Raspberry Pi 10000

Greetings everyone, and welcome back.

Everyone’s making cyberdecks, so I thought, why not make one myself? Meet the Raspberry Pi 10,000, my take on a cyberdeck, built around the Raspberry Pi 500+.

The whole idea behind this project revolves around the Raspberry Pi 500+, with a little modification to turn it into something more practical for my use.

I paired the Pi 500+ with a long 7.9-inch HDMI display and designed a custom two-part frame to hold everything together. One frame attaches to the Raspberry Pi, while the other holds the display. A hinge connects the two, allowing the screen to fold down with the keyboard just like a laptop.

The main reason for making this project was actually pretty simple. I was already using the Pi 500+ with my USB recording microphone for voice-over work, and I kept thinking it really needed its own screen.

The Raspberry Pi team has done a great job with the Pi 500+. It packs a lot into a keyboard form factor and even comes with a mechanical keyboard. But I felt it was missing one thing: a built-in display.

So, rather than waiting for a version with a screen, I decided to make one myself.

This article covers the complete build process of this project. Let's get started.

These were the components used in this project.

1. Raspberry Pi 500 Plus 16GB 256GB Variant
2. Waveshare 7.9-inch HDMI Touch Screen
3. 3D Printed Parts
4. HDMI to Mini HDMI Cable 200mm
5. USB to Micro USB Cable 200mm
6. M3 Threaded Inserts
7. M3 Bolts
8. M2.5 Bolts

Before making the Raspberry Pi 10,000, I had already experimented with building my own keyboard computer with the Raspberry Pi 1000.

The Pi 1000 was my DIY alternative to the Raspberry Pi 400, combining a Raspberry Pi 5 4GB, an NVMe SSD, and a custom keyboard enclosure into a compact keyboard computer. I used a PCIe M.2 shield to connect the NVMe drive, which significantly improved the system's boot and storage performance.

The setup could boot to the desktop in around 5–6 seconds, while the Gen 3×4 NVMe SSD offered read and write speeds of up to 1600 MB/s and 1100 MB/s, respectively.

I also added a custom volume knob controller, built from scratch using a Seeed Studio XIAO SAMD21 microcontroller and HID protocol to control the system volume.

But this was an old project; the current Raspberry Pi 10,000 is more of a MOD Project.

The star of this project is the new Raspberry Pi 500+, which is a Raspberry Pi-based keyboard computer. It is part of their keyboard lineup of single-board computers, with some new features added. The most noticeable addition is the mechanical keyboard with addressable RGB LEDs. It uses the same Broadcom BCM2712 as the Raspberry Pi 5, plus an onboard NVMe SSD.

The BCM2712 is a quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4 GHz. The VideoCore VII GPU handles graphics and supports hardware-accelerated graphics and high-resolution displays.

The Pi 500+ variant used in this project comes with 16 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256 GB of onboard NVMe storage, providing plenty of memory and storage for desktop applications, media, development, and other demanding workloads.

For connectivity, it includes dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0/BLE, Gigabit Ethernet, and multiple USB ports. It also features two micro-HDMI ports, allowing it to drive external displays, along with a 40-pin GPIO header for connecting additional hardware.

For the display, I wanted to go with something a little different. Instead of using a conventional 7-inch or 10-inch 1920×1080 panel, I went with a 7.9-inch 400×1280 HDMI display from Waveshare. The unusual aspect ratio gives the project a completely different look and makes much better use of the available space.

The display uses an IPS panel with a 400×1280 hardware resolution and features a 5-point capacitive touchscreen covered by a toughened glass panel with up to 6H hardness. It connects to the Raspberry Pi through HDMI, while the touch interface provides an additional USB connection.

The display is also quite versatile. When connected to a Raspberry Pi, it supports operating systems including Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, Kali, and RetroPie. It can also be used as a regular computer monitor with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11.

For audio, it includes a 3.5mm audio interface and supports HDMI audio output, making it possible to handle both video and audio through the display.

Display Specifications

1. Size: 7.9 inches
2. Resolution: 400 × 1280
3. Panel: IPS
4. Interface: HDMI
5. Touch: 5-point capacitive touch
6. Cover: Toughened glass, up to 6H hardness
7. Audio: 3.5mm audio output / HDMI audio
8. Compatibility: Raspberry Pi, Windows PCs, and other HDMI devices

Waveshare also provides a detailed wiki for the display with additional documentation and setup information, which you can find below.

https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/7.9inch_HDMI_LCD

Special thanks to Waveshare for providing the hardware used in this project. The 7.9-inch HDMI Display and supporting accessories were supplied as review units for testing and evaluation.

Waveshare is a leading global provider of electronic components, modules, and development tools used across robotics, IoT, automation, education, and many other fields. With a strong focus on quality, reliability, and continuous innovation, Waveshare has earned the trust of engineers, designers, hobbyists, and makers worldwide.

Their extensive product lineup, from displays and HATs to expansion boards and embedded modules, makes them a go-to choice for both professional builds and DIY projects.

The goal of the frame design was fairly simple: attach the display to the Raspberry Pi 500+ and make it work like a laptop. The challenge was figuring out how to mount everything without an existing CAD model of the Pi 500+ keyboard.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a STEP file for the Raspberry Pi 500+, so I had to design the mounting system manually. I measured the available space around the keyboard and I/O ports and designed a custom holder that can be screwed directly onto the Raspberry Pi 500+ body.

The holder also includes a rectangular cutout that provides access to the I/O ports, so the mounting frame doesn’t get in the way of the Pi's connectivity.

