A premium all-aluminum enclosure for the Raspberry Pi 5, combining passive and active cooling, full-size HDMI ports, optional PCIe M.2 NVMe expansion, and a programmable RP2040-driven power button in a clean, all-rear-port desktop design.
The Argon ONE V3 is a full-aluminum enclosure designed exclusively for the Raspberry Pi 5, built for makers and enthusiasts who want a polished, functional chassis without sacrificing expandability. The case combines a passive aluminum heatsink body — covering both the CPU and PMIC — with a repositioned 30mm PWM blower fan that reduces noise during light workloads while still delivering full active cooling under sustained load. All connectors — HDMI, USB, Ethernet, audio, and USB-C power — are routed to the rear of the case, giving it the clean profile of a compact desktop computer.
Beyond aesthetics, the Argon ONE V3 adds meaningful functionality to the Raspberry Pi 5. An onboard RP2040 microcontroller drives a programmable multi-function power button with soft shutdown, reboot, and forced shutdown modes — configurable via jumper for either manual power-on or always-on behavior after a power outage. A built-in IR receiver (connected to GPIO23) enables remote control via the Argon Remote or any LIRC-compatible third-party remote. A PCIe flat flex connector routes the Pi 5's PCIe interface to the base of the case, making the optional Argon ONE M.2 NVMe PCIe Expansion Board a seamless add-on for fast, reliable solid-state storage in 2242, 2260, or 2280 form factors.
The case is also compatible with two optional expansion modules: the Argon BLSTR DAC for high-fidelity 24-bit/192 kHz audio output via a Texas Instruments PCM5122 codec, and the Argon PWR UPS for uninterrupted 5.1V/5A power with a built-in real-time clock. Whether you're building a home media server, a network-attached storage appliance, or a daily desktop replacement, the Argon ONE V3 provides the thermal management, connectivity, and expandability to support serious projects.
📝 Note: The Argon ONE V3 is the predecessor to the Argon ONE V5. It is compatible with the Raspberry Pi 5 only and is not compatible with the Raspberry Pi 4.
📝 Note: A Raspberry Pi 5, M.2 NVMe drive, power supply, and optional add-on modules (Argon BLSTR DAC, Argon PWR UPS, Argon ONE M.2 NVMe PCIe Expansion Board) are sold separately. The Argon PWR GaN 27W Power Delivery adapter is the recommended power supply for this case.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | ARG-ONE-V3 |
| Model Number | A23-011 AR-ONE-Pi5-V3 |
| UPC/EAN | 860011360025 |
| HTS Code | 8473.30.5100 |
| Color | Black |
| Case Material | Aluminum alloy (top) + injected ABS plastic (bottom) |
| Dimensions | 160 × 98 × 43 mm |
| Weight | 0.23 kg |
| Cooling | Passive (aluminum case body heatsink for CPU and PMIC) + active (30mm PWM blower fan) |
| Fan Type | 30mm PWM blower-type, repositioned for reduced noise, software-controlled |
| Fan Default Curve | 55°C → 30% / 60°C → 55% / 65°C → 100% |
| Fan Minimum Activation | 10% power input (fan does not spin below this threshold) |
| HDMI Ports | 2× full-size HDMI (converted from Pi 5 micro-HDMI via HDMI-Power Board) |
| USB Ports | 2× USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) + 2× USB 2.0 |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Audio | 3.5mm audio jack (requires optional Argon BLSTR DAC) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| GPIO | 40-pin passthrough header with magnetic removable cover (color-coded) |
| PCIe Expansion | M.2 NVMe socket, PCIe 2.0 ×1, via flat flex cable |
| M.2 Form Factors Supported | 2280, 2260, 2242 (via adjustable screw) |
| M.2 Drive Compatibility | Key M and Key B+M NVMe only — SATA not supported |
| M.2 Power Delivery | POGO pins (bottom case cover must be fully screwed for contact) |
| microSD Accessibility | Inaccessible when M.2 expansion board is installed |
| Power Button MCU | Raspberry Pi RP2040 (firmware updatable via USB) |
| Power Button Location | Rear of case |
| Power Button — Short Press (device off) | Turn ON |
| Power Button — Short Press (device on) | No action (<3 s) |
| Power Button — Double-tap | Reboot |
| Power Button — 3 s+ hold | Soft shutdown + power cut |
| Power Button — 5 s+ hold | Forced shutdown |
| Power Management Jumper | 2 modes: Pins 1–2 = Manual power-on (default); Pins 2–3 = Always-ON after outage |
| IR Receiver | Built-in, connected to GPIO23; compatible with Argon Remote and LIRC-configured remotes |
| Port Orientation | All ports rear-facing |
| Primary Compatibility | Raspberry Pi 5 only |
| Recommended PSU | 27W USB-C Power Delivery (5V/5A) |
| Minimum PSU | 15W (5V/3A) |
| EEPROM — BOOT_ORDER | 0xf416 |
| EEPROM — PCIE_PROBE | 1 |
| EEPROM — PSU_MAX_CURRENT | 5000 mA |
| EEPROM — usb_max_current_enable | 1 |
The Raspberry Pi 5 is the fifth-generation flagship single-board computer from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, featuring a quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor, VideoCore VII GPU, and the first native PCIe connector on a Raspberry Pi board.
