I regret building a $3000 Pi AI Cluster
Jeff Geerling
Sep 19, 2025 14:00
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It's been a while. Some Kickstarters take time.
What do you think about doing the same thing 10 times in a row, over and over? If that's your jam, build a cluster like I did in this video!
If you want to replicate the Compute Blade Cluster, here are all the parts I used (some links are affiliate links):
- Compute Blade DEV: https://www.pishop.us/product/compute-blade-dev/
- Compute Blade Standard Fan Unit: https://www.pishop.us/product/fansta-1v1-0/
- Compute Blade 10" 3D Print Rackmount: https://github.com/Uptime-Lab/compute-blade/tree/main/models/bladerunner
- Raspberry Pi CM5 16GB (CM5016000): https://www.pishop.us/product/raspberry-pi-compute-module-5-16gb-ram-lite-cm5016000/
- GLOTRENDS Aluminum CM5 Heatsink: https://amzn.to/45YACBV
- Patriot P300 256GB NVMe SSD 10-pack: https://amzn.to/4lPJ0JC
- GigaPlus 2.5 Gbps 10 port PoE+ switch: https://amzn.to/3UNOwSd
- GigaPlus 10" Rack Mount 3D Print ears: https://www.printables.com/model/1215585-unified-10-rack-gigaplus-switch-mounting-ears
- Monoprice Cat6A SlimRun 6" Cat6 patch cables (10 pack): https://amzn.to/4fX1gzr
- ioplex SFP+ Twinax DAC patch cable: https://amzn.to/47UlPKX
- DeskPi RackMate TT: https://amzn.to/3UUjCHP
Other resources mentioned in the video:
- My older Compute Blade video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKDGlpnP-vE
- Xerxes Pi Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1907647187/small-board-big-possibilities-xerxes-pi
- Xerxes Pi testing: https://github.com/geerlingguy/raspberry-pi-pcie-devices/issues/753
- Unredacted Labs' Tor exit cluster: https://unredacted.org/blog/2025/05/unredacted-labs/
- World's Largest Pi Cluster at UC Santa Barbara: https://www.independent.com/2025/04/29/worlds-biggest-raspberry-pi-cluster-is-now-at-uc-santa-barbara/
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/geerlingguy
Sponsor me on GitHub: https://github.com/sponsors/geerlingguy
Merch: https://www.redshirtjeff.com
2nd Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GeerlingEngineering
3rd Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Level2Jeff
Contents:
Science & Technology
#cluster
#raspberry pi
#compute
#module
#blade
#uptime
#lab
#labs
#homelab
#sysadmin
#clustering
#computing
#hpc
#high
#performance
#benchmark
#top500
#hpl
#linpack
#ai
#llm
#artificial
#intelligence
#llama
#cpp
#slurm
#exo
#distributed
#dllama
#ollama
#gguf
#rpc
#ram
#memory
#mpich
#build
#tutorial
#guide
#mini rack