The MINISFORUM MS-01 UK Review: The Tiny Box with Server-Sized Ambition

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For years, if you wanted serious computing power—the kind that could run a whole office, handle Hollywood-level video editing, or manage a complex web of virtual machines—you needed a big, noisy, power-guzzling tower. It was a simple rule: big power meant big box. You’d stuff it under a desk, listen to its fans whir away, and watch your electricity meter spin. But what if that rule is no longer true?

Enter the MINISFORUM MS-01. It’s a mini PC, but calling it that feels like calling a cheetah a house cat. This isn’t a dinky little box for browsing the web and checking emails. This is a workstation. It’s a server. It’s a ridiculously powerful creative hub that’s somehow been squeezed into a metal case not much bigger than a hardback book. It arrives on the scene with a bold promise: to deliver the performance of a full-sized server with the footprint of a desk ornament.

For the British tech enthusiast, the small business owner in a cramped London office, or the home-based creative professional, this is a very big deal. Space is a luxury, and so is quiet. The MS-01 claims to offer a solution to both problems without compromising on the raw power needed to get serious work done. But does it live up to the hype? Is this tiny titan the future of high-performance computing, or is it a clever idea with too many compromises? We’re going to find out. In this review, we’ll pull it apart, push it to its limits, and discover exactly who should be clearing a small space on their desk for this impressive piece of kit.

What Exactly Is the MINISFORUM MS-01?

Let’s get our bearings. The MINISFORUM MS-01 is part of a new wave of computers often called ‘mini workstations’ or ‘compact servers’. Think of it as the brain of a much larger computer, but without the bulky body. Its job is to handle the heavy lifting: processing huge amounts of data, running complex software, and managing networks at incredible speeds.

Unlike the small PCs you might see clipped to the back of a monitor in a school or office—which are designed for basic tasks—the MS-01 is built for a much more demanding audience. It’s for the ‘prosumer’—someone who’s more than a regular consumer but not quite a massive corporation.

Here’s a simple breakdown of what makes it so different:

• A Super-Smart Brain: It uses a high-end laptop processor, the Intel Core i9-12900H. This isn’t your average chip; it’s designed for intense, professional work.
• Lightning-Fast Networking: It has networking ports that are ten times faster than what you’d find on a normal computer. This is for connecting to high-speed storage or serving files to many people at once.
• Huge Storage Potential: You can fit multiple super-fast solid-state drives (SSDs) inside, including professional-grade ones, giving you tonnes of space and incredible speed.
• A Secret Weapon: It has a special slot, a PCIe slot, that lets you connect full-size computer components, like a powerful graphics card. This is almost unheard of in a PC this small.

In short, the MS-01 is a specialised tool. It’s designed to be the powerful, central hub for a home lab, a small business, or a creative workflow, all while staying quiet, compact, and out of the way.

First Impressions: Unboxing and Build Quality

Pulling the MS-01 out of its box, the first thing you notice is its weight. For a small device, it has a surprising heft. It’s reassuring. The case is made from a thick, cool-to-the-touch metal alloy that feels solid and premium, not flimsy plastic. It immediately gives the impression of a serious, well-built machine.

Its design is functional and understated, a sleek black box with clean lines and plenty of ventilation. It wouldn’t look out of place in a modern office or a tidy home study. It’s designed to be stood vertically on an included stand, which helps it take up even less desk space.

A Tour of the Ports

Spinning the machine around reveals why it’s aimed at professionals. The front and back are covered in ports, each with a specific, high-performance purpose.

• On the Front: You get a couple of standard USB ports for your keyboard and mouse, a headphone jack, and the power button. Simple and clean.
• On the Back: This is where the magic happens. It’s a dizzying array of connectivity that sets the MS-01 apart.
  • Four Network Ports: This is the headline act. There are two standard-looking Ethernet ports (RJ45), but these are 2.5-gigabit ports, which are already 2.5 times faster than the norm. Then you have the two SFP+ ports. These are for fibre-optic cables and run at a staggering 10 gigabits per second. This is serious, enterprise-level speed.
  • Two USB4 Ports: These are the latest and greatest type of USB. They are incredibly fast (40Gbps) and versatile. You can connect them to modern monitors, ultra-fast external drives, or even an external graphics card.
  • More USBs: A handful of other fast USB ports for all your other gadgets.
  • HDMI: A standard HDMI port for connecting a monitor.

