Minisforum Reveals so, SO Many New Systems at IFA 2024
At IFA 2024, Minisforum showcased a range of innovative mini-PC solutions and OCuLink-enabled expansion options, aimed at professionals seeking high-performance, compact computing systems. Minisforum has been steadily making waves in the mini-PC market by delivering a combination of powerful processors, energy-efficient designs, and versatile expansion capabilities. Their solutions are tailored for users who demand robust and compact Mini PC solutions. HOWEVER, most of them can also be converted into small, yet highly fully featured NAS (Network Attached Storage) systems, high-end computing power, and scalable external GPU options for AI, virtual machines, and graphics-intensive workloads are all possible with these devices + UnRAID/TrueNAS and more. This detailed overview highlights the key products from Minisforum’s IFA stand, focusing on their hardware, NAS suitability, and the critical role of OCuLink in expanding the capabilities of smaller computing systems.
Minisforum AtomMan X7 Pt – High-Performance AIO Water-Cooled Mini PC
The AtomMan X7 Pt is the first mini-PC from Minisforum to feature liquid cooling. Powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, it’s designed to handle more demanding computing tasks such as video rendering, AI processing, and running multiple virtual machines. The X7 Pt comes equipped with dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots for fast storage and OCuLink for external PCIe expansion. This makes it a serious contender for high-performance NAS deployments, especially in scenarios requiring heavy multitasking, AI inference, and storage-intensive workflows.
Unlike traditional desktop water cooling systems, which involve large radiators and extensive cooling loops, the AtomMan X7 Pt features an AIO (All-in-One) water-cooling system specifically designed for compact form factors. This AIO system uses a smaller 120mm radiator and a closed-loop design, ensuring that the liquid cooling solution is entirely self-contained. This allows the AtomMan X7 Pt to maintain lower operating temperatures, reduce noise levels, and deliver stable performance, even under heavy workloads, without the need for bulky desktop cooling components.
NAS Suitability:
- CPU: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is capable of handling significant compute workloads, including advanced NAS functions such as AI-powered data management, video encoding, or multiple VM environments.
- Storage: The dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots allow for fast, scalable storage solutions and RAID configurations, making it ideal for users needing fast access to large datasets or those requiring efficient data redundancy options in their NAS setups.
- Network Connectivity: With dual 2.5GbE RJ45 ports supporting link aggregation, the X7 Pt can provide up to 5Gbps of network bandwidth. This level of connectivity is crucial for data-heavy NAS environments where high-speed transfers and low latency are a priority.
- Power Consumption: The built-in liquid cooling system keeps the CPU running below 75°C and maintains low noise levels under 40 dB, ensuring stable operation even during extended high-performance tasks. The cooling system makes it suitable for heavy NAS use where constant processing is required.
- RAM: With support for up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, this mini-PC can easily manage multiple simultaneous data streams or virtual machines without sacrificing performance.
Specifications Table:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (8 Cores, 16 Threads) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 780M |
| RAM | Up to 64GB DDR5 (5600MHz) |
| Storage | 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots |
| Network Connectivity | Dual 2.5GbE RJ45 (Link Aggregation) |
| Power | DC 19V, Liquid Cooling |
| Video Output | HDMI 2.1, DP 1.4, USB4 ×2 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
NAS Use Cases:
For NAS environments requiring high-performance compute power, such as video editing suites, AI-based data centers, or virtualization platforms, the AtomMan X7 Pt excels in both processing power and network connectivity. Its liquid cooling system ensures that it can run intensive tasks continuously without overheating, making it a great option for 24/7 NAS operations.
Minisforum UH125 Pro – Compact Powerhouse with AI Support
The Minisforum UH125 Pro is an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H-powered mini-PC with built-in Intel Arc graphics. With its AI support, high-speed NVMe storage, and dual 5G Ethernet, this device is tailored for power users who need strong compute and network capabilities in a compact form. With up to 96GB of DDR5 memory and dual M.2 SSD slots, it’s well-suited for NAS environments handling multiple data streams, virtualization, and AI-related tasks.
NAS Suitability:
- CPU: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H provides enough power for NAS tasks involving AI processing, database management, and virtual machine deployment, making it an excellent choice for users who require both speed and efficiency in their NAS.
- Storage: The UH125 Pro supports two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSDs, providing substantial storage capacity and fast read/write speeds. RAID configurations are possible, ensuring data redundancy and fast data access, essential for performance-intensive NAS environments.
