Updates on the Minisforum N5 and N5 Pro NAS

Minisforum is no stranger to shaking up established markets. Known primarily for its innovative and compact mini PCs, the brand has now turned its attention to network-attached storage (NAS) solutions. Earlier this year at CES 2025, Minisforum unveiled the N5 Pro NAS — a five-bay, AI-optimized device that instantly caught the attention of NAS enthusiasts. Now, after a visit to Minisforum’s headquarters and production facilities in Shenzhen, we have a deeper look into this bold new entry into the NAS market.

The N5 Pro is confirmed to be nearing launch, and joining it is a new, more affordable sibling: the Minisforum N5. These new devices aim to strike a compelling balance between powerful performance, modular flexibility, and enthusiast-grade features. Whether you’re building a high-performance TrueNAS server, exploring AI-assisted photo management, or just want to future-proof your home media solution, the N5 Series looks like it could be one of the most exciting NAS hardware releases of 2025. To top it off, Minisforum is also experimenting with their own NAS operating system, which could give users a turnkey alternative to the usual DIY route. Let’s break down what’s been confirmed, what’s new, and why it matters.

Minisforum N5 Pro – Fully Featured and AI-Ready

The N5 Pro NAS remains the flagship of Minisforum’s 2025 storage push, and nearly all the specs shown at CES have now been fully confirmed. It arrives equipped with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 CPU, a 12-core/24-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture, which includes an integrated AI engine.

The design emphasizes airflow and modularity, with a sliding motherboard tray, magnetic front bay cover, and an updated second-gen chassis with better heat dissipation. The system is designed for prosumers and power users, featuring ECC memory support (a rarity in this price segment) and up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM.

Storage-wise, it supports five hot-swappable SATA drives and three M.2 NVMe SSDs — more than enough for a complex ZFS setup or tiered storage architecture. Expansion capabilities are strong as well, with PCIe 4.0 x4, OCuLink for external GPUs or JBODs, and dual Ethernet (10GbE + 5GbE).

Minisforum is also considering offering a 64GB M.2 module preloaded with their custom OS, allowing users to keep all M.2 slots free for data.

The N5 Pro is designed as an open system: while it may ship with Minisforum’s OS on request, users can freely install TrueNAS, UnRAID, OpenMediaVault, or any OS of their choosing — with no impact on warranty.

Category	Specification
CPU	AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (12C/24T, up to 5.2GHz, Zen 5, NPU AI Engine)
GPU	AMD Radeon 890M (Integrated)
RAM	Up to 128GB DDR5 ECC (2x SODIMM, 5600MHz)
SATA Storage	5 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA (Hot-swappable, up to 22TB each)
M.2 Storage	1x 2230/2280 PCIe 4.0 x1, 1x 2280/22110 PCIe 4.0 x1, 1x 2280/22110 PCIe 4.0 x2
Expansion	1 x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1 x OCuLink 4i (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x 10GbE RJ45, 1 x 5GbE RJ45
I/O Ports	2 x USB4 (40Gbps), HDMI 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Audio out
Power Supply	280W PSU
Optional Add-on	64GB OS Module (TBC)

---

Minisforum N5 – A More Affordable, Scaled-Down Option

The new Minisforum N5 is being developed as a cost-effective alternative to the N5 Pro. It retains the same chassis and internal layout but swaps out the high-end CPU and ECC memory support in favor of more accessible hardware.

This device is still in the evaluation phase, with Minisforum considering two CPU options: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS or Ryzen 5 7640HS. Both offer 6 cores and 12 threads, with clock speeds up to 5GHz, and may allow better PCIe lane distribution than the Pro model. Despite the lower-tier specs, the N5 is far from underpowered.

It still supports up to 128GB of DDR5 (non-ECC), the full five SATA bays, three M.2 NVMe slots, OCuLink, and even dual USB4 ports. Where it diverges is networking: the current prototypes drop 10GbE support and may ship with either dual 5GbE ports or a combination of 5GbE and 2.5GbE. For many home users, this is still more than adequate, especially if the N5 launches at a competitive price point.

Like the Pro version, the N5 may include the optional 64GB OS module and support for Minisforum’s in-house NAS OS. Alternatively, users can bring their own OS without voiding support. This flexibility means the N5 could become an attractive entry point for first-time NAS builders or budget-conscious prosumers.

