Minisforum Mini PC Upgrade Guide (2026) — RAM, SSD & Specs for Every Model

Minisforum has carved out a reputation as the enthusiast’s choice for compact computing. Whether you’re after high-spec AMD Ryzen builds, Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors, or the unique MS-01 server-class unit, Minisforum delivers form factors and performance options that larger manufacturers often overlook. This guide covers upgrade paths, compatibility specs, and real-world performance considerations for every current Minisforum model.

Quick Reference: Minisforum Models at a Glance

UM Series: The Mainstream Performers

The UM series is Minisforum’s bread and butter—compact, upgradeable, and available in both DDR4 and cutting-edge DDR5 configurations. These are ideal for professionals, developers, and power users who want a genuinely portable workstation without sacrificing performance.

UM890 Pro: Ryzen 9 8945HS Powerhouse

The UM890 Pro is currently Minisforum’s flagship mainstream unit, packing the latest Ryzen 9 8945HS with up to 96GB of DDR5 memory. This is the machine for content creators, developers, and anyone running virtual machines or containerized workloads at scale.

Upgrade Path:

• RAM: Two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, upgradeable to 96GB total
• Storage: Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots for ultra-fast boot and app loading
• WiFi 6E: Excellent wireless performance; Thunderbolt 4 compatibility (check model variant)

Best Use Case: Remote workstations, Docker/Kubernetes development, video editing, 3D modelling on a portable chassis.

Find pricing and specifications on Amazon UK.

UM790 Pro: The Balanced Zen 4 Choice

The UM790 Pro sits in an excellent sweet spot: Ryzen 9 7940HS performance with DDR5 SO-DIMM upgrades, USB4 support (for eGPU expansion), and a mature thermal design. Older than the UM890, but still a capable 2024–2025 purchase if you find it at a discount.

Upgrade Path:

• RAM: Two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, 64GB maximum
• Storage: Two M.2 2280 slots; consider one fast NVMe for OS, one for data
• USB4: External GPU support for light gaming or CUDA workloads

Thermal Design: The UM790 Pro’s cooling system is well-regarded; sustained load temperatures are predictable.

Check current availability on Amazon UK.

UM780 XTX: Entry-Level Zen 4 Alternative

If the UM790 Pro is overbudget, the UM780 XTX offers Ryzen 7 7840HS performance with identical DDR5 and storage upgradability. Slightly lower core count than the UM790 (8 cores vs. 12), but still more than sufficient for most workflows.

Upgrade Path:

• RAM: Two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, 64GB maximum
• Storage: Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots
• USB4: Yes, same as UM790 Pro

Value Proposition: £100–150 savings for a modest performance trade-off. Excellent choice if you’re upgrading from an older mini PC.

Browse on Amazon UK.

UM690 & UM690S: Zen 3 Stalwarts

The UM690 family (Ryzen 9 6900HX) is still relevant if you can source them. Both offer DDR5 SO-DIMM upgrades and mixed storage configurations.

UM690 (Standard): One M.2 2280 + one 2.5″ SATA bay. Good for users wanting a traditional SSD + large backup drive layout.

UM690S (Special Edition): Two M.2 2280 slots instead of SATA. Better for all-NVMe setups and slightly higher WiFi (6E vs. 6).

RAM Upgrade: Both support 64GB DDR5 SO-DIMM (two slots). A significant improvement over the DDR4 limits of earlier generations.

Search Amazon UK for UM690 availability.

AtomMan Series: The Intel Alternative

AtomMan X7 Ti: Core Ultra 9 Elegance

Minisforum’s latest Intel offering, the AtomMan X7 Ti, brings Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 185H with remarkable efficiency. Unlike the UM series, the X7 Ti features soldered memory—you choose 32GB or 64GB at purchase, but cannot upgrade.

Specs & Upgrade Limits:

• Memory: LPDDR5X soldered (32GB or 64GB, not upgradeable)
• Storage: Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots (upgradeable)
• Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 7 (the first Minisforum unit with TB 4 and latest WiFi standard)
• Form Factor: Compact and premium, with excellent build quality

Important Consideration: The soldered LPDDR5X means you must commit to either 32GB or 64GB upfront. There’s no upgrade path. However, the memory is optimised for power efficiency—ideal for mobile workloads and battery-sensitive applications.

Best For: Users who plan to keep their machine 3+ years without memory upgrades; professionals valuing latest-gen Intel performance; anyone needing Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed external storage.

View specifications on Amazon UK.

