Waveshare Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5

Price facts

• Last seen at $278.84 at Sears on Nov 9.

Our take on the Waveshare Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5

The Waveshare Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 is a Raspberry Pi 5 in a compact board-to-board form factor, built for embedding into custom hardware rather than desktop use. This 4 GB variant pairs a quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 CPU at 2.4 GHz with the Pi 5's I/O, including PCIe, USB and dual HDMI, on a small SODIMM-style module. It suits designers building products, kiosks or industrial devices who want Pi 5 performance without a full-size board. Compared with a standard Raspberry Pi 5, you lose the ready-made ports and gain a smaller footprint and eMMC options, but you need a carrier board and more setup work.

Waveshare Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 prices at every store

Waveshare Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 price history

Lowest price we've seen: $278.84 on Nov 10 at Sears. Tracked across 1 store since Nov 10.

Questions and answers

Do I need a carrier board to use it?

Yes. The Compute Module 5 has no standard ports or power jack; it plugs into a carrier board that provides USB, HDMI, Ethernet and power. Waveshare and other makers sell compatible carrier boards.

How does it compare with a standard Raspberry Pi 5?

It uses the same class of quad-core CPU at 2.4 GHz and similar I/O, but in a smaller board-to-board form. A standard Pi 5 is ready to use out of the box; this module is for embedding in your own hardware.

Is 4 GB enough?

For most embedded tasks, kiosks and light server work, yes. If you plan to run a desktop, heavy containers or local AI models, the 8 GB variant is the safer choice.

What cooling does it need?

The module has no heatsink or fan. Plan airflow or a heatsink in your enclosure, since sustained loads at 2.4 GHz will throttle without cooling.

Does it include storage?

Storage depends on the variant; some Compute Module 5 versions include eMMC and others rely on an SD card or NVMe over PCIe on the carrier board. Check the exact model before buying.

What comes in the box?

Typically just the module itself. Carrier board, power supply, cooling and storage are separate purchases.

Where is the Waveshare Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 cheapest?

At Sears, for $278.84, as of our latest check.

Stores we've priced the Waveshare Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 at

• Sears deals and prices

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