MINISFORUM NAB9S

The MINISFORUM NAB9S is a small desktop for office work, programming, and multi-monitor setups, aimed at buyers who want a fast processor and easy upgrades more than new connectors. It runs the Intel Core i9-13900HK, a 14-core laptop chip from early 2023, and pairs it with DDR4 memory slots, two 2.5GbE ports, and a lid that lifts off without tools. There is no USB4, Thunderbolt, or OCuLink port, so it cannot use an external graphics card. Minisforum sells it with 32GB and 1TB, with 16GB and 500GB, or as a barebone kit without memory, storage, or Windows.

Pros and Cons

MINISFORUM NAB9S Comparison Chart

	MINISFORUM NAB9S	MINISFORUM NAB9S	MINISFORUM NAB9S
Price	List Price: $775.00 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: $600.00 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: $399.00 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...
Version	32GB/1TB/Core i9-13900HK	16GB/500GB/Core i9-13900HK	Barebone (no RAM/SSD/OS)
Performance Rating	5.7	5.3	5.3
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro	No OS
Processor	Fourteen-core 2.60 Ghz (max 5.40 Ghz) Intel Core i9-13900HK	Fourteen-core 2.60 Ghz (max 5.40 Ghz) Intel Core i9-13900HK	Fourteen-core 2.60 Ghz (max 5.40 Ghz) Intel Core i9-13900HK
GPU	Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics	Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics	Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM	32 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (DDR4-3200; Minisforum rates 32GB max)	16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (DDR4-3200; Minisforum rates 32GB max)	0 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (DDR4-3200; Minisforum rates 32GB max)
Internal Storage	1 TB NVMe SSD	500 GB NVMe SSD	0 GB NVMe SSD (not included)
Dimensions width x length x thickness	5 x 5.02 x 2.15 inches (127 x 127.51 x 54.61 mm)	5 x 5.02 x 2.15 inches (127 x 127.51 x 54.61 mm)	5 x 5.02 x 2.15 inches (127 x 127.51 x 54.61 mm)
Weight	1.26 lbs (0.57 kg)	1.26 lbs (0.57 kg)	1.26 lbs (0.57 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2
Ethernet	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps
HDMI	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports	2 Full-Size HDMI Ports
DisplayPort	DP output on two rear USB-C ports	DP output on two rear USB-C ports	DP output on two rear USB-C ports
VGA	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	4 USB 3, 3 USB-C 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2; USB-C: 1 data, 1 DP, 1 DP + PD	4 USB 3, 3 USB-C 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2; USB-C: 1 data, 1 DP, 1 DP + PD	4 USB 3, 3 USB-C 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2; USB-C: 1 data, 1 DP, 1 DP + PD
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No	No
OCuLink	No	No	No
Internal SATA Ports	1 SATA port, includes 2.5" drive bay (2.5-inch SATA bay in the lid, cable included)	1 SATA port, includes 2.5" drive bay (2.5-inch SATA bay in the lid, cable included)	1 SATA port, includes 2.5" drive bay (2.5-inch SATA bay in the lid, cable included)
Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader
Headphone Jack	combo	combo	combo
Fanless	No	No	No
VESA Mount	Yes	Yes	Yes
In the Box	Power adapter and cord, HDMI cable, SATA cable, wall-mount bracket, screws, manual	Power adapter and cord, HDMI cable, SATA cable, wall-mount bracket, screws, manual	Power adapter and cord, HDMI cable, SATA cable, wall-mount bracket, screws, manual
Expandability	2x DDR4 SO-DIMM (Minisforum rates 32GB max), M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 (up to 4TB), 2.5-inch SATA bay. Tool-free lid.	2x DDR4 SO-DIMM (Minisforum rates 32GB max), M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 (up to 4TB), 2.5-inch SATA bay. Tool-free lid.	2x DDR4 SO-DIMM (Minisforum rates 32GB max), M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 (up to 4TB), 2.5-inch SATA bay. Tool-free lid.

Ports, processor, and expansion

The NAB9S is a silver box about 5 inches square and just over 2 inches tall, and it weighs about 1.3 pounds. The front carries a USB-C port for data, two USB-A ports, a combo audio jack, and the power button. The back holds two more USB-A ports, two HDMI ports, two USB-C ports, the two 2.5GbE jacks, a Kensington lock slot, and the 19V barrel input for the 120W adapter. One rear USB-C port is display output only; the other carries DisplayPort output and Power Delivery output. All four USB-A ports run at 10Gbps. A wall-mount bracket and screws come in the box.

The Intel Core i9-13900HK has 6 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores (20 threads) and boosts to 5.4GHz. Its PassMark score of about 27,200 sits a little under AMD’s Ryzen 7 8845HS (about 28,900) and well under the Core Ultra 9 285H (about 34,500). The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics drive four 4K displays at 60Hz and handle video playback, but they are not built for modern 3D games. Iris Xe needs two memory sticks; with one, the graphics run as Intel UHD.

Memory runs in two DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM slots, and Minisforum lists support for up to 32GB. Carey Holzman read that limit as 32GB per slot (64GB total), but he did not test it. DDR4 costs less than DDR5 but has less bandwidth, which matters most for the integrated graphics. Storage starts with one M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slot rated for drives up to 4TB, and a small fan sits over the SSD. A 2.5-inch SATA drive can mount inside the lid with the included cable. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6E with Bluetooth 5.2.

Carey Holzman: tool-free access, quiet setup, and test results

Carey Holzman reviewed a 32GB/1TB NAB9S bought from Amazon across two live streams (part 1, part 2). In part 1 he opened the case: “the whole unit opens up without any tools. You just push on the top like a cabinet door and you have full access to your RAM and storage.” Inside were two 16GB Kingston DDR4 sticks, the Wi-Fi card, and the small fan on the SSD. The unit arrived with Windows 11 Pro activated, and he reinstalled it with drivers from Minisforum’s support site. Partway through setup he noted, “This thing has been completely silent this whole time.”

Holzman framed the processor by its age, calling it “a high-end flagship computer 3 years ago,” and tied that to a lower price today. On the missing ports: “So, this isn’t going to have USB 4. This is not going to have Oculink.” He doubted the 2.5-inch bay, since a drive there sits in the lid with no fan to move air around it: “And then you’re welcome to trap as much heat in there as you want to.”

Part 2 carried the benchmarks. CrystalDiskMark on the included 1TB PCIe 4.0 drive measured about 7,000 MB/s reads and 6,400 MB/s writes, and he said, “And you’ll see the numbers on the drive are fantastic.” Cinebench scored 12893 multi-core and 1719 single-core, and “the hottest it ever got was 89° C, which is super good.” Device Manager showed Intel controllers on both 2.5GbE ports and a MediaTek card for wireless: “it’s MediaTek for the Wi-Fi. It’s actually Wi-Fi 6E.” He counts it among his favorites: “the NAB 9S is one of my favorite models.”

Where the NAB9S fits

Its two Intel 2.5GbE ports suit a router or home server as well as a desk. Buyers who want Thunderbolt with the same processor can look at the Beelink GTi13, which adds a Thunderbolt port and keeps two 2.5GbE ports. Anyone who needs more than 32GB of memory or newer graphics should look at Core Ultra or Ryzen 8000-series machines with DDR5. To compare options, use the Mini PC Comparison Chart.

Frequently Asked Questions