A First Look Around the Minisforum Stand at Computex 2026

Computex 2026 is now underway in Taipei, and I am at the Minisforum stand looking over what the company has brought to the show floor this year. There are several compact systems on display, including the S5 all-flash NAS, the MS-03 workstation mini PC, and the smaller M2 Pro mini PC, with more possibly being added to this article as I continue working through the stand. What I am seeing is not just a single type of compact PC repeated in different sizes, but a mix of storage, workstation, and AI-focused hardware, each aimed at a slightly different use case. The S5 is the one that ties back most closely to my recent NAS coverage from mid-May, while the MS-03 and M2 Pro sit more firmly in Minisforum’s mini PC and workstation range. There is also a clear focus here on faster networking, newer Intel platforms, local AI acceleration, and making higher-performance desktop systems fit into smaller spaces.

Minisforum S5: A Silent All-Flash NAS for Smaller Spaces

The first system I am looking at is the Minisforum S5, an all-flash NAS that I previously covered in more detail in mid-May. At Computex, Minisforum is showing it again as part of its wider compact hardware line-up, and the basic idea remains the same: this is a small NAS built around M.2 SSD storage rather than traditional 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch hard drives. That matters because it changes both the size and noise profile of the system. With no spinning drives inside, Minisforum has also removed the fan, so the S5 is designed to run silently.

The S5 is positioned between lower-cost all-flash NAS systems and more expensive high-end models. Minisforum is clearly trying to avoid the main compromises often seen in cheaper SSD NAS devices, where the storage may be flash-based but the networking and I/O are not fast enough to make full use of it. Here, the inclusion of 10GbE and USB4/TBT4 gives the S5 more room to actually benefit from SSD performance, whether that is for direct transfers, faster network access, or use in a small media and editing setup. It is not being shown as a large enterprise NAS, but more as a compact flash storage system for users who want more speed and less noise than a hard drive-based box.

The other part of the S5 story is the newer platform inside. Minisforum lists 5 M.2 slots, WiFi 7, AV1 hardware encoding and decoding, and an iGPU plus NPU combination rated at 24 to 33 TOPS for lightweight AI tasks. That does not make it a heavy AI workstation, but it does suggest the S5 is intended to do more than just basic file storage.

The target audience seems fairly clear: home theater users, HiFi setups, small studios, Apple users looking for a quieter storage box, and people who like the idea of a NAS but do not want the noise, power draw, or physical size that usually comes with mechanical hard drives.

Minisforum MS-03: A Workstation Mini PC With Faster Networking and Newer Intel Hardware

The next system on the Minisforum stand is the MS-03, which follows on from the MS-01 rather than replacing something in the NAS range. This is important, because although it shares the same compact, high-I/O style that made the MS-01 interesting, the MS-03 is being presented as a workstation mini PC, not a storage appliance. Minisforum is describing it as a regular iteration of the MS-01, but the changes are not minor. The focus is on a newer Intel Panther Lake-H platform, faster memory, faster SSD support, upgraded networking, and added local AI acceleration.

Compared with the MS-01, the MS-03 moves to DDR memory up to 7200MHz and upgrades 2 SSD slots from PCIe 4.0 to PCIe 5.0. Wired networking is also improved, with 1 port moving from 2.5GbE to 10GbE, while the wireless card moves from WiFi 6E to WiFi 7. Minisforum is also raising the TDP from 60W to 70W, with a 240W power adapter as standard. On the display side, the HDMI connection is upgraded from HDMI 2.1 TMDS to HDMI 2.1 FRL, with CEC support included.

The AI angle is also more visible on this model than it was on the MS-01. The MS-03 adds an NPU rated at 50 TOPS, with Minisforum specifically pointing to Intel AI application support. That does not turn it into a GPU-heavy tower workstation, but it does make the system more relevant for local AI workloads, development, and applications that can take advantage of Intel’s newer platform features.

One trade-off is that the PCIe slot is reduced from x8 to x4 because of CPU PCIe lane limits. Minisforum says x4 is still enough for most expansion cards, although a graphics card will see some performance reduction if installed.

Minisforum M2 Pro: A Smaller Mini PC Built Around Local AI

The Minisforum M2 Pro is the smaller mini PC on the stand, and unlike the S5, it is not being presented as a NAS. This is more of a compact desktop system for users who want newer Intel hardware, stronger integrated graphics, faster memory, and local AI features in a smaller footprint. Minisforum is basing it on Intel’s Panther Lake platform, specifically listing PTL-H-12Xe, with a focus on combining CPU, GPU, and NPU resources for local AI tasks rather than relying only on cloud processing.

