MINISFORUM MS-S1 MAX

Updated on May 27, 2026

The MINISFORUM MS-S1 MAX is a mini workstation built for AI development and professional content creation. It runs AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with 16 Zen 5 cores and the Radeon 8060S integrated GPU, in a chassis that sits on a desk or mounts directly into a 2U rack. Its 128GB of LPDDR5x-8000 unified memory lets the CPU, GPU, and NPU share a single high-bandwidth pool, a requirement for running large language models locally. Dual 10GbE networking, USB4 V2 ports at 80Gbps, and a built-in 320W power supply aim it at AI researchers, video professionals, and power users who want that connectivity without external power bricks.

Pros and Cons

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MINISFORUM MS-S1 MAX Comparison Chart

	MINISFORUM MS-S1 MAX
Price	List Price: $2,919.00 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...
Version	128GB RAM / 2TB SSD / Ryzen AI Max+ 395
Performance Rating	8.5
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro
Processor	Sixteen-core 3.00 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395
GPU	Integrated AMD Radeon 8060S
RAM	128 GB LPDDR5X (128GB LPDDR5x-8000MT/s unified memory (UMA), soldered.)
Internal Storage	2 TB NVMe SSD
Dimensions width x length x thickness	8.74 x 8.11 x 3.03 inches (222 x 205.99 x 76.96 mm)
Weight	6.2 lbs (2.82 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.4
Ethernet	2 Ethernet ports at 10 Gbps
HDMI	1 Full-Size HDMI Port
DisplayPort	DisplayPort available via USB4/USB-C with Alt DP2.0 support.
VGA	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	2 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3, 4 USB-C (4 USB4) Front: 2x USB4 (40Gbps) with Alt DP2.0 and 15W PD, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2. Rear: 2x USB4 V2 (80Gbps) with Alt DP2.0 and 15W PD, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2, 2x USB 2.0.
Thunderbolt Ports	No
OCuLink	No
Internal SATA Ports	No SATA ports
Card Reader	No Card Reader
Headphone Jack	combo
Fanless	No
VESA Mount	Yes
In the Box	Mini PC with built-in 320W PSU, power cable, user manual.
Expandability	Full-length PCIe x16 slot (electrically x4) for low-profile expansion cards. Dual M.2 NVMe slots. RAM is soldered and not upgradeable.

Hardware and Performance

The MS-S1 MAX measures 8.74 x 8.11 x 3.03 inches and weighs approximately 6.2 pounds, larger than a typical mini PC but compact for a workstation. The chassis uses a slide-out design that opens onto the dual M.2 slots and the PCIe expansion area. The front panel carries two USB4 ports at 40Gbps, a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and dual DMIC microphones with AI noise cancellation. The rear adds two USB4 V2 ports running at 80Gbps, two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI 2.1 output supporting up to 8K 60Hz, and dual 10GbE Ethernet ports using Realtek RTL8127 controllers. Cooling comes from a copper base, six heat pipes, dual turbine fans, and phase-change material, enough to sustain 130W continuous operation with peaks up to 160W.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a 16-core, 32-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture with boost clocks reaching 5.1GHz. The integrated Radeon 8060S GPU based on RDNA 3.5 has 40 compute units and performs competitively with discrete cards like the NVIDIA RTX 4060 in many workloads. Combined with the 50 TOPS NPU, the total AI compute capability reaches 126 TOPS, which is 2.2 times that of an RTX 4090 in AI-specific benchmarks according to AMD. Reviewers found the system handles AAA gaming at 1080p with high settings above 60 FPS without a discrete GPU. In Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop, the AI-accelerated features process noticeably faster than competing platforms.

Wireless is Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4, alongside the dual 10GbE Ethernet ports. The machine has four USB4 ports in total, two of them on the newer V2 specification at 80Gbps. Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots handle storage on PCIe 4.0, with RAID 0/1 for up to 16TB total capacity. The internal PCIe x16 slot takes low-profile single-slot expansion cards, though it is electrically wired for x4 speeds only. For compute clusters, the machine includes a cascading power connector that allows multiple units to be controlled together; the dual 10GbE ports make it a natural fit for linked Strix Halo inference setups that pool memory across nodes to run 235B-class models.

Reviewer Insights

Patrick Kennedy (ServeTheHome)

Patrick Kennedy from ServeTheHome reviewed the MS-S1 MAX with a focus on its suitability for AI workloads. His testing found this is currently one of the top choices for running large language models locally due to the combination of 128GB memory and optimized performance modes. He noted that “this has become one of our favorite systems… certainly takes my top spot for my favorite AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 system.”

