When Raspberry Pi launched the Pi 500, it combined the RPi 5 with a keyboard. There were whispers that a new model was on the horizon, and it turns out those rumors were spot-on. Jeff Geerling recently dissected the new RPi 500+, adding his own twist with some keyboard modifications.
The Pi 500’s case was tricky to open, but inside, there were spots for Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE) and an M.2 slot that were left empty. Some inventive users figured out how to solder the right components to activate the M.2 slot. The RPi 500+ simplifies this by doing the soldering for you, though it doesn’t offer native PoE yet—users still need to get their hands dirty for that feature.
The big news is the new short-travel mechanical keyboard with RGB lighting. The enclosure is now easier to open, making it simple to swap in an NVMe drive. Jeff also experimented with an M.2 to Oculink adapter for eGPU setups, pushing the system’s limits.
In his tests, an AMD RX 7900 XT GPU paired well after a quick kernel recompile. While the Oculink cable did make closing the case a challenge and meant sacrificing the M.2 NVMe SSD, it proved valuable for gaming and running large language models.
With 16 GB of RAM and the addition of a presoldered M.2 slot and an updated keyboard, the $200 price tag raises questions. Is it worth the jump from the $90 RPi 500? For Jeff, it means his kids stick with the original model for now, while the RPi 400 remains a staple in his studio.
The Raspberry Pi community often shares ideas and tips on social media, enhancing creativity and DIY spirit. In a recent survey, 65% of users said they enjoy modding their devices, showing that there’s a strong desire to tinker and innovate. This enthusiasm keeps the community vibrant and supportive.
For anyone interested in tech and innovation, the Raspberry Pi models present a canvas for creativity and experimentation.