The headline figure here is up to 180 TOPS of total AI performance across the system. That includes a new NPU5 AI engine rated at up to 50 TOPS, alongside the CPU and Xe3 integrated GPU. Minisforum is also claiming more than a 50% graphics performance improvement from the Xe3 GPU, which is relevant for users looking at light creative work, GPU-assisted workloads, and general desktop performance without moving to a larger system with a discrete graphics card. Memory is another major part of the platform, with LPDDR5X 8533 listed for high-bandwidth workloads such as local model inference, multitasking, and media work.

In terms of physical setup, the M2 Pro is designed to reduce the amount of clutter around the desk. Minisforum lists a built-in power supply, an all-metal body, support for horizontal, vertical, and VESA-mounted installation, and a dedicated button for Microsoft Copilot.

Connectivity is also a significant part of the design, with 10GbE, 2.5GbE, USB4, and support for up to 4 displays, including up to 8K at 60Hz. That makes the M2 Pro less of a basic office mini PC and more of a compact workstation-style system for local AI, remote work, media use, and higher-speed networked workflows.

Minisforum PCIe Expansion Card: 4 x NVMe, OCuLink and 20Gb USB on 1 Card

Also on the Minisforum stand is a PCIe expansion card that is a little less conventional than the usual multi-NVMe adapter. At a basic level, this is a 4-bay M.2 NVMe PCIe card, but the design goes beyond simply adding extra SSD slots.

The card includes active cooling, a heatsink assembly, copper heat pipe cooling, and 4 M.2 NVMe positions under the top section. When used with a single SSD, the card can provide up to PCIe Gen 4 x4 to that drive, while a fully populated 4-drive setup appears to divide the available bandwidth across the installed SSDs. This makes it more of a compact high-speed storage expansion option than a simple passive adapter.

The more unusual part is the additional I/O built into the card. Minisforum has added an OCuLink port at the base, alongside a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps USB port. There is also a rear switch that appears to change the OCuLink output between PCIe mode and SATA mode. Multi-M.2 PCIe cards are not new, and there are already expansion cards that combine NVMe storage with networking or other add-ons, but seeing OCuLink added alongside 4 NVMe slots and 20Gb USB is less common.

It fits with Minisforum’s wider Computex approach of combining storage, expansion, and compact workstation use cases into products that are not always easy to place in a single category.

Specification	Minisforum PCIe NVMe / OCuLink Expansion Card
Product type	PCIe expansion card
Main function	Multi-NVMe storage expansion
M.2 slots	4 x M.2 NVMe
SSD interface	PCIe Gen 4
Single SSD bandwidth	Up to PCIe Gen 4 x4
Fully populated bandwidth	Shared across 4 installed SSDs
Controller	AMD controller
Cooling	Active cooling system
Thermal design	Heatsink + copper heat pipe
Additional port	OCuLink
USB connectivity	USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, 20Gbps
Rear switch	PCIe / SATA mode switch for OCuLink output
Positioning	Storage and external expansion card for compact workstation or high-I/O systems
Main point of interest	Combines 4 x NVMe, OCuLink, and 20Gb USB on 1 PCIe card

Thoughts From the Minisforum Stand

From what I am seeing at the Minisforum stand, the company is using Computex 2026 to show a wider spread of compact systems rather than focusing on a single product type or single massive ‘launch’ of a product for 2026. This kinda makes sense, as the hardware market for their products has no doubt taken something of a hit with the rise in HDDs. SSD and RAM market to deter buyers. The S5 is the storage-focused device here, and its main point of interest is the move toward a quieter all-flash NAS with faster I/O than many entry-level SSD NAS systems. The MS-03 is a different kind of product, with a stronger focus on workstation use, newer Intel hardware, 10GbE, PCIe 5.0 storage, and a dedicated NPU. The M2 Pro then takes some of that same AI and connectivity direction into a smaller mini PC design with a built-in power supply and a more desk-friendly layout. I may add more devices to this article as I continue going through the stand, but the early picture is that Minisforum is putting more emphasis on local AI, faster networking, and compact systems that do not require a full-size desktop tower.

 

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Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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Minisforum MS-03: First Look at the New Workstation Mini PC

The Minisforum MS-03 is on show today at the company’s Computex 2026 stand, following its earlier Q1 appearance in prototype form at Minisforum’s Intel Core Ultra Series 3 event in Shanghai. At that earlier showing, the MS-03 was presented as part of Minisforum’s next wave of AI PC hardware, and here at Computex it is being shown more clearly as the follow-up to the MS-01 workstation mini PC. This is not a NAS (clearly! But always good to confirm on my website!) and it is not being positioned as a simple office mini PC.

The MS-03 is a compact workstation system built around Intel Panther Lake-H hardware, with a higher 70W TDP, faster memory support, PCIe 5.0 SSD upgrades, 10GbE networking, WiFi 7, HDMI 2.1 FRL, and a dedicated NPU rated at 50 TOPS for Intel AI workloads. Minisforum is treating this as a fairly direct evolution of the MS-01, but the hardware changes suggest a stronger focus on local AI, faster storage, and higher-speed networking than before.

