At the recent "Japan IT Spring Week," Minisforum grabbed everyone’s attention with a sneak peek at their upcoming lineup packed with AMD Ryzen technology. They’re rolling out new offerings featuring the impressive Ryzen 9 9955HX "Fire Range" processor, particularly in their MoTD and Mini PC categories.
Two Fresh AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX "Fire Range" Options from Minisforum
Minisforum is rolling out a surprise for desktop builders and mini PC enthusiasts alike, with two exciting products powered by the Ryzen 9 9955HX. First on the list is the Minisforum F1FGM MoTD Motherboard. This innovative board is part of their MoTD series and it’s decked out with the latest Fire Range CPU. Designed with a sleek mATX layout, it sports robust cooling solutions with heatsinks scattered over VRMs, M.2 slots, the PCH, and even has protective IO covers. It’s the worthy heir to the popular BD770i and BD790i lines, previously driven by the Dragon Range "Ryzen 7000HX" CPUs.
At its core, this motherboard can house the Ryzen 9 9955HX CPU, which boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, built on the Zen 5 architecture. The chip can boost up to a speedy 5.4 GHz and includes 64 MB of L3 cache. While it operates at a default 55W, the adjustable power limit allows it to clock up to 160W, ensuring users can maximize their experiences.
This board accommodates various CPUs, including an "X3D" variety, and uses a vapor chamber baseplate for mounting coolers, since these mobile chips lack an IHS. Its robust 13-phase VRM design delivers steady power with 60A SPS power stages.
The F1FGM doesn’t skimp on other specs either. It carries four DDR5 DIMM slots with the ability to support considerable memory—up to 256 GB with speeds soaring up to 8000 MT/s. The chipset, X870M, is also noteworthy, offering features similar to the B850 series. You get two PCIe slots (5.0 x16 and 4.0 x16) plus three M.2 slots, including one boasting Gen5x4 speeds. The board also features two SATA III ports and cutting-edge IO options like USB4, 5GbE LAN, and WIFI7, enhancing its versatility. Plus, the inclusion of two BIOS DEBUG LEDs is a thoughtful touch.
Punchy and Compact: The Minisforum MS-A2 Mini PC
For lovers of compact computing, the MS-A2 Mini PC is an equally enticing prospect. Following the footsteps of the MS-A1 range, these new mini PCs are amped up with Ryzen 9000HX "Fire Range" juice and cutting-edge connectivity like three M.2 slots, a 10 GbE LAN via an SFP+ port, and a PCIe 4.0 x8 slot ideal for a low-profile card.
Diverging from the MoTD, this Mini PC’s motherboard comes equipped with two SO-DIMM slots, enabling up to 96 GB of memory at 5200 MT/s. The array of ports includes 2 USB 3.2 Gen Type-C, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2, a USB 2.0, and dual 10 GbE LAN ports, alongside Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, and both DP and HDMI outputs.
Meet the Minisforum N5 PRO – A Robust NAS Solution
Rounding out the fresh lineup is the N5 PRO NAS, driven by the Strix-powered Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU featuring 12 cores, 24 threads, and a Radeon 890M integrated GPU. This NAS supports up to five 3.5-inch bays ready for RAID configuration and offers a tool-free design simplifying drive swaps.
This NAS is no slouch in storage, capable of handling up to 22 TB per HDD in each bay, and it also includes three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for those hungry for speed. Furthermore, it comes with a single PCIe 4.0 x4 slot for video interfacing, augmented by a 10 GbE and a 5 GbE Ethernet port plus three USB 3.2 Gen1 ports.
Expect Minisforum to roll out these innovative solutions soon—they’re promising a launch in the upcoming months. Keep an eye on this space for more details as they become available!
News Sources: PCWatch #1, #2, #3