How to Add Extra HDD or SSD Storage to Your Raspberry Pi 4 Project?

About Geekworm Raspberry Pi 4 NAS Kit, please refer to blog: https://geekworm.com/blogs/news/geekworm-raspberry-pi-4-nas-kit

The latest Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer has been released in July.

We have got many emails about how to add the SSD or HDD storage to the newest Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer.

Now these Raspberry Pi 4 SATA adapter and Raspberry Pi 4 mSATA adapter are finally here.

First, Geekworm release the X825 USB3.0 2.5 inch SATA HDD/SSD Storage Expansion Board for Raspberry Pi 4. The X825 expansion board provides a complete storage solution for newest Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, it supports up to 4TB 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drives (HDD) / solid-state drive (SSD). Only 2.5 inch SATA interface HDD/SDD hard disk is suitable for X825 Board;
X825 is updated from Raspberry Pi 3B+/3B X820 V3.0 2.5 inch SATA SSD expansion board. (Please refer to X820 if you want use the 2.5 inch SATA SSD on Raspberry Pi 3B+/3B/2B).

 Key Features of X825

• Supports upto 4TB 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drives (HDD) / solid-state drive (SSD) (Theoretically it can work with 6TB or 8TB as well. But actually we do not test the X825 board with 6tb or 8tb HDD, you can have a try.)
• Ideal storage solution for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
• On-board push button to control power on /off (Press-ON, Hold the button pressed at least 2s -OFF)
• Powers the Raspberry Pi via Pi's 40-pin header
• LED red indicator indicates powered status and blue indicator indicates drive status
• USB 3.1 Gen1 to SATA 6Gb/s Bridge Controller
• Quick file transfer with high-speed USB 3.1 connectivity from a PC or a Mac
• Powers the Raspberry Pi - no additional power supply for RPi 4

X825 V1.5 Installation Video:

Then there is Raspberry Pi NAS SATA Adapter Stackable X828 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD Cluster Shield.

The X828 is a stackable 2.5" SATA HDD cluster expansion board focused on providing a bigger storage solution for your Raspberry Pi B/2B/3B/3B+/4B. The board is a great way to give a desktop look, as you can connect multiple external hard drivers without having them "hanging" from the USB ports of your SBC.
Knowing that our users might need more USB entrances, we added to extra USB 3.1 Gen1 ports to the X828, so the user can connect keyboards, USB sticks or even other external HDDs.
If you are looking for building a Media Center or even a Network-attached storage (NAS), the X828 will be a good choice for you. You will be able to separate one hard disk only for operating system and the rest for media, games...etc.

Key Features of X828

• Ideal storage solution for Raspberry Pi - Stackable 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD Shield
• Supports one or multiple 2.5 SATA HDDs/SSDs working at the same time(depending on the number of X828 boards you stack)
• Supports up to 4TB 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drives (HDD) / solid-state drive (SSD)
• Provides additional 3 USB3.1 Gen1 ports for Raspberry Pi,and integrated USB 3.1 Gen1 to SATA 6Gb/s bridge controller
• Function to power the RPI via XH2.54 only needing a single power supply
• Function to power the stackable X828 via USB3 Male-to-male cable only needing a single power supply
• Quick file transfer with high-speed USB3.1 5Gb/s connectivity from a PC or a Mac
• Specially-made ultra short USB3.1 cable to connect with Raspberry Pi and stackable X828 boards
• LED blue indicator indicates drive status
• Fully compatible with X735 for intelligent power management and cooling your Raspberry Pi
• Fully compatible with X710 for wide input voltage (6~36V) and intelligent safe power management, BUT no match case for the kit.
• Fully compatible with X765 for powering over Ethernet (POE, 5V 4A), BUT no match case for the kit.
• Fully compatible with X705, X725 for uninterruptible power supply (18650 UPS, 5.1V 8A), BUT no match case for the kit.
• PCB Size 107.5mm x 85mm

But there must be something to pay attetion:

1. Do not power your Raspberry Pi via the Pi's 40-pin header and micro-USB socket at the same time.
2. To avoid power shortage, it is recommended to use ONE power supply for every 3pcs X828 boards.
3. One X828 board can install one 2.5 inch SATA HDD / SSD, please select the corresponding number of X828 boards according to the number of hard disks you want to stack.
4. It is recommend to use with X735 board to get safe shutdown & cooling function. One X735 can meet the power supply of 2-3pcs X828 boards, and also depend on the power supply you use.
5. WIKI for reference: raspberrypiwiki.com/index.php/X828

X828 Installation Video:

Then you may ask what is the difference between X825 and X828?

X825 can only support one upto 4TB 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drives (HDD) / solid-state drive (SSD) , but use X828 you can stack two or more HDD to use at the same time. For example, you want to use 2pcs HDD, then just use 2pcs X828 boards to stack togehter. Also X828 has extra USB3.0 port for you to connect keyboards, USB sticks or even other external HDDs.

For the Raspberry Pi 4 mSATA Adapter, the first version we call it X855. For X855, we have get many customer feedabck, and now it has been updated to X856.

The Raspberry Pi 4 X856 mSATA SSD is the updated version of X855 board. The X856 mSATA SSD Shield expansion board provides a complete storage solution for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, only mSATA interface SDD hard disk is suitable for X856 mSATA SSD extension board; Support up to 1TB mSATA solid-state drive (SSD); With this module, user can build a mobile hard disk with a mSATA SSD for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer.

WIKI for reference: raspberrypiwiki.com/index.php/X856

Features of X856

• Supports up to 1TB mSATA solid-state drive (SSD)
• Ideal storage solution for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B only
• Allows booting OS from your SSD for faster app opens, web serving and file copying, a microSD card is required for forcing the Raspbian OS to use the SSD for its "root" partition
• USB 3.1 Gen1（ Support USB 3.0） to SATA 6Gb/s Bridge Controller
• Quick file transfer with high-speed USB 3.0 connectivity from a PC or a Mac
• USB bus-powered, No additional AC adapter required
• Ultra compact size
• Power supply: USB connection with raspberry pi 4.
• Fully compatible with X735 for intelligent power management and cooling your Raspberry Pi
• Fully compatible with X710 for wide input voltage (6~36V) and intelligent power management
• Fully compatible with X765 for powering over Ethernet (POE, 5V 5A)
• Fully compatible with X725 for uninterruptible power supply (18650 UPS, 5.1V 8A, WOL)
• PCB Size 85mm x 56mm

 At the end of December 2019, the X835 3.5 inch SATA HDD Storage Expansion Board compatible with Raspberry Pi 4 Model B finally here. X835 can also be used for Raspberry Pi 3. But X835 does not support software shutdown, you can add one X735 power management board to realize the function. while X830 have safe shutdown function, you can also use X830 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ or Pi 3B/2B/B+.

It's time to use idle hard drives. you can DIY a small NAS, music player or something interesting with X835 expansion board for Raspberry Pi 4.

The X835 expansion board provides a complete storage solution for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B; The X835 3.5" SATA adapter can support up to 10TB 3.5 inch SATA hard disk drives (HDD).

Key Features of X835
Operating System: All Raspberry Pi operating systems
Supports up to 10TB 3.5 inch SATA hard disk drives (HDD)
Ideal storage solution for Raspberry Pi 4
USB 3.0 connectivity offers plug-and-play functionality on your Raspberry Pi 4
Quick file transfer with high-speed USB 3.0 connectivity from a PC or a Mac
External Self Powered - Do not require power from Raspberry Pi USB port
PCB Size 163mm x101mm
X835 does not support software shutdown,
WiKi for reference: raspberrypiwiki.com/index.php/X835