Category	Specification
CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS and/or Ryzen 5 7640HS (6C/12T, up to 5.0GHz)
GPU	AMD Radeon 760M (Integrated)
RAM	Up to 128GB DDR5 (2x SODIMM, 5600MHz, non-ECC)
SATA Storage	5 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA (Hot-swappable, up to 22TB each)
M.2 Storage	1x 2230/2280 PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x 2280/22110 PCIe 4.0 x1, 1x 2280/22110 PCIe 4.0 x2
Expansion	1 x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1 x OCuLink 4i (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	2x 5GbE (UPDATE – Confirmed)
I/O Ports	2 x USB4 (40Gbps), HDMI 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Audio out
Power Supply	280W PSU
Optional Add-on	64GB OS Module (TBC)

---

MinisCloud OS – Minisforum’s In-House NAS Software

One of the most intriguing developments is Minisforum’s potential entry into the NAS software space. Internally referred to as MinisCloud OS, this new platform is based on the Siyouyun OS framework (a Debian-based system used by several emerging NAS brands). Still in early development, the OS aims to provide a balance of accessibility and advanced features for home and small business users. Minisforum is evaluating whether to offer the OS pre-installed on the 64GB module, as a downloadable image (possibly SN-locked), or as an optional add-on at checkout. Importantly, this software will be optional, and using TrueNAS, UnRAID, or any third-party OS will not affect warranty or support.

Key Features of MinisCloud OS (In Development):

• ZFS storage support (snapshots, compression, deduplication)
• Multi-user management with 2FA/MFA

• AI-based photo recognition (faces, objects)
• Docker container and App Center
• Built-in file manager & download manager

• Support for SMB, WebDAV, FTP, DLNA
• Multimedia center for streaming content

A Promising Disruption to the NAS Market

Minisforum’s bold entry into the NAS arena is more than a rehash of mini PC hardware — it’s a fresh and flexible approach to modern storage needs. With the N5 Pro targeting power users and the N5 aiming for budget-friendly builders, both models offer advanced connectivity, modularity, and optional OS features rarely seen in compact NAS systems. If pricing lands right, the N5 Series could challenge established NAS vendors and appeal to the DIY home server crowd in a big way. We’ll continue tracking release dates, pricing, and software developments — stay tuned for our full hardware reviews and performance testing. For more, check out our upcoming Shenzhen factory tour and hands-on videos at NASCompares

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

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.

WE LOVE COFFEE

 

Minisforum N5 Pro NAS – Is it too Early for NAS of the Year?

With so many mini PC brands trying to break their way into the network-attached storage NAS market, it takes a lot for any one of them to really stand out against the established players in the private server solutions market. However, one brand that has been making big waves is Minisforum, a brand that enjoyed significant high praise from industry professionals for their growing range of premium mini workstation solutions, such as the MS-01 and MS-A1. Now the brand is ready to break its way into network-attached storage with the first of three planned NAS solutions in 2025. This first one, the N5 Pro, is a 5-bay powerhouse desktop solution that really is pushing the boundaries of what most users expect from a compact 5-bay solution in 2025. After the brand revealed a prototype NAS expansion card that worked with the MS-01 to scale it up to a six-bay SSD solution, it was already pretty clear that this brand had high aspirations toward their own range of storage-optimized solutions. So let’s discuss everything we know about the new N5 Pro NAS.

Minisiforum N5 Pro NAS Hardware Specifications

As mentioned earlier, I am kind of blown away by the hardware specifications of the Minisforum N5 Pro. Borrowing a lot of the hardware attitudes of their recent workstation solutions, this system arrives with a particularly capable AMD HX Pro CPU, 96GB of ECC memory supported, some impressive base-level connectivity, and the means to scale it up significantly. Here are the specifications confirmed so far:

