🤯 An ESP32 inside a PCIe slot might be the coolest PC mod you will see today.
This open-source project turns an ESP32-H2 into a PCIe x1 card that can remotely power on, reset, and control your PC through Home Assistant.
Instead of relying on Wake-on-LAN, it interfaces directly with the motherboard's Power and Reset pins while drawing power from the PCIe 3.3V auxiliary rail, allowing it to stay active even when the PC is turned off.
What You'll Learn
- ESP32-H2 firmware
- Zigbee networking
- Home Assistant integration
- PCIe hardware design
- PCB design
- MOSFET switching
- Motherboard front-panel interfaces
- Embedded power management
- Hardware bring-up
- Embedded debugging
What makes it clever is its simplicity.
It doesn't modify your motherboard or replace your power button but it simply works alongside the existing hardware while adding smart remote control.
Projects like this are a great reminder that embedded engineering isn't always about building new devices, sometimes it's about making existing ones smarter.
https://t.co/r5rzv27Jm1