# Pi Command Server: parts checklist

From the OpsCode resources store: https://opscode.ai/resources/pi-command-server/
Prices are what we paid in AUD (Feb and May 2026). Shipping extra. Shop around, they move.
The web page shows current vendor prices in AUD and USD, refreshed fortnightly.

## Order 1: the desktop kit (AU$451.00)

- [ ] **Raspberry Pi 5 Desktop Kit, 16GB** · Core Electronics · **$451.00**

What's in the box and whether a headless server needs it:

| Item | Needed? |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 16GB board | Yes, this is the server |
| Official case with fan | Yes (used until the upgrade case arrives) |
| Official 27W USB-C power supply (AU plug) | Yes |
| 32GB MicroSD, OS pre-loaded | Yes, first boot |
| Keyboard and mouse | No, keep in a drawer |
| 2x micro-HDMI cables | No, keep in a drawer |
| Beginner's guide book | No |

**Buy the 16GB board.** The RAM is soldered and can never be upgraded. 16GB runs 5 to 8 AI coding sessions at once.

## Order 2: the server upgrade (AU$284.10)

From Core Electronics:

- [ ] **Pimoroni NVMe Base** (PIM699) · **$26.20**
- [ ] **NVMe Base Case, aluminium** (PIM771) · **$41.50**
- [ ] **Raspberry Pi 5 Active Cooler** (CE09791) · **$8.80**
- [ ] **Raspberry Pi 5 RTC Battery** (CE09774) · **$8.60**

From any mainstream computer shop:

- [ ] **Crucial T500 500GB NVMe SSD** (CT500T500SSD8) · **$199.00** (we used Computer Alliance)

### SSD buying notes

- Any 500GB PCIe Gen 4 (or Gen 3) drive performs the same here. The Pi 5's PCIe lane caps at about 500 MB/s, so don't pay for speed you can't use.
- Buy the **bare drive with no heatsink**. Heatsinked drives don't fit the NVMe Base.
- The same drive varied by $50 between AU shops the week we bought. Check two or three.
- Cheaper alternatives that would have worked the same: Lexar NM790 500GB (~$70 to 90), WD Black SN770 (~$90 to 120), Samsung 990 EVO (~$100 to 120).

## Optional extras

- [ ] Ethernet cable, 1m Cat6 (~$8), more reliable than Wi-Fi for a server
- [ ] Small Phillips screwdriver (you likely own one)

## Total

**AU$735.10** in parts, plus shipping. Running cost after that is about a dollar a month in power.