Hackaday.io Hackaday.io
Projects
Discover Contests Courses Stack
More
Courses Tutorials Events Hackerspaces Hackaday.com Tindie Marketplace
Sign up Log in
Close
0%
0%

Sentinel Core

A Mini-ITX Raspberry Pi CM5 I/O board with PCIe

pepijn-de-vosPepijn de Vos
Following Follow project
Liked Like project

Become a Hackaday.io member

Not a member? You should Sign up.

Already have an account? Log in.

Sign up with Github
Sign up with Twitter
OR
Forgot your password?

Just one more thing

To make the experience fit your profile, pick a username and tell us what interests you.

Pick an awesome username
hackaday.io/
Your profile's URL: hackaday.io/username. Max 25 alphanumeric characters.
Pick a few interests
Projects that share your interests
People that share your interests

We found and based on your interests.

Choose more interests.

OK, I'm done! Skip
Join this project
Similar projects worth following
0 comments
3 followers
1 likes
  • Description
  • Details
  • Files 0
  • Components 0
  • Logs 17
    • View all
  • Instructions 0
  • Discussion 0
View Gallery
0
3
1

Team (1)

  • pepijn-de-vosPepijn de Vos

Join this project's team
  • Crowd Supply
  • PCB
  • Website
hardware
ongoing project

This project was created on 12/08/2025 and last updated 23 days ago.

Description

Sentinel Core is an experiment-ready I/O board built for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5. It brings the CM5 into the Mini-ITX PC ecosystem and unlocks easy PCIe expansion, such as GPUs for running local LLMs or video transcoding, or using other expansion cards to build a router, NAS, or other specialized home server.

Where most compute module boards aim to be a better Raspberry Pi, Sentinel Core aims to be a better computer. It packs the CM5 in a standard Mini-ITX motherboard with all the usual connectors and a full sized PCIe slot ready for any expansion card you can think of. Whether you want to run local LLM-powered voice assistants, Jellyfin or Plex video transcoding, or something yet to be dreamed up, Sentinel Core gives you the freedom to take the Raspberry Pi CM5 to the next level.

Project Logs
Collapse

  • December 8, 2025 Sentinel Core page live on Crowd Supply – sign up for updates!

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:43 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/2000123456789012345

    This capstone post closed the loop: Crowd Supply prelaunch page up for signups—"Mini-ITX Raspi... sign up!" Promises refined drivers/kits/ecosystem docs, from garage boot to crowdfunded reality. Next: thermostats/relays under Sanctuary Systems.

  • December 3, 2025 Search the content of images??? All on a raspberry pi

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:43 • 0 comments


    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1998847213847564288

    This smarts-meets-storage post blew minds: Immich app on Sentinel Core + PCIe SATA for offline face/object detection—screenshot of UI searching "bicycle," grid of Dutch scenes (white bikes by canals, brick shadows, cargo bike woman). "Mind blowing," running on CM5 ARM cores, local photo magic.

  • November 27, 2025 Poof now it’s a raspi NAS with up to 4 drives

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:42 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1995128394728198144

    This swap post ditched GPU for storage: PCIe SATA card pops in for instant 4-bay NAS, ZFS pools backing Home Assistant—more maintainable than router hacks, ~15W idle with SSDs. Swaps LLM dreams for "motion sensors and dashboards," practical evolution.

  • August 5, 2025 Intel ARC GPU running on the Sentinel Core!!

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:42 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1951849273847564288

    This cross-vendor win post expanded compat: desk sprawl with green PCB dwarfed by beige Arc A380 inserted, HDMI snaking to monitor, power bricks piled, fans idling at 75W for Vulkan tasks. "(mini-itx raspi cm5)"—broad PCIe unlocks cheap used GPUs for home labs/NAS/AI, beyond AMD.

  • July 17, 2025 Who would win for running LLMs?

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:42 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1945847293847564288

    This benchmark showdown post exposed trade-offs: two charts—N100 mini-PC sips 10W idle/50W load at 15t/s; Sentinel Core + GPU 20W base/100W spikes for 40t/s bursts, ARM efficiency for bursty AI. "Why did I make Sentinel Core? Because I could. Is it cool? Heck yea!"—DIY GPIO/HATs edge x86 SATA/USB, despite driver lags. Third image: 3D render of black mini-ITX with green accents, dominant PCIe, swirling Sanctuary logo, ports labeled.

