First Mini-PC to officially support Ryzen 9000
Minisforum updated their popular design to feature a desktop AM5 socket.
The MS-A1 is a new release following the introduction of the MS-01. Although the chassis may look similar, these are entirely different products. For starters, the new AMD-based PC no longer uses soldered Intel mobile CPUs but now features an AM5 socket, allowing for user upgrades.
This is a major improvement, and the most important aspect is that it supports a wide range of AMD processors: Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000 (Phoenix), and even the unreleased Ryzen 9000 . However, it’s important to note that support for these processors may require a BIOS update, so it might not be available immediately upon product release.
MS-A1 Mini-PC, Source: Minisforum
Another important detail is that it supports 65W TDP for Ryzen 8000G series and up to 100W TDP for dual-CCD CPUs like Ryzen 9 7900X and 7950X. While it’s great news that these CPUs are supported, they will not operate at their default TDP, which is higher.
The system supports up to two DDR5-5200 modules with a maximum capacity of 96GB . It includes three PCIe M.2 slots for storage: two are PCIe 4.0×4 and one is 3.0×4. Minisforum lists support for an additional M.2 slot through expansion.
MS-A1 Mini-PC, Source: Minisforum
The MS-A1 (AMD) version will be much cheaper than its Intel counterpart. This is primarily because it will be offered as a barebone system without storage, memory, and obviously, the CPU. The Intel version has the CPU soldered in, so it cannot be purchased without the processor.
MS Series Pricing (as of July 22nd, 2024):
- MS-A1 (AMD barebone): $259
- MS-A1 (AMD Ryzen 7 8700G) : $729
- MS-01 (Intel Core i5-12600H) : $419
- MS-01 (Intel Core i9-13900H) : $679
MS-A1 (AMD) vs MS-01 (Intel) Mini-PC, Source: Minisforum
Of course, there are always two sides to the coin, and the AMD version also has some limitations. It lacks SFP+ ports for high-speed networking, though it does still have dual 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports. However, upgrading to something like 10 GbE is not no longer as simple as buying an SFP card. Additionally, the AMD version has only one USB4 Type-C 40 Gbps port, while the Intel version had two, supporting Thunderbolt. At least now it comes with OCuLink connector, so there should be no worries about graphics upgrades.
Minisforum MS-A1, Source: PCWatch
| Minisforum MS-A1 (AMD) & MS-01 (Intel) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Liliputing | MS-A1 🆕 | MS-01 |
| Processor | Ryzen 7000 Ryzen 8000 Ryzen 9000 (requires BIOS update) up to 65W (8000G) up to 100W (dual-CCD SKUs) | Intel Core i9-13900H Intel Core i9-12900H Intel Core i5-12600H |
| Chipset | AMD A300 | ? |
| 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 | $259 and up | $399 and up |
Source: Minisforum