Specialty & Gaming: Neptune, BD790i, MS-01

Neptune HX90G: Integrated Gaming GPU

The Neptune HX90G pairs a Ryzen 9 5900HX with an AMD Radeon RX 6600M, making it Minisforum’s gaming-oriented mini PC. It’s older (Zen 3 CPU, RDNA 2 GPU), but still capable of 1080p gaming and professional graphics workflows.

Specs:

• Memory: DDR4 SO-DIMM (two slots), 64GB maximum
• Storage: Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6600M (6GB GDDR6)
• WiFi 6E: Strong wireless and Ethernet connectivity

Gaming Performance: Expect 1080p high-refresh (60–100 fps) on most modern titles at medium-to-high settings. Not a replacement for a desktop GPU, but respectable for a mini PC.

Upgrade Consideration: The GPU is integrated into the chassis and not user-upgradeable. DDR4 RAM is now more affordable than DDR5, making memory upgrades budget-friendly.

Check gaming benchmarks and UK pricing on Amazon UK.

BD790i: The Compact Powerhouse with OCuLink

The BD790i is a unique compact unit featuring Ryzen 9 7945HX, up to 96GB DDR5, and—most notably—OCuLink support for external GPUs. This is Minisforum’s answer to the “desktop performance in a box” challenge.

Specs & Expansion:

• Memory: DDR5 SO-DIMM, 96GB maximum
• Storage: Two M.2 2280 slots
• OCuLink: External GPU expansion (eGPU dock required, sold separately)
• WiFi 6E: Solid wireless coverage

Use Case: Professionals needing portable high performance with optional external GPU for rendering, CUDA, or gaming at higher tiers. The OCuLink interface offers more bandwidth than USB4 for GPU workloads.

Caveat: eGPU enclosures add cost and complexity. If you don’t need external GPU flexibility, the UM890 Pro may offer better value.

Find on Amazon UK.

MS-01: Server-Class Mini Powerhouse

The MS-01 is Minisforum’s bold venture into server-grade computing. It houses an Intel i9-13900H in a compact form factor with three M.2 2280 slots, dual 2.5GbE LAN, and 10GbE SFP+ for network storage and virtualisation.

Unique Features:

• Memory: DDR5 SO-DIMM, 64GB maximum (upgradeable)
• Storage: Three M.2 2280 NVMe slots—ideal for RAID configurations or software-defined storage
• Networking: Two 2.5GbE LAN ports + one 10GbE SFP+ optical port
• Use Case: Kubernetes nodes, NAS boxes, media servers, edge compute

Cooling & Thermals: The MS-01’s design prioritises airflow for sustained workloads. Suitable for 24/7 operation in server environments.

Configuration: Expect to pair with enterprise-grade software (ProxMox, Kubernetes, TrueNAS, Plex). Not a consumer media PC out of the box, but incredibly flexible once configured.

Explore the MS-01 on Amazon UK.

Budget & Compact: EliteMini, Venus, NAB6, UN100L

EliteMini HM90: Older but Still Useful

The EliteMini HM90 (Ryzen 9 4900H) represents an earlier generation but remains a capable office/media machine. DDR4 SO-DIMM limits it to 64GB, but it’s upgradeable.

Specs:

• Memory: DDR4 SO-DIMM, 64GB maximum
• Storage: One M.2 2280 + one 2.5″ SATA (mixed)
• Price: Often discounted; good for budget-conscious buyers

When to Buy: If you find one at £280–300 and only need office productivity or light media serving.

Check listings on Amazon UK.

Venus UM580: Ultra-Compact Zen 3

The Venus UM580 (Ryzen 5 5625U) is Minisforum’s ultra-compact option with low power consumption. Ideal for headless media servers, lightweight workstations, or embedded applications.

Specs:

• Memory: DDR4 SO-DIMM, 64GB maximum
• Storage: One M.2 2280 + one 2.5″ SATA
• Power: Lower TDP than UM series (optimised for low-noise, fanless-capable operation)

Best For: Silent media centres, network-attached storage servers, always-on home automation hubs.

Find on Amazon UK.

NAB6: Intel i7-12650H Compact

The NAB6 offers Intel performance in a compact chassis. With an i7-12650H and DDR4 SO-DIMM support, it bridges Intel and AMD enthusiasts.

Specs:

• Memory: DDR4 SO-DIMM, 64GB maximum
• Storage: Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots (no SATA limitation)
• Price Range: £350–420

Competitive Position: Offers Intel CPU choice without the soldered-memory limitation of the AtomMan X7 Ti, but lacks the latest Core Ultra generation.

Browse on Amazon UK.

