A powerful new workstation mini PC has launched in China. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 336H processor, the Minisforum MS03 features dual 10G SFP fiber ports, support for PCIe 4.0 expansion cards and a barebone starting price of 4999 Yuan (around $700 USD). The compact desktop is now available across retail channels.
This compact machine measures 196 by 189 by 48 millimeters and weighs roughly 1.4 kilograms. At its core, the 12 core and 12 thread processor supports Intel vPro management capabilities for business deployment. To manage heat under heavy workloads, Minisforum developed a cooling system equipped with dual heat pipes and a quiet blower fan. This thermal setup allows the system to run at a peak 65W in balanced mode, or drop down to 45W in quiet mode to keep noise to a minimum.
Hardware enthusiasts will find impressive expansion options for a computer of this size. Space is tight. Yet, the motherboard supports up to 128GB of fast DDR5 memory running at 7200 megatransfers per second. For storage, you get 3 separate M.2 slots, including 2 PCIe 5.0 slots and 1 PCIe 4.0 slot. System builders can even use an adapter card to connect enterprise class U.2 solid state drives. The chassis also accommodates a half height PCIe 4.0 x4 expansion card for custom hardware additions.
The port selection is highly competitive, especially for advanced networking. On the rear, you will find 2 high speed USB4 Type C ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A ports, and an HDMI 2.1 output. Networking is handled by 2 10G SFP fiber ports, 1 10GbE RJ45 ethernet port, and 1 2.5GbE RJ45 port. The front panel adds 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A port, 2 older USB 2.0 ports, and a standard audio jack.
According to Chinese retail listings, the barebone unit sells for 4999 Yuan (around $700 USD). Fully built models with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage cost 8999 Yuan (around $1260 USD), while the top tier 64GB and 1TB configuration costs 11599 Yuan (around $1625 USD).
