Minisforum MS-A1: AMD-Powered Mini PC with OCuLink Support and Up to 96GB RAM
Calling all AMD fans! Minisforum just unveiled the MS-A1 at Computex 2024, and it's a serious contender. We're talking up to an 8-core Ryzen 7 8700G APU, a massive 96GB of DDR5 RAM (yes, you read that right!), and the game-changing OCuLink support. If you're looking for a powerful mini PC that can handle anything, this might be your new best friend. Remember Minisforum's Intel-powered MS-01 from late 2023? Well, the MS-A1 is like its AMD twin, but even better.
This is the Minisforum MS-A1 – your next AMD-powered mini PC dream machine! (Source: PC Watch)
Remember when Minisforum launched the MS-01 mini PC with that awesome Intel i9-13900H processor? It was a beast, but it left AMD fans feeling a bit left out. And let's be honest, that lack of an OCuLink port for faster eGPU connections was a bit of a bummer. Well, Minisforum heard your cries! The MS-A1 is here to answer all those wishes – an AMD-powered mini PC with OCuLink support, ready to take on the world.
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G: Unleash the Powerhouse
Get ready to experience the full force of AMD's Ryzen 7 8700G 'Phoenix' APU. With 8 cores, 16 threads, and the latest Zen 4 and RDNA 3 architecture, this chip is ready to crush any task you throw at it. And if you don't need quite that much power, there are also versions with the Ryzen 5 8600G or the Ryzen 5 7600 'Raphael' processors. But the real kicker? This mini PC can handle up to 96GB of memory! That's more than most desktops, let alone a mini PC. And with those dual SODIMM slots, you'll have plenty of room to upgrade.
Let's talk graphics. The integrated Radeon 780M (based on RDNA 3 architecture) is a serious step up from the Intel Iris Xe G7 found in the MS-01. Get ready for smoother visuals, faster performance, and a gaming experience that will blow you away.
The MS-A1 isn't just powerful, it's also packed with connectivity options. (Source: PC Watch)
OCuLink Support: Unleash the Full Potential of Your eGPU
Want to take your graphics performance to the next level? The MS-A1 has you covered with its OCuLink connector. This is a game-changer for eGPU setups, allowing for much faster data transfer speeds compared to Thunderbolt 4. Get ready for a desktop-class gaming experience, all from this tiny powerhouse.
Connectivity Galore (But Where's the 10GbE?)
The MS-A1 isn't shy on ports! You've got 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB 2.1, 1x Type-C (Power Delivery, DisplayPort), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 2.0, and an audio combo jack. The only thing missing? A 10GbE ethernet port. You'll have to make do with the single 2.5GbE port.
Minisforum hasn't spilled the beans on pricing or availability yet, but stay tuned! We expect to hear more in the coming weeks. Based on the MS-01's price, we're hoping for a similar sweet spot for the MS-A1.
Source(s)
PC Watch (1)