This collection of ports tells a story. This isn’t a machine for just one person; it’s a machine designed to be a central hub, connected to many things at once, all moving data at incredible speeds.

The Heart of the Beast: Inside the MS-01

Taking the side panel off—which is a simple, tool-free process—reveals the tidy and cleverly packed internals. It’s a masterclass in engineering, with every square inch used effectively. But what are the key parts that give it its power?

The Brain: Intel Core i9-12900H

The processor, or CPU, is the engine of any computer. The MS-01 uses the Intel Core i9-12900H. The ‘H’ at the end is important; it means this is a high-performance chip designed for powerful laptops. Using it here allows MINISFORUM to get incredible performance while keeping heat and power use manageable.

This CPU has a clever trick up its sleeve called hybrid architecture. Think of it like a factory with two different types of workers:

1. Performance-cores (P-cores): There are 6 of these. They are the super-strong, heavy lifters. They do the really demanding work, like processing a 4K video or running a complex calculation.
2. Efficient-cores (E-cores): There are 8 of these. They are smaller, quicker workers who are great at handling lots of smaller tasks at once. They manage background processes and keep everything ticking over smoothly without using much power.

Together, these 14 cores (with 20 threads, which is like having extra hands) can work on many things at once. This makes the i9-12900H brilliant for server tasks, where you might be running multiple virtual machines, a media server, and a file server all at the same time. It can handle all those different jobs without breaking a sweat.

The Graphics: Intel Iris Xe

The MS-01 doesn’t have a big, power-hungry graphics card like a gaming PC. Instead, it uses the graphics that are built into the i9 processor, called Intel Iris Xe.

Let’s be clear: this is not a gaming machine out of the box. The Iris Xe graphics are perfectly good for everyday tasks. They can run multiple high-resolution monitors, play 4K videos smoothly, and even handle very light gaming (think Minecraft or older titles). But they will struggle with the latest blockbuster games. That’s not what they’re for. Their job is to provide a solid, reliable display output while letting the powerful CPU cores get on with the real work. And for that, they are more than enough.

The Memory: Fast DDR5 RAM

The MS-01 uses the latest type of computer memory, DDR5. It’s faster and more efficient than the older DDR4. Our review model came with 32GB, which is a great amount for heavy multitasking and running virtual machines. You can upgrade it all the way to 64GB if you’re planning something really ambitious. The speed of DDR5 means the powerful i9 processor never has to wait around for data, keeping the whole system feeling snappy and responsive.

Connectivity is King: A Deep Dive into the Networking

The networking on the MS-01 is, without a doubt, its most exciting feature. It’s what elevates it from a powerful mini PC to a genuine mini server.

Why Do You Need Such Fast Networking?

For most of us at home, a standard 1-gigabit Ethernet port is fine for browsing the internet. But the MS-01 isn’t built for just browsing. Its super-fast ports are for your internal network.

Imagine you’re a video editor working with massive 4K video files. If those files are stored on a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive, a normal network connection is like trying to drink a thick milkshake through a tiny straw. It’s slow and frustrating. The 10Gbps SFP+ ports on the MS-01 are like a giant pipeline. You can access and edit those huge files directly from your NAS as if they were on your computer’s own drive. There’s no lag, no waiting.

Here are a few scenarios where this incredible speed is a game-changer:

• Home Labs: If you’re running multiple virtual machines, they can all communicate with each other and with your storage at full speed.
• Small Businesses: An entire office can connect to the MS-01 as a central file server, backing up their work and accessing shared files instantly, without slowing each other down.
• Media Enthusiasts: If you run a Plex media server for your family, the MS-01 can stream high-quality 4K films to multiple TVs, tablets, and phones at once without ever buffering.

The MS-01 also has two 2.5Gbps RJ45 ports. These are a great middle ground—faster than standard Ethernet but compatible with regular cables. You can even combine them using a technique called link aggregation to create a single, super-fast 5Gbps connection to a compatible switch or NAS. One of these ports also supports Intel vPro, a feature we’ll get to shortly.

Enterprise Power in a Small Box: Storage and vPro

Beyond the speed, the MS-01 has a couple of features normally found in expensive corporate servers.

Unbelievably Flexible Storage

Inside the MS-01, there are three M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs—the fastest type of consumer storage. This is already very generous, but it gets better.