- Network Connectivity: Dual 5G Ethernet ports enable link aggregation, delivering up to 10Gbps of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for high-demand NAS tasks such as large file transfers, media streaming, or heavy database access.
- Power Consumption: The phase-change cooling system optimizes heat management, maintaining stable 65W performance even during resource-intensive tasks, making it an energy-efficient solution for NAS.
- RAM: The device supports up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking, even when running multiple VMs or processing large datasets.
Specifications Table:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H |
| GPU | Intel Arc Graphics |
| RAM | Up to 96GB DDR5 (5600MHz) |
| Storage | 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots, SD slot |
| Network Connectivity | Dual 5G RJ45 (Link Aggregation) |
| Power | 65W Phase-Change Cooling |
| Video Output | HDMI 2.1, DP 2.0, USB4 ×2 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
NAS Use Cases:
The UH125 Pro is ideal for NAS setups requiring both high computational power and fast network performance, such as data analysis centers, cloud storage environments, or AI-enhanced data processing hubs. Its support for link aggregation and high-speed storage ensures that it can handle demanding tasks efficiently while maintaining low power consumption and heat output.
Minisforum R3GAF eGPU – External GPU Powered by OCuLink
The R3GAF is an external GPU enclosure with an AMD Radeon 7600M XT, designed to provide mini PCs and NAS systems with desktop-class graphics performance. It connects via OCuLink, offering faster data transfer speeds than Thunderbolt 4. With support for up to three external displays, this eGPU is ideal for NAS setups requiring graphical acceleration, such as AI video analysis or large-scale VM tasks with GPU acceleration.
NAS Suitability:
- Connection: OCuLink provides up to 64 GT/s of data throughput, significantly enhancing the performance of connected mini-PCs or NAS systems when handling graphically intensive workloads.
- Expansion: By supporting up to three external displays via DisplayPort and HDMI, the R3GAF is particularly useful for NAS systems used in video surveillance or real-time graphical analysis.
- Power Consumption: The 120W TGP for the mobile GPU ensures stable performance without overwhelming the system’s power budget, making it suitable for extended NAS use in graphics-intensive applications.
Specifications Table:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| GPU | AMD Radeon 7600M XT (12 CUs, 8GB GDDR6) |
| Connection | OCuLink (PCIe 4.0, 64 GT/s) |
| Display Output | 2x DP 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
| USB Ports | 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C (65W PD) |
| Power | 120W TGP |
| Cooling | Built-in cooling for mobile GPU |
NAS Use Cases:
For NAS environments that handle AI video analysis, real-time rendering, or machine learning tasks, the R3GAF provides the necessary GPU acceleration to process large data sets or enhance visual outputs. It is ideal for users who need more graphical power in their NAS but prefer external expansion over internal upgrades.
Minisforum DEG1 eGPU Dock – PCIe Expansion for Mini PCs
The DEG1 eGPU dock from Minisforum allows users to connect high-performance PCIe x16 GPUs, such as the RTX 4090, to their mini-PCs or NAS systems via OCuLink. This dock is one of the most affordable eGPU docks available and supports full-size GPUs, making it an excellent choice for users who need to scale up their NAS systems for GPU-accelerated workloads.
NAS Suitability:
- Connection: The OCuLink interface offers 64 GT/s data transfer speed, allowing users to connect high-end GPUs or other PCIe expansion cards, such as NVMe SSDs or network cards, to enhance the performance of their NAS systems.
- Expansion: The DEG1 supports any standard PCIe x16 GPU, making it suitable for NAS environments where external GPU acceleration is needed for machine learning, video rendering, or multi-display setups.
- Power: The dock supports ATX or SFX power supplies, providing ample power for top-tier GPUs like the RTX 4090, ensuring consistent performance during demanding NAS tasks.
Specifications Table:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Connection | OCuLink 4i (PCIe 4.0 x4, 64 GT/s) |
| PCIe Slots | 1x PCIe x16 |
| Power | ATX or SFX PSU (Not Included) |
| Size | 270mm175mm41mm |
| Compatibility | Supports RTX 4090, RX 7900 XTX |
NAS Use Cases:
For NAS setups requiring top-tier GPU acceleration, such as AI model training, real-time 3D rendering, or surveillance video analysis, the DEG1 eGPU dock provides the necessary flexibility to add high-performance GPUs externally. It can be used to expand the capabilities of smaller NAS systems that lack internal space for such powerful components.
