Key Takeaways
1. Significant Upgrades: The MS-02 Ultra has improved features over the MS-01, including high-end processors, support for up to 256 GB DDR5 RAM, four M.2 SSD slots, and a PCIe 5.0 ×16 slot for desktop GPUs.
2. Enhanced Design and Cooling: It comes in a larger 4.8-litre chassis that supports better cooling, a more powerful 350W PSU, and upgraded connectivity options like USB4 v2 and 25 GbE networking.
3. Simple Setup: The internal setup is user-friendly, requiring only two screws for access, with limited space for components but well-organized RAM and storage slots.
4. Performance Benchmarks: The MS-02 Ultra achieves notable scores in Geekbench 6 and Cinebench R24, though it shows slightly lower performance compared to higher-end CPUs in its class.
5. Gaming Capability: The system demonstrates solid gaming performance at 1440p, averaging over 70 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2 and around 75 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS enabled, showcasing its capabilities even with a compact GPU.
The MS-02 Ultra was unveiled by Minisforum during Japan Autumn IT Week 2025 and was released as a barebones unit priced at $949 shortly after, in November 2025. Compared to its predecessor, the MS-01, the MS-02 Ultra features significant improvements, including new high-end processors, the ability to support up to 256 GB of DDR5 RAM, much larger storage with four M.2 SSD slots, and three PCIe slots, notably a PCIe 5.0 ×16 slot that can fit desktop GPUs.
Upgraded Design and Connectivity
The MS-02 Ultra is designed in a bigger 4.8-litre chassis, which Minisforum claims enhances cooling efficiency, supports a more robust 350W PSU, and introduces better connectivity options like USB4 v2 and 25 GbE networking, which are clear upgrades from the previous MS-01 model.
To evaluate the new design and features, YouTuber ETA Prime set up their Minisforum MS-02 Ultra equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 285HX, 64 GB of DDR5 RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 low-profile card that has 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM.
Easy Setup and Space Management
In the video, the YouTuber kicks off with a teardown of the MS-02 Ultra, noting that the process is surprisingly simple—just two screws need to be removed for the internal frame to slide off. Inside, the CPU cooler and the 350W PSU take up most of the room, leaving limited space for a low-profile GPU, and as shown in the image, the RTX 5060 LP fits rather snugly.
To maximize space, two SODIMM RAM slots are located on the opposite side of the motherboard, along with two M.2 slots.
After adding the RTX 5060 LP, the PL1 for the Core Ultra 7 285HX reduces to 90 W while the PL2 drops to 110 W. Without the Nvidia GPU, the PL1 can reach 100 W, with the PL2 said to peak at 140 W.
Performance Metrics
Testing kicks off with Geekbench 6 single and multi-core benchmarks, where the Minisforum MS-02 Ultra achieves scores of 2,957 in single-core and 17,992 in multi-core. It’s important to note that these results reflect CPU performance with a dedicated GPU, which likely contributes to the lower scores. For perspective, Notebookcheck’s data shows the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with a median single-core score of 3,026 (around 2% higher) and a multi-core score of 20,758 (about 13% higher).
Next, in Cinebench R24, the MS-02 Ultra scores 128 in single-core and 1,938 in multi-core. In comparison, Notebookcheck’s figures indicate the CPU scores 129 in single-core and 1,974 in multi-core. During 3DMark Time Spy testing, the MS-02 Ultra achieves a total score of 13,672, which is below the median score of 14,072 recorded in our database.
Gaming Performance
The YouTuber then transitions to real-world gaming tests. In Red Dead Redemption 2, using a blend of ultra, high, and medium settings without DLSS, the system averages slightly over 70 FPS at 1440p. Both CPU and GPU temperatures remain lower than anticipated, primarily due to the ventilation design and triple-fan cooling on the graphics card. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is assessed next at 1440p on very high settings, yielding an average of 121 FPS with no upscaling.
Cyberpunk 2077 is also examined at 1440p on Ultra settings. With DLSS Quality enabled, the system averages around 75 FPS, and activating DLSS 4 frame generation at X4 boosts this to over 160 FPS. The YouTuber mentions that many buyers might not opt for an RTX 5060, but the test illustrates the system’s capabilities even with a compact GPU. For a more detailed look at the machine, you can check out the complete video linked below.
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