Category	Specifications
Processor	AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (12 Cores / 24 Threads)
	Base Clock: 3.5 GHz, Boost Clock: Up to 5.2 GHz
	Advanced AMD Zen 5 Architecture
	Integrated AI Engine for enhanced data processing and analysis
Memory	DDR5 SODIMM ×2, Up to 96GB (48GB per slot, Up to 5600MHz)
	Real ECC Memory supported
Storage Expansion	HDD/SSD Bays: 5 x 3.5″/2.5″ SATA HDD/SSD Bays (Up to 22TB per drive, SATA 3.0)
	M.2 SSD Slots:
	– 1 x M.2 2230/2280 NVMe SSD (Up to 4TB, PCIe 4.0 x1)
	– 1 x U.2/M.2 2280/22110 NVMe SSD (Up to 15TB, PCIe 4.0 x1)
	– 1 x U.2/M.2 2280/22110 NVMe SSD (Up to 15TB, PCIe 4.0 x2)
PCIe Expansion	1 x PCIe x16 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
	OCuLink 4i x1 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x 10Gbps Ethernet Port (RJ45)
	1 x 5Gbps Ethernet Port (RJ45)
Peripherals Interface	USB Ports:
	– USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A (10Gbps) x3 (2 rear, 1 front)
	– USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A (10Gbps) x1 (Internal)
	– USB2.0 x1 (Rear)
	– USB4 (40Gbps, Alt DP) Type-C x2 (Front)
	Audio Outputs:
	– 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack x1
	– HDMI x1
	Video Outputs:
	– HDMI 2.0 x1
	– Type-C (Alt DP2.0) x2
Power	DC-IN Jack x1 (19V / 12.63A)
Motherboard Design	Modular motherboard with removable tray for easy maintenance
Cooling	Horizontal cooling system with controlled airflow from front to back
Highlights	Built-in 10Gbps NIC
	Enterprise-class SSD support (Up to 2 drives)
	Supports standard PCIe expansion
	Supports real ECC memory

I really like the aesthetic design here. The chassis takes advantage of a horizontal cooling system, and the front panel, which is semi-transparent, covers the main storage bays and is magnetically held in place. At the base of the main hard drive bay area, there is a clickable button for removing the main motherboard—but we’ll get on to that in a little bit.

Straight away, we have to talk about that CPU. With both Intel and AMD racing to roll out their best AI-optimized processors, this is a particularly high-end AMD CPU that Minisforum has opted for. Ultimately, CPUs are designed for large language models and AI-facilitated database retrieval to be performed significantly more efficiently, leveraging away from GPU processes. Additionally, with 12 cores and 24 threads to play with, there is a lot of horsepower to get pretty much any home/prosumer/business workload running efficiently. You are looking at a real beefy processor to run your desired third-party OS of choice.

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 is a high-performance processor introduced in Q2 2024, designed to meet the demands of modern computing tasks. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, operating at a base clock speed of 2.0 GHz, with the capability to boost up to 5.1 GHz. This configuration ensures efficient multitasking and robust performance across a variety of applications. Built on AMD’s advanced Zen 5 microarchitecture, the Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 integrates an AI engine capable of delivering up to 50 INT8 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second). This AI engine enhances data processing and analysis, enabling more efficient handling of AI-related workloads directly on the CPU.

The processor supports PCIe 4.0, facilitating high-speed data transfer between the CPU and connected devices, which is essential for tasks requiring rapid data access and storage solutions. Additionally, it is compatible with DDR5 and LPDDR5x memory types, supporting memory speeds up to 8000 MHz, allowing for a maximum memory capacity of 256 GB. This support for high-speed memory contributes to the processor’s ability to handle intensive workloads effectively. The integrated AMD Radeon 890M graphics adapter, featuring 16 Compute Units based on the RDNA 3+ architecture, provides competent graphics performance for applications that require GPU acceleration. This integration eliminates the need for a discrete graphics card in many scenarios, offering a balance between performance and power efficiency. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 stands as a versatile processor, combining robust CPU performance with integrated AI capabilities and efficient power management, making it suitable for a wide range of computing needs.

Additionally, alongside this CPU, the system arrives with support for up to 96GB of DDR5 SODIMM memory across two slots. However, the real beauty here is that this SATA and M.2 NVMe-tied storage system also supports DDR5 ECC memory (not just on-die ECC DDR5 like many other similar solutions in the market right now). ECC support is generally more accessible on AMD-powered systems, and the N5 Pro serves as no exception.

Next up, let’s talk storage. The system has five individual hot-swap SATA bays that support both traditional large-capacity hard drives and faster, if more reduced, SATA SSD storage. With regards to RAID, the hardware will comfortably support this, and really you are only limited by whichever NAS software (for example, TrueNAS or Unraid) you choose to run on this NAS. It will no doubt arrive with a standard Windows 11 license, as most Minisforum systems do, but for NAS users, you are almost certainly going to opt for one of these two popular choices.

