Key Takeaways
1. Minisforum launched the MS-R1 mini-PC powered by ARM technology, marking its entry into the ARM market.
2. The MS-R1 features the CIX CP8180 chipset, a 12-core processor with a thermal design power of 28 W.
3. It offers impressive AI performance, achieving up to 45 TOPS of compute with a 28.8 TOPS NPU and a 10-core Arm Immortalis-G720 MC10 GPU.
4. The mini-PC supports up to 64 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, dual NVMe SSDs, and includes a full-length PCIe x16 slot for desktop graphics cards.
5. Pricing for the MS-R1 starts at $503.90 for a 32 GB RAM configuration, with options up to $695.90 for 64 GB RAM and 1 TB storage, currently available at discounted prices.
Minisforum has officially launched its first mini-PC powered by ARM technology, following an earlier presentation of the same model this month. The MS-R1 comes out just as Minisforum has revealed more information about the x86-based MS-02 Ultra, which is set to be fully unveiled in January during CES 2026. Additionally, the company has recently introduced a more affordable variant of the M1-1295, currently priced at $409 on Amazon, with more details available in a separate article.
A Powerful New Contender
Marketed as a new ‘ARM challenger’ boasting ‘serious power’, the MS-