Minisforum AI X1 specifications and in-depth review

Minisforum AI X1

Manufacturer: Minisforum

The Minisforum AI X1 is a compact mini PC designed for both desktop and laptop use. It comes with a generous 64GB RAM and 2000GB SSD storage, making it suitable for demanding tasks and multitasking. Its micro-ATX form factor ensures a small footprint, while offering ample connectivity options for various peripherals.

Powered by a CPU with 16 threads and a thermal design power (TDP) of 15W, the AI X1 offers a base clock speed of 3.8 GHz with a turbo boost of up to 4.9 GHz. The system is equipped with a Radeon 780M GPU with 8.294 TFLOPS of floating-point performance, and it supports ray tracing. It also features USB 4 40Gbps ports, Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI 2.1 for superior connectivity and display options.

Pros
  • Supports up to 256GB of memory, providing ample capacity for demanding tasks.
  • Has ECC memory support for error correction, enhancing data reliability.
  • Offers a powerful GPU with RDNA 3.0 architecture and 8.294 TFLOPS of floating-point performance.
  • Includes support for stereoscopic 3D, adding versatility for specific use cases.
  • Supports multiple high-speed connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 40Gbps ports.
Cons
  • Does not have an external memory slot for easy upgrades or expansions.
  • Lacks air-water cooling, which may limit thermal management in high-performance scenarios.
  • Does not support flash storage, which might impact certain speed-focused tasks.
  • No support for DLSS, limiting certain advanced graphical enhancements in compatible games and applications.
Who is this for?

This product is ideal for users who require a compact, versatile computing solution with a focus on high-performance computing tasks. Its support for up to 256GB of memory and ECC memory makes it suitable for professionals who work with large datasets or require data integrity. Additionally, the inclusion of advanced RDNA 3.0 GPU architecture with support for multiple displays makes it a solid choice for those in creative fields, light gaming, or visualization tasks that benefit from a powerful GPU.

Who is this NOT for?

This product may not be suitable for users who require extreme cooling or high-level graphical performance, as it lacks air-water cooling and does not support DLSS. Gamers or professionals running highly demanding applications might find the absence of these features limiting. Additionally, the lack of an external memory slot makes upgrades more difficult, which could be a drawback for users who need frequent hardware expansions or customization.

General info:

SSD storage capacity 2000GB
form factor Micro-ATX
release date March 2025
Is an NVMe SSD
thickness 126 mm
height 52 mm
width 128 mm
volume 838.656 cm³

The Minisforum AI X1 features a compact Micro-ATX form factor, measuring 128 mm in width, 52 mm in height, and 126 mm in thickness, with a total volume of 838.656 cm³. It offers a generous 2000GB SSD storage capacity, although it does not support NVMe technology. This system is designed to provide ample storage in a small, efficient package.

CPU:

Thermal Design Power (TDP) 15W
CPU speed 8 x 3.8 GHz
turbo clock speed 4.9GHz
CPU threads 16 threads
Has integrated graphics
uses multithreading
L3 cache 16 MB
L2 cache 8 MB
L2 core 1 MB/core
L3 core 2 MB/core
clock multiplier 38
Has an unlocked multiplier
Supports 64-bit
CPU temperature 100 °C

The Minisforum AI X1 is powered by a CPU with 16 threads, offering a total clock speed of 8 x 3.8 GHz and a turbo boost of up to 4.9 GHz. It features 16 MB of L3 cache and 8 MB of L2 cache, with a clock multiplier of 38. The CPU also supports multithreading and integrated graphics, and operates at a thermal design power (TDP) of 15W. It supports 64-bit computing, but does not have an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

Graphics card:

floating-point performance 8.294 TFLOPS
GPU clock speed 800 MHz
GPU turbo 2700 MHz
texture rate 129.6 GTexels/s
pixel rate 86.4 GPixel/s
supports ray tracing
supports DLSS
PCI Express (PCIe) version 4
texture mapping units (TMUs) 48
shading units 768
render output units (ROPs) 32
DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate
OpenGL version 4.6
OpenCL version 2.1
semiconductor size 4 nm
supported displays 4
Supports multi-display technology
Has Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP)
number of transistors 25390 million

The Minisforum AI X1 is equipped with a Radeon 780M GPU, offering a floating-point performance of 8.294 TFLOPS. The GPU has a base clock speed of 800 MHz, which can boost up to 2700 MHz, and features a texture rate of 129.6 GTexels/s and a pixel rate of 86.4 GPixel/s. It supports ray tracing and can handle up to four displays, making it suitable for multi-display setups. Additionally, it is compatible with DirectX 12 Ultimate and OpenGL 4.6, and uses a 4 nm semiconductor size for improved efficiency.

Memory:

RAM 64GB
RAM speed 5600 MHz
DDR memory version 5

The Minisforum AI X1 is equipped with 64GB of RAM running at a speed of 5600 MHz, ensuring fast and efficient performance. It uses DDR5 memory, providing improved data transfer speeds and overall system responsiveness.

Connectivity:

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
supports Wi-Fi
Has Bluetooth
Bluetooth version 5.4
USB 2.0 ports 1
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 4 40Gbps ports 2
USB 4 20Gbps ports 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 0
Thunderbolt 4 ports 2
Thunderbolt 3 ports 0
DisplayPort outputs 1
HDMI version HDMI 2.1
HDMI ports 1
RJ45 ports 1
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
has a VGA connector
Has S/PDIF Out port

The Minisforum AI X1 offers extensive connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6E for fast wireless connections, as well as Bluetooth 5.4 for seamless device pairing. It features a variety of USB ports, such as two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) ports and two USB 4 40Gbps ports for high-speed data transfer. Additionally, it supports Thunderbolt 4, has one HDMI 2.1 port, one RJ45 Ethernet port, and even a 3.5mm audio jack for versatile usage.

Benchmarks:

PassMark result 28797
PassMark result (single) 3556

The Minisforum AI X1 achieves a PassMark result of 28797, demonstrating its overall performance capabilities. Its single-core PassMark result is 3556, indicating strong performance in single-threaded tasks.

Miscellaneous:

maximum memory amount 256GB
has an external memory slot
GPU architecture RDNA 3.0
Has air-water cooling
Supports 3D
Supports ECC memory
Type Laptop, Desktop
Uses big.LITTLE technology
instruction sets MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
Has NX bit
GPU name Radeon 780M
memory channels 2
RAM speed (max) 7500 MHz
warranty period 1 years
Uses flash storage

The Minisforum AI X1 supports a maximum memory capacity of 256GB and is equipped with 2 memory channels. It features the RDNA 3.0 GPU architecture with a Radeon 780M GPU and supports ECC memory for error correction. The system also supports stereoscopic 3D and has a 1-year warranty, though it does not include an external memory slot or air-water cooling.

Final Verdict

The product excels as a versatile computing solution, offering impressive specifications including up to 256GB of memory and advanced RDNA 3.0 GPU architecture. It is well-suited for professionals requiring powerful memory management and multi-display support. While lacking features like air-water cooling and DLSS, it remains a solid choice for users in need of a reliable, compact system for demanding tasks. Overall, this product is highly recommended for users seeking a capable and stable machine for general computing, creative work, and light gaming.