SunFounder has unveiled the Pironman 5 case for the Raspberry Pi 5, designed to resemble a traditional PC tower. This case features numerous enhancements, including dual RGB-lit fans, a tower cooler for the CPU, and support for NVMe SSDs via the NVMe PiP HAT+ expansion board.
(C) SunFounderA standout feature of the Pironman 5 is its informational OLED display, which shows CPU load, temperature, IP address, and other data. The case offers convenient access to Raspberry Pi 5 ports: two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, Ethernet, and two HDMI are located on the back panel, while the front features a spring-loaded microSD card slot and an IR receiver for media center applications. An external GPIO connector allows for device connections without opening the case.
The Pironman 5 is made of aluminum with transparent inserts and includes a metallic power button. RGB lighting is provided by the case’s fans and four addressable WS2812 LEDs, creating dynamic light effects. The Pironman 5 NVMe PiP HAT+ board supports various M.2 NVMe SSDs and speeds up to PCIe 2.0/PCIe 3.0. The tower cooler maintains the Raspberry Pi 5 CPU at 39°C under full load at a room temperature of 25°C. While primarily designed for the Raspberry Pi 5, it may also be compatible with the Radxa Rock 5C, though software support for the OLED display and RGB lighting may be problematic.
The Pironman 5 is compatible with most operating systems, except for some like Ubuntu Desktop 23.10, Kali, and Home Assistant, where SPI and I2C support is lacking. For managing lighting and fans, users can install the pironman5.service software, which provides a web interface for configuration.
The case is priced at $79.99. Although it is not yet available in stores, it will soon be listed on AliExpress. The case comes disassembled with a screwdriver and detailed assembly instructions.
In addition to the new case, Hailo has announced an AI module for the Raspberry Pi 5. The new AI Raspberry Pi kit includes the Hailo-8L M.2 module with up to 13 TOPS performance and will be fully integrated with Raspberry Pi software. The kit is expected to be priced around $70, with sales starting in summer 2024.
