[pic-case]: /files/posts/pi5-m2-hat-in-two-cases/official-case.jpg
  "Pi 5 with M.2 hat in official case."
[nvme]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQG6JCRP
  "SABRENT Rocket 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe SSD (amazon.com)"
[nvme-boot]: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2023/nvme-ssd-boot-raspberry-pi-5
  "NVMe SSD boot with the Raspberry Pi 5 (jeffgeerling.com)"
[active cooler]: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/active-cooler/
  "Raspberry Pi Active Cooler"
[kksb-case]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y7NTTG8
  "KKSB Case for Raspberry Pi 5 (amazon.com)"
[pic-kksb-case]: /files/posts/pi5-m2-hat-in-two-cases/kksb-case.jpg
  "Pi 5 with M.2 hat and active cooler in KKSB case."