uConsole Purchasing Instructions

On the ClockworkPi website, click the “Pre-Order” link, then select the uConsole Kit RPI-CM4 Lite.

You’ll have a few options:

• Color: I’ve used both. My black model took 4 months to arrive. The silver model arrived in 2 months.
• Type: Select WiFi only (you don’t need the LTE expansion).
• Core: Choose Non (they probably meant “None” – it’s fine).

It should look like this:

Which Compute Module to Buy

After ordering your uConsole, you'll need a computer module to run it.

I recommend the Compute Module 4 (8GB Lite). It’s reliable and has great battery performance.

You can also get the more powerful:

• Compute Module 5 (8GB)
• Compute Module 5 (16GB)

⚠️ I don’t recommend the CM5 because it runs hotter and has significantly worse battery life (sometimes under 1.5 hours). There’s no good fan or cooling solution yet.

Why the LITE Version Only

Always buy the LITE version of the Compute Module. The version with eMMC disables SD card boot and storage – permanently. You’d need a separate carrier board to flash anything to it.

With the LITE version, you can:

• Boot from an SD card or SSD.
• Swap SD cards to change operating systems easily.

Get a fast SD card! I recommend:

• 256GB SanDisk Extreme
• 512GB monster SD

Extra Help & Mods

The ClockworkPi forum is an amazing place to get help. It’s active, full of ideas, and where “Rex” posts updates and custom OS builds just for the uConsole.

The community shares tons of mods and hacks – this device is insanely hacker-friendly.

That’s everything you need to get your uConsole, the compute module, and the SD card to make it run. I made this guide because I get asked these questions constantly, and now I can send just one link.

I’ll be adding another guide soon covering OS installs, my favorite programs, and links to mods and 3D-printable upgrades.

Share this with anyone thinking of getting a uCon so they can avoid the common pitfalls and get up and running faster!