UN100L: Entry-Level Fanless Option

The UN100L (Intel N100) is Minisforum’s budget ultra-low-power option. Soldered memory (8GB or 16GB) and limited storage, but excellent for silent operation and minimal power draw.

Specs:

• Memory: LPDDR5 soldered (8GB or 16GB, not upgradeable)
• Storage: One M.2 2280 + one 2.5″ SATA
• Power: ~5W idle; can run passively cooled
• Price: £120–160 (Minisforum’s most affordable option)

Use Case: Home servers, Pi-hole DNS servers, lightweight office machines, embedded computing. Not for demanding workloads, but exceptional value at the price.

Memory Caveat: Choose 8GB or 16GB at purchase—no upgrades possible. For modern web browsing with many tabs, 16GB is recommended.

View the UN100L on Amazon UK.

RAM & SSD Compatibility Deep Dive

DDR5 SO-DIMM: Standards and Limitations

All Minisforum DDR5 units use standard laptop SO-DIMM form factor (204-pin). Compatibility is broad, but speed selection matters:

• DDR5-4800: Standard specification; works with all DDR5 boards
• DDR5-5600+: Higher speeds (5600, 6400, 7500) are supported, but may require BIOS adjustment or show no benefit in real-world workloads
• Mixing Speeds: Avoid mixing different DDR5 speeds in the same machine; the system will downclock to the slowest module
• Timings: Tighter timings (e.g., 22-22-22-52) offer marginal performance uplift in synthetic benchmarks but negligible real-world impact for most users

Recommended Brands: Corsair, Kingston Fury, Samsung, SK Hynix. All are widely available on Amazon UK with proven Minisforum compatibility.

DDR4 SO-DIMM: The Legacy Standard

Units like the Neptune HX90G, EliteMini HM90, Venus UM580, and NAB6 use DDR4 SO-DIMM. Compatibility is excellent; DDR4 SO-DIMM prices are now competitive or even cheaper than DDR5 in some regions.

• DDR4-3200: Most common spec for Minisforum units
• Maximum Capacity: 64GB (two 32GB modules) on all DDR4 Minisforum units
• Overclocking: Some DDR4 models support DOCP/XMP profiles, but Minisforum mini PCs rarely expose advanced memory tuning in BIOS

Budget Tip: DDR4 modules are now abundant and affordable; upgrading an older Minisforum to 64GB costs £100–150 on Amazon UK.

M.2 NVMe: Form Factor & Speed

All modern Minisforum units use M.2 2280 (22mm wide, 80mm long) NVMe SSDs:

• PCIe 4.0: Standard on Ryzen 7000/8000 and i9-13900H units; delivers 5–7GB/s sequential read speeds
• PCIe 5.0: Some newer UM890 Pro units support PCIe 5.0 drives (up to 14GB/s theoretical), but real-world OS responsiveness gains are negligible vs. 4.0
• Capacity: Modern drives (500GB to 4TB) are all 2280-compatible; no compatibility issues
• Recommended Brands: Samsung 990 Pro, Crucial P5 Plus, WD Black SN850X. All widely stocked on Amazon UK

Practical Advice: A fast PCIe 4.0 drive (£40–60 for 1TB) offers 95% of the performance of premium PCIe 5.0 models at half the cost.

2.5″ SATA SSDs: When to Use Them

Units with a 2.5″ SATA bay (UM690, EliteMini HM90, Venus UM580, UN100L) support traditional 2.5″ solid-state drives. Use these for:

• Large capacity storage (4TB–8TB SATA drives are affordable)
• Backups and archival (sequential write speed is sufficient)
• Media library storage (photo, video, music collections)

Speed Note: SATA maxes out at ~550MB/s sequential. For OS boot and application loading, pair SATA with a fast NVMe in the M.2 slot.

Avoid: Using SATA for boot drive; use NVMe instead.

Display Output & Docking Solutions

Native Ports by Series

UM Series (UM890 Pro, UM790 Pro, UM780 XTX, UM690, UM690S):

• Dual HDMI 2.1 (or one HDMI + one USB-C video output)
• Maximum resolution: 4K@60Hz on HDMI, 5K@60Hz on USB-C (UM790+)
• Dual-monitor support: Confirmed on all models

MS-01:

• Dual HDMI 2.1 + one USB-C video out
• Triple-monitor support confirmed (HDMI + HDMI + USB-C)
• Enterprise use case: connect to network KVM switches or multiple displays for server monitoring

AtomMan X7 Ti:

• Single HDMI + USB-C video out (via Thunderbolt 4)
• Dual-monitor support via USB-C dock or eGPU enclosure

