Modder Hacks Raspberry Pi 500+ to Run an RX 7900 XT
▼ Summary
– The Raspberry Pi 500+ is an updated single-board computer featuring a mechanical keyboard, 16GB of RAM, and a key addition of an NVMe M.2 slot.
– Modder Jeff Geerling exploited the M.2 slot’s PCI Express connection to attach an external Radeon RX 7900 XT GPU using an adapter and a small code modification.
– Despite the powerful GPU, the Raspberry Pi 5’s processor is a bottleneck, limiting its ability to run demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077.
– Using the x86 emulator Box64, Geerling successfully ran the game Horizon Chase Turbo on this setup at 118 frames per second.
– The project is notable for its simplicity, requiring only about 15 lines of additional code to make the powerful external GPU functional with the Pi.
The world of single-board computing continues to push boundaries, with the Raspberry Pi 500+ demonstrating unexpected potential far beyond its intended scope. A recent modification by software engineer Jeff Geerling showcases this versatility in a spectacular fashion, proving that even a compact system can be transformed into a surprisingly capable gaming platform.
This updated version of the Pi 500 brings several key improvements, including a new mechanical keyboard with RGB lighting, a doubling of system RAM to 16GB, and the crucial addition of an NVMe M.2 slot. While designed for adding fast storage, Geerling recognized the slot as a physical interface for a PCI Express connection. This insight opened the door to connecting virtually any PCIe device using an appropriate adapter.
His ambitious project involved linking a powerful Radeon RX 7900 XT graphics card to the Pi 500+ through an OCuLink cable and an external GPU dock. The most remarkable aspect was the minimal software tweaking required; only about fifteen additional lines of code were needed to integrate the GPU with the existing Linux drivers. This elegant solution highlights how accessible such complex modifications can be.
Naturally, a significant bottleneck exists. The Raspberry Pi 5’s processor is not designed to handle the demands of modern AAA titles, despite the graphics card being more than capable. To overcome the architectural difference, Geerling employed Box64, an x86 emulator for Arm64 systems. This allowed him to install Steam and run the game Horizon Chase Turbo at an impressive 118 frames per second, a testament to the GPU’s power working within the system’s constraints.
This isn’t the first time Geerling has pushed a Pi to its limits, having previously achieved 4K gameplay with Doom 3. What makes the 500+ project stand out is the sheer simplicity and cleanliness of the implementation. The fact that such a minor code adjustment can unlock this level of performance is inspiring for the modding community.
For many computing enthusiasts, projects like this rekindle the desire to experiment with older hardware sitting in drawers. The temptation to see what a classic board can achieve with modern components is powerful, even if the practical outcome is more of a technical demonstration than a viable daily gaming rig. It serves as a brilliant example of the creative spirit that drives the maker community, proving that with a little ingenuity, even the most humble hardware can be taught new tricks.
(Source: PC Gamer)