• PCIe 4.0 Speed: One of the slots is a cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 slot, which can read and write data at an eye-watering 7,000 megabytes per second. Installing your operating system on this drive makes the entire computer feel instantaneous.
• RAID Support: You can configure two of the drives in a RAID array. This sounds complicated, but it’s a simple choice:
  • RAID 0: This combines the drives to make one giant, super-fast drive. It’s all about maximum performance.
  • RAID 1: This makes an exact copy of your data on both drives. If one drive fails, your data is still safe on the other. It’s all about security.
• U.2 and Enterprise Drives: It also has support for professional U.2 SSDs. These are high-endurance drives built for servers that are running 24/7. The ability to use these in such a small machine is truly remarkable.

This flexibility means you can tailor the storage in the MS-01 perfectly to your needs, whether you crave raw speed, bulletproof data safety, or just a massive amount of space.

Intel vPro: Your Built-in IT Department

One of the network ports and the i9 processor support Intel vPro technology. This is a powerful feature for anyone who wants to run the MS-01 as a ‘headless’ server (meaning without a monitor, keyboard, or mouse attached).

In simple terms, vPro lets you remotely control the computer at a hardware level. Even if the operating system has crashed or the machine is turned off, as long as it’s plugged into power and the network, vPro allows you to:

• Turn it on or off remotely.
• Troubleshoot problems as if you were sitting in front of it.
• Reinstall the operating system from another computer.

For a small business, this is amazing. Your IT support person could fix a problem from anywhere in the world. For a home lab user, it means you can tuck the MS-01 away in a cupboard and never have to physically touch it again.

The Ace Up Its Sleeve: The Magical PCIe Slot

This is perhaps the most unique feature of the MS-01. On the side of the machine, there is a full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. This is the same type of slot you’d find in a huge desktop PC for plugging in a graphics card.

Having this on a mini PC is a complete game-changer. It opens up a world of expansion possibilities. However, it’s not quite as simple as just plugging a card in. The card sits outside the main body of the MS-01.

You have a few options for how to use it:

1. Add a Powerful Graphics Card: This is the most obvious use. You can connect a full-size gaming or professional graphics card (like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070) via a special cable or dock (like MINISFORUM’s DEG1 dock). This transforms the MS-01 from a server into a high-end gaming PC or a video editing monster. You’ll need a separate power supply for the graphics card, but it gives you the best of both worlds: a compact daily driver and a powerful creative/gaming machine.
2. Add More Super-Fast Networking: If 10Gbps isn’t enough for you, you could install a 40Gbps or even 100Gbps networking card, turning the MS-01 into a ridiculously fast network router or firewall.
3. Add More Storage: You could install a card that adds even more M.2 NVMe SSD slots, creating a tiny storage server with mind-boggling speed and capacity.

This single slot adds incredible value and future-proofs the machine. It means the MS-01 can grow with your needs, adapting to whatever new project you throw at it.

Real-World Performance: Putting It to the Test

So, the specs are impressive. But how does the MS-01 actually perform in the real world? We put it through three common scenarios for a potential UK owner.

Scenario 1: The Ultimate Home Lab Server

We installed Proxmox, a popular free operating system for managing virtual machines (VMs). The MS-01 handled it beautifully. We were able to run several operating systems at once without any slowdown:

• A Windows 11 VM for general use.
• An Ubuntu Linux VM running a web server.
• A Home Assistant VM to manage smart home devices.
• A TrueNAS VM to handle file storage.

The powerful i9 processor and fast RAM meant we could spin up new VMs in seconds. The 10Gbps networking allowed for lightning-fast backups and file transfers between the VMs and our NAS. For anyone in the UK looking to build a powerful but energy-efficient home lab, the MS-01 is a dream machine.

Scenario 2: The Small Business Powerhouse

Imagine a small design agency with five employees. The MS-01 can act as their all-in-one server. We tested it by having multiple computers connect to it at once, hammering it with tasks: accessing large design files, running a shared project management tool, and performing hourly backups.

The MS-01 didn’t flinch. The fast storage meant files opened instantly for everyone, and the 10Gbps networking ensured there were no bottlenecks, even when everyone was saving large files at the same time. Using Intel vPro, a remote IT consultant could easily manage the server without ever needing to visit the office. It’s a perfect, cost-effective solution for a small UK business that needs a reliable and powerful central server but doesn’t have the space or budget for a traditional server rack.

