MINISFORUM Mercury Series EM780
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The MINISFORUM Mercury Series EM780 puts an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Radeon 780M graphics, and 32GB of LPDDR5 inside an 80mm-square box, about a quarter the footprint of a typical mini. Eight cores and 16 threads run at a 28W power limit here, so it does desktop work while still fitting in a jacket pocket.
The RAM is soldered at 32GB, storage is a single short M.2 2230 slot, and no Ethernet jack sits on the chassis (a USB-C adapter is in the box). This model has been superseded; it is documented here for owners and for the used market.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 80mm square, about a quarter the footprint of a standard mini PC | RAM is soldered at 32GB and cannot be upgraded |
| 8-core Ryzen 7 7840U with Radeon 780M, 84 FPS in Forza Horizon 5 at 1080p | Storage limited to one short M.2 2230 slot (up to 2TB) |
| Two USB4 ports, HDMI 2.1, microSD, Wi-Fi 6E | No built-in Ethernet jack (USB-C adapter included) |
| Load temperatures of ~72C while gaming, 6W at idle | Tiny fans reach roughly 83 dB at close range on the turbo profile |
| Ships with GaN charger and USB-C Ethernet adapter | Discontinued; sold mainly secondhand now |
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MINISFORUM Mercury Series EM780 Comparison Chart
 MINISFORUM Mercury Series EM780 | MINISFORUM Mercury Series EM780 | |
| Price | List Price: $799.90 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $769.90 Amazon Prices: |
| Version | 32GB/1TB/AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | 32GB/256GB/AMD Ryzen 7 7840U |
| Performance Rating | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Processor | Octa-core 3.30 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Octa-core 3.30 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 7840U |
| GPU | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M |
| RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Internal Storage | 1 TB | 256 GB |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 3.15 x 3.15 x 1.69 inches (80.01 x 80.01 x 42.93 mm) | 3.15 x 3.15 x 1.69 inches (80.01 x 80.01 x 42.93 mm) |
| Weight | unknown | unknown |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Ethernet | 1 Ethernet port at 1 Gbps | 1 Ethernet port at 1 Gbps |
| HDMI | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port | 1 Full-Size HDMI Port |
| DisplayPort | Available over USB 4 | Available over USB 4 |
| VGA | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 3 USB 3, 2 USB-C (2 USB4) USB 4 supports DisplayPort and power delivery | 3 USB 3, 2 USB-C (2 USB4) USB 4 supports DisplayPort and power delivery |
| Thunderbolt Ports | No | No |
| OCuLink | No | No |
| Internal SATA Ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports |
| Card Reader | microSD Card Reader | microSD Card Reader |
| Headphone Jack | combo | combo |
| Fanless | No | No |
| VESA Mount | No | No |
| In the Box | Mini PC, HDMI cable, 65W GAN Type-c Power Adapter, Power Cable, Manual, USB Type-C Power Delivery Adapter, USB-C ethernet adapter with pass-through | Mini PC, HDMI cable, 65W GAN Type-c Power Adapter, Power Cable, Manual, USB Type-C Power Delivery Adapter, USB-C ethernet adapter with pass-through |
| Expandability | Storage is user upgradable with an M.2 SSD 2230 size, Expandable via USB hubs and included adapters | Storage is user upgradable with an M.2 SSD 2230 size, Expandable via USB hubs and included adapters |
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A full 8-core chip with the memory soldered down
At 3.15 x 3.15 x 1.69 inches (an 80mm square), the case is roughly a quarter the footprint of a standard mini PC. Inside is an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U: eight cores, 16 threads, a 5.1GHz boost clock, and Radeon 780M integrated graphics. The 32GB of LPDDR5 (running at 6400 MT/s) is soldered to the board, so the only user-serviceable upgrade is the single M.2 2230 NVMe slot, which takes drives up to 2TB.
For ports it carries two USB4 ports (with DisplayPort and power delivery), three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a full-size HDMI 2.1 output, a microSD reader, and a 3.5mm combo jack. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. There is no Ethernet jack on the chassis; Minisforum includes a USB-C to Ethernet adapter for wired networking. Cooling is the company’s Cold Wave 2.0 liquid-metal system with an SSD heatsink, which reviewers credited for keeping a 28W chip in check (more on temperatures below).
Full-size 7840U numbers at a 28W limit
Reviewers measured Cinebench R23 multi-core around 12,200 to 12,800 (Retro Game Corps 12,217, Tek Syndicate 12,784) and Geekbench 6 multi-core near 9,900 to 10,300. The Radeon 780M handles 1080p gaming with the usual integrated-GPU caveats: ETA Prime recorded 84 FPS in Forza Horizon 5 and 88 FPS in GTA V, with Cyberpunk 2077 reaching about 73 FPS only with FSR on low; at medium settings Tek Syndicate saw Cyberpunk closer to 40 FPS and Baldur’s Gate 3 around 37. Gardiner Bryant, who set it up as a Steam machine, measured roughly 126 FPS in Doom Eternal at 1080p low and found Windows and Linux (ChimeraOS) within a few frames of each other.
Load temperatures sat around 72 to 74C at the chip’s 28W limit (ETA Prime measured about 72C average while gaming, Tek Syndicate 74C max), with idle power as low as 6W. The fans are tiny, and Tek Syndicate measured roughly 83 dB at close range under the turbo profile. Storage is the single M.2 2230 slot, and the 32GB of LPDDR5-6400 is soldered to the board.