Source: raspberrypi.com
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | Broadcom BCM2712, quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz |
| GPU | VideoCore VII, OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2 |
| RAM | 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB LPDDR4X-4267 |
| Storage | microSD card slot (UHS-I) |
| Wi-Fi | Dual-band 802.11ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 / BLE |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (via RP1 southbridge) |
| USB | 2× USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) + 2× USB 2.0 |
| Native Display Output | 2× micro-HDMI (up to 4Kp60 simultaneous) |
| GPIO | 40-pin header |
| PCIe | 1× PCIe 2.0 ×1 connector (FPC) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/5A recommended) |
| Recommended PSU | 27W USB-C Power Delivery (5V/5A) |
| OS Support | Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit, Ubuntu ARM64, and other ARM64 distributions |
| Dimensions | 85 × 56 mm |
Compatibility notes for use with the Argon ONE V3:
⚠️ Warning: Handle all boards with care to avoid electrostatic discharge (ESD). Work on a non-conductive surface and avoid touching exposed solder pads or connector pins directly.
Complete these steps before opening the case to separate any Raspberry Pi or SD card issues from assembly problems.
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a
sudo reboot
date
⚠️ Warning: The HDMI-Power Board does not directly power the Raspberry Pi on its own. The 6-pin internal power connector between the HDMI-Power Board and the RP2040-Fan Board must be fully seated for the Pi to receive power. If any internal connection is loose, the Pi will not boot.
Set the power management jumper to the default position (Pins 1–2) for manual power-on mode. This is typically pre-installed at the correct position from the factory, but verify before proceeding.
Install the Raspberry Pi 5 into the case. Lower the board onto the standoffs and secure it with the flathead screws provided. Ensure the board sits flush — do not overtighten.
Seat the HDMI-Power Board (daughterboard). This board connects the Pi 5's micro-HDMI ports to the full-size HDMI outputs on the rear panel and completes the internal power circuit. Due to tight mechanical tolerances, apply firm, even pressure and reseat the board multiple times if necessary until it is fully and evenly inserted.
Connect the 6-pin internal power connector. This cable links the HDMI-Power Board to the RP2040-Fan Board. Press it in fully until it is securely seated — a loose connection here will prevent the Pi from powering on.
Verify all internal connections before closing the case. Check that:
- The HDMI-Power Board is fully and evenly seated.
- The 6-pin power connector is fully inserted on both ends.
- The POGO pin pads on the bottom of the expansion board align correctly with the contacts on the bottom case cover (if using the M.2 expansion board).
(Optional — M.2 NVMe Expansion) Install the PCIe flat flex cable.
⚠️ Warning: Insert the flat flex cable with the copper side facing the white side of the Pi 5's PCIe connector. Incorrect orientation will prevent the NVMe drive from being detected.
Feed the flat flex cable through the case opening and connect it to the Pi 5's PCIe FPC connector with the copper contacts facing the correct direction.
(Optional — M.2 NVMe Expansion) Install the M.2 NVMe drive onto the expansion board. Insert the drive at an angle into the M.2 Key M socket, lower it flat, and secure it with the adjustable retention screw for your drive's form factor (2242, 2260, or 2280).
Apply thermal pads. Place the silicone thermal pads on the CPU and PMIC contact areas of the aluminum heatsink lid. If using an M.2 drive, apply the M.2 thermal heatsink pad to the top surface of the NVMe drive.
Close the case. Lower the aluminum top cover into position and secure all roundhead screws. Ensure the bottom case cover is fully screwed down — the POGO pins that deliver power to the M.2 expansion board only make contact when the bottom cover is completely secured.
Perform this check before completing final case assembly if possible, to confirm the power board and fan are functioning correctly.
⚠️ Warning: If the fan does not spin during this test, do not proceed with final assembly. Refer to the Troubleshooting section and the Argon ONE V3 Firmware Update procedure in the assembly manual.
The argon1.sh script installs all core Argon ONE V3 software: power button control, fan management daemon, and the argon-config configuration tool.
📝 Note: Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit is the recommended operating system. Ubuntu ARM64 is also supported. Custom distributions are supported provided they support GPIO access, EEPROM editing, and systemd services.
curl https://download.argon40.com/argon1.sh | bash
After installation, reboot your Pi:
sudo reboot
Use argon-config to adjust the fan speed curve from the defaults:
argon-config
Select the Fan option from the menu. The default curve is: