MINISFORUM UM690L Slim

Published on May 17, 2026

The MINISFORUM UM690L Slim takes the well-loved Ryzen 9 6900HX platform and stuffs it into a 0.83-liter NUC-style chassis that fits comfortably under a monitor stand or on a VESA mount. It is the slim refresh of the original UM690, and it inherits the older model’s strengths (an 8-core/16-thread Zen 3+ APU with capable Radeon 680M graphics, a 40 Gbps USB4 port, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet) while addressing the worst complaint reviewers had about the first generation: the memory and SSD now sit under their own dedicated cooling, instead of cooking quietly in still air. For shoppers who liked the UM690’s raw performance but found its plastic chassis a bit unwieldy, the Slim is the version to look at.

The trade-off comes from how MINISFORUM made the chassis smaller. RAM in the UM690L Slim is soldered LPDDR5-6400, not the upgradable DDR5 SODIMMs of the original. That gives the system 6400 MT/s memory bandwidth, which is helpful for the integrated GPU, but it means you have to pick your final RAM capacity at checkout. Storage stays fully user-serviceable through dual M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slots, and the rear USB4 port accepts 65 to 100 watts of Power Delivery in (a single cable can power and feed video to the unit). If you want a small, capable AMD mini PC for productivity, light gaming, or a home-office Plex-and-Docker box, it is a reasonable buy at this price.

Pros and Cons of the MINISFORUM UM690L Slim

Related Videos

MINISFORUM UM690L Slim Comparison Chart

	MINISFORUM UM690L Slim	MINISFORUM UM690L Slim	MINISFORUM UM690L Slim	MINISFORUM UM690L Slim
Price	List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices...
Version	16GB/512GB/Ryzen 9 6900HX	16GB/1TB/Ryzen 9 6900HX	32GB/512GB/Ryzen 9 6900HX	32GB/1TB/Ryzen 9 6900HX
Performance Rating	7.9	7.9	8.5	8.5
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro
Processor	Octa-core 3.30 Ghz (max 4.90 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX	Octa-core 3.30 Ghz (max 4.90 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX	Octa-core 3.30 Ghz (max 4.90 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX	Octa-core 3.30 Ghz (max 4.90 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
GPU	Integrated AMD Radeon 680M	Integrated AMD Radeon 680M	Integrated AMD Radeon 680M	Integrated AMD Radeon 680M
RAM	16 GB LPDDR5 (LPDDR5-6400 soldered)	16 GB LPDDR5 (LPDDR5-6400 soldered)	32 GB LPDDR5 (LPDDR5-6400 soldered)	32 GB LPDDR5 (LPDDR5-6400 soldered)
Internal Storage	512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD	1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD	512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD	1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Dimensions width x length x thickness	5.12 x 4.98 x 1.98 inches (130.05 x 126.49 x 50.29 mm)	5.12 x 4.98 x 1.98 inches (130.05 x 126.49 x 50.29 mm)	5.12 x 4.98 x 1.98 inches (130.05 x 126.49 x 50.29 mm)	5.12 x 4.98 x 1.98 inches (130.05 x 126.49 x 50.29 mm)
Weight	2.71 lbs (1.23 kg)	2.71 lbs (1.23 kg)	2.71 lbs (1.23 kg)	2.71 lbs (1.23 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
Ethernet	1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps	1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps	1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps	1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps
HDMI	1 Full-Size HDMI Port	1 Full-Size HDMI Port	1 Full-Size HDMI Port	1 Full-Size HDMI Port
DisplayPort	1 DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.4, up to 4K@120Hz. HDMI 2.1 supports 4K@120Hz or 8K@60Hz.)	1 DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.4, up to 4K@120Hz. HDMI 2.1 supports 4K@120Hz or 8K@60Hz.)	1 DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.4, up to 4K@120Hz. HDMI 2.1 supports 4K@120Hz or 8K@60Hz.)	1 DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.4, up to 4K@120Hz. HDMI 2.1 supports 4K@120Hz or 8K@60Hz.)
VGA	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB 4 Front: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps). Rear: 1x USB4 Type-C (40Gbps, 8K@60Hz, supports 65-100W PD input), 2x USB-A 2.0.	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB 4 Front: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps). Rear: 1x USB4 Type-C (40Gbps, 8K@60Hz, supports 65-100W PD input), 2x USB-A 2.0.	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB 4 Front: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps). Rear: 1x USB4 Type-C (40Gbps, 8K@60Hz, supports 65-100W PD input), 2x USB-A 2.0.	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 1 USB 4 Front: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps). Rear: 1x USB4 Type-C (40Gbps, 8K@60Hz, supports 65-100W PD input), 2x USB-A 2.0.
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No	No	No
OCuLink	No	No	No	No
Internal SATA Ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports
Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader
Headphone Jack	combo	combo	combo	combo
Fanless	No	No	No	No
VESA Mount	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
In the Box	Mini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket, user manual.	Mini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket, user manual.	Mini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket, user manual.	Mini PC, 120W power adapter, HDMI cable, VESA mount bracket, user manual.
Expandability	RAM is soldered LPDDR5-6400 (not upgradeable). Storage expandable via 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots up to 4TB total. USB4 supports eGPU enclosures.	RAM is soldered LPDDR5-6400 (not upgradeable). Storage expandable via 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots up to 4TB total. USB4 supports eGPU enclosures.	RAM is soldered LPDDR5-6400 (not upgradeable). Storage expandable via 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots up to 4TB total. USB4 supports eGPU enclosures.	RAM is soldered LPDDR5-6400 (not upgradeable). Storage expandable via 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots up to 4TB total. USB4 supports eGPU enclosures.

Detailed Insights into the MINISFORUM UM690L Slim

The UM690L Slim measures 130 x 126.5 x 50.4 mm (5.12 x 4.98 x 1.98 in) and weighs about 1.23 kg, giving it the footprint of a 13th-generation Intel NUC but a touch more height. The chassis is mostly plastic with metal mesh inserts on both sides and the top for airflow, a finish that prioritizes weight and thermals over the more premium aluminum feel of the MS-A1 or MS-01. A pair of rubber feet keep it from sliding, and the included VESA bracket lets you tuck it behind a monitor so the only thing visible on your desk is the front bezel with its two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports and combo audio jack.

Inside, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX delivers 8 cores and 16 threads of Zen 3+ at up to 4.9 GHz boost. MINISFORUM caps the package power at 60 W in its marketing materials, which is conservative for a 35-45 W TDP chip and helps the Slim stay below 35 dBA at full load (per the manufacturer page). Cinebench R23 results published on the listing put the 6900HX at roughly 1662 single / 14670 multi, putting it about 8% ahead of the Ryzen 7 6800H and 20% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1180H in the same test conditions. The Radeon 680M iGPU is the same 12 RDNA 2 compute units found in the original UM690, which means esports titles at 1080p run smoothly and modest 1080p settings in AAA games are within reach.

Connectivity is the headline trade-off. On the front, you get two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10 Gbps) and the audio jack, but no front USB-C. The rear panel carries the 19V DC input, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet jack, one full-size HDMI 2.1 port, one DisplayPort 1.4 output, the USB4 Type-C port, and two USB 2.0 Type-A ports. Putting the USB4 on the back is a deliberate decision; MINISFORUM positions the Slim as a one-cable VESA-mounted desktop where a 100W USB-C dock or monitor handles power and display through that single connector. The downside is that the two rear USB-A ports are USB 2.0, which limits how many high-speed peripherals you can keep permanently plugged in.

Wireless connectivity covers the bases for 2026: WiFi 6E gives access to the 6 GHz band when a Mesh router supports it, and Bluetooth 5.3 keeps low-energy peripherals stable. The 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port is welcome at this price point and handles NAS or local Plex traffic without a USB adapter. The single-cooled NUC-style chassis and the new active fan over the RAM and SSD mean the Slim runs notably quieter than the original UM690 under sustained load.

Reviewer Insights on the MINISFORUM UM690L Slim

Robtech’s Slim-Specific Review

Robtech is the one mainstream reviewer who specifically tested the slim chassis rather than the original UM690, and his teardown is the clearest look at the new cooling layout. He confirms the dedicated secondary fan under the motherboard that cools both M.2 SSDs and the memory area, calling it the fix for “the wrongs of the past” with the first UM690. His benchmarking puts the 6900HX in the expected ballpark for productivity, and he verifies that the rear USB4 port delivers both power and display through a single cable. On the downside, he notes that opening the unit is “a chore” because four rubber feet are glued tightly over the access screws, that memory speed is locked in BIOS (no overclocking), and that one of the rear USB-A ports is USB 2.0. He calls it a nice machine without major flaws but suggests cross-shopping it against the newer-generation 7000 and 8000 series Mini PCs that have crept into the same price range.

ServeTheHome on the Original UM690 Platform

ServeTheHome reviewed the original UM690 chassis, which shares the same 6900HX silicon as the Slim but uses DDR5 SODIMMs and a different cooling layout. Their take is useful background reading for anyone weighing the Slim against the older box: they praise the USB4 port (highlighting 8K60 output and the fact that the four rear USB-A ports are all 10 Gbps on the original), the value-leading barebones SKU, and the 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. Their main criticisms (poor internal accessibility and HDMI outputs limited to 4K60) carry over to the Slim, although the Slim only ships in pre-built configurations because the soldered LPDDR5 rules out a true barebones SKU. The Slim also gains HDMI 2.1 at 4K@120Hz and 8K@60Hz, addressing one of ServeTheHome’s display-output complaints.

WCCFtech’s Take on the Same Silicon

WCCFtech put the original Venus UM690 through a deeper benchmarking pass and concluded that the Ryzen 9 6900HX “crushes all other iGPUs in our tests” thanks to the RDNA 2 graphics. Their data is still relevant to the UM690L Slim because the CPU and iGPU are unchanged; only the chassis and memory subsystem differ. They observed the original peaking around 80C under sustained load with mild fan whine, which is consistent with what Robtech sees on the Slim. WCCFtech also confirms HDMI 2.1 dual-4K output and called out the unusually generous BIOS controls for an APU mini PC (power limits, thermal limits, shared GPU memory pool, RAM speed), most of which Robtech says have been locked down on the Slim BIOS revision.

NotebookCheck’s Long-Form Lab Test

NotebookCheck scored the original Venus UM690 at 86.1% in their lab review, praising the efficient and very fast CPU performance, the integrated Radeon 680M, triple-monitor support, and “good and stable Wi-Fi 6E transfer rates.” They noted that the Wi-Fi MediaTek chip is a step behind Intel’s AX210 in raw throughput but said it is not noticeable in daily use. Their build-quality criticism (mostly plastic exterior) still applies to the Slim, which uses the same chassis materials. For shoppers tracking long-term reliability, NotebookCheck’s 24-hour stress data on the platform is the most thorough you will find on the open web.

Customer Reviews of the MINISFORUM UM690L Slim

Buyer feedback for the UM690L Slim is mixed on the four configurations Amazon lists. The 16GB/512GB and 16GB/1TB SKUs collectively average above 4 stars, with reviewers praising the small footprint, the speed of the 6900HX for everyday multitasking, and quiet operation in normal use. The most positive comments highlight the same things Robtech does: this is the UM690 platform without the original’s RAM thermal issue. One reviewer notes “good performance in a tiny package” and calls it “an effective desktop replacement,” while another buyer specifically praises MINISFORUM’s customer service after replacing a defective first unit.

The most common 1- and 2-star complaints are about reliability after Windows Update cycles. Several reviewers on the 32GB/1TB variant report random boot loops requiring “dozens of reboots” to recover, and a separate reviewer of four units reports two failures within three months. These reports are concentrated on the highest-spec SKU, which may simply be exposure (it has the longest listing history) or may reflect a real reliability issue worth budgeting for. Linux users will also want to know that one reviewer in the Robtech video mentioned needing to install MediaTek WiFi drivers manually after a fresh Ubuntu install; this is fixable but not zero-touch.

Conclusion

The MINISFORUM UM690L Slim is a tidy small-form-factor desktop for shoppers who want Ryzen 9 6900HX performance, USB4, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet inside a chassis that disappears behind a monitor. The dedicated SSD/memory cooling fan fixes the most common engineering complaint about the original UM690, and the rear USB4 port plus 100W PD-in support make the one-cable VESA-mounted setup genuinely workable. Soldered LPDDR5-6400 is a real downside compared to the SODIMM-equipped UM690, but it is what makes the 0.83L volume possible.

The Slim’s main competition in 2026 is not other 6900HX machines but the slim 7000/8000-series Mini PCs MINISFORUM itself sells in the same chassis (UM680/UM760/UM870 Slim, UM750L) and competitors like the Beelink GTR7 Pro family. If you can find the UM690L Slim well under the price of those newer options, the value still holds; if pricing is comparable, the Zen 4 RDNA 3 alternatives will age better. The Mini PC comparison chart is a useful starting point for cross-shopping, and for buyers focused on quiet always-on use cases (Plex, Docker, light gaming), the Slim’s improved acoustics make it an easier recommendation than the louder original UM690.

Frequently Asked Questions