Building a Revolutionary Raspberry Pi Compute Blade Cluster
In April 2023, I embarked on an ambitious journey to build a cutting-edge Raspberry Pi cluster, ordering 10 Compute Blades and upgrading to 16GB CM5 Lite modules. Priced around $3,000, this project aimed to explore the limits of performance, efficiency, and compute density in the world of AI applications.
Key Highlights:
- Performance Testing: Achieved 325 Gflops with only 130W power consumption, showcasing impressive efficiency.
- Challenges: Experienced multiple rebuilds due to compatibility issues and thermal throttling.
- AI Limitations: Despite its capabilities, the cluster struggled with small AI model inference, performing significantly slower than alternatives.
While my setup proves compact, quiet, and energy-efficient, it might not be the best choice for high-performance tasks. It excels in environments needing many separate nodes, but for most users, other options may offer better value.
💡 Curious about building your own cluster or have insights to share? Comment below and let’s innovate together!