Budget Models (EliteMini HM90, Venus UM580, UN100L):

• Typically HDMI-only or one HDMI + one VGA/D-Sub
• Dual monitors: Use a USB-C docking station with video output

Docking & External GPU

USB-C Docking: All Minisforum units with USB-C or Thunderbolt 4 support external docks. Popular options include:

• Thunderbolt 4 docks (AtomMan X7 Ti, UM790 Pro, UM890 Pro): Support up to 6K video + USB data + charging
• USB-C docks: Standard alternatives, usually 4K-capable

eGPU (External GPU):

• USB4 Support: UM790 Pro, UM780 XTX support USB4 eGPU expansion (bandwidth equivalent to Thunderbolt 3)
• OCuLink Support: BD790i has dedicated OCuLink port for eGPU docks—higher bandwidth, fewer bottlenecks
• Not Supported: Budget models and older units (UM690, EliteMini HM90) lack eGPU expansion

Gaming/Rendering with eGPU: If you need high-end gaming or CUDA acceleration, the BD790i + eGPU or UM890 Pro + USB4 eGPU dock is the path forward.

Find USB-C docks and eGPU enclosures on Amazon UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Minisforum a Chinese brand? Is it reliable?

Yes, Minisforum is a Chinese manufacturer (based in Shenzhen). However, reliability is strong: the company has been operating since 2016 and maintains active UK distribution through major retailers (Scan, Amazon UK, Box.co.uk). Warranty support is responsive, and firmware updates are regular. In online forums and reviews, Minisforum units consistently receive reliability ratings comparable to Asus NUC and other established brands. Purchase from authorised UK retailers to ensure warranty coverage.

Can you upgrade Minisforum mini PC RAM?

Depends on the model. Most UM series (UM890 Pro, UM790 Pro, UM780 XTX, UM690/S, BD790i, Neptune HX90G, EliteMini HM90, Venus UM580, NAB6, MS-01) feature user-replaceable DDR4 or DDR5 SO-DIMM modules—upgrades are simple. However, the AtomMan X7 Ti and UN100L have soldered memory that cannot be upgraded; you must choose your capacity at purchase. Always check the exact model before buying if RAM upgradability is important.

What’s the difference between UM780 and UM790?

Both use Ryzen 7000-series CPUs and DDR5 SO-DIMM, but the UM790 Pro has a higher core count (Ryzen 9 7940HS, 12 cores) vs. the UM780 XTX (Ryzen 7 7840HS, 8 cores). The UM790 also has more mature thermal design and a £80–100 premium. For multi-threaded workloads (video encoding, rendering, server applications), the UM790 Pro is faster. For single-threaded tasks and gaming, the gap is smaller. If budget is tight, the UM780 XTX offers ~85% of UM790 Pro performance at a lower price.

Can you use an eGPU with Minisforum?

Yes, if your model supports USB4 or OCuLink. The UM790 Pro and UM780 XTX have USB4 (equivalent to Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth), and the BD790i has dedicated OCuLink support for even higher throughput. You’ll need an eGPU enclosure (Razer Core, Sonnet, or similar) and a compatible discrete GPU. Expect 15–25% bandwidth loss compared to desktop PCIe, but significant gaming/CUDA performance gains vs. integrated graphics. Budget models and older units (UM690, EliteMini HM90, Venus UM580) cannot support eGPU.

What’s the MS-01 best for?

The MS-01 is purpose-built for server and edge-computing workloads. The three M.2 slots enable RAID configurations; the dual 2.5GbE and 10GbE SFP+ ports support network-attached storage, virtualisation, and containerised deployments. Ideal for Kubernetes nodes, NAS boxes, ProxMox hypervisors, or Plex media servers with redundant storage. It’s not a general-purpose consumer mini PC—it’s an enthusiast’s server box. Expect to run Linux (Ubuntu Server, ProxMox) or dedicated software (TrueNAS, Plex). If you’re buying one, plan for 24/7 operation.

Do Minisforum PCs support dual/triple monitors?

Most UM series units support dual monitors natively (dual HDMI 2.1, or HDMI + USB-C). The MS-01 supports triple monitors (dual HDMI + USB-C). Budget models (UN100L, Venus UM580) typically support single monitor natively but can add a second via USB-C dock. The AtomMan X7 Ti (single HDMI + Thunderbolt 4 video) also supports dual monitors via a Thunderbolt dock. For triple+ monitors, the MS-01 or a UM-series unit with a multi-output dock is the way forward.

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.

Prices and availability may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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