Description
The Xerxes Pi is a versatile and robust carrier board designed to support Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4), Compute Module 5 (CM5), and the Radxa CM5, providing a unified platform for high-performance embedded and edge-compute applications. Built with compatibility and longevity in mind, Xerxes Pi accommodates the differing power, I/O, and signaling requirements of modern compute modules, enabling developers to evaluate, deploy, and scale across multiple ecosystems without redesigning their base hardware.
Core Compatibility
| Feature |
Details |
| Compute Modules |
Raspberry Pi® CM4 and CM5, Radxa® CM5, OrangePi CM5, and other Compute Module compatible boards. |
| M.2 |
The M.2 connector follows the PCIe specifications documented by Raspberry Pi in their CM5 datasheet. |
| Ethernet |
On-board Gigabit Ethernet PHY using the Broadcom BCM54210PE which is IEEE 1588-2008 compliant with MDI crossover, pair skew and pair polarity correction. |
| Fan Connector |
Standard header pin fan connector. |
| USB |
Power connector is USB-C with data connections handled by micro USB 2.0.
|
| GPIO |
VCC and Ground Pins, I2C pins for SDA and SCL, Fan Control header pins. |
| POE |
Power over Ethernet header holes connect to an optional daughterboard. |
| Feature |
Details |
| Dimensions |
120mm × 40mm. |
| Standard |
Fractional Nano ITX. |
| Mounting |
Aligned for 1U chassis density; side-to-side airflow. |
| Stackable Array-ready |
Designed to slot into a blade or sled within a dense server chassis. Please see further down for a video describing the process for stacking a mini rack. |
Connectivity
| Feature |
Details |
| Networking |
1× Gigabit Ethernet RJ45. |
| USB |
1 micro USB 2.0 port for data. |
| Power |
1 USB-C port for power. |
| PCIe |
1× PCIe x1 via onboard M.2 M-key slot. |
| Display
|
via optional M.2 Oculink® board to optional PCIe Graphics board, including latest generation AMD GPU graphics cards. |
Storage Options
| Feature |
Details |
| Onboard eMMC |
(from compute module) |
| M.2 slot |
Key M for NVMe or SATA SSD. |
| microSD card slot |
Only for CM4 or CM5 Lite versions. microSD care is reserved for compute module cards which do not contsrain storage memory. |
Power
| Feature |
Details |
| Input Voltage |
5V DC via USB-C connector. |
| Power Efficiency
|
Optimized low-power draw (~5–8W per module under load) power draw may vary depending on the M.2 care used. |
Cluster Integration Features
| Feature |
Details |
| I2C/GPIO headers |
for board management, fan control, or daughter card modules. |
| POE connector |
compatibility for integrated POE daughterboard. |
| LED indicators |
Power, Activity, Network status. |
| Rack Enclosures |
Available in 19″ and mini-rack sizes, open source and pre-printed with links to sliced models up soon for download here. |
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Subsystem
- PoE Standard: IEEE 802.3af (15.4W) or 802.3at (30W)
- PoE Module: Integrated PoE PD controller
- DC Output: 5V regulated to power both the host motherboard and daughterboard
- Isolation: Galvanically isolated Ethernet transformer + TVS protection
- RJ45 Port: Routed from the Xerxes Pi
Board-to-Board Interface
- Connector: Dual-row 0.5 mm or 0.8 mm pitch high-density mezzanine connector
- Signals:
- 5V, 3.3V power
- SPI, I2C, UART
- Ethernet pass-through or GPIO-triggered power control
- Optional Features:
- EEPROM for daughterboard ID/config
- Onboard status LED indicators
The board exposes a comprehensive set of interfaces suitable for industrial, commercial, and advanced prototyping use cases, including high-speed networking, storage expansion, and peripheral connectivity. Careful attention is given to power delivery and signal integrity to ensure reliable operation across demanding workloads, including configurations that combine PoE, NVMe storage, and high-throughput peripherals. Its compact, stackable form factor allows for dense deployments and easy integration into space-constrained enclosures.
Designed for developers and system integrators, Xerxes Pi balances accessibility with extensibility. Standard connectors, clear routing, and flexible expansion options make it well suited for rapid development, while its electrically robust design supports long-term, production-grade deployments. By bridging multiple compute module platforms on a single carrier, Xerxes Pi reduces development friction and provides a future-ready foundation for embedded systems, edge AI, and networked devices.
Xerxes Pi Data Sheet
