Minisforum MS-A1 review: Workstation supports various AMD CPUs and offers space for four SSDs - NotebookCheck.net Reviews

The well-known mini PC manufacturer Minisforum has launched the Minisforum MS-01 which is now being extended by another model in the form of the MS-A1. This is not just a simple upgrade, as Minisforum is taking a completely new approach with the option of changing the CPU. An AM5 socket serves as the basis, and it can be equipped with various AMD Ryzen CPUs. The Minisforum MS-A1 can be ordered from the company's own store as a barebone, but also with AMD Ryzen 7 8700G already pre-installed. The latter also includes 32 GB DDR5 RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and a Windows 11 Pro license. At 829 euros, the pre-configured Minisforum MS-A1 mini PC is certainly no bargain. The barebone model is already available for 289 euros and could therefore be an excellent alternative if you are prepared to procure the remaining components yourself.

Note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7 available here.

At first glance, Minisforum appears to have used the same housing for the MS-A1 as for the MS-01 model. But this is not the case. There are certainly some visual aspects that both models share. However, the construction of the Minisforum MS-A1 is completely different. The materials used are still metal and plastic, although the plastic parts can only be found on the front. In the in-house duel, the Minisforum MS-A1 is slightly shorter. Nevertheless, the Mini-PC requires slightly more space than the extremely small devices from Geekom. The rivals from HP and Lenovo, which are also equipped with interchangeable CPUs, are almost the same size.

There is hardly anything to criticize about the build quality of the Minisforum MS-A1. The surfaces offer good haptics. The device is also very stable and torsion-resistant thanks to the choice of materials. The only point of criticism on our part is the surface finish, which makes fingerprints visible very quickly. Compared to the other mini PCs, the Minisforum MS-A1 is one of the heavier devices in this comparison, weighing in at 1.7 kilograms. As this is not a mobile device, this point can be disregarded somewhat. The 240-watt power supply weighs another 762 grams and also weighs more than most of its competitors.

The Minisforum MS-A1 does not have an above-average number of connections. Despite this, the selection is still impressive: In addition to five USB Type-A sockets, Minisforum has also installed a USB-C port with 40 GBit/s and an OCuLink interface, which we used in combination with the Minisforum DEG1 OCulink eGPU Dock and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 separately. To connect screens, the Minisforum MS-A1 comes with one HDMI and one DisplayPort. The USB 4 interface can also be used for this purpose. This means that the mini PC can control a total of three screens simultaneously.

The manufacturer has installed an Intel Wi-Fi module in the MS-A1. The Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 wireless module also allows the use of the more modern and noticeably faster 6 GHz frequency band. In the test with the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, the Wi-Fi module delivers high and stable data rates. If only the 5 GHz frequency range is available, the data rates for sending and receiving drop significantly. Nevertheless, this is enough for the Minisforum MS-A1 to position itself in the midfield compared to the comparison devices. There are two RJ45 sockets on the back of the MS-A1. Both sockets are intended for transmissions of up to 2.5 GBit/s. Both ports can also be bundled, making 5 Gbit/s possible.

The scope of delivery of the Minisforum MS-A1 is not very extensive. In addition to the mini PC itself, the comparatively large 240-watt power supply unit and an HDMI cable are also included. An adapter for installing a U.2 SSD is also included.

Maintenance work is generally possible on the Minisforum MS-A1. However, opening the Minisforum MS-A1 is much more complicated than the Minisforum MS-01. A total of eight screws have to be unscrewed in order to open the case. Furthermore, large heat sinks are installed, which must first be removed if you want to install RAM and SSDs. As the Minisforum MS-A1 is also available as a barebone option, we would have liked a more straightforward solution like the Minisforum MS-01. However, the CPU, RAM, and SSDs can be installed easily with a little effort.

The Minisforum MS-A1 is supplied in a fairly compact cardboard box. The accessories are packed in separate plastic sleeves, which we believe could be improved in terms of sustainability. We would like to emphasize the modular design approach, which makes minor repairs possible. However, Minisforum's MS-A1 does not come close to the modular design of the HP Z2 Mini G9 or the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny. In addition, there is no further information that indicates sustainability in terms of production and the materials used.

The Minisforum MS-A1 can be purchased as a barebone or in the version we tested with a pre-installed AMD Ryzen 7 8700G. Together with 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD, the model is well-equipped for the time being. The processor also offers a fast iGPU, which is otherwise only used in mobile SoCs. If you can do without 3D performance, you can also equip the Minisforum MS-A1 with other AM5-based processors. This means that the small mini PC can even be combined with its 16-core processor.

For some performance tests, we pitted the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G against the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. Contrary to what the manufacturer is stating, the TDP can only be set to 75 watts in the UEFI after replacing the processor. The target is actually 100 watts for processors with two CCDs. Nevertheless, we carried out some comparative tests in this configuration and included the results in the comparison graphs. We contacted the manufacturer about this. After consultation with Minisforum, an improved cooling unit for the voltage converters will be installed in the upcoming models. At the same time, a new BIOS version will be released, which will then also support the Ryzen 9000 series processors.

For all performance tests with the Minisforum MS-A1, we use the "maximum performance" energy profile. There were only deviations from this in the power consumption and noise measurements according to our Test criteria.

The UEFI of the Minisforum MS-A1 looks modern and tidy. Some essential changes such as the adjustment of the processor's TDP and the maximum CPU temperature are useful. The usable RAM for the iGPU can also be adjusted. For all subsequent tests, however, we did not make any changes here and left the device in its delivery state. Unfortunately, there are no more extensive options, such as deactivating individual ports.

The processor in the Minisforum MS-A1 is an AMD Ryzen 7 8700G. As a pre-configured version of the mini-PC, Minisforum only installs this model. Other AM5 processors can also be installed. However, the BIOS sometimes has to be updated if models from the 9000 series are also installed. With that said, the detour via an AMD Ryzen 7000 or an AMD Ryzen 8600G or 8700G is unavoidable, as the Minisforum MS-A1 does not offer a flashback option that allows the BIOS to be installed without RAM and CPU. Another important piece of information to know is that there is a TDP limit of 100 watts. Conversely, this means that, among other things, an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X can only work with significantly reduced performance.

But now to the performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G in the Minisforum MS-A1. The processor is essentially a mobile SoC and is based on the Zen4 architecture. The chip is also equipped with the powerful AMD Radeon 780M, making the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G the desktop processor with the most powerful iGPU. More on this later. In a direct comparison, the Minisforum MS-A1 ranks in a good third place. The HP Z2 Mini G9 and also the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny with their faster Intel processors can set themselves apart somewhat. Conventional desktop processors are also used here, which are clearly superior to their mobile counterparts in terms of performance. The results show that the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G is on the same performance level as the AMD Ryzen 9 8945H of the Geekom AX8 Pro.

As already mentioned, we have also compared the Minisforum MS-A1 with the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. Compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G, the 16-core can deliver around 12 percent more performance on average. If you look purely at the multi-core tests, performance increases of 50 percent and more are possible.

For further comparisons and benchmarks, please refer to our CPU comparison table.

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The Minisforum MS-A1 masters the Cinebench R15 continuous loop excellently. The built-in cooling unit has enough capacity to keep the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G effectively under continuous load. The power limit of 65 watts is always reached in all 50 runs, even though the temperature of the processor is only just under 80 °C. The Minisforum MS-A1 also masters the combination with the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X perfectly. However, at just 67 watts, the processor operates far below what is actually possible.

The overall system performance of the Minisforum MS-A1 is consistently good. In principle, hardly any device in this performance class fails in this discipline, even if the performance differences are clearly measurable in percentage terms. In normal everyday use, you will hardly notice any difference. In the AIDA64 benchmarks with regard to RAM performance, the Minisforum MS-A1 has to admit defeat to most of its competitors. The RAM operates at 5,600 MT/s, but this is not fully reflected in the results.

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The Minisforum MS-A1 is a long way from outstanding DPC values. Simply opening several tabs in the Edge browser already causes increased values, which rise again slightly when the 4K test video is played.

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The Minisforum MS-A1 can be equipped with a total of four SSDs. All M.2 ports are PCIe connections, which can be fitted with NVMe SSDs with a length of 80 millimeters. With the supplied adapter, 2.5-inch SSDs that use the SFF U.2 interface can also be installed. The warning notice must be observed in order to avoid damage to an M.2 SSD if no 2.5-inch SSD is installed.

Our test sample contains a 1 TB SSD from Kingston, which performs excellently in comparison to its competitors. Only the Samsung PM9A1a in the Lenovo ThinkStation Tiny P3 achieves slightly better performance overall. The M.2 interface delivers PCIe 4.0 x4 speed at best, which the installed SSD also utilizes optimally. This results in good transfer rates that do not drop even under load. Minisforum has provided for this with a generous cooling unit.

For further comparisons and benchmarks, please refer to our Comparison table.

Important note:

As the Minisforum MS-A1 can be equipped with different processors, the speeds of the SSD interfaces also vary. The screenshot gives an indication of the expected speed of the data carriers.

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With the AMD Radeon 780M, the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G offers a powerful iGPU, which is currently the fastest integrated graphics unit among desktop processors. This model is already installed in many mobile processors. In the performance comparison, we can see that the performance can keep up with its mobile counterparts. The Minisforum MS-A1 delivers almost the same 3D performance as the Geekom AX8 Pro. Compared with the Nvidia T1000, which is used in the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny, the iGPU in our test sample can also keep up here. Differences can only be seen in the render tests, which run significantly better on the professional graphics adapters.

Here, too, we take a look at the performance based on the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X in more detail. Due to the significantly weaker iGPU of the 16-core, the 3D performance is noticeably weaker. As a result, the Minisforum MS-01 falls back to last place and is only in a duel with the HP Elite Mini 800 G9.

Further comparisons and benchmarks can be found in our GPU comparison table.

The performance of the AMD Radeon 780M which we documented in the synthetic benchmarks, is also evident in the gaming tests. The Minisforum MS-A1 clearly wins the internal duel due to the more powerful iGPU. The two comparison devices with a dedicated graphics card offer noticeably more performance. The AMD Radeon 780M delivers an enormous increase in performance compared to the other iGPUs installed in desktop processors. Nevertheless, the iGPU quickly reaches its limits with modern games. However, older titles can sometimes be played smoothly even with high details.

For a detailed overview of the performance of the iGPU compared to other graphics cards, please refer to our GPU game list.

Equipped with an OCuLink interface, the Minisforum MS-A1 can be connected to external graphics cards to massively increase 3D performance. However, you have to accept a bandwidth limitation, as the external graphics card works at best at PCIe 4.0 x4 speed via OCuLink. This is still better than a USB 4 connection, which only works with PCIe 3.0 x4. Together with the Minisforum DEG1 eGPU dock and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, we carried out some tests to illustrate the performance increase that can be expected with the fastest consumer graphics cards currently available.

The performance comparison in the synthetic tests shows that the combination with the external graphics card definitely has the potential to keep up with conventional desktop systems. However, we don't want to gloss over the whole thing, as the difference in performance is significantly greater when looking at the gaming tests. Depending on the game and application, the performance deficit varies due to the lower bandwidth via the OCuLink interface. Compared to the full PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 loses around 30 percent in performance. This means that the team still delivers excellent overall performance, which means that most games can be played well in 2,160p at full details.

The cooling unit, which sits on top of the processor, consists of a heatpipe construction, which is cooled with the help of two fans. This works quite well in practice, although the device is always quietly audible. There is also another fan on the underside, which supplies the SSD cooler with fresh air. When idling, we recorded a sound pressure level of 34 dB(A), which is consistently louder compared to its competitors. Under load, the noise level rises to up to 46.2 dB(A). At least the fan noise is not high frequency, which makes operation under full load somewhat more bearable. Under average load, the noise level drops slightly and settles at 41 dB(A). An excellent result if you look at the competitors under the same load. The HP Elite Mini 800 G9, which is very quiet at an average load of just 30.2 dB(A), performed excellently.

Noise Level

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The housing of the Minisforum MS-A1 remains very cool at all times. Even under load, we did not reach 40 °C, which is excellent. As we have already seen in the stress tests, the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G can deliver stable performance. The temperature limit is set at 90 °C in the BIOS. We do not reach this value at any time in our tests, which underpins the stable performance under continuous load. We see a maximum of 83 °C in the stress test with Prime95. In addition, the processor consistently operates at 65 watts, which corresponds to what Minisforum gives the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G.

Opposite to the Minisforum MS-01, the Minisforum MS-A1 is significantly more economical. This is already evident in idle mode, where our test sample manages with 8.8 to 14 watts. Under average load, the energy requirement climbs to just over 90 watts, which is much higher than most other mini PCs. Due to the power-hungry processors in the HP Z2 Mini G9 and the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny, we will not make a direct comparison here. In addition, both devices are equipped with dedicated graphics cards, which significantly increase the power requirement under load. The Minisforum MS-A1 only reaches a peak of 102.1 watts, which surprises us when we look at the power supply unit. The manufacturer includes a 240-watt power supply unit with the Minisforum MS-A1, which is nowhere near its limits. Even with a more powerful AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, you won't even come close to overloading the power supply, because according to the manufacturer's specifications, the power consumption of the processors with two CCDs is limited to 100 watts.

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The Minisforum MS-A1 is not just a warm rehash of the Minisforum MS-01 with the AMD platform. This quickly becomes clear when you see that the manufacturer also offers the MS-A1 as a barebone without a CPU. The option of leaving the choice of CPU to the user is certainly the biggest advantage of the Minisforum MS-A1. AMD already revealed at the launch that AM5 processors would be supported for several years. However, it remains to be seen how well Minisforum will implement this in the future. After all, a new BIOS is necessary if future processors are to be supported.

The Minisforum MS-A1 is an excellent basis for a powerful workstation. The Miniforum MS-A1 is not a pure workstation in this form.

If you want to use the Minisforum MS-A1 in the preconfigured version with the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G you get an excellent basis with the option of upgrading later. With 8 cores and 16 threads, the APU delivers adequate performance to handle most tasks. There is also 32 GB DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB SSD, which means the device is ready to use straight away. The Minisforum MS-A1 offers a good selection of external interfaces. Both USB4 and OCuLink are available and expand the possibilities enormously. The latter can be perfectly combined with the Minisforum DEG1 eGPU dock.

Calling the Minisforum MS-A1 a workstation is a bold statement because, at its core, the mini PC is no different from a compact PC, such as the HP Elite Mini 800 G9, for example. It is possible to transform the Minisforum MS-A1 into a workstation with the right accessories. However, this requires further investment. A combination with a professional graphics solution from the factory would be more effective, albeit considerably more expensive. Speaking of price - we have hardly shed any light on this so far: 829 euros are on the bill if it is to be the device in our test configuration. This puts Minisforum on the same level as HP with its Elite Mini-800 G9 models. If you want to take care of the CPU, RAM, SSD, and operating system yourself, you can get the Minisforum MS-A1 for as little as 289 euros.

To summarize, we can say that Minisforum has brought a very interesting device onto the market with the MS-A1. The option of being able to change the CPU at a later date is a step in the right direction. The connectivity, in particular the OCuLink connection, is something you don't see from well-known brands such as HP, Lenovo, Dell, or Asus.

Note: We have recently updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. Further information can be found here.

The Minisforum MS-A1 is available directly at in the store at Minisforum. The device is currently available in our test configuration for 829 euros. In the US, the barebone version can also be purchased from Amazon for $260.

Minisforum MS-A1- 2024-10-0810/08/2024 v8Sebastian Bade

The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.

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