Why OCuLink Matters for NAS Expansion
OCuLink, with its PCIe 4.0-based connection and 64 GT/s data throughput, has become an invaluable interface for expanding the performance and functionality of smaller computing systems like mini-PCs and NAS devices. OCuLink allows users to connect external GPUs, high-speed SSDs, or other PCIe-based expansion cards, offering a versatile solution for tasks that demand higher processing power or more storage capacity.
In NAS environments, OCuLink is especially important for:
- Virtual Machine Deployment: With VM environments requiring both high-speed data access and processing, OCuLink enables NAS systems to expand their processing capabilities using external GPUs or accelerators.
- AI-Driven Workloads: AI processing, such as real-time video analysis or data sorting, benefits from the external GPU connectivity OCuLink offers. This interface reduces the performance bottlenecks typically associated with external PCIe devices.
- Surveillance and Video Analysis: OCuLink supports real-time graphical processing with minimal latency, making it ideal for NAS systems used in video surveillance and live feed monitoring, where GPU acceleration is necessary for quick analysis of video data.
For users seeking to expand their NAS systems with minimal internal modifications, OCuLink provides an effective, high-speed solution for scaling up both compute and storage capabilities, making it a vital component in modern NAS setups.
Minisforum S100 – Super Mini PC Powered by PoE
The Minisforum S100 is a compact and efficient mini-PC that relies on Power over Ethernet (PoE) to provide both power and data transmission through a single cable. Its low power consumption, Intel N100 processor, and compact design make it ideal for a variety of industrial, outdoor, or commercial applications, where installation space and power management are at a premium. The S100’s ability to turn basic displays into fully functional computers also lends itself well to lightweight NAS functions for users who need a minimalistic storage server solution.
This product is already available, and I will be discussing its potential as a portable NAS system in more detail soon.
NAS Suitability:
- CPU: The Intel N100 processor (4 cores, 4 threads) is based on the Gracemont architecture with a TDP of 6W. While not suited for heavy processing, it is highly efficient for basic NAS tasks, such as file serving, media streaming, or small-scale data management.
- Storage: Limited by its onboard 256GB UFS2.1 storage, the S100 does not offer extensive internal storage expansion options. However, for a small NAS setup, it provides enough capacity to act as a secondary or backup NAS for light data workloads.
- Network Connectivity: The 2.5GbE RJ45 port, with PoE IEEE 802.3at support, enables the S100 to operate as a lightweight NAS server in environments where Ethernet is the primary mode of communication. PoE simplifies installation, making it ideal for commercial or industrial setups where network cables are already available.
- Power Consumption: With a TDP of 6W and support for a 65W PD adapter, the S100 is incredibly power-efficient, making it suitable for 24/7 operation in environments requiring low-cost, long-term solutions.
- RAM: 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM is sufficient for lightweight NAS use, but limited for high-end tasks like running multiple virtual machines or intensive data processing.
Specifications Table:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel N100 (4 Cores, 4 Threads) |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 (4800MHz) |
| Storage | 256GB UFS2.1 |
| Network Connectivity | 2.5GbE RJ45, PoE IEEE 802.3at |
| Power | 65W Type-C PD adapter |
| TDP | 6W |
| Video Output | HDMI ×1, USB-C ×1 (Alt Mode, DP, PD) |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
Conclusion: Minisforum’s Strategic Advantage in the Non-Intel NUC Mini PC Market
Minisforum is making significant strides in the increasingly competitive mini-PC market, where smaller Eastern brands are attempting to break into the ‘non-Intel’ NUC space. What sets Minisforum apart is its focus on offering high-performance, power-efficient, and scalable solutions that cater to both general consumers and professionals. By incorporating cutting-edge technology like OCuLink, supporting advanced external GPU docks, and integrating efficient cooling systems, Minisforum’s mini-PCs stand out in their ability to handle demanding tasks such as AI processing, virtualization, and NAS deployments.
Their wide range of products—from the energy-efficient S100 to the high-performance AtomMan X7 Pt and external eGPU docks—provides options for various users, ensuring scalability and flexibility. By consistently focusing on compact design without compromising on performance, Minisforum continues to build its reputation as a leading brand in the mini-PC market, especially for users seeking alternatives to Intel’s NUCs. This strategic approach positions Minisforum as a reliable and forward-thinking player, capable of standing out against the growing competition.
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