An aluminium Raspberry Pi 5 case with integrated M.2 NVMe PCIe storage expansion, active cooling, and USB-C Power Delivery — built for makers who want desktop-class performance in a compact enclosure.
The Argon ONE V3 M.2 NVMe PCIe Case (SKU: ARG-ONE-V3-M2) is a premium aluminium enclosure designed exclusively for the Raspberry Pi 5. It combines the clean, compact Argon ONE V3 form factor with an integrated M.2 NVMe PCIe expansion board, giving your Pi 5 access to fast solid-state storage via the Pi 5's native PCIe 2.0 ×1 interface — no external HAT required.
Beyond storage, the case delivers a complete hardware platform: an RP2040 microcontroller manages fan speed and power behaviour with updateable firmware, a USB-C Power Delivery input negotiates power with compatible supplies, and a HDMI USB-C daughterboard routes the Pi 5's dual micro-HDMI outputs to accessible external ports. The integrated cooling fan keeps thermals in check during sustained workloads, and an aluminium construction acts as a passive heatsink alongside the active fan.
This case is suited to makers, developers, and home-lab users who want to run Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu from a fast NVMe SSD, need reliable thermal management for compute-heavy tasks, and prefer a finished, professional-looking enclosure over an open-board setup. Because the case uses an internal power-routing architecture — power passes through the case's internal circuitry before reaching the Pi — correct assembly of all internal components is essential before first power-on.
📝 Note: The confirmed included items below are sourced from the product catalog and manual. If your unit's box contents differ, refer to the packing slip included in the box or contact Argon 40 support.
[TODO: Confirm complete box contents list including screws, thermal pads, and any accessory hardware — full packing list not provided in available sources]
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | ARG-ONE-V3-M2 |
| Case Material | Aluminium |
| Form Factor | Argon ONE V3 — 85 mm × 56 mm (standard Raspberry Pi form factor) |
| Compatible Board | Raspberry Pi 5 (exclusive) |
| Storage Expansion Interface | M.2 NVMe PCIe |
| PCIe Standard | PCIe 2.0 ×1 |
| M.2 Form Factor | M.2 |
| microSD Slot | UHS-I |
| Internal Microcontroller | RP2040 (firmware-updateable) |
| Cooling | Integrated active cooling fan, RP2040-controlled |
| Power Input | USB-C Power Delivery (PD) |
| Recommended PSU | Official Raspberry Pi 45W (5A) USB-C Power Supply |
| Minimum PSU | Official Raspberry Pi 27W (5V 3A) USB-C Power Supply |
| Internal Power Connector | 6-pin connector between daughterboard and power board |
| Pi Board Connection | Pogo pins (internal) |
| HDMI Daughterboard | USB-C type, connects via pogo pins + 6-pin internal power connector |
| Display Output | Dual micro-HDMI, up to 4Kp60 simultaneous |
| Power Button | Integrated into case |
| NVMe Boot Support | Yes — via EEPROM configuration |
| Firmware Updates | Yes — RP2040 firmware updateable |
| Supported Operating Systems | Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit), Ubuntu, and others |
| config.txt Parameters | usb_max_current_enable, PSU_MAX_CURRENT |
The Raspberry Pi 5 is the first Raspberry Pi to include a native PCIe connector, enabling direct M.2 NVMe SSD expansion. It is the only board compatible with the Argon ONE V3 M.2 NVMe PCIe Case.
Board specifications sourced from raspberrypi.com.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | Broadcom BCM2712, 2.4 GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 |
| GPU | VideoCore VII, OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2 |
| RAM | 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB LPDDR4X-4267 |
| Built-in Storage | microSD (UHS-I) |
| PCIe Expansion | PCIe 2.0 ×1 connector (used by this case's M.2 NVMe board) |
| Wi-Fi | Dual-band 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 / BLE |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| USB | 2× USB 3.0 (5 Gbps), 2× USB 2.0 |
| Display Outputs | 2× micro-HDMI (4Kp60 + 4Kp60 simultaneous), MIPI DSI, MIPI CSI |
| GPIO | 40-pin standard Raspberry Pi GPIO header |
| Power Input | USB-C Power Delivery |
| Recommended PSU | 5V 5A (27W) — 45W official supply recommended with this case |
| Real-Time Clock | Yes — battery connector onboard |
| Power Button | Yes — integrated on board (also exposed via case button) |
| OS Support | Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit recommended), Ubuntu, and others |
| Dimensions | 85 mm × 56 mm |
⚠️ Warning: This case is exclusively designed for Raspberry Pi 5. No other Raspberry Pi model (including Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi 400, Compute Module boards, or earlier generations) is supported or physically compatible.
