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Late last year MINISFORUM introduced a small workstation-class computer called the MINISFORUM MS-01 featuring support for up to an Intel Core i9-13900H processor, a PCIe x16 slot for a half-height graphics card, and support for 10 GbE and 2.5GbE wired network connections. It’s currently available for $399 and up.
Now it looks like MINISFORUM has a new AMD-powered model call the MS-A1. But it’s not just the processor that sets the new version apart.
While the MS-01 uses a laptop-class Intel Core H-series processor that’s soldered to the motherboard, the MS-A1 has an AMD AM5 socket and supports 65-watt AMD Ryzen 5 7600, Ryzen 5 8600G, and Ryzen 7 8700G processors.
And this model lacks support for 10 GbE networking and doesn’t have room inside the chassis for a discrete GPU. But it does have two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, a 63 Gbps OCuLink connector for external graphics docks, and room in the case for up to five PCIe NVMe SSDs thanks to four M.2 2280 slots and a U.2 connector.
MINISFORUM hasn’t yet added any details about the upcoming computer to its website, but the company showed it off earlier this month at the Computex show in Taiwan, where PC Watch snapped a few pictures. And the mini PC showed up at the FCC website in May, so we also have more photos plus a user manual for the upcoming computer.
Here’s how the MINISFORUM MS-A1 stacks up against the MS-01, based on the details we have so far:
| MS-A1 | MS-01 | |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 8700G AMD Ryzen 5 8600G AMD Ryzen 5 7600 |
Intel Core i9-13900H Intel Core i9-12900H Intel Core i5-12600H |
| Graphics | Integrated or external | Integrated or discrete (PCIe 4.0 x16 half-height) |
| RAM | Up to 96GB 2 x DDR5 SODIMM slots |
Up to 64GB 2 x DDR5-5200 SODIMM slots |
| Storage | 4 x M.2 2280 1 x U.2 to M.2 adapter |
1 x PCIe 4.0 x4 (U.2) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x4 (M.2 2280/22110) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x2 (M.2 2280/22110) |
| Networking | 2 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet WiFi Bluetooth |
2 x 10 GbE SFP+ 2 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | 1 x OCuLink (63 Gbps) 1 x USB Type-C ( 40 Gbps full function) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x DisplayPort 2.0 1 x 3.5mm audio 2 x 2.5 GbE Ethernet |
2 x USB4 (full function) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) 1 x HDMI 1 x 3.5mm audio |
| Dimensions | ? | 196 x 189 x 48mm |
| Price | ? | $399 and up |
One thing to keep in mind is that some of the MS-A1’s capabilities are tied to the processor you choose.
According to the user manual, when configured with an AMD “Raphael” chip like the Ryzen 5 7600U, the USB Type-C port tops out at 10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2) speeds, but if you opt for “Phoenix” or “Phoenix 2” chips Ryzen 5 8600G or Ryzen 5 8600G or Ryzen 7 8700G, then the port supports USB4 (40 Gbps) speeds.
The capabilities of the M.2 2280 PCIe ports also vary based on the processor, although interestingly it seems like in this case you get the most versatility with a Raphael processor.
The MS-A1 also comes with a U.2 to M.2 adapter card that you can use to add a 2.5 inch U.2 SSD in place of an M.2 SSD.