Raspberry Pi 500+ Review & Demo ๐
Explore the Raspberry Pi 500+ with M.2 SSD and illuminated keyboard in this review and demo video.

ExplainingComputers
257.2K views โข Sep 25, 2025

About this video
The Raspberry Pi 500+ takes a Raspberry Pi 500 and adds an M.2 NVMe SSD and an illuminated, mechanical keyboard. This video provides a review and demo, including full specifications, initial setup, and performance tests.
You can learn more about the Pi 500+ in its press release here: https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/the-ultimate-all-in-one-pc-raspberry-pi-500-plus-on-sale-now-at-200/
Please note that the Raspberry Pi 500+ shown in this video was supplied before launch by Raspberry Pi, but that they had no input to, or control over, this review. However, as I accepted something of value from a third party to help make this video, it is flagged as a โpaid promotionโ.
My previous review of the Pi 500 is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOewqaDiynI
And of the Pi 400 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1E5xszQqV8
All of my Raspberry Pi videos can be found on this page:
https://explainingcomputers.com/raspberry_pi_videos.html
INCREASING SSD SPEED (NB: at your own risk)
======================
To change the PCIe speed from 2.0 to 3.0, open a terminal and enter:
sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt
In the resultant editor, scroll to the bottom, and under [all] add the two lines:
dtparam=nvme
dtparam=pciex1_gen=3
As shown in the video, then save the file, reboot the Pi, and your SSD should operate faster!
Note that to perform the speed test shown in the video, you will need to install HD Parameters. You can do this in the terminal by entering:
sudo apt install hdparm
More videos on computing and related topics can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/@ExplainingComputers
And more videos on film and other making, plus retro tech, can be found on my Christopher Barnatt channel: http://www.youtube.com/@ChristopherBarnatt
Chapters:
00:00 Titles & Intro
00:56 Specifications
06:35 Peeking Inside
07:54 First Boot
11:05 Keyboard Lighting
12:20 Performance
16:27 Wrap
#RaspberryPi500+ #RaspberryPi #Pi500+ #Pi500 #SSD #Keyboard #ExplainingComputers
You can learn more about the Pi 500+ in its press release here: https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/the-ultimate-all-in-one-pc-raspberry-pi-500-plus-on-sale-now-at-200/
Please note that the Raspberry Pi 500+ shown in this video was supplied before launch by Raspberry Pi, but that they had no input to, or control over, this review. However, as I accepted something of value from a third party to help make this video, it is flagged as a โpaid promotionโ.
My previous review of the Pi 500 is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOewqaDiynI
And of the Pi 400 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1E5xszQqV8
All of my Raspberry Pi videos can be found on this page:
https://explainingcomputers.com/raspberry_pi_videos.html
INCREASING SSD SPEED (NB: at your own risk)
======================
To change the PCIe speed from 2.0 to 3.0, open a terminal and enter:
sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt
In the resultant editor, scroll to the bottom, and under [all] add the two lines:
dtparam=nvme
dtparam=pciex1_gen=3
As shown in the video, then save the file, reboot the Pi, and your SSD should operate faster!
Note that to perform the speed test shown in the video, you will need to install HD Parameters. You can do this in the terminal by entering:
sudo apt install hdparm
More videos on computing and related topics can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/@ExplainingComputers
And more videos on film and other making, plus retro tech, can be found on my Christopher Barnatt channel: http://www.youtube.com/@ChristopherBarnatt
Chapters:
00:00 Titles & Intro
00:56 Specifications
06:35 Peeking Inside
07:54 First Boot
11:05 Keyboard Lighting
12:20 Performance
16:27 Wrap
#RaspberryPi500+ #RaspberryPi #Pi500+ #Pi500 #SSD #Keyboard #ExplainingComputers
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Video Information
Views
257.2K
Likes
12.1K
Duration
17:28
Published
Sep 25, 2025
User Reviews
4.7
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