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| Waveshared has introduced a new mini PC enclosure for the Raspberry Pi CM5. |
If you have been looking for a way to turn your Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5) into a sleek, everyday mini PC, Waveshare might have just delivered the perfect solution. The company has quietly launched a new product—the CM5-DUAL-ETH-BOX-B—and despite its rather technical, uninspiring name, this little box packs a serious punch for hobbyists and professionals alike.
This is essentially a compact, ready-to-go chassis that houses a custom carrier board designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi CM5. It measures just 101 x 62 x 23.4 mm (roughly 4 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches), making it small enough to slip into a bag or mount behind a monitor.
A True Mini PC Experience
Unlike a bare development board, the Waveshare CM5 BOX offers a finished hardware experience. The aluminum case is designed for fanless operation, ensuring that your setup remains silent whether you are using it as a lightweight desktop, a network router, or a home automation hub.
The real story here is the connectivity. By simply snapping your own CM5 module onto the included carrier board, you unlock a suite of I/O options that rival much larger desktop machines. The front and rear panels are packed with ports, including:
- Dual Ethernet: A 1G port and a 2.5G port, making this an ideal candidate for a DIY firewall, router, or network-attached storage (NAS) device.
- Video Output: Full-sized HDMI for connecting to monitors or TVs.
- High-Speed USB: One USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port and a USB 2.0 Type-A port for peripherals.
- Expansion: An M.2 M-key slot (perfect for NVMe SSDs to boost storage speed) and a TF card slot for additional storage flexibility.
- Camera/Display: Dual 4-lane MIPI interfaces for camera modules or displays.
- Power: USB 2.0 Type-C for power delivery.
A Versatile Hub for Networking and Storage
*The inclusion of dual Ethernet ports (1G and 2.5G) alongside an M.2 slot makes this enclosure a top contender for users looking to build a high-performance router or network gateway.*
How Does It Perform?
While the Waveshare unit itself is just the carrier board and case, its performance is dictated by the Raspberry Pi CM5 you install inside. The CM5 is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 processor. While it won’t replace a high-end gaming desktop, it offers respectable performance for day-to-day tasks.
For context, benchmark scores (such as Geekbench 6) place the CM5’s performance in the same ballpark as older dual-core Intel desktop CPUs from the Skylake and Kaby Lake generations. This means it handles 4K video playback, web browsing, and office productivity software with surprising ease.
Pricing and Availability
If you are interested in picking one up, the Waveshare CM5-DUAL-ETH-BOX-B is available for purchase now. The enclosure and carrier board combo is priced at just under $100.
A quick note for buyers: This price does not include the Raspberry Pi CM5 module itself. You will need to supply your own compute module. However, given that many CM5 modules come with built-in wireless connectivity, the lack of onboard WiFi on the carrier board is easily mitigated. If your CM5 doesn’t have wireless, you can always utilize the M.2 slot or USB ports to add it.
For those who were waiting for a polished, metal-clad enclosure to turn their CM5 into a permanent fixture on their desk or in their network rack, this is one of the most compelling options to hit the market recently.
You can check out the initial coverage of the device over at Liliputing for a closer look at the specifications here.
If you are looking to grab the enclosure or a compatible CM5 module, you can view current pricing and availability here.
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| The CM5-based mini PC can function as a decently powerful hobbyist system. |
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| I/O options are plenty. |