Add fast NVMe SSD storage to your Argon ONE V2 setup via a clean, integrated USB 3.0 bridge — no PCIe slot required.
The Argon ONE V2 M.2 Expansion Board (NVMe) is a dedicated storage expansion accessory designed to slot into the rear of the Argon ONE V2 case and bring high-speed NVMe SSD storage to your Raspberry Pi 4 build. Using an onboard M.2 NVMe to USB 3.0 bridge, the board presents your NVMe drive to the Raspberry Pi as a USB 3.0 mass storage device — no additional drivers or complex configuration required beyond running the standard Argon ONE setup script.
This board is purpose-built for makers and hobbyists who want to move beyond the speed and capacity limits of a microSD card, or who need a more reliable primary storage medium for always-on projects such as home servers, network-attached storage, media centres, or data-logging applications. The expansion board integrates flush with the Argon ONE V2 case, keeping the finished build compact and tidy with no external adapters hanging off the back.
A movable screw retention point on the board accommodates NVMe drives of different physical lengths, giving you flexibility in drive selection. The board is CE certified and RoHS compliant, and the full software stack for power button control, fan management, and the built-in infrared receiver is installed with a single terminal command.
⚠️ Warning: This board accepts M-Key NVMe drives only. M.2 SATA drives will not work, even if they physically fit the M.2 slot. Check your drive's protocol before purchasing.
📝 Note: The items listed below are based on the included assembly manual. For a definitive contents list, refer to the physical packaging or contact cs@argon40.com.
📝 Note: An NVMe SSD, Raspberry Pi 4, and Argon ONE V2 case are not included and must be purchased separately.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Argon ONE V2 M.2 Expansion Board Only (NVMe) |
| SKU | ARG-ONE-V2-EXP-NVME |
| Model Number | A22-006 AR-NVMe-EB |
| UPC / EAN | 6974297861245 |
| Storage Interface | M.2 NVMe (M-Key only) |
| Bridge Technology | M.2 NVMe to USB 3.0 |
| Host Connection | USB 3.0 |
| M.2 SATA Compatible | ❌ No — NVMe only |
| Drive Retention | Movable screw point (accommodates variable drive lengths) |
| Minimum Power Requirement | 5 V / 3 A |
| Dimensions | 10.80 × 9.60 × 0.80 cm |
| HTS Code | 8471.70.5095 |
| Certifications | CE, RoHS |
| Compatible Case | Argon ONE V2 |
| Compatible SBC | Raspberry Pi 4 |
📝 Note: Supported M.2 drive form factors (2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, etc.) are not explicitly stated in the assembly manual. The movable retention screw suggests multiple lengths are accommodated. [TODO: Confirm supported M.2 form factors from Argon 40 engineering or product team]
The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is the quad-core, Gigabit Ethernet single-board computer for which the Argon ONE V2 case and this NVMe expansion board are designed.
📝 Note: Specifications below are sourced from the official Raspberry Pi website. Always verify against the latest listing at https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/specifications/.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | Broadcom BCM2711, quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.8 GHz |
| RAM | 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM |
| Onboard Storage | None (microSD card slot for OS and data) |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11ac wireless |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0, BLE |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| USB | 2× USB 3.0 ports; 2× USB 2.0 ports |
| HDMI | 2× micro-HDMI ports (up to 4Kp60 supported) |
| GPIO | Standard 40-pin GPIO header |
| Power Input | USB-C (5 V DC) |
| Recommended PSU | 5 V / 3 A (15 W) USB-C power supply |
| OS Support | Raspberry Pi OS and other ARM GNU/Linux distributions, RISC OS |
| Dimensions | 85 × 56 mm |
Compatibility caveats for use with the Argon ONE V2 NVMe Expansion Board:
⚠️ Warning: Handle all components on an anti-static surface. Disconnect all power before assembling or disassembling hardware.
⚠️ Warning: Do not insert the microSD card into the Raspberry Pi during assembly. Insert it only at the step indicated below — inserting it early can make it impossible to access once the case is partially assembled.
⚠️ Warning: Thermal pads will not conduct heat effectively if the protective film is left on either side. Ensure both sides are fully peeled before placing.
