Minis forum N5 packs serious specifications in a weird box driven by a Mystery Chinese Ryzen chip
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- Ryzen 7 255 is a downclocked, China-Exclusive chip without the usual 16 tops AI NPU
- Minis forum N5 supports up to 96 GB DDR5 RAM but misses ECC memory support
- The N5 offers double USB4 ports and 10GBE networks for versatile connectivity
MinisForum has introduced the N5, a compact storage of network-tasted storage (NAS) Device Now available worldwide.
Released next to the more powerful N5 ProThis new model is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 255, a processor that is so unclear that it does not even appear on the official worldwide website of AMD.
Instead, it is only mentioned on the Chinese site of AMD as the Ryzen 7 H 255, a chip with eight Zen 4 nuclei and a basic clock of 3.8 GHz, which stimulates up to 4.9 GHz.
Downclocked chip with missing AI functions
The processor falls under the Ryzen 200 and Hawk Point series.
The Ryzen 7 255, however, raises some questions about positioning and performance.
MinisForum also uses this processor in the AI X1, but it seems like a reclooked Ryzen 7 8745HS, essentially a variant with a lower wattage of the Ryzen 7 8745H, a chip offered exclusively in China.
It seems that the Ryzen 7 255 misses the 16 tops NPU that most Ryzen 7 250 series use chips, which means that the chip is expected to remain behind in AI-center tasks.
The CPU and GPU have also fallen slightly, which could lead to modest but noticeable performance reductions.
Despite those comments, the Minis Forum N5 offers an attractive range of functions that can rely on users who are looking for a hybrid between a NAS device and a Mini -PC.
Just like its pro variant, the N5 supports to 96 GB DDR5 memory via double SO-DIMM slots.
However, it does not offer ECC RAM support, an important distinction for those who give priority to data integrity.
The device can perform several operating systemsIncluding Linux, MinisCloud OS, and Windows 11 Pro.
For connectivity, it contains two USB4 ports, 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps Ethernet ports, an Oculink interface and a PCIE X16 slot that is performed at PCIE 4.0 X4 speeds.
These functions not only make it viable as a NAS device, but also as a potential mini -workstation, especially in combination with the Best NAS Discs for storage expansion.
Prices start at $ 553 for a basic configuration with 64 GB storage but no RAM, although a version with 16 GB RAM is available for an extra $ 48.
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