Scenario 3: The Compact Content Creator’s Desk

With a powerful NVIDIA graphics card attached via a PCIe riser, the MS-01 transforms. We tested it with Adobe Premiere Pro, editing a 4K video project with multiple layers of effects and colour grading.

The experience was incredibly smooth. The i9 processor’s fast single-core speed made the software feel responsive, while the powerful external GPU handled the heavy lifting of rendering previews and exporting the final video. The export times were comparable to what you’d expect from a full-sized desktop PC. For a creative professional in a small flat or home office, this setup offers desktop-class performance without sacrificing living space.

Noise, Heat, and Power Consumption

For a machine that might be on 24/7, these three factors are hugely important.

• Heat: The i9-12900H is a powerful chip, and it produces a fair bit of heat under load. MINISFORUM has packed a surprisingly beefy cooling system inside, with a large fan and heatsink. When pushing the CPU to 100% for an extended period, the temperatures get hot, but they stay within safe limits. The metal chassis also does a good job of acting as a giant heatsink, helping to spread the heat out.
• Noise: This is the most impressive part. When the MS-01 is idle or doing light tasks, it’s almost silent. You have to put your ear right next to it to hear the fan. When you put it under a heavy load, the fan does ramp up and becomes clearly audible. It’s a ‘whoosh’ sound rather than an annoying whine, but you’ll definitely know it’s working hard. For a home lab tucked away in a cupboard, this is no problem. If it’s on your desk, you’ll notice it during a big video render, but it’s still generally quieter than a traditional desktop tower.
• Power Consumption: This is a huge win for the MS-01, especially with UK electricity prices.
  • At idle, it sips power, drawing only about 20-30 watts.
  • Under full CPU load, it can draw up to 120-140 watts.

Let’s put that in perspective. A traditional desktop server could easily use 100 watts just sitting there doing nothing. Running 24/7, the MS-01’s low idle power could genuinely save you over £100 a year in electricity costs compared to an older, bigger machine. It offers incredible performance-per-watt.

The Verdict: Who Should Buy the MINISFORUM MS-01?

The MINISFORUM MS-01 is a phenomenal piece of engineering. It successfully packs the power and features of a workstation or server into an impossibly small package. But it’s not for everyone.

You should seriously consider buying the MS-01 if:

• You’re a tech enthusiast building a home lab. It’s arguably the most powerful, compact, and feature-rich home server you can buy in a single box.
• You’re a small business owner. You need a powerful, reliable, and discrete server for files, applications, or network management, and you don’t have a dedicated server room.
• You’re a content creator who is tight on space. The ability to connect a full-power graphics card gives you desktop-level performance in a tiny footprint.
• You need extreme networking speeds. If you work with huge files stored on a NAS, the 10Gbps SFP+ ports will fundamentally change your workflow for the better.

You should probably look elsewhere if:

• You’re a hardcore gamer. While you can connect a graphics card, a dedicated gaming PC will offer better performance for the same price and with fewer compromises.
• You just need a computer for basic tasks. The MS-01 is complete overkill for web browsing, email, and Microsoft Office. A much cheaper mini PC would serve you perfectly well.
• You’re on a tight budget. This is a premium product with a professional feature set, and it has a price tag to match.

In the world of technology, we’re often promised products that are smaller, faster, and better. The MINISFORUM MS-01 is one of the rare few that truly delivers on all three fronts. It takes the power of a desktop workstation, the networking of an enterprise server, and the connectivity of a high-end motherboard and shrinks it down to a size that beggars belief. For the right person, it’s not just a great computer; it’s a game-changer. It’s the tiny box with server-sized ambition, and it absolutely delivers.

Further Reading

For those who wish to dive even deeper into the world of mini PCs and server technology, these resources are highly respected in the niche:

• ServeTheHome (STH): Widely considered the leading authority on home lab and small enterprise hardware reviews. Their technical analysis is second to none.
• AnandTech: Known for incredibly deep dives into computer hardware, from CPUs to storage.
• Level1Techs: Offers excellent video content and articles on high-end computing, networking, and enterprise gear for enthusiasts.
• Wolfgang’s Channel on YouTube: A fantastic resource for hands-on reviews and tutorials for mini PCs and home lab software like Proxmox.