⚠️ Warning: Before beginning assembly, verify that your Raspberry Pi 5 powers on and operates correctly outside the case. Do not attempt to diagnose case assembly issues with an untested Pi board.
📝 Note: The Argon ONE V3 uses an internal power-routing architecture. Power from your USB-C supply passes through the case's internal circuitry before reaching the Raspberry Pi. The case will not power on unless all internal components — the HDMI USB-C daughterboard, 6-pin power connector, power board, and Raspberry Pi board — are fully and correctly connected.
Complete all of the following steps with your Raspberry Pi 5 outside the case before proceeding to hardware assembly:
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a
sudo reboot
date
Before installing the Raspberry Pi, confirm the power board, RP2040 microcontroller, fan, and power button are functioning correctly.
⚠️ Warning: If the fan does not spin during this test, do not proceed with full assembly until the issue is resolved. Refer to the Argon ONE V3 Firmware Update procedure in your manual. A firmware update to the RP2040 may be required.
📝 Note: The HDMI USB-C daughterboard connector is manufactured to tight mechanical tolerances. A partially inserted daughterboard is one of the most common causes of power-on failure. Apply firm, even pressure and reseat the connector 2–3 times to ensure reliable electrical contact.
⚠️ Warning: Do not test the daughterboard by connecting a power supply to it alone. The HDMI USB-C daughterboard is not designed to power the Raspberry Pi directly. Power is routed through the case's internal power circuitry — testing the daughterboard in isolation is not a valid check and will confirm nothing.
📝 Note: NVMe SSD boot support requires EEPROM configuration. See NVMe Boot Configuration for the setup procedure. If you have not yet configured EEPROM for NVMe boot, complete that step now (with the Pi still outside the case) before proceeding.
Before connecting any power supply, confirm all of the following:
⚠️ Warning: USB-C Power Delivery does not immediately output power. The PD controller waits for a complete, valid power path before negotiating power with the supply. If any component is not fully connected, power negotiation cannot complete and the Pi will remain off — even though the power supply is plugged in. This is expected behaviour, not a defective component.
If the Pi does not power on, proceed to Troubleshooting.
The Argon installation scripts are required for full functionality of the Argon ONE V3, including fan control and power button behaviour under Raspberry Pi OS.
[TODO: Add official Argon 40 installation script repository URL or curl command — specific URL not provided in available sources. Check https://argon40.com or the official Argon 40 GitHub repository for the current installation command.]
Fan speed and power button behaviour are managed by the RP2040 microcontroller on the power board. The Argon installation scripts configure the software-side interface between Raspberry Pi OS and the RP2040.
After running the installation scripts, the fan control daemon will manage fan speed based on CPU temperature thresholds. You can typically adjust these thresholds using the Argon configuration tool installed by the scripts.
[TODO: Add specific fan configuration commands or config file path once installation script repository is confirmed.]
The Argon ONE V3 routes power through internal case circuitry. For the Raspberry Pi OS to correctly recognise your power supply's full current capability, additional configuration is required in /boot/firmware/config.txt.
Add or confirm the following parameters are present:
sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt
Add the following lines:
usb_max_current_enable=1
PSU_MAX_CURRENT=5000
Save and exit (Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter), then reboot:
sudo reboot
📝 Note: These settings inform the Pi OS of the power supply's capabilities via the case's internal power management circuit. They are required because the internal power architecture differs from a direct USB-C connection to the Pi board.
Booting from an NVMe SSD requires configuring the Raspberry Pi 5 EEPROM.
⚠️ Warning: Complete EEPROM configuration before configuring PCIe boot order, and do this with the Pi outside the case if possible. Incorrect EEPROM configuration can prevent the Pi from booting.
sudo -E rpi-eeprom-config --edit
BOOT_ORDER=0xf416
sudo reboot
📝 Note: If your NVMe SSD is not detected after assembly, refer to the dedicated guide: Raspberry Pi 5 NVMe SSD Not Detected — Complete Troubleshooting Guide [TODO: add link to this guide when published on the wiki].
If the fan does not respond correctly or power management beh