Alongside the SATA storage, the system features three individual M.2 NVMe slots, with two slots at 2280 length and one slot at 22110 length. More often than not, NAS systems arrive with SATA storage bays and just two M.2 NVMe slots, which can often result in losing one of these M.2 slots to your OS drive. Therefore, it’s pretty impressive that they’ve managed to include three slots here and that all three slots are Gen 4 bandwidth, with one slot at Gen 4 x2 and two slots at Gen 4 x1.

Additionally, much like the Minisforum MS-01 supporting an M.2 to U.2 adaptor, the Minisforum N5 Pro can support two of these adaptors and still allow you to use the last M.2 NVMe slot. U.2 SSDs allow you to take advantage of the faster speed afforded to those Gen 4 slots, but also means a larger capacity potential per bay.

A really impressive feature of the Minisforum N5 Pro is that accessing the main motherboard to add PCIe upgrade cards, install new memory modules, upgrade SSD storage, and perform general maintenance is made infinitely easier thanks to the motherboard being removable at the simple click of a button. Once again, borrowing a lot of the design of the MS-01 removable tray, but on a much larger scale! This is a really unusual design choice, but as soon as I saw it in action, I immediately wondered why on earth this has never been done before—it makes system maintenance and upgrades infinitely easier!

Moreover, you can see that a lot of the cooling internally has been designed around this modular structure, and having the tray removable in this way also results in the active and passive cooling on either side of this motherboard being considerably more controlled and passing through the casing from front to back when the system is in operation.

At a glance, one could argue that this system is simply one of Minisforum’s existing mini PCs with a 5-bay architecture added on top. Though the reality is that a great deal more design and functionality has been developed here, and it all leads to an exceptionally unique but impressively scalable device.

Inside, the system is quite similar in profile to that of the MS-01, and the system arrives with a PCIe Gen 4 x16 physical slot (limited to x4 speed—TBC). So, there is still a decent amount of room to expand this device when needed. However, keep in mind that this is a lower-profile PCIe slot due to the modular nature of the motherboard in this system.

Talking about upgrade and scalability, almost as an afterthought, on the rear of the system, I discovered that the N5 Pro also features an OCuLink port! That means that alongside an enormous range of scalability inside, there is also the potential to add external GPUs, fast bolt-on storage, or more very easily here. OCuLink is still in its comparative infancy compared with a number of different expansion options in the market, but its impressively efficient power delivery and constantly developing accessory market right now all add up to this system having a fantastically varied range of upgrade options available out of the gate.

Next up, let’s discuss network connectivity. The system features copper Ethernet connections—one is 10 gigabit, and the other is 5 gigabit. You definitely get the feeling that Minisforum did not want to leave a shred of PCIe lane bandwidth on the table here. You could, of course, scale up the network connectivity via affordable USB adapters or a PCIe upgrade card, but I have to applaud this system featuring both a dual network architecture and that both of those ports are pretty bandwidth-rich. The rest of the network connections are pretty standard, with the system featuring USB 10Gbps Type-A connections on both the front and the rear, as well as an HDMI 4K output and audio outputs.

However, this system continues to dial things up to 11 by also featuring two USB 4 40Gbps Type-C connections! The brand was unable to confirm network connectivity over these ports, but given the difficulties surrounding USB 4/Thunderbolt 4 network pass-through on AMD architecture, I am willing to bet that this is not going to be a software feature easily achieved here. Also, as this system is not truly turnkey (as you need to get your own NAS OS installed), it means that they can only really focus on the hardware and provide the resources for your chosen NAS software to build on top of. Currently, very few NAS OS platforms support USB 4 network connectivity, so don’t hold your breath.

Overall, I am exceptionally impressed by the Minisforum N5 Pro NAS. After this brand really shaking things up in the mini PC market, I shouldn’t be so surprised that when they attacked the NAS market, they would do so to a phenomenal degree! The system promises to be the first of a two- or three-model series. The brand seems to have been a little quieter on the development of the MS-01 NAS SSD upgrade card, and it could well be that they have slowed development of that card until this system is closer to launch and therefore provide one card that could potentially support flash NAS expandability to six bays across both this system and the previously mentioned MS-01.

Now in place, this is going to be a phenomenal solution to challenge existing pre-built DIY NAS solutions in 2025. Details surrounding launch price and indeed launch dates are still incredibly nebulous, but I have full confidence that this brand is going to launch this product later this year.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
[contact-form-7]
Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

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.

WE LOVE COFFEE