Minisforum MS-03: Design and Connections

The MS-03 keeps the same general idea as the MS-01: a compact workstation mini PC with more connectivity than a typical small desktop. At the stand, Minisforum is presenting it as a system for users who need workstation-style I/O in a smaller enclosure, rather than a basic mini PC for light office use. The external design appears to stay focused on practicality, with the main value coming from the number and type of connections available rather than from the chassis alone.

The main wired networking change is the move to 10GbE. On the MS-03, Minisforum says 1 wired network port has been upgraded from 2.5GbE to 10GbE, which is a useful change for users working with fast NAS storage, shared project folders, local servers, or larger AI and media datasets. For a machine of this size, 10GbE makes the MS-03 more useful in a mixed workstation and homelab setup, especially where faster local network transfers matter more than raw internal storage alone.

Wireless networking is also updated, with the MS-03 moving from WiFi 6E on the MS-01 to WiFi 7. This does not replace the value of wired 10GbE for heavier workloads, but it does make the system more flexible when it is used away from a fixed wired setup. For users who want to keep the desktop cleaner, move the system between locations, or use it in an office where wired networking is not always available, WiFi 7 is a reasonable platform update.

Display output also gets a change, with the HDMI interface moving from HDMI 2.1 TMDS to HDMI 2.1 FRL, along with CEC support. That gives the MS-03 a more modern display connection than the MS-01 and makes it better suited to newer monitors and display setups. Minisforum has not positioned the MS-03 as a gaming box, but with the upgraded CPU platform, improved GPU performance, 10GbE, WiFi 7, and updated HDMI, the external design is clearly aimed at users who want a compact system that can sit on a desk, connect to faster storage and networks, and handle a more serious multi-purpose workstation role.

Minisforum MS-03: Internal Hardware

Inside, the Minisforum MS-03 moves to Intel’s Panther Lake-H platform, which is the main hardware change over the MS-01 generation. Minisforum is presenting this as a full platform update rather than a small CPU refresh, with improvements expected across CPU, GPU, memory, storage, networking, and AI acceleration. The system is still a compact workstation mini PC, so it is not trying to replace a large tower workstation in every scenario, but it does appear to be aimed at users who want more local performance than a standard mini PC normally provides. Memory support is one of the clearer upgrades. Minisforum lists DDR memory support up to 7200MHz, which gives the MS-03 a faster memory ceiling than the previous MS-01 platform. That matters for general responsiveness, heavier multitasking, development work, virtual machines, and workloads that benefit from higher memory bandwidth. For a compact workstation system, faster memory also helps keep the machine more balanced when paired with newer CPU and integrated graphics hardware. Storage is also being moved forward, with 2 SSDs upgraded from PCIe 4.0 to PCIe 5.0. This gives the MS-03 faster local storage potential, which is useful for large project files, scratch disks, application loading, VM storage, and local AI datasets. It also helps separate the MS-03 from more ordinary compact PCs, where storage may still be limited to PCIe 4.0 or lower-speed slots. The faster storage is not just about peak benchmark numbers, but about making the system more suitable for sustained workstation-style use.

The other major internal change is the addition of a dedicated NPU rated at 50 TOPS. Minisforum is specifically tying this to Intel AI applications, which suggests the MS-03 is being designed around local AI support rather than only conventional desktop performance. The TDP has also increased from 60W to 70W, with a 240W adapter as standard, giving the system more power headroom than the MS-01. One compromise is the PCIe slot change from x8 to x4, which Minisforum says is due to CPU PCIe lane limitations. For many expansion cards, x4 should still be workable, but anyone planning to use a graphics card should expect some performance reduction compared with a wider PCIe connection.

Minisforum MS-03 vs MS-01 vs MS-02: Design and Connections

Looking at the MS-03 alongside the MS-01 and MS-02, the main difference is that Minisforum appears to be adjusting the balance between compact workstation I/O, expansion, and newer platform features. The MS-01 made its name by offering an unusual amount of connectivity for its size, including dual 10GbE SFP+ ports, dual 2.5GbE RJ45 ports, dual USB4 ports, WiFi 6, and a PCIe 4.0 x16 physical expansion slot. In practice, that made it useful for homelab, firewall, virtualization, NAS-adjacent, and compact workstation use, even though it was still a mini PC rather than a NAS.

The MS-02 Ultra then moves further into workstation territory. It is a larger and more expandable system, with Intel Core Ultra HX options, 4 DDR5 SODIMM slots, PCIe 5.0 x16 expansion, USB4 v2 at 80Gbps, and, on the higher-end configuration, dual 25GbE SFP+ networking. It is less about being the smallest possible workstation box and more about providing a compact alternative to a more traditional tower system, especially for users who need more memory, more expansion, and higher-bandwidth networking.

