Raspberry Pi YouTuber Jeff Geerling had the chance to interview Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton at CES. During the interview we hear Upton confirming that Raspberry Pi 5 production is ramping up, and inadvertently we also get first confirmation that the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 is an upcoming product.
At the three minute mark we hear Geerling ask Upton about the Compute Module 5 and Upton replies "Yeah. No, it's happening. I think we've committed CM5 (Compute Module 5) is happening".
Geerling then talks about a forum post from a Raspberry Pi engineer which alludes to a possible release date of the first half of 2024. Upton's unintentionally enigmatic response does not confirm when we will see a CM5. All we get is a simple "Yeah" followed by highlighting that Raspberry Pi has released guidance for those wishing to design products based around the future board. The guidance is not for general distribution, requiring a lengthy sign-up and verification process in order to use the guide.
What we can confirm though is that the Compute Module 5 will share the same dual connectors as the Compute Module 4. Previous Compute Modules used a SODIMM interface for power and data. With the CM4 we saw dual edge connectors introduced. One of which served power and low-speed interfaces, the other for higher-speed interfaces.
Retaining the dual connector should mean that boards designed around the CM4 should work with the CM5. The assumption being that the 55 x 40 MM form factor remains the same.
The forward guidance documentation will help to ensure that third-party CM4 boards will have the best chance of compatibility with the Compute Module 5.
Compute Module 5 Wish-list
The Compute Module 4 also introduced a plethora of configuration options. With modules ranging in RAM from 1 to 8GB, flash storage from 8 to 32GB and modules with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Raspberry Pi 5, like the Raspberry Pi 4 before it, also has multiple RAM options. On release we have 4 and 8GB models on offer, with 1 and 2GB to come in the near future. Logically, the Compute Module 5 should also provide the same RAM, flash storage and Wi-Fi options.
Compute Module 4
The Compute Module 4, just like the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, hasn't had the best chance of success. Released in late 2022, the Compute Module 4 packs the power of the Raspberry Pi 4 into a smaller form factor. That was great news for all of us eager to pack more power into a project, but it was also released at the tail-end of a pandemic and in the midst of a global chip shortage. For a time, the CM4 and the Zero 2 W were virtually unobtainable. Happily they are now in a more plentiful supply.
Does the impending CM5 mean that the CM4 is dead and buried? Far from it. According to Raspberry Pi's CM4 Product Brief [PDF], the board will be in production until 2031. Don't worry, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W will also remain in production until January 2028 [PDF].
When can we expect the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5?
With no fixed date, just a vague conversation on a forum as source, we can only speculate that the Compute Module 5 will be with us within a year. But we can confirm that once they are available, there will be a full review on Tom's Hardware.