Among the hardware choices, Patrick singled out the internal Lite-On power supply that eliminates the giant power brick common to high-powered mini PCs. Patrick praised the dual 10GbE networking using the new Realtek RTL8127 chips, though he cautioned that these newer chips may require manual driver installation on some operating systems. His thermal testing showed fan noise reaching 42-43 dBA under sustained load, which he characterized as acceptable given the performance levels. He put it this way: “I wouldn’t buy this system just because I wanted really good CPU performance. I would buy this system because I cared about the GPU and I cared about doing AI.” For more on what Strix Halo systems deliver for local AI work, see our practical guide to running LLMs on these machines. If you are figuring out which specific models to load, our Gemma for mini PCs guide maps each variant to hardware tiers and covers what the MS-S1 MAX can handle.

ETA PRIME

ETA PRIME’s hands-on review covered synthetic benchmarks, gaming performance, and power consumption. He emphasized the unique position of the MS-S1 MAX as having “new features built in that we haven’t seen in any other mini PC on the market, like USB 4 V2, so up to 80 gigs instead of 40.” The premium full-metal chassis design impressed him, as did the sophisticated cooling system handling up to 160W boost TDP.

Gaming benchmarks showed the Radeon 8060S delivering playable frame rates without a discrete GPU. The review measured total system power consumption reaching 236W under full load, which is high for a mini PC but reasonable for the performance delivered. ETA PRIME noted that “having that built-in power supply is a plus. That way, we don’t have to worry about that power brick behind the desk.” His primary criticism focused on fan noise in performance mode, where the 95% duty cycle creates audible noise that may bother sensitive users.

RandomGaminginHD

RandomGaminginHD’s gaming-focused review tested numerous AAA titles at various settings. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 ran above 60 FPS at high settings. He described the experience as “a glimpse at the future of graphics cardless gaming, of integrated gaming solutions.” The Radeon 8060S even handled ray tracing in supported titles like GTA V.

RandomGaminginHD framed the machine as a demonstration of what modern APU technology can do, even if the price puts it out of reach for most gamers. “I did not expect this sort of frame rate from an iGPU. Yeah, over 60 frames per second. Not with low settings either, but with high settings,” he noted. The internal power supply also suits living room setups where cable management matters.

TechRadar

According to TechRadar, the MS-S1 MAX “is really a mini workstation that will fit equally well on a desk or directly into a 2U rack system.” The review awarded 4 out of 5 stars, praising the fast unified memory, dual USB4 v2 ports, and 126 TOPS AI compute capability. However, they noted the high price tag and audible fans under load as significant considerations.

TechRadar found that Adobe Creative Cloud applications particularly benefit from the AI acceleration: “The real difference comes when you start to utilise the AI features in those applications, and even in Premiere Pro, with the CPU and GPU capable of processing Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro’s AI-at-heart features quickly.” TechRadar concluded that this is “essentially a specialist machine” targeting professionals who need local AI processing power.

NotebookCheck

NotebookCheck awarded an 84% rating. Their review praised the “sturdy and high-quality aluminum housing” and the practical UEFI options including fan control. They called the connectivity “a real unique selling point, above all the 10G LAN and the large number of USB ports.”

NotebookCheck identified idle noise as the primary weakness preventing a higher score, noting the system is “too loud in idle mode (in performance mode)” without manual BIOS adjustments. They also found high DPC latency values and poor ventilation for PCIe expansion cards as concerns for certain use cases. Nevertheless, they concluded: “If you are looking for maximum performance and future-proofing in the smallest of spaces, the Minisforum MS-S1 Max is not a toy but a true powerhouse.”

Tek Syndicate

Tek Syndicate called the MS-S1 Max a “beast” that blurs the line between mini PC and desktop workstation, singling out local LLM work thanks to 128GB of soldered LPDDR5X-8000 and a strong integrated GPU (up to 126 TOPS). He was impressed by the internal power supply (no external brick) and a serious cooling setup with solid copper and dual fans. He framed it as an AI and workstation machine rather than a general mini PC.

A compact AI workstation for local models and AI video work

For professionals who need substantial local compute without a tower’s footprint, the 128GB of unified memory and 126 TOPS of AI performance fit large language models and AI-assisted video production. The dual 10GbE networking and USB4 V2 connectivity suit demanding workflows.

Anyone who mainly wants a quiet general-purpose PC or a gaming machine should look elsewhere. The fan noise under load and the price reflect its professional positioning. If you need expandable RAM or full PCIe x16 bandwidth for a discrete GPU, a traditional workstation or a larger mini PC platform fits better. Buyers weighing the timing of a purchase can also check our Gorgon Halo wait-or-buy breakdown to understand how AMD’s upcoming Ryzen AI Max 400 series compares to the chip in this machine.

For side-by-side specs, see our Mini PC Comparison Chart.

Frequently Asked Questions