The MS-03 sits between those 2 ideas. Compared with the MS-01, it updates the platform with Panther Lake-H, WiFi 7, HDMI 2.1 FRL, 10GbE RJ45, PCIe 5.0 SSD support, and a stronger 50 TOPS NPU. Compared with the MS-02 Ultra, it does not appear to be the larger, maximum-expansion option. The most obvious compromise is the PCIe slot, which drops from x8 on the MS-01 to x4 on the MS-03 because of CPU PCIe lane limits. For network cards, capture cards, storage cards, and many other add-in devices, that may still be enough, but it is a point to note for anyone thinking about adding a GPU.

 

Minisforum MS-03: Price and Estimated Launch Date

Minisforum says the MS-03 is planned for launch at the end of June, although final pricing has not been confirmed from the material available at the stand. Based on how the system is being positioned, it appears to sit as a direct MS-01 successor rather than as a replacement for the larger MS-02 Ultra. That means the final price will likely depend heavily on the CPU configuration, memory, SSD options, and whether Minisforum sells it mainly as a barebones unit or in pre-configured versions. For now, the most useful detail is the launch window: the MS-03 is being shown today at Computex 2026, with availability expected later in June.

 

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New Beelink ME Pro Coming (with Intel Core i5-13420H, AMD Ryzen 7 H 255, and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370)

The Beelink ME Pro series has officially expanded, shifting the lineup from its original low-power origins into a high-performance compact computing platform that blurs the line between a mini PC and a traditional NAS. This expansion aligns directly with what Beelink showed us during our visit to their headquarters back in 2025, where they first teased this expanding range and their shift toward heavy-duty computing storage. While the initial models relied on entry-level Intel N95 and N150 chips, these revised 2-bay and 4-bay systems now incorporate serious Intel and AMD hardware designed to handle demanding local AI processing, 4K video editing, and complex data workflows alongside massive local storage potential.

Beelink New Model Hardware Specifications

The primary hardware innovation across the expanded ME Pro series remains the slide-out, drawer-style modular motherboard architecture. This design allows the core computing components—including the processor, memory, and cooling systems—to be entirely separated from the storage backplane via a physical gold-finger connection. Beelink has structured this generation so that motherboard modules are fully interchangeable within their respective chassis sizes, providing an alternative to full-chassis replacements when upgrading computing performance over time.

Physical chassis sizes differ across the lineup to match the internal drive configurations. The 2-bay models measure 121 x 112 x 165mm, while the larger 4-bay variants measure 166 x 146 x 166mm. To help distinguish between platforms, Beelink uses a distinct color scheme: Intel configurations are styled in navy blue, AMD options use an obsidian-black finish with red accents, and the planned Arm-based models will feature a pearl-white exterior.

Storage layouts vary significantly between the 2-bay and 4-bay chassis options. The original and new 2-bay variants house 2 standard 3.5-inch SATA hard drive bays paired with internal M.2 NVMe slots to allow for hybrid storage tiers. The 4-bay variant expands the mechanical drive capacity to 4 individual 3.5-inch bays while retaining 4 M.2 slots for high-speed flash caching or primary storage pools, allowing total capacities to reach up to 136TB.

Processing power sees a massive generational shift from the entry-level Intel N95 and N150 chips found on earlier models. The mid-range upgrades feature the Intel Core i5-13420H (Raptor Lake) or the 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 (Hawk Point) processor. For heavy AI workloads, the top-tier configuration utilizes the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (Strix Point) processor, featuring 12 cores, 24 threads, RDNA 3.5 graphics, and an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of delivering up to 50 TOPS of dedicated AI compute performance.

Networking and physical connectivity are also standardized across the new performance tiers. The high-end models depart from the 5GbE + 2.5GbE combination of the original N95/N150 versions, moving up to a dual-network configuration consisting of 1 x 10GbE LAN port alongside 1 x 2.5GbE LAN port.

The remaining physical interface includes a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port (supporting data and video output), a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, 2 legacy USB 2.0 ports, a standard HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Specification	ME Pro 2-Bay (Original)	ME Pro 2-Bay (New)	ME Pro 4-Bay (New)
Processor Options	Intel N95 / Intel N150	Intel i5-13420H / AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 / AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370	Intel i5-13420H / AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 / AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
Memory	12GB / 16GB LPDDR5 4800MHz (Soldered)	Up to 96GB (Configuration details TBD)	Up to 96GB (Configuration details TBD)
3.5″ HDD Bays	2 x SATA (Up to 60TB)	2 x SATA (Up to 60TB)	4 x SATA (Up to 120TB)
M.2 NVMe Slots	3 x M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 (Up to 12TB)	4 x M.2 2280 NVMe (Up to 16TB)	4 x M.2 2280 NVMe (Up to 16TB)
Max Total Storage	72TB	76TB	136TB
Networking	1 x 5GbE + 1 x 2.5GbE	1 x 10GbE + 1 x 2.5GbE	1 x 10GbE + 1 x 2.5GbE
Chassis Dimensions	166 x 121 x 112mm	121 x 112 x 165mm	166 x 146 x 166mm
Chassis Color	Silver / Gray	Navy Blue (Intel) / Black & Red (AMD)	Navy Blue (Intel) / Black & Red (AMD)

Price and Release Dates for the new Beelink ME Pro Versions?