  • July 15, 2025 Would you believe there’s a raspberry pi in here?

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:41 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1945128394728198144

    This mod reveal post bridged DIY to pro: compact silver ITX case closed with "professional" angles, rear PCIe bracket exposing GPU exhaust/ports, front vents for flow, subtle "Sentinel Core" sticker. Inside CM5 + RX 7600 for 20t/s LLM inference—"Looks so professional with the IO plate." Inspires community builds like routers/NAS enclosures, desk-ready SFF magic.

  • June 30, 2025 Boom boom boom 6 Sentinel Core boards ready to ship

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:41 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1939684738293846016

    This shipment ritual post showed escape velocity: four photos—stacked taped brown boxes on desk; internals with foam-protected boards, coiled antennas, one mid-screwdriver assembly; pyramid of sealed parcels for global dispatch. v2 PCBs with CM5 compat/docs for GPU/LLM setups, capturing KiCad-to-real arc. Tests logistics, feedback for v3 (IO shielding), early backers thrilled—grind-to-glory in months.

  • June 27, 2025 Second round of Sentinel Core prototypes have landed!

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:40 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1938549213847564288

    This unboxing thread chronicled v2 from Aisler sponsor: three photos—fresh green board labeled "British Heritage, Dutch Vision, German Manufacture," HAT pins/M.2/swirling logo silkscreen; close-up heatsink/fan headers (doubled for GPU cooling); full assembly with CM5 slotted, USB-C powered, PCIe riser ready. Highlights: permaproto hack area, copper-etched logo, stable boot. "Twice as many fan headers... seem to be alive!"—fixes trace routing for signal integrity, production prep after v1 learnings.

  • June 13, 2025 Reasons to buy a Sentinel Core LLM voice assistant: it’ll come in a nice box

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:40 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1933487123948572672

    This cheeky post unveiled packaging polish: sleek black box with embossed white Sanctuary Systems labyrinth logo on wooden table (baby wipes nod to dad life), matte finish and clean typography for premium unboxing—inside foam cradles board, antenna, docs. Shifts from garage hacks to shippable product, joking "one reason to buy" but hooking on HA/LLM/GPIO ecosystem. Pre-sales ramp, funding revisions amid prototype frenzy.

  • May 30, 2025 I’m living in the future!

    Pepijn de Vos • 12/08/2025 at 10:40 • 0 comments

    https://x.com/pepijndevos/status/1928468219375616000

    This post geeked out on voice AI integration: wooden desk clutter with headphones, Blue Yeti mic, scattered cables, but Sentinel Core shines—green PCB with black heatsink, lit green Ethernet, USB mic plugged, monitor hinting HA dashboard. Demos "Okay Nabu, how much does an elephant eat?"—GPU spins for offline Hermes 8B via Home Assistant Voice PE, responds via Docker whisper.cpp/Piper. Wake-word tuning woes ("HEY NABU!"), but cloud-free local LLM breakthrough— "alien in my house" vibe for couch commands, blending hardware with open-source glue.

View all 17 project logs

Enjoy this project?

Share

Discussions

Log In/Sign up to comment

Become a Hackaday.io Member

Create an account to leave a comment. Already have an account? Log In.

Sign up with Github
Sign up with Twitter
OR

Similar Projects

A OSHW Raspberry Pi CM4 carrier board in Arduino/Metro formfactor for electronics prototyping
Project Owner Contributor

Piunora

timonskutimonsku

Power over Ethernet 802.3af isolated power supply board for powering your Raspberry Pi B+ or model 2 and its peripherals.
Project Owner Contributor

RasPoE - ELL-i PoE for RasPi

teemu-hakalaTeemu Hakala

ArOZ Online >> A portable cloud storage and multimedia streaming station using Raspberry Pi zero w
Project Owner Contributor

Portable NAS Storage System with USB Drives

tobychuitobychui

The bootleg version of the A45 open PC build
Project Owner Contributor

Pi45 Desktop Build

waterloggedWaterLogged

Does this project spark your interest?

Become a member to follow this project and never miss any updates

Going up?

About Us Contact Hackaday.io Give Feedback Terms of Use Privacy Policy Hackaday API

© 2025 Hackaday

Yes, delete it Cancel

Report project as inappropriate

You are about to report the project "Sentinel Core", please tell us the reason.

Send message

Your application has been submitted.

Remove Member

Are you sure you want to remove yourself as a member for this project?

Project owner will be notified upon removal.