Minisforum MS-02 Ultra Global Launches with High-end Specs
It launches now in the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia. The MS-02 Ultra, made by Minisforum, was officially issued to a worldwide audience. It's designed to compete with the best in high perfromance units like the MS-S1 Max and the newer AMDs Strix Halos as it possesses powerful HX Intel processors and very extensive expansions including that for desktop-class graphics cards.
Performance and Expansion
The MS-02 Ultra is built for heavy workloads, utilizing Intel's HX platform. Minisforum states that the high-end Core Ultra 9 285HX configuration achieves a score exceeding 37,000 in Cinebench R23, giving it a slight edge over the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. Beyond raw processing power, the unit offers significant versatility:
- Graphics Support: A PCIe x16 connector accommodates dual-slot desktop graphics cards.
- Power Supply: Includes a built-in 350W PSU to support internal components.
- Networking: Features 25 Gbps Ethernet for high-speed connectivity.
- Storage and connectivity: Offers four M.2 slots, USB v2 ports, and Wi-Fi 7 support.
Pricing and Configuration Differences
Minisforum offers the MS-02 Ultra in several configurations, with specific features being exclusive to higher-end models. For instance, only Core Ultra 9 285HX versions get ECC RAM (up to 192 GB) and dual 25 Gbps Ethernet ports.
Pricing Categories at Present:
- Core Ultra 5 235HX: Will be available soon, from $719.
- Core Ultra 9 275HX: Starts at $949 (barebone). A discount of $50 is already available with code: ms0250.
- Core Ultra 9 285HX: Begins at $1,119 and ranges from thisrate to $2,899 for a fully loaded model with 192GB ECC RAM and a 2TB SSD.
Currently, pre-orders are still active across various international markets.