Beelink has not yet confirmed the official release date or final pricing tiers for the upgraded Intel Core i5 and AMD Ryzen configurations of the ME Pro series. As a point of reference, the original entry-level ME Pro 2-bay model launched at $369 for the Intel N95 version (configured with 12GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD) and topped out at $559 for the Intel N150 version (configured with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD). Given the integration of high-performance mobile architectures, larger chassis designs for the 4-bay models, and advanced 10GbE network controllers, the upcoming performance models are expected to carry a noticeable price premium over these original low-power variants. Final shipping dates and exact retail pricing are anticipated to be announced directly by the brand in the coming months.

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Beelink ME Pro NAS – What We Said in the Review

Original Review HERE on NASCompares and HERE on YouTube:

The Beelink ME Pro is a very compact 2-bay NAS-style mini PC that combines 2 SATA bays with 3 M.2 NVMe slots and multi-gig connectivity, aiming to deliver a small footprint system without dropping features that are often reserved for larger enclosures. It is sold in N95 and N150 versions, both with pre-attached LPDDR5 memory (12GB or 16GB) and a bundled system SSD, and its internal layout uses 1 PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe slot plus 2 PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, with 5GbE plus 2.5GbE Ethernet, WiFi 6, USB-C 10Gbps (with video output), HDMI 4K60, and a barrel-powered 120W PSU. In testing over extended uptime, external chassis temperatures stayed broadly in the mid-30C range with the rear around 38C, HDDs sat around 34C to 36C with modest 4TB drives installed, and NVMe temperatures rose sharply if the base thermal panel was removed, indicating the thermal pads and chassis contact are part of the cooling design and leaving no practical clearance for NVMe heatsinks.

Noise in the tested setup remained in the mid-30 dBA range both at idle and under mixed access, power draw ranged from around 15W to 16W with no drives installed, 18W to 19W with only NVMe, about 22W to 23W with HDDs and NVMe idle, and peaked around 41W to 42W under a combined heavy workload. Performance was consistent with the hardware layout: HDD RAID1 throughput landed around 250MB/s to 267MB/s and will not saturate 5GbE, while NVMe could saturate the 5GbE link and internal testing showed about 1.5GB/s to 1.6GB/s reads and 1.1GB/s to 1.2GB/s writes on the PCIe 3.0 x2 slot, with the PCIe 3.0 x1 slots closer to roughly 830MB/s reads and 640MB/s to 670MB/s writes; media server use handled 4 simultaneous high bitrate 4K playback streams with CPU usage in the teens using Jellyfin. The main drawbacks are tied to the compact design choices: the RAM is not upgradeable, the chassis and storage fitting are very tight during installation, fan control outside BIOS was not straightforward in early testing, the NVMe slots are mixed speed by design, and the CPU options are closely spaced, meaning the upgrade decision is often about the bundled memory and SSD tier as much as the processor. Official messaging also says hot swapping is not supported, yet it worked during testing in a RAID1 scenario, suggesting a support-position limitation rather than a strict hardware block.

Where to Buy the Beelink ME Pro NAS: Beelink ME Pro (N95 + 12GB + 128GB) $369 – HERE Beelink ME Pro (N150 + 16GB + 512GB) $529 – HERE Beelink ME Pro (N150 + 16GB + 1TB) $559 – HERE

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Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

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Ever Wanted a Modern Mac Mini, but Windows? And for AI? The MS-S1 Max Review

The Minisforum MS-S1 Max is one of those mini workstations that looks straightforward on paper, but starts to feel unusual once you look at how it is put together and who it seems to be aimed at. It is built around AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395, pairing a 16C/32T CPU with Radeon 8060S integrated graphics and an NPU that contributes to a quoted platform total of up to 126 TOPS. The big differentiator is the memory design: 128GB of LPDDR5x-8000 UMA, shared between the CPU and GPU, which changes the usual limits you hit on iGPU systems where VRAM is the first bottleneck. Minisforum also leans into “serious deployment” features here, including dual 10GbE, WiFi 7, USB4 v2, a slide-out chassis for maintenance, and even references to clustering and 2U rack mounting. The result is a machine that can make sense for creators, power users, and AI-focused workloads, but it also comes with a price level that forces the obvious question: what are you actually getting for that money beyond raw specs.

