Waveshare has released a straightforward PCIe x1 adapter that adds 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet to the Raspberry Pi 5 for just $10 (€9). The PCIe TO 2.5G ETH Board (C) connects via the Pi 5's 16-pin PCIe FFC connector and works out of the box with Raspberry Pi OS, requiring no additional drivers.
Built around a Realtek RTL8125 controller, the board provides a 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps RJ45 port with link and activity LEDs. The compact PCB measures 8.5 x 3.75 cm (3.3 x 1.5 inches) and includes a transparent acrylic mounting plate with spacers for a clean installation underneath the Pi. Power can come through the PCIe FFC cable or via dedicated 5V headers. The adapter enumerates as a standard PCIe Gen2 x1 network device, supporting auto-negotiation, hardware offloading, and VLAN configuration through the existing r8169/r8125 driver stack.
Unlike more complex solutions from 52Pi and Radxa that bundle NVMe SSD slots or AI accelerator support, Waveshare's offering focuses purely on networking at a lower price point. It also frees up a USB 3.0 port compared to USB-based 2.5GbE dongles, making it a practical choice for DIY NAS builds, routers, or edge networking projects. The board is available now from the Waveshare store for $10 (€9).
