The MINISFORUM UM890 Pro and UM880 Pro Gaming Mini PCs leverage AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and R7 8845HS PRO processors with DDR5 RAM, Cold Wave 2.0 cooling, and WiFi 6E to deliver desktop-grade gaming performance in a compact form. These mini PCs balance power, thermal efficiency, and modern connectivity, making them ideal for gamers and professionals needing high performance in small spaces.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Mini PCs in 2025
| Rank | Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GEEKOM Mini IT12 (Best Performance) | Intel i5-12450H (8C/12T) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD | $379.00 | Check Price |
| 2 | GMKtec N150 (1TB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD | $191.99 | Check Price |
| 3 | KAMRUI GK3Plus (Budget Pick) | Intel N95 (3.4GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB M.2 SSD | $169.99 | Check Price |
| 4 | ACEMAGICIAN N150 (Cheapest 16GB) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | $139.99 | Check Price |
| 5 | GMKtec N150 (512GB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe SSD | $168.99 | Check Price |
What Makes the MINISFORUM UM890 Pro’s Design Ideal for Compact Setups?
The UM890 Pro’s 131 x 131 x 47.2mm chassis features an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy shell for durability and heat dissipation. Its minimalist design includes customizable RGB lighting, tool-free SSD access, and a dual-fan layout. The compact footprint saves desk space while supporting vertical or horizontal placement, catering to gaming rigs, home theaters, and office environments.
How Do the Ryzen 9 8945HS and R7 8845HS PRO Enhance Gaming Performance?
The Ryzen 9 8945HS (8-core/16-thread, up to 5.2GHz) and R7 8845HS PRO (8-core/16-thread, up to 5.1GHz) utilize Zen 4 architecture and RDNA 3 integrated graphics. Both CPUs deliver 1080p gaming at 60+ FPS in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, with TDP configurable from 35W to 54W for optimized power-to-performance ratios in thermal-constrained mini PC setups.
Does the Cold Wave 2.0 Cooling System Prevent Thermal Throttling?
MINISFORUM’s Cold Wave 2.0 combines a vapor chamber, dual 12V high-speed fans, and four copper heat pipes to dissipate 65W of heat. Testing shows CPU temperatures remain below 85°C under full load, sustaining boost clocks without throttling. Noise levels stay under 38dB, making it 27% quieter than conventional mini PC cooling solutions during intensive tasks.
Power Consumption of Mini Computers
The cooling system’s layered approach begins with the vapor chamber spreading heat laterally across the CPU/GPU die, while the copper pipes vertically channel warmth to aluminum fin stacks. Dual 6,500 RPM fans then exhaust heat through rear vents, maintaining airflow even when the unit is wall-mounted. Third-party stress tests using Prime95 and FurMark showed consistent 4.8GHz clock speeds on the Ryzen 9 over 2-hour sessions, outperforming larger gaming laptops with similar processors. Users can manually adjust fan curves via the Nebula Center software, prioritizing either acoustics (35dB Silent Mode) or maximum cooling (38dB Performance Mode).
| Cooling Metric | UM890 Pro | Competitor A |
|---|---|---|
| Max CPU Temp (Load) | 84°C | 93°C |
| Noise Level (dB) | 38 | 45 |
| Sustained Clock Speed | 4.8GHz | 4.3GHz |
What Connectivity Advantages Does WiFi 6E Provide for Gamers?
The UM890 Pro’s WiFi 6E (802.11ax) supports 6GHz band connectivity, reducing latency to sub-3ms in crowded networks. Dual 2.5G Ethernet ports enable link aggregation for 5Gbps wired speeds. With 4x USB4 (40Gbps), DisplayPort 2.1, and HDMI 2.1, it drives quad 4K displays or a single 8K monitor, ideal for multi-screen gaming or content creation workflows.
WiFi 6E’s 6GHz spectrum offers 1,200MHz of interference-free bandwidth – triple the capacity of traditional 5GHz networks. This proves crucial for cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, where packet loss reduction exceeds 40% compared to WiFi 6. The unit’s 160MHz channel support enables 2.4Gbps wireless transfers, allowing gamers to download 100GB titles in under 6 minutes. For LAN parties, the dual Ethernet ports support failover redundancy and teaming modes, ensuring zero dropped connections during tournaments. Content creators benefit from USB4’s 40Gbps throughput when editing 8K footage directly from external SSDs.
Can You Upgrade the DDR5 RAM and Storage Post-Purchase?
Both models support dual SO-DIMM DDR5-5600MHz slots (upgradable to 64GB) and dual PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots (max 8TB combined). The tool-free bottom panel allows easy access for storage upgrades. However, the GPU is integrated, limiting graphical enhancements. Users can add eGPUs via USB4’s Thunderbolt 4 compatibility for GPU-intensive tasks.
How Does the UM890 Pro Compare to Traditional Gaming Desktops?
While the UM890 Pro’s Ryzen 9 matches mid-range desktop CPUs like Intel’s i7-13700K in multi-core tasks, its integrated Radeon 780M GPU performs closer to a discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650. It consumes 70% less power than equivalent desktops but requires trade-offs in peak graphical performance. Ideal for space-conscious users needing 90% of desktop power in 10% of the space.
What Software Enhancements Optimize the Gaming Experience?
MINISFORUM’s Nebula Center software provides performance presets (Silent, Balanced, Beast Mode), RGB lighting control, and driver updates. AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition enables Radeon Super Resolution (RSR) upscaling and Anti-Lag input optimization. Pre-installed Windows 11 Pro includes DirectStorage API support, reducing game load times by 40% compared to SATA-based systems.
Expert Views
“The UM890 Pro challenges the notion that mini PCs can’t handle AAA gaming. By pairing Zen 4’s IPC gains with advanced cooling, it achieves sustained performance previously exclusive to towers. The 6GHz WiFi band is a game-changer for cloud gaming—I measured 15% lower latency than my dedicated gaming router on 5GHz.”
— Gaming Hardware Analyst, TechRadar Labs
Conclusion
The MINISFORUM UM890 Pro and UM880 Pro exemplify the convergence of miniaturization and high-performance computing. With cutting-edge thermal design, future-proof connectivity, and desktop-class processors, they redefine expectations for compact gaming systems. While not replacing high-end desktops, they offer unparalleled versatility for gamers, streamers, and professionals needing portable power.
FAQs
- Q: Does it support ray tracing?
- A: The Radeon 780M GPU enables basic ray tracing in titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p/30FPS but lacks dedicated RT cores for intensive ray-traced games.
- Q: Can it run macOS?
- A: While not officially supported, Hackintosh communities report partial success with macOS Ventura using OpenCore. Wi-Fi/BT may require external adapters.
- Q: What’s the warranty period?
- A: MINISFORUM provides a 2-year limited warranty with optional 3-year extension. Thermal paste replacement is recommended annually for heavy users.