MINISFORUMMS-01 Workstation Core i9-13900H Mini PC Barebone Version Without RAM, SSD and OS, 2xUSB4 1xHDMI Display, 2x2.5G LAN Port, 3X SSD Slot, 2x10G SFP+ Port, Support Discrete Graphics Cards

They tend to run a bit hot on the default thermal paste, but otherwise work fantastic. using mine as kubernetes workers with 64GB of RAM and a couple NVME drives. I'd buy more if i needed them or had an excuse.

My personal laptop died in late November of 2024 so I decided to replace it with the MS-01. I ordered the Core i9-13900H (32+1T) but in reflection should have ordered the Core i9-13900H (0+0) because I used the 1T NVMe from my dead laptop and ordered the 96GB upgrade kit (Crucial RAM 96GB Kit (2x48GB) DDR5 5600MHz (or 5200MHz or 4800MHz) Laptop Memory CT2K48G56C46S5) which will arrive after this review. To begin the packaging this comes in is very nice and the padding is almost 2 inches thick making it very ship worthy. Access to the BIOS which is very clean and easy to use is accessed by hitting the DEL key when the Minis Forum logo appears. This unit recognized and booted effortlessly from the NVMe that was in my laptop. I examined the boot drive that came with my MS-01 and all drivers were loaded but downloading the Windows 11 drivers from the Minis Forums sites is a bit challenging but once you find the drivers they are all in one RAR file. The MS-01 is very quiet, sleeps well and wakes up easily. Under heavy load the fan is noticeable but not to the point of being obnoxious. I purchased this primarily for the dual NIC cards and the (3) NVMe slots as well as the (2) Type C ports and once the drivers are installed, they work flawlessly. The build in GPU is running a pair of LG Ultrawide monitors at 2560x1080 each and while the resolution is not quite as crisp as I hoped, it is still very clear and I suspect higher quality type C cables may help this. Screwless entry to open the case is great but there is one design flaw that I have found. One cannot access the button that opens the case with the CAT5e cables in place and one cannot access the locking clips that hold the CAT5e cables in place due to the case design. To remove the CAT5e cables one must use a tiny screwdriver to press down on the locking clips. I spent a few hours researching GPU’s that would fit in this case and the options are few, especially of you are not comfortable tearing down a GPU and installing a custom GPU Cooler. Overall I am very impressed with the unit.

This is a beast mode computer. Many different options, many different purposes. This is my second one. Solid hardware.

For how small it is, it is a great value for the performance you get in such a small package. Works great as a 3-node cluster for Proxmox for home lab use. Thunderbolt does work (but finicky Linux network drivers makes that a mixed bag; use case is this is a portable lab and the Thunderbolt networking CEPH cluster didn't like being brought up and down).Temps are somewhat reasonable as long as the SSDs you use are lower in heat and power draw. The airflow isn't great and the case is best in a place where there is some active airflow blowing around the unit.I guess the main gripe is Intel AMT doesn't work reliably. I got it to show up once in Mesh Commander and that was it.

Great unit. Loaded it with Ubuntu and it's working fine.

After seeing several glowing YouTube recommendations for the MINISFORUM MS-01, I was excited to try this compact powerhouse. On paper, the specs are impressive for the size, offering excellent performance and connectivity options that would work perfectly for my home lab setup.The Good:The original packaging was premium quality (almost Apple-level presentation). Impressive specs and port selection for the form factor. When working, the unit performs as advertised and successfully runs Proxmox after disabling secure boot.The Bad:First unit was completely DOA despite trying different RAM and NVMe drives. The replacement unit appeared used with visible fingerprints, a scratch on the top cover, and what looked like pet hair. The second unit was also missing half of the packaging materials.My experience began with excitement that quickly turned to frustration. The first unit wouldn't even power on properly - I could see the NIC lights flicker briefly, but no power light and no boot sequence despite trying different combinations of brand new Crucial RAM and NVMe drives. After initiating a return and receiving a replacement, I was disappointed to find what appeared to be a used/returned unit. The packaging was incomplete, and the device itself had visible fingerprints, a scratch on the top, and what resembled dog hair. While I eventually got this unit working by disabling secure boot in the BIOS, I received what seems to be a used product as a “new” replacement doesn't inspire confidence.I'm unsure if this quality control issue stems from Amazon or MINISFORUM, but it's concerning for a product in this price range. If you're considering this mini PC, be prepared for potential issues and carefully inspect your unit upon arrival.

Solid, stable, with IPMI. I built a few 10Gbit fiber routers with these. Running 24x7 for months without thermal issues or stability issues.

Very unimpressed with the build quality and consistency of this product. I purchased 3 and one doesn't boot consistently, the other 2 I had to update BIOS (after connecting a 720P monitor) just to get video to the screen. Reading other reviews I have lost confidence in this product thinking I would be different but that is not the case.I will be returning it soon.