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Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Quick Conclusion

The Minisforum MS-S1 Max is best understood as a compact Strix Halo workstation rather than a conventional mini PC, because its value is tied to the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU, the Radeon 8060S iGPU, and especially the 128GB LPDDR5x-8000 UMA memory pool that helps avoid the usual iGPU VRAM ceiling in creation, GPU-accelerated work, and local AI experimentation. It pairs that core platform with unusually strong external connectivity for its size, including dual 10GbE RJ45, WiFi 7, and a mix of USB4 and USB4 v2 ports that make high-bandwidth docks and storage setups practical, while the internal 320W PSU and heavy cooling stack are clearly built for sustained loads rather than short bursts. In testing, the system’s behavior has a few quirks that matter in daily use, particularly the way the chassis can feel hot to the touch in idle until the fan profile becomes more reactive under load, and the fact that noise ramps into the low 50 dBA range once the cooling really gets going, even if idle acoustics are more modest. Expandability is also a mixed bag: the slide-out design is convenient, but the storage layout includes a PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot alongside a second M.2 limited to PCIe 4.0 x1, and the PCIe x16 slot is PCIe 4.0 x4 electrically, so it rewards buyers who already know what they plan to add. The price is the real gatekeeper here, because it only makes sense if you will actually use the UMA memory capacity, the iGPU performance, and the high-speed networking and USB bandwidth, but for that narrower audience, it offers a rare combination of compact form factor, strong APU compute, and connectivity that is difficult to match without moving to a much larger desktop or adding a discrete GPU.

Check Amazon in Your Region for the Minisforum MS-S1 Max

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Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Design & Storage

The MS-S1 Max feels like Minisforum took the general “mini workstation” idea and then built a thicker, more industrial version of it to cope with the Strix Halo platform. The chassis is metal and noticeably more substantial than the smaller MS-series boxes, with ventilation cut across multiple sides rather than relying on a single intake and exhaust path. It can be used vertically or horizontally thanks to feet on more than one face, which makes sense given how much of the marketing leans toward desk use one day and rack or shelf use the next.

Minisforum also keeps the slide-out structure here, and it is clearly intended to make maintenance less annoying than a traditional small desktop. In practice, it is still a compact, dense build, but you are not dismantling the entire enclosure just to access the main service areas. The system also has a couple of physical touches that make it feel more “deployment aware” than most mini PCs, like the mounting points underneath and the general emphasis on stacking, shelving, or grouping more than 1 unit together.

Storage is one of the areas where the MS-S1 Max shows both its strengths and its compromises. You get 2 internal M.2 2280 slots, but they are not equal: 1 is PCIe 4.0 x4 and the other is PCIe 4.0 x1. That means you can have a fast primary NVMe for OS and active work, but the second slot is better treated as capacity storage, warm data, or a secondary pool where peak throughput matters less. Minisforum ships the reviewed configuration with a 2TB Gen 4 SSD, so you can start testing immediately, but once you begin planning expansion, that lane split becomes a real consideration.

Physically, the M.2 placement is functional but not especially convenient. The slots sit low in the chassis near the base and tucked behind a lot of the cooling hardware, which makes upgrades feel more fiddly than they need to be. There is airflow down there, but it is not the kind of open, easy-access layout you get in a larger desktop. It also does not really encourage tall, pre-fitted heatsinks on SSDs, since clearance is limited and the space around the cooling assembly is tight. If you plan to run heavy sustained writes, you will probably end up choosing low-profile drives or slim heatsinks simply because it is the easiest fit.

On the expansion side, the MS-S1 Max includes a full-length PCIe x16 physical slot, but it is PCIe 4.0 x4 electrically, and that matters if you are buying cards based on the x16 shape alone. The form factor also pushes you toward half-height, half-length cards in most practical installs, and even then it can get cramped depending on cabling and where the PSU wiring runs.

In other words, the slot is useful for NICs, storage adapters, capture cards, and some compact accelerators, but it is not a “drop in any x16 card” situation, and the system rewards planning ahead before you buy hardware for it.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Internal Hardware

At the heart of the MS-S1 Max is AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395, and the main thing to understand is that it is an APU platform built to behave more like a compact workstation than a typical integrated-graphics mini PC. You are getting a 16C/32T Zen 5 CPU with boost up to 5.1GHz, paired with an on-die Radeon 8060S GPU with 40 CUs and up to 2900MHz. In real use, that combination shifts the expectations around what “no discrete GPU” actually means, because the compute and graphics capability are designed to scale together rather than feeling like a strong CPU with an afterthought iGPU.

