MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro
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The MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro is a compact mini PC built on AMD’s Ryzen 9 7940HS, an 8-core, 16-thread chip that boosts to 5.2 GHz, with Radeon 780M graphics. It takes up to 64GB of DDR5 and two PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSDs, and Minisforum also sells it as a barebones kit for buyers who bring their own RAM and storage. Connectivity covers dual USB4, dual HDMI 2.1, 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2 in an aluminum case. Reviewers measured desktop-class CPU performance at low power; the limit, as with any integrated GPU, is high-end gaming.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 8-core Ryzen 9 7940HS, desktop-class CPU at low power | Integrated 780M is not for high-end gaming |
| Up to 64GB DDR5 and two PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slots | No SATA bay and no dedicated DisplayPort |
| Dual USB4 (eGPU, 8K, 10GbE adapters) and dual HDMI 2.1 | Front-only USB4; no rear USB-C |
| Low idle power and quiet operation | USB4 bandwidth holds an external GPU near 80% of native |
| Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5GbE | Liquid-metal cooling makes disassembly risky |
| Sold ready-to-run or as a barebones kit | Runs warm under sustained load (high 80s C) |
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MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro Comparison Chart
 MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro | MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro | MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro | MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro | |
| Price | List Price: $779.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: $619.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: $899.99 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $759.99 Amazon Prices: |
| Version | 32GB/1TB/AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | Barebone/AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | 64GB/1TB/AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | 32GB/512GB/AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS |
| Performance Rating | 5.8 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 5.8 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro |
| Processor | Octa-core 4.00 Ghz (max 5.20 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | Octa-core 4.00 Ghz (max 5.20 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | Octa-core 4.00 Ghz (max 5.20 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | Octa-core 4.00 Ghz (max 5.20 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS |
| GPU | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M | Integrated AMD Radeon 780M |
| RAM | 32 GB | 0 GB | 64 GB | 32 GB |
| Internal Storage | 1 TB | 0 GB | 1 TB | 512 GB |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 5.12 x 4.96 x 2.06 inches (130.05 x 125.98 x 52.32 mm) | 5.12 x 4.96 x 2.06 inches (130.05 x 125.98 x 52.32 mm) | 5.12 x 4.96 x 2.06 inches (130.05 x 125.98 x 52.32 mm) | 5.12 x 4.96 x 2.06 inches (130.05 x 125.98 x 52.32 mm) |
| Weight | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | 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 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| 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 | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports |
| DisplayPort | No DisplayPort | No DisplayPort | No DisplayPort | No DisplayPort |
| VGA | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 4 USB 3, 2 USB-C (2 USB4) USB 4 ports support DisplayPort | 4 USB 3, 2 USB-C (2 USB4) USB 4 ports support DisplayPort | 4 USB 3, 2 USB-C (2 USB4) USB 4 ports support DisplayPort | 4 USB 3, 2 USB-C (2 USB4) USB 4 ports support DisplayPort |
| 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 | HDMI cable, rubber feet, power supply, VESA mount and screws | HDMI cable, rubber feet, power supply, VESA mount and screws | HDMI cable, rubber feet, power supply, VESA mount and screws | HDMI cable, rubber feet, power supply, VESA mount and screws |
| Expandability | RAM and storage are user-upgradeable, supports bare bones configuration for customization | RAM and storage are user-upgradeable, supports bare bones configuration for customization | RAM and storage are user-upgradeable, supports bare bones configuration for customization | RAM and storage are user-upgradeable, supports bare bones configuration for customization |
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Desktop-class throughput at low idle power, with a 780M graphics ceiling
The Ryzen 9 7940HS is an 8-core, 16-thread chip, and the UM790 Pro posts strong CPU numbers for its size: ETA Prime logged Geekbench 6 multi-core at 12,415, and Level1Techs called the chip “basically better out of the box performance than an 11900K” (an 11th-gen desktop i9) at a fraction of the power. Across reviews idle draw runs from about 6 to 11W, and full load lands in the mid-60s to mid-80s of watts.
Graphics come from the integrated Radeon 780M, which RGC called “the absolute best CPU that you can buy right now with integrated graphics” at the time. At 1080p he measured 90 FPS in GTA V, 220 in CS:GO, 60 in Doom Eternal, and about 50 in Cyberpunk 2077, with strong emulation up to PS3 and Switch; ServeTheHome showed it running 4K eSports titles “without dropping quality settings.” The dual front USB4 ports take an external GPU (RGC tested an RTX 3060 Ti, lifting God of War from 45 to 85 FPS) and also handle 8K output and 10GbE adapters.
Cooling is the Cold Wave 2.0 system with liquid metal, which keeps the unit quiet (ServeTheHome found it added only a dBA or two over their 34 dBA studio noise floor) though the CPU still reaches the high 80s Celsius under sustained load. The liquid-metal application makes opening the case risky. Video output is fixed at two HDMI 2.1 ports plus the two USB4 ports, since there is no dedicated DisplayPort connector and no SATA bay for a third drive.