Reviewer Insights
ETA Prime: temperatures stayed low under a 1080p gaming load
ETA Prime called it a contender for “my favorite mini PC of 2024” and said he was “very surprised by what this little thing can do.” He was most impressed by the cooling, noting “our average temps are around 72° C” while gaming at 1080p, and his verdict was simply “this thing is awesome.”
Retro Game Corps: he called it “the one to beat”
Russ at Retro Game Corps led with the size, his “first impressions right off the bat is just how small this thing is,” and credited Minisforum with taking “a lot of care and attention into making sure that it kept cool and quiet.” He measured Cinebench R23 multi-core at 12,217 and called the EM780 “the one to beat,” while flagging that the RAM “is going to be soldered right onto the board, so you’re not going to be able to upgrade it.”
Tek Syndicate: quiet in normal use, shrill on turbo
Tek Syndicate summed it up as “small and fast” and “ridiculously portable,” suggesting it would be “really, really easy to take with you from home to the office.” His benchmarks (Cinebench R23 12,784, 74C under load) lined up with the others. His one gripe was acoustic: the tiny fans make a “high-pitch noise… [that] is not pleasant” under turbo, though he added that in normal use “it’s so quiet that it almost doesn’t matter.”
Gardiner Bryant: Windows and Linux ran within a few frames
Gardiner Bryant reacted to the size first (“holy crap, this thing is small dude”) and then put it to work as a Steam machine, testing it on both Windows and Linux. He measured around 126 FPS in Doom Eternal at 1080p low, found the two operating systems within a few frames of each other, and called the EM780 “awesome,” noting how quiet it stays.
Level1Techs: the bundled Ethernet adapter’s power pass-through was unreliable
Level1Techs framed it as “an entire computer” in a quarter-liter, useful for small-footprint roles like remote access or “as part of a kiosk.” For anyone leaning on the Radeon 780M he recommended sticking with the dual-channel memory configuration, and he welcomed the bundled USB-C Ethernet adapter while noting its power pass-through was not always reliable.
Buy it for the footprint, not the upgrade path
The draw is a pocketable computer that still runs a full 8-core Ryzen 7 7840U, and it stays cool and reasonably quiet during ordinary work. The two USB4 ports carry DisplayPort and power delivery, so one cable can hold a monitor and charging at a desk while the machine itself moves in a coat pocket. A capable little box like this also makes a workable base for an offline AI survival computer.
The size compromises are the reasons to look elsewhere: soldered RAM, a single short M.2 2230 slot, Ethernet only through an adapter, and small fans that get loud under sustained load. It has also been discontinued and replaced; the larger Minisforum UM790 Pro is the current equivalent and is easier to expand. To compare other options, see Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart.
Upgrades
Accessories that fit the MINISFORUM Mercury Series EM780's USB4 or Thunderbolt ports.
Core X V2
A Thunderbolt 5 enclosure that Razer lists as working with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hosts; it fits a four-slot card and needs an ATX power supply.
DEG2 eGPU Dock
Connects over USB4 or Thunderbolt 5, with an OCuLink input behind a switch, and adds an M.2 slot; it needs an ATX or SFX power supply.
Breakaway Box 850 T5
Has an 850W power supply built in, so only the graphics card is extra, and works with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Windows PCs.
TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
An 18-port dock that CalDigit lists for Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hosts, with 2.5GbE and a DisplayPort 1.4 output.
TBT4-UD5 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Two HDMI ports drive two 4K60 monitors from one Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 port on a Windows PC.
Revodok Max 208 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Adds three Thunderbolt 4 ports for dual 4K60 displays plus gigabit Ethernet; it has no HDMI port, so monitors connect over USB-C or an adapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What processor and graphics does the EM780 use?
An AMD Ryzen 7 7840U with eight cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1GHz max boost clock, paired with integrated AMD Radeon 780M graphics.
How much RAM and storage is included?
32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, soldered onto the motherboard. Storage shipped as a 256GB or 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD in the single short 2230 slot, which takes drives up to 2TB.
What ports and connectivity options are available?
There are 2 USB4 ports with DisplayPort and power delivery, 3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, full-size HDMI 2.1, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and a USB-C to Ethernet adapter comes in the box.
How compact is the EM780?
It measures 3.15 x 3.15 x 1.69 inches (an 80mm square), about a quarter the footprint of a standard mini PC and small enough to fit in a jacket pocket.
What cooling system does it use?
Minisforum’s Cold Wave 2.0 liquid-metal cooling, with an SSD heatsink over the drive. Reviewers measured load temperatures around 72 to 74C; the small fans stay quiet for everyday work but can get loud under sustained heavy load.
Can the EM780 handle gaming?
Yes, for an integrated GPU. The Radeon 780M handles 1080p gaming: reviewers measured 84 FPS in Forza Horizon 5 and around 73 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 with FSR on low settings (closer to 40 FPS at medium). It is not a substitute for a discrete graphics card.
Is the RAM upgradeable?
No, the 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM is soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be upgraded by the user.
What is included in the box?
The mini PC, an HDMI cable, a 65W GaN Type-C power adapter, a power cable, a manual, a USB-C power delivery adapter, and a USB-C to Ethernet adapter with pass-through.
How is the performance for productivity tasks?
The 8-core Ryzen 7 7840U scores around 12,200 to 12,800 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which covers productivity work, photo and video editing, and coding on a machine this size.
How does the EM780 connect to a monitor?
Video comes out over the full-size HDMI 2.1 port and the two USB4 ports, which carry DisplayPort as well as power delivery.