The most defining hardware choice is memory, because you do not get SODIMM slots here at all. The system uses up to 128GB LPDDR5x-8000 on a 256-bit bus, and it is shared between CPU and GPU via UMA. That has practical implications in workloads that normally hit VRAM limits first, like GPU-accelerated creative work or local AI inference, where the ability to allocate a much larger pool to the GPU can matter more than raw shader count. It also means your “upgrade path” is basically decided at purchase, so the value proposition depends heavily on whether 128GB UMA is something you will genuinely use, rather than just admire on a spec sheet.

On the AI side, the platform is marketed around a combined figure of up to 126 TOPS, with the NPU itself rated up to 50 TOPS. In day-to-day terms, that does not automatically translate into every app running faster, because it depends on whether your software actually targets the NPU, the GPU, or the CPU. What is clear from the positioning, and from how similar Strix Halo systems are being used, is that this design is meant to handle local model work without immediately forcing you into a discrete GPU purchase. That also explains why Minisforum leans into “run large models locally” messaging more than it usually does on its mainstream mini PCs.

Cooling and power delivery are tightly linked to the internal hardware decisions. Minisforum rates the system at 130W in Performance mode, 95W in Balanced, and 60W in Quiet, and the cooling stack is built around a copper base, 6 heat pipes, phase change material, and dual turbine fans, with a max fan speed of 3600 RPM. The PSU is internal and rated up to 320W, which helps explain why the chassis is thicker than many of Minisforum’s earlier workstations. In practice, that internal PSU choice also supports the idea that this box is expected to hold higher sustained loads than a typical mini PC without relying on a large external power brick.

There are also a few platform-level details that shape how “workstation-like” it feels. The system supports Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 24H2 Pro/Home, and the BIOS is positioned as feature-rich, with fan monitoring and tuning options plus platform toggles that matter to power users. This is relevant because the MS-S1 Max is not just built for one narrow purpose, it is built for people who will switch between modes, tweak profiles, and repurpose it across different roles over time. If you treat it like a sealed appliance, you will still get high performance, but you are leaving a lot of what the platform is trying to offer on the table.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Ports & Connections

The MS-S1 Max is one of the more connectivity-heavy systems Minisforum has put out, and it is clearly designed around the assumption that it will sit in a workstation or lab environment rather than acting as a living-room mini PC. On the front, you get 2 USB4 ports at 40Gbps, a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A at 10Gbps, and a 3.5mm TRRS combo jack, plus 2 built-in DMIC mics that are pitched for voice and AI-assisted capture use. In practice, that front layout feels aimed at day-to-day convenience: fast external storage, a dock or capture device, and simple headset or mic options without needing to reach around the back.

On the rear, Minisforum doubles down on bandwidth. There are 2 USB4 v2 ports at 80Gbps, which is the kind of future-proofing that only really makes sense if you plan to use high-speed docks, external storage, or potentially GPU enclosures over time. The review experience lines up with that idea: the ports work as normal USB4 for most peripherals, but the value is really in the headroom, because 80Gbps devices and adapters are still not common in most studios. Alongside those, you get 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports at 10Gbps and 2 USB 2.0 ports, which is a more practical mix than it sounds, because it means you are not “wasting” high-speed ports on low-speed peripherals like keyboards, UPS management cables, or dongles.

Networking is a major selling point here, but it is also a slightly divisive one depending on your setup. The MS-S1 Max provides 2 10GbE RJ45 ports, both using Realtek RTL8127 controllers, and it also includes WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. In use, the wired ports are straightforward and do what you would expect in a compact workstation, including saturating 10GbE when paired with storage that can keep up.

WiFi 7 is also immediately usable, and the practical takeaway is that you can get multi-gig wireless performance without much effort if you already have a WiFi 7 router, but it is still not a replacement for wired 10GbE if you are treating this as part of a storage or production workflow.

Video output is handled through 1 HDMI 2.1 FRL port plus DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB4 and USB4 v2, which makes multi-display setups easy without any additional hardware. Minisforum rates these outputs up to 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz, and in the real world that means you can run high-refresh 4K displays or multiple monitors with less compromise than most iGPU-based mini PCs. The only real caveat is that the system leans heavily on USB4 for flexible display and peripheral expansion, so the people who get the most out of the port selection are the ones already planning to use docks, external storage, or high-bandwidth accessories, rather than just plugging in a keyboard and a single monitor.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Performance & Tests

In day-to-day use, the MS-S1 Max feels less like a typical mini PC and more like a compact workstation that happens to have an iGPU. General desktop operation is consistently responsive, and the platform’s bandwidth-heavy design shows up most clearly when you start stacking tasks that normally push integrated graphics systems into obvious slowdown. One thing that stood out early is how “hot to the touch” the exterior can feel when the system is sitting idle, with thermal imaging showing roughly 55 to 60°C around sections of the chassis and vents in that state. At the same time, internal sensor readings were not presenting anything alarming, which suggests the metal body is doing what it is meant to do as part of heat dissipation, but the idle fan curve behavior did not feel especially reactive until a workload actually kicked in.