Locate the jumper on the Power and Cooling board and set it according to your preferred power-on behaviour:
| Jumper Setting | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Pin 1–2 (default) | Requires button press to power on |
| No jumper | Same as Pin 1–2 (default behaviour) |
| Pin 2–3 | Always ON — powers on automatically when power is connected |
📝 Note: The default setting (Pin 1–2 or no jumper) is appropriate for most users. Always ON mode (Pin 2–3) is useful for headless or server deployments where manual power-on is impractical.
⚠️ Warning: M-Key NVMe drives only. Do not attempt to install an M.2 SATA drive. Even if the drive seats physically, the board will not recognise it and you may damage the connector.
⚠️ Warning: This is your last accessible opportunity to insert or swap the microSD card before closing the case. Confirm the card is fully seated.
📝 Note: The "Argonaut Alien standing upright" orientation cue means the Argon 40 logo on the board should be the right way up when viewed from behind the case. If in doubt, refer to the printed assembly manual diagram. [TODO: Add photo of correct USB 3.0 bridge orientation at rear of case]
The Argon ONE script installs support for the power button, fan control, and infrared receiver. It must be installed before these features will function.
Requirements:
- Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian) installed and booted
- Active internet connection
Installation:
curl https://download.argon40.com/argon1.sh | bash
sudo reboot
📝 Note: The script has been tested on Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian). Compatibility with other Linux distributions (Ubuntu, DietPi, etc.) is not confirmed in the official documentation. [TODO: Confirm OS compatibility matrix with Argon 40 engineering]
After the script is installed, the power button on the Argon ONE V2 case operates as follows:
| System State | Button Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| OFF | Short press | Turn ON |
| ON | Short press (< 3 s) | No action |
| ON | Double tap | Reboot |
| ON | Long press (≥ 3 s) | Soft shutdown and power cut |
| ON | Long press (≥ 5 s) | Forced shutdown |
Default fan speed thresholds (post-installation):
| CPU Temperature | Fan Speed |
|---|---|
| 55 °C | 10% |
| 60 °C | 55% |
| 65 °C | 100% |
To customise fan thresholds — GUI method:
Click the Argon ONE Pi4 Config icon on the Raspberry Pi OS desktop and follow the on-screen prompts.
To customise fan thresholds — CLI method:
argonone-config
Follow the on-screen prompts in the terminal to set your preferred temperature-to-fan-speed mappings.
⚠️ Warning: Fan configuration changes take effect only after a system reboot. Run
sudo rebootafter saving changes.
sudo reboot
The Argon ONE V2 includes a built-in programmable infrared (IR) receiver compatible with the Argon 40 proprietary remote control.
To configure the IR receiver:
argonone-ir
Follow the on-screen instructions in the terminal to pair and configure your remote.
For additional IR documentation, visit: https://www.argon40.com/learn/
📝 Note: The IR receiver is described as a feature of the V2 variant. If you are unsure whether your unit includes this feature, check the label on the bottom of your Argon ONE V2 case or contact cs@argon40.com.
GUI method:
Click the Argon ONE Pi4 Uninstall icon on the Raspberry Pi OS desktop.
CLI method:
argonone-uninstall
After uninstalling, reboot to ensure all changes take effect:
sudo reboot
Likely cause: The USB 3.0 bridge is not fully seated, the drive is not fully inserted, or the drive is M.2 SATA rather than NVMe.
Resolution steps:
1. Power off the system completely and disconnect the USB-C power cable.
2. Remove the expansion board from the rear of the case and reseat it firmly.
3. Check that the NVMe drive is fully inserted into the M.2 slot and the retention screw is secure.
4. Confirm your drive is M-Key NVMe — check the drive's product page or label. M.2 SATA drives will not be recognised.
5. Power on and check if the drive appears using:
lsblk
or
sudo fdisk -l
Likely cause: Insufficient power supply. The NVMe drive draws additional current through the USB 3.0 bridge.
Resolution steps:
1. Verify your USB-C power supply is rated at 5 V / 3 A (15 W) minimum.
2. Replace the power supply with the official Raspberry Pi 4 USB-