Minisforum UM690S Compatibility Guide
The UM690S is the storage-focused variant of the UM690, replacing the 2.5″ SATA bay with a second M.2 2280 NVMe slot and upgrading WiFi to 6E. This guide covers RAM, dual NVMe storage, power, and connectivity upgrades.
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 x2 (PCIe 3.0 + PCIe 3.0) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 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 Upgrade Compatibility
The UM690S has two DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM slots with a maximum capacity of 64GB. Both slots are user-replaceable by accessing the bottom panel.
| 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 Configurations:
- Light Use / Gaming: 1x32GB single-channel — 32GB total, cost-effective.
- Content Creation / Development: 2x32GB dual-channel — 64GB total, optimal performance.
- Video Editing / Virtualisation: 2x32GB (64GB maximum) with dual M.2 NVMe for fast project storage.
Compatible Brands: Kingston FURY Beast, Corsair DOMINATOR, SK Hynix, Samsung, Crucial—all verified DDR5-4800 SO-DIMs.
Dual M.2 2280 NVMe Storage
The UM690S features two M.2 2280 NVMe slots, both PCIe 3.0. This is ideal for RAID configurations, dual-drive gaming setups, or OS + data separation.
| Product | Capacity | Speed (Seq. Read) | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 980 | 250GB–1TB | 5,150 MB/s | £40–80 | View on Amazon UK |
| WD Blue SN580 | 256GB–1TB | 4,150 MB/s | £35–75 | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston A3000 | 480GB–1TB | 3,500 MB/s | £30–60 | View on Amazon UK |
| Sabrent Rocket Q4 | 500GB–1TB | 4,800 MB/s | £35–70 | View on Amazon UK |
Storage Configurations:
- OS + Games: 256GB NVMe (OS) + 1TB NVMe (games/projects).
- RAID 0 (Striping): 2x1TB for ~9.6Gbps throughput (gaming assets, video editing).
- RAID 1 (Mirroring): 2x1TB for data redundancy and backup.
- Single Drive: 1x2TB NVMe (maximum single drive capacity).
Note: PCIe 3.0 drives work perfectly with the UM690S. PCIe 4.0 drives are backward-compatible but don’t benefit from the extra bandwidth—save cost with PCIe 3.0.
Power Supply & 90W USB-C PD
The UM690S ships with a 90W USB-C Power Delivery adapter (USB PD 3.1 certified). This is excellent for portable use and docking.
- Universal USB-C Charging: Any certified 90W+ USB-C PD charger works (laptop, tablet, or standalone).
- Power Draw: 15–20W idle, 45–65W office/web, 70W+ sustained gaming.
- Docking: 90W USB-C dock supplies full power + peripherals simultaneously.
- Dual Drive Impact: Dual NVMe adds minimal power (< 2W extra at idle).
Display & Docking Options
The UM690S supports dual independent displays:
- HDMI 2.1: 4K@60Hz (gaming, video playback).
- USB-C DP 1.4: 4K@60Hz (alternative or extended display).
- USB-C Video: Additional video out (requires DP Alt Mode hub).
Docking Recommendations:
- Premium USB-C Dock: CalDigit TS3 Plus (90W PD, 15 ports, dual HDMI/DP support).
- Budget Multi-Display Hub: UGREEN 10-in-1 (HDMI, DP, USB 3.0, SD, 90W PD).
- Simple USB-C Hub: Anker PowerExpand+ (7 USB 3.0, HDMI, SD, 60W PD).
WiFi 6E & Networking
WiFi 6E (802.11ax+): Upgraded from WiFi 6, offering ~1.2Gbps peak throughput in lab conditions. Real-world: 300–600 Mbps depending on router and interference.
- Bluetooth 5.2: Low-latency, stable wireless peripherals (mice, keyboards, headphones).
- 2.5GbE Ethernet: For maximum stability on networks, use wired connection instead of WiFi.
- 6 GHz Band Support: WiFi 6E opens a less-congested frequency band for faster, less interference-prone connections (if your router supports 6 GHz).
Thermal Performance
The UM690S runs cool due to the Ryzen 9 6900HX’s efficiency:
- Idle: 30–35°C, fanless operation possible.
- Office Use: 45–55°C, quiet fan.
- Sustained Gaming: 70–75°C, noticeable fan noise.
- Dual NVMe Thermal: Both M.2 slots dissipate minimal heat; no thermal throttling expected.
Upgradeability Score
9/10 — Exceptional. User-upgradeable RAM (up to 64GB), dual M.2 2280 NVMe storage, WiFi 6E, 90W USB-C PD for modern docking, and quiet thermal performance make the UM690S one of the most flexible mini PCs available.
FAQ
What’s the advantage of UM690S over UM690?
The UM690S replaces the 2.5″ SATA bay with a second M.2 NVMe slot and upgrades WiFi to 6E. Perfect for users needing multiple fast drives and better wireless connectivity.
Can I run both M.2 drives simultaneously?
Yes. Both M.2 2280 NVMe slots are fully functional and independent. Install OS on one drive and applications/data on the other, or use RAID configurations.
What PCIe drives are compatible?
The UM690S supports PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives. Both work (PCIe 4.0 is backward-compatible), but PCIe 3.0 drives are more cost-effective for this platform.
Can I run RAID 0 with dual M.2 drives?
Yes. BIOS supports RAID 0 (striping) for combined capacity and throughput, or RAID 1 (mirroring) for redundancy. Check Minisforum’s BIOS settings documentation.
Is WiFi 6E worth the upgrade?
WiFi 6E adds support for the less-congested 6 GHz band, improving speeds if your router supports it. For 2.4/5 GHz only, the upgrade is marginal—use 2.5GbE wired instead.
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.
