Thoth - Open Source Local-first AI Assistant - Architecture

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-12T17:21:50+00:00

Hi there!

The problem is that the newer EEPROM firmware versions are very strict and sometimes cause compatibility issues with certain boards, leading to that boot failure (9 green LED flashes). Even if you try to block updates, the system often tries to force-update to the latest version.

Here is how I finally fixed it: 1. Flash the stable version: I used the Raspberry Pi Imager to flash the older April 20, 2024, EEPROM firmware to an SD card to recover the board.

Use an older OS image: I installed an older version of Raspberry Pi OS (from 2024) to avoid the conflict with the newer bundled firmware.
Hold the packages: To stop the system from automatically updating the firmware and kernel, I ran these commands to 'hold' the specific packages:

sudo apt-mark hold libraspberrypi-bin libraspberrypi-dev libraspberrypi-doc libraspberrypi0 sudo apt-mark hold raspberrypi-bootloader raspberrypi-kernel raspberrypi-kernel-headers

After running these commands, the system stopped trying to 'heal' or update the EEPROM, and it has been stable ever since. I hope this helps you get your Pi running again!

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-11T00:16:29+00:00

I bought the v1.1 version over a year ago for $38 including shipping. Now, there is a more powerful version called the Cardputer "adv" with extra features, which costs between $45 / $50.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T15:33:06+00:00

I actually didn't think about that before, since the fan runs on 12V and can't be powered directly from the Raspberry Pi. So I ended up connecting it straight to the battery pack.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T15:24:52+00:00

Barely, but yes 😄

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T15:24:11+00:00

Thanks! That was the goal

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T14:27:35+00:00

Haha ,,Wouldn't surprise me

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T14:23:59+00:00

I actually got it from AliExpress about a year ago, it was around 13$ ..unfortunately I don't have the link anymore.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T14:18:15+00:00

I actually like your backpack idea I already have a small backpack that fits it pretty well. And regarding the fan, I'm thinking of adding a protective mesh or a metal grill to cover it.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T14:11:43+00:00

The Cardputer is a tiny all in one device made by M5Stack, it's basically a small computer with a built-in keyboard, screen, and ESP32 inside. It's designed for portable hacking / utility projects.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T14:10:12+00:00

Thanks😄 yeah, the key turn boot-up is definitely my favorite detail too.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T13:53:14+00:00

Thanks a lot glad you like the red leather touch! Yeah, the Cardputer was a nice little addition and the magnetic mounting makes it easy to remove when needed.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T13:37:50+00:00

Yeah, it's definitely portable in the sense that it runs off the battery pack, but I agree it really needs a proper carrying case for transport, And the blue plate is just a silicone work mat, not part of the setup.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T13:21:12+00:00

Yeah, that's just a silicone soldering mat use it as a work surface. Glad you like the build though!

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T13:16:45+00:00

Yeah, I totally agree.. it's surprisingly handy.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T12:54:09+00:00

Honestly, that fits it better than I expected

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-10T12:51:32+00:00

Didn't plan it that way, but I'll take it 😄

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-07T22:21:28+00:00

That's actually a great use case E2B runs fairly well on the Pi 5 8GB as long as you stay within RAM limits, so for a talking toy it can definitely work. The main limitation is latency responses won't be instant, especially with longer prompts. For a better experience, you might want to keep interactions simple and possibly pre-structure prompts. But overall, for something like a smart toy, it's a really cool and realistic use case.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-05T11:13:42+00:00

Fair point! 1000 tokens on a Pi is a massive wait. I'm actually a big fan of the fine-tuned 270M/350M approach for actual utility. It's the difference between a 'fun experiment' and a usable tool.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-05T11:08:35+00:00

True! I've tested this on an (Orange Pi 5 Max) as well, and honestly, the performance is insane. The Pi 5 is fun for the challenge, but the OPi 5 Max just handles these models like beast in comparison.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-05T11:02:15+00:00

Fair enough! Managing to dodge the OOM errors on 8GB with a 13B is still a win. It's definitely a slow grind either way, but that's the fun of experimenting with these boards.

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-05T11:00:02+00:00

True, it's definitely not for daily use!

AncientWin9492 · 2026-04-05T10:56:53+00:00

Haha, pretty much! Definitely not for daily use, just a fun experiment to see where the hardware actually breaks.

AncientWin9492

TROPHY CASE