Once the system is put under load, the cooling behavior becomes easier to understand and, in practice, more reassuring. During active workloads, the external readings dropped notably in many areas, with measurements around 31 to 34°C being observed on parts of the casing once sustained tasks were running, and internal hot spots that had looked extreme during idle did not remain in that range once the fan profile ramped. Noise levels followed the same pattern: at idle the system sat around 39 to 41 dBA, but under heavier load it ramped to roughly 51 to 53 dBA. It is not silent, but it is also not unexpectedly loud for a high-power APU system with multiple fans and a chassis that is clearly built to move air.

Power draw is one of the more interesting parts of the MS-S1 Max story because it is unusually low when the system is doing very little, then rises quickly once the GPU side is engaged. Idle consumption landed around 13 to 16 W, which is striking given the CPU, GPU, memory bandwidth, and overall positioning of the device. More moderate CPU-oriented workloads pushed consumption into roughly the 45 to 58 W range, with brief spikes into the 70 to 80 W area depending on thread behavior in the test. Once the Radeon 8060S was hit hard in GPU-heavy testing, total system power moved into triple digits, with figures around 141 to 158 W being recorded, which lines up with the idea that this chassis is designed to translate a lot of electrical budget into sustained APU performance rather than short bursts.

Benchmarking results were strong, but the platform’s newness made comparison data less useful than usual in several tools. PCMark produced a score of 8,353, and a run through 3DMark showed a wide spread depending on the test: Solar Bay scored 5,200, Speedway landed at 1,900 with frame rates around 18 to 19 FPS, and Steel Nomad Light cleared 11,000 with an average of 82.3 FPS. Night Raid, which is a better fit for integrated graphics platforms, came in at 70,000 overall, with a graphics score of 130,522 and a CPU score of 19,312. The practical takeaway from these results is that the MS-S1 Max can behave like a “real” gaming-capable APU system in the right workloads, but it also sits in a strange middle ground where some benchmark suites still struggle to place it cleanly against older mini PCs or discrete-GPU desktops.

Minisforum MS-S1 Max Review – Verdict & Conclusion

The MS-S1 Max is easier to understand once you stop thinking of it as a “mini PC with good specs” and instead treat it as a purpose-built Strix Halo workstation in a compact chassis. The big wins are the APU design and the 128GB UMA memory pool, because that combination changes what is practical on integrated graphics, especially for workloads that normally fall over due to VRAM limits. In use, it shows up as a system that can handle serious creative and compute tasks without immediately forcing you into a discrete GPU upgrade path, while still giving you enough connectivity to fit into faster workflows through dual 10GbE, WiFi 7, and USB4 v2. It is not flawless though: the system can feel surprisingly hot to the touch in idle despite internal sensors looking fine, and the fan behavior seems more tuned for “react under load” than “stay cool at rest,” which is a real-world usability detail you notice when it is sitting on a desk near you.

Where things get more complicated is the value discussion. At pricing around the mid/high $2,000 range depending on configuration, this is not competing with mainstream mini PCs at all, and it is not trying to. The audience is much narrower: people who want a high-bandwidth APU platform, who will actually use the memory capacity and fast external connectivity, and who are comfortable paying for that kind of compact engineering. If your workload is mostly general office, light creation, or basic homelab tasks, it is difficult to justify over more conventional systems, including Minisforum’s own smaller workstations. But if you are specifically chasing a compact workstation that can credibly do gaming, content work, and local AI experimentation without a discrete GPU, the MS-S1 Max is one of the few systems that makes that argument feel realistic, even if it comes with the usual early-platform quirks and a price tag that will still put off most buyers.

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Minisforum MS-S1 Max PROs

Minisforum MS-S1 Max CONs

Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16C/32T) delivers workstation-class CPU performance in a compact chassis Radeon 8060S (40 CUs) iGPU is capable enough for 1080p gaming and GPU-accelerated workloads without a dGPU 128GB LPDDR5x-8000 UMA reduces typical iGPU VRAM limitations for creation and local AI tasks Strong idle efficiency with power draw observed around 13 to 16W in light desktop use Dual 10GbE RJ45 enables high-throughput workflows without needing add-in NICs WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 provide fast wireless connectivity for setups where wired is not practical 4 total USB4-class ports (2x USB4 40Gbps + 2x USB4 v2 80Gbps) support high-speed docks and storage Slide-out chassis design improves serviceability compared with many compact desktops Multiple power and fan modes (Performance/Balanced/Quiet/Rack) allow tuning for noise vs sustained load

High price puts it outside typical mini PC value expectations Storage expansion is uneven (1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 + 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x1), limiting the second slot for high-performance SSD use Exterior can feel very hot at idle, with fan response seeming less aggressive until load begins PCIe x16 slot is PCIe 4.0 x4 electrically, and physical space constraints limit card choices

 

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