On top of this holder, I added a hinge mechanism that connects to a second frame. The display is secured to this upper frame, while the hinge allows the entire display assembly to move back and forth just like a traditional laptop screen.

For 3D printing both frame parts, I used Teal Hyper PLA. Both parts were printed with a 0.2 mm layer height using a 0.4 mm nozzle, with 25% gyroid infill.

I was also able to print both parts without any supports, which kept the prints relatively simple while still providing enough strength for the frame and hinge assembly.

Print Settings

1. Filament: Teal Hyper PLA
2. Nozzle: 0.4 mm
3. Layer Height: 0.2 mm
4. Infill: 25%
5. Infill Pattern: Gyroid
6. Supports: None

To connect both frame parts securely, I wanted a firm and reliable connection, so I decided to add threaded inserts to the screen holder frame. For this, I used two M3 threaded inserts, one on each side of the frame.

Using a pair of tweezers, I positioned the threaded insert over the mounting hole. I then used a soldering iron set to around 150°C to gently press the insert down into the hole with light pressure.

As the insert heats up, the surrounding PLA softens and melts slightly, allowing the threaded insert to slide into position. Once it cools down, the plastic hardens around the insert, locking it firmly in place.

I repeated the same process on the other side of the frame, giving us two secure M3 mounting points for connecting the frame parts.

The screen assembly process begins by placing the HDMI display in position over the mounting holes on the frame. We align these holes with the PCB standoffs on the back of the display.

Once everything is aligned, we use four M2 bolts to secure the display firmly to the frame holder.

The lower frame is first aligned with the front face of the Raspberry Pi 500+, where the I/O ports are located.

Once the frame is positioned correctly, I used a Sharpie to mark the mounting holes through the holes in the frame.

These markings will be used as a guide for making the mounting holes in the Raspberry Pi 500+ body.

Here’s a rather unconventional way of making the mounting holes. Instead of using a drill, I used my soldering iron with an old tip fitted onto it.

I simply placed the heated tip over the two marked points on the Raspberry Pi 500+ body and gently pressed down to melt through the plastic. We don’t need to go all the way through the body here; around 3 mm of depth is enough for the mounting screws.

I repeated the process for both marked points. This leaves us with two mounting holes, although there is some melted plastic left around the edges. I cleaned this up using a paper cutter, leaving the holes ready for mounting the frame.

Using two M2 self-tightening screws, we joined the lower frame holder with the Raspberry Pi 500 Plus.

Next, we can join the upper screen frame with the Raspberry Pi 500+. We start by placing the upper frame into the hinge mechanism of the lower frame and aligning the mounting holes.

We then use two M3 bolts to secure both sections together, tightening them enough to give the hinge a firm grip while still allowing the display to open and close.

The result is a sturdy, cyberdeck-style device with a laptop-like folding display. All that’s left now is to make the necessary connections between the display and the Raspberry Pi 500+.

For the display connection, I’m using a short HDMI-to-Mini-HDMI cable that I already had lying around. It works perfectly for this build, but if you’re recreating the project, I’d recommend using one of those HDMI breakout boards with an FPC connection instead. That would allow the connection to be much shorter and thinner, making the overall setup cleaner.

We simply connect the display to the Raspberry Pi 500+ using the HDMI cable, giving us the video connection.

Next comes power. The display uses a Micro-USB port for 5V power, so I used a standard USB cable for this. One end connects to the display, while the other goes into one of the Raspberry Pi 500+’s USB 2.0 ports.

This allows the Raspberry Pi to power the display directly, so we don’t need a separate power supply for the screen.

And here’s the final result of this project: the Raspberry Pi 10,000, a compact cyberdeck built by adding a 7.9-inch touchscreen display to the Raspberry Pi 500+.

The best part is that this modification doesn’t take away any of the Pi 500+’s functionality. I can still connect a second, larger display using its two HDMI ports, while the 16 GB RAM configuration makes this a surprisingly capable desktop computer for everyday tasks like browsing, media, and general use.

The main reason I built this, however, was to have a dedicated computer for my voice-over recording setup. I had been using my laptop for recording, but its cooling fans can get quite loud. Since the Raspberry Pi 500+ in this setup uses passive cooling with no moving fans, it gives me a completely silent computer for recording.

I loaded up Audacity and have already used the Raspberry Pi 10,000 to record a few voice-over lines for an upcoming project.

And while this wasn’t specifically built as a gaming machine, it turns out it can handle that too. I’ve previously tested it with Minecraft and a few other games, which you can see in the short attached above.

So yeah, it started as a simple screen mod, but I ended up with a surprisingly capable little cyberdeck that I’ll actually be using.

The whole idea behind this project revolves around the Raspberry Pi 500+ and a simple question: what if it had a screen of its own?

I paired the Pi 500+ with a 7.9-inch 400×1280 HDMI display and designed a custom two-part frame to hold everything together. One frame attaches to the Raspberry Pi, while the other holds the display. A hinge connects the two, allowing the screen to fold down with the keyboard just like a laptop.

The idea came from my own use of the Pi 500+. I was already using it with a USB microphone for voice-over recordings, and I felt that having a dedicated display would make the setup much more useful. The result is the Raspberry Pi 10,000, my take on a compact cyberdeck built around the Pi 500+.

For version two, there are quite a few things I’d like to improve. I’d like to make the whole setup more portable by adding a battery pack, improve the enclosure, and incorporate more design elements into the frame. I’d also like to experiment with adding a third display to take the cyberdeck concept even further.

Overall, this project turned out to be a success, and I genuinely love how it came together. It was a simple idea, but definitely one of the more fun builds I’ve worked on.

Thanks for reaching this far, and I will be back with a new project real soon.

Peace