Reviewer Insights
ServeTheHome
Patrick at ServeTheHome measured idle power as low as about 6 to 7W and load around 80 to 85W, with the unit adding just a dBA or two over their 34 dBA studio noise floor, and showed the 780M playing “e-sports titles at 4K without dropping quality settings.” He valued the front USB4 ports (8K output, eGPU, and 10GbE Thunderbolt adapters) and the barebones option, concluding that from a hardware perspective “the Minisforum folks did a great job.” He faulted the storage, because his review unit’s 256GB SSD was too small, and he recommended 512GB or more.
ETA Prime
ETA Prime logged Geekbench 6 multi-core at 12,415 and 3DMark Time Spy at 3,240, with about 74 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 900p low. He credited the Cold Wave 2.0 liquid-metal cooling for keeping the APU under 80C and quiet at its 65W limit, and was impressed by the performance-per-watt.
Retro Game Corps
Russ at Retro Game Corps called it “the absolute best CPU that you can buy right now with integrated graphics,” logging the 1080p game results above plus heavy emulation (PS2, PS3, and Nintendo Switch). He compared it favorably to the Beelink GTR7, noting it comes in cheaper, and saw the CPU spike to 90C under a sustained Cinebench load without going beyond it.
Level1Techs
Level1Techs framed the metal chassis as a step up for cooling, rigidity, and noise, and said it is “basically better out of the box performance than an 11900K” while idling near 8 to 11W and peaking around 70 to 75W. He praised the dialed-in BIOS but cautioned that the USB4 ports are bandwidth-limited for an external GPU, finding a card like an RX 6600 or 6700 reaches only about 80% of its native performance, and he warned against opening the unit because of the liquid-metal seal.
Customer Reviews
Across 18 ratings on Amazon, the MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro averages 4.3 stars, with most owners (about 63%) leaving five stars and a smaller group (roughly 14%) landing at three. The recurring praise is performance and thermals: a verified buyer named Guy reported “Idle temp is 35C, and full strain is 80C max, and it is quiet even then,” and a verified buyer named David called it “a cool running, small inexpensive product.”
A verified buyer named Porkchop, who docked a star, wrote that it is “Phenomenal desktop replacement, but not enough peripheral ports” and flagged “windows memory issues.” Another verified buyer (posting as “r”) was happy with the hardware but disliked the build and the bundled OS, noting “The plastic parts used in the casing. They feel quite cheap.”
Read more owner reviews on Amazon.
Strong for CPU work and 1080p play, short of maxed-out AAA gaming
Buyers who want desktop-class CPU throughput in a small, quiet box get the most from this machine, and idle draw of about 6 to 11W makes it cheap to leave running for home-lab duty. Content work, 1080p gaming, and emulation up to PS3 and Switch all sit inside what the 780M and the 7940HS handle. The barebones option and the user-upgradeable RAM and storage suit people who want to supply their own parts, and the dual USB4 ports leave the door open to an external GPU later.
It is a weaker pick if you want maxed-out AAA gaming without an eGPU, since the 780M is still integrated graphics and USB4 holds an added card near 80% of native speed. There is no SATA bay and no rear USB-C, and the liquid-metal cooling makes internal servicing risky, so a buyer who expects to open the case regularly should look elsewhere. To compare it with other models, see Starry Hope’s Mini PC Comparison Chart.
Upgrades
Accessories that fit the MINISFORUM Venus Series UM790 Pro'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
Can I upgrade the RAM and storage on the UM790 Pro?
Yes. Memory goes up to 64GB of DDR5, and both PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slots take user-supplied SSDs.
What cooling system does it use?
Minisforum’s Cold Wave 2.0, which combines a copper heatsink, a cooling fan, and liquid metal. That liquid-metal seal is also the reason opening the case is risky.
Does it support multiple displays?
Two HDMI 2.1 ports and two USB4 ports carry video, and the USB4 ports also pass DisplayPort. There is no separate DisplayPort connector on the chassis.
Can I connect an external GPU?
Yes, through either front USB4 port, which runs at 40 Gbps. Expect a card to fall short of the speed it would reach in a desktop slot.
What operating system does the UM790 Pro come with?
It ships with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, and it also runs Linux if you prefer an alternative OS.
Is it suitable for gaming?
For 1080p titles and emulation, yes. Demanding AAA games at high settings are past what the integrated Radeon 780M can do, and an eGPU over USB4 is the way around that.
What is included in the box?
The power supply, an HDMI cable, spare rubber feet, and a VESA mount with screws.
Does it have a VESA mount?
Yes. The bundled mount and screws attach it to the back of a monitor for a space-saving setup.
What are the networking capabilities?
Wired networking is a single 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
Can I buy a bare-bones version of the UM790 Pro?
Yes. Minisforum sells it without RAM or an SSD, so you can fit the memory and storage you want.