What is the difference between the MPS2242 and MPS2280 models?

The MPS2242 is a compact board that supports shorter 2230 and 2242 SSDs, while the MPS2280 is an extended board designed to accommodate full-size 2280 SSDs as well as 2242 and 2230 drives.

Can I use a SATA M.2 SSD with these expansion boards?

No, these expansion boards feature an M-Key slot and utilize the PCIe interface, meaning they strictly support NVMe protocol SSDs; SATA M.2 drives will not work.

Will this board block the cooling fan or the GPIO pins on my Raspberry Pi 5?

No, both board variants feature a specific cutout at the top to ensure the 40-pin GPIO header remains fully accessible, and they mount high enough to clear standard low-profile active coolers.

How do I enable PCIe Gen3 speeds for my SSD?

By default, the Raspberry Pi 5 runs at Gen2 speeds, so you must add `dtparam=pciex1 Gen=3` to your `/boot/firmware/config.txt` file and reboot to enable Gen3 (8Gbps) speeds.

Can I buy both variants of this Mcuzone expansion board at your Hong Kong store?

Yes, both the MPS2242 and MPS2280 PCIe to NVMe SSD expansion boards are regularly stocked at our Sun Cheong Computer Co. Ltd. physical store in Sham Shui Po for immediate purchase.

Mcuzone PCIe to NVMe SSD Board for Pi 5

Name: Mcuzone PCIe to NVMe SSD Board for Pi 5 | MPS2242 / MPS2280
Brand: Mcuzone
SKU: 21TS001702
Price: 367.0 TWD
Availability: InStock

Short Product Description

Unlock lightning-fast storage for your Raspberry Pi 5 with the Mcuzone PCIe to M.2 NVMe SSD Expansion Board. Available in two variants—the compact MPS2242 (for 2230/2242 drives) and the extended MPS2280 (for 2230/2242/2280 drives)—this HAT utilizes the Pi 5's native PCIe x1 interface to deliver Gen2/Gen3 speeds and direct SSD booting. Featuring a smart cutout design that leaves your 40-pin GPIO header fully accessible, both versions are in-stock at Sun Cheong Computer Co. Ltd. (新昌電腦有限公司) in Sham Shui Po, complete with FPC cables and mounting standoffs for an instant upgrade.

Key Features

Two Size Options: Choose the MPS2242 for compact 2230/2242 SSDs, or the MPS2280 for full-size 2280 NVMe drives.
Native PCIe x1 Interface: Connects directly to the Raspberry Pi 5's PCIe port, supporting both Gen2 and Gen3 transfer speeds for maximum performance.
Direct SSD Booting: Fully supports booting the Raspberry Pi OS directly from the NVMe drive, eliminating the need for a fragile microSD card.
Unobstructed GPIO Access: A specially designed cutout ensures the 40-pin GPIO header remains completely free for connecting sensors or stacking other HATs.
Robust Power Delivery: Built with a 2A power circuit that safely steps down the Pi's 5V PCIe power to provide a stable 3.3V (>1.5A) to your SSD.

Full Product Description

Blazing Fast PCIe Storage Expansion

Break free from the speed limitations of traditional microSD cards by upgrading to NVMe storage. The Mcuzone expansion board utilizes the Raspberry Pi 5's native PCIe x1 interface to connect high-speed M.2 NVMe solid-state drives. Supporting both PCIe Gen2 (5Gbps) and Gen3 (8Gbps) modes, this board drastically reduces boot times, accelerates application loading, and provides the massive bandwidth required for running complex databases or local web servers directly from your Raspberry Pi.

Two Variants: MPS2242 and MPS2280

Choose the perfect expansion board to match your specific project constraints and storage needs. The MPS2242 variant is designed for ultra-compact builds, matching the footprint of the Raspberry Pi 5 while supporting 2230 and 2242 size SSDs. If you require maximum storage capacity, the MPS2280 variant features an extended board (84x55mm) to accommodate full-size 2280 NVMe drives alongside 2242 and 2230 sizes. Both models feature a precision-engineered cutout at the top, ensuring your Pi 5's 40-pin GPIO header remains 100% accessible for other hardware expansions.

Pro Tip from Our Technicians

To maximize your SSD's performance, you must manually enable PCIe Gen3 speeds in the Raspberry Pi OS. Our Sham Shui Po Raspberry Pi specialists recommend opening your config.txt file and adding the line dtparam=pciex1 Gen=3. Furthermore, if you intend to boot directly from the SSD without a microSD card, remember to update your EEPROM boot order using the sudo rpi-eeprom-config --edit command and setting BOOT_ORDER=0xf416.

Technical Specifications

Brand: Mcuzone
Available Models: MPS2242 / MPS2280
Compatibility: Raspberry Pi 5 Only
Host Interface: PCIe x1 (Supports Gen2 5Gbps & Gen3 8Gbps)
SSD Interface: M.2 M-Key (NVMe Protocol Only)
Supported SSD Sizes (MPS2242): 2230, 2242
Supported SSD Sizes (MPS2280): 2230, 2242, 2280
Power Circuit: 2A Design (Outputs 3.3V >1.5A from Pi's 5V/1A PCIe limit)
Dimensions (MPS2280): 84mm (L) x 55mm (W)
Package Includes: Expansion Board, FPC Ribbon Cable, 4x Mounting Standoffs & Screws

Delivery Options

Local delivery within Hong Kong and in-store pickup.
Free shipping for orders of HK$400 or above; HK$35 shipping fee for orders below HK$400.
Shipped by SF Express, usually dispatched the same day for orders confirmed before 6:00 PM (Mon–Sat).
Estimated delivery time: 1–3 business days after dispatch (Hong Kong).
In-store pickup details (location and time) will be confirmed by email or phone message.
Delivery times are estimates and may be affected by weather or unforeseen circumstances.

FAQ Section

What is the difference between the MPS2242 and MPS2280 models?The MPS2242 is a compact board that supports shorter 2230 and 2242 SSDs, while the MPS2280 is an extended board designed to accommodate full-size 2280 SSDs as well as 2242 and 2230 drives.
Can I use a SATA M.2 SSD with these expansion boards?No, these expansion boards feature an M-Key slot and utilize the PCIe interface, meaning they strictly support NVMe protocol SSDs; SATA M.2 drives will not work.
Will this board block the cooling fan or the GPIO pins on my Raspberry Pi 5?No, both board variants feature a specific cutout at the top to ensure the 40-pin GPIO header remains fully accessible, and they mount high enough to clear standard low-profile active coolers.
How do I enable PCIe Gen3 speeds for my SSD?By default, the Raspberry Pi 5 runs at Gen2 speeds, so you must add dtparam=pciex1 Gen=3 to your /boot/firmware/config.txt file and reboot to enable Gen3 (8Gbps) speeds.
Can I buy both variants of this Mcuzone expansion board at your Hong Kong store?Yes, both the MPS2242 and MPS2280 PCIe to NVMe SSD expansion boards are regularly stocked at our Sun Cheong Computer Co. Ltd. physical store in Sham Shui Po for immediate purchase.

Target Users / Applications

Home lab enthusiasts building high-speed NAS (Network Attached Storage) or database servers using the Raspberry Pi 5.
Retro gaming arcade builders needing rapid load times for large ROM libraries stored on NVMe SSDs.
IoT developers deploying edge computing nodes that require reliable, high-bandwidth local storage for data logging.