Minisforum has revamped their well-liked design by incorporating a desktop AM5 socket. The MS-A1 is the latest model succeeding the MS-01. Despite the similar appearance of their cases, these are completely distinct products. One major change is that the new AMD-based PC replaces the soldered Intel mobile CPUs with an AM5 socket, enabling user upgrades.
This is a significant upgrade, with the key feature being its compatibility with various AMD processors: Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000 (Phoenix), and even the upcoming Ryzen 9000. However, it’s crucial to remember that support for these processors might need a BIOS update, so it may not be available right away when the product is first released.
It supports 65W TDP for the Ryzen 8000G series and up to 100W TDP for dual-CCD CPUs like the Ryzen 9 7900X and 7950X. Although these CPUs are compatible, they won’t run at their default, higher TDP. The system can accommodate up to two DDR5-5200 modules with a maximum capacity of 96GB. It also features three PCIe M.2 slots for storage: two are PCIe 4.0×4 and one is 3.0×4. Additionally, Minisforum mentions support for another M.2 slot through expansion.
The MS-A1 (AMD) version will be significantly less expensive than the Intel counterpart. This is mainly because it will be sold as a barebone system without storage, memory, or the CPU. In contrast, the Intel version comes with the CPU soldered in, meaning it cannot be bought without the processor included.
The AMD version does have some drawbacks. It does not include SFP+ ports for high-speed networking, though it still offers dual 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports. Upgrading to 10 GbE is now more complex than just purchasing an SFP card. Additionally, the AMD version only has one USB4 Type-C 40 Gbps port, whereas the Intel version had two, supporting Thunderbolt. On the plus side, it now comes with an OCuLink connector, ensuring no issues with graphics upgrades.
Source: Minisforum
