Minisforum UM690 Compatibility Guide
The UM690 pairs a Ryzen 9 6900HX with flexible storage (M.2 NVMe + 2.5″ SATA), DDR5 SO-DIMM upgrades, and USB-C DP/HDMI for multi-display work. This guide covers all upgrade options and compatibility details.
Quick Specs Summary
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (8-core, 16-thread, 6.9GHz turbo) |
| RAM | DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM x2 (up to 64GB, upgradeable) |
| Storage | M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0) + 2.5″ SATA (up to 2TB) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 2.5GbE Ethernet |
| Display | HDMI 2.1 (4K@60Hz), USB-C DP 1.4, USB-C video out |
| Power | 90W USB-C PD (USB PD 3.1) |
| Form Factor | 156 × 139 × 67mm, 620g |
RAM Compatibility & Upgrades
The UM690 features two DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM slots with a maximum of 64GB. This is the sweet spot for most users: excellent performance at a reasonable cost.
| Capacity | Speed | Price per Module | Total (2 sticks) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM | 4800 MHz | £40–55 | 32GB total | View on Amazon UK |
| 32GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM | 4800 MHz | £75–105 | 64GB total | View on Amazon UK |
Recommended Setups:
- General Use / Gaming: 2x16GB (32GB dual-channel) — good balance of performance and cost.
- Content Creation / Development: 2x32GB (64GB dual-channel) — max performance, future-proofed.
- Single-Stick Budget: 1x32GB — saves cost, slight performance trade-off.
Compatible Brands: Kingston, Corsair, SK Hynix, Samsung, Crucial—all DDR5-4800 SO-DIMs work.
Installation: Remove the bottom panel with a Phillips screwdriver; both slots are easily accessible.
Storage Flexibility: M.2 NVMe + SATA
The UM690 is unique: one M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0) slot + one 2.5″ SATA drive bay. This gives maximum flexibility for mixed storage configurations.
M.2 NVMe Options
| Product | Capacity | Speed (Seq. Read) | Type | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 980 | 250GB–1TB | 5,150 MB/s | PCIe 4.0 | £40–80 | View on Amazon UK |
| WD Blue SN580 | 256GB–1TB | 4,150 MB/s | PCIe 4.0 | £35–75 | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston A3000 | 480GB–1TB | 3,500 MB/s | PCIe 3.0 | £30–60 | View on Amazon UK |
Note: The UM690 supports PCIe 3.0, so PCIe 4.0 drives work but won’t use the extra bandwidth. Stick with PCIe 3.0 drives to save cost.
2.5″ SATA Storage Options
| Product | Capacity | Speed (Seq. Read) | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 870 QVO | 1TB / 2TB | 560 MB/s | £70–140 | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston KC600 | 1TB / 2TB | 550 MB/s | £65–130 | View on Amazon UK |
| WD Blue 3D | 500GB–2TB | 560 MB/s | £45–130 | View on Amazon UK |
Optimal Config: M.2 NVMe for OS/applications + 2.5″ SATA for bulk storage (video, projects, archives).
Power Supply & 90W USB-C PD
The UM690 ships with a 90W USB-C Power Delivery adapter (USB PD 3.1 compliant).
- Charging Flexibility: Use any certified 90W+ USB-C PD charger (laptop, tablet, or dedicated).
- Power Draw: 15–20W idle, 45–65W office use, 70W+ sustained gaming.
- Docking: 90W USB-C dock supplies full power + peripherals simultaneously.
Display & Docking
The UM690 supports dual independent displays:
- HDMI 2.1: 4K@60Hz (ideal for gaming, video playback).
- USB-C DP 1.4: 4K@60Hz alternative or extended display.
- USB-C Video: Additional video output (requires DP Alt Mode hub).
Docking Recommendations:
- Premium USB-C Dock: CalDigit TS3 Plus (90W PD, 15 ports, multi-display support).
- Budget Hub: UGREEN 10-in-1 (HDMI, DP, USB 3.0, SD, 90W PD).
- Simple Option: Anker PowerExpand+ (7 USB 3.0, HDMI, SD, 60W PD).
WiFi 6 & Networking
WiFi 6 (802.11ax): ~1.2Gbps peak in lab. Real-world: 200–500 Mbps depending on router and distance.
- Bluetooth 5.1: Reliable wireless peripherals (mice, keyboards, headphones).
- 2.5GbE Ethernet: For maximum stability on office networks, use wired connection.
Performance Expectations
The Ryzen 9 6900HX is an excellent mobile processor:
- Office / Browsing: 45–55°C, fanless operation at 15–20W.
- Content Creation (4K video): 65–70°C, active cooling at 50–65W.
- Gaming (esports titles): 60+ fps at high settings; AAA titles: 30–45 fps medium settings at 1440p.
Upgradeability Score
8/10 — Excellent RAM upgrades (up to 64GB DDR5), flexible storage (M.2 + SATA), 90W USB-C PD, and dual display support. The Ryzen 9 6900HX is past-generation but still capable.
FAQ
What’s the maximum RAM the UM690 supports?
64GB with 2x32GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM. The slot count is fixed at 2 SO-DIMMs.
Can I use both M.2 and SATA storage?
Yes. You can install an M.2 NVMe (primary OS drive) and a 2.5″ SATA SSD (secondary storage) simultaneously. An optimal config is OS on NVMe, bulk data on SATA.
Is WiFi 6 upgradeable?
No. WiFi 6 is soldered to the mainboard. However, 2.5GbE wired Ethernet is available as a fallback.
Does the UM690 support Thunderbolt?
No Thunderbolt or USB4. The UM690 uses standard USB-C DP and HDMI for display. No eGPU support.
Can I run dual 4K monitors?
Yes: HDMI 2.1 (4K@60Hz) + USB-C DP 1.4 (4K@60Hz) for two independent 4K displays.
Recommended Products
These are the products we recommend based on this guide. All links go to Amazon UK where you can check current prices and availability.
| Product | Why We Recommend It | Amazon UK |
|---|---|---|
| Corsair Vengeance DDR5 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 5600MHz | Top-rated DDR5 kit for gaming & productivity | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston Fury Impact DDR5 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 5600MHz | Excellent DDR5 alternative with XMP support | View on Amazon UK |
| Crucial DDR5 SO-DIMM 16GB 5600MHz | Affordable single-stick DDR5 | View on Amazon UK |
| G.Skill Ripjaws DDR5 SO-DIMM 32GB 5600MHz | High performance DDR5 for enthusiasts | View on Amazon UK |
| Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe M.2 2280 | Fastest consumer NVMe — ideal for gaming & editing | View on Amazon UK |
| WD Black SN850X 2TB NVMe | Excellent Gen4 speed with heatsink option | View on Amazon UK |
| Crucial P5 Plus 1TB NVMe | Great value Gen4 SSD | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston NV2 1TB NVMe | Budget-friendly with solid reliability | View on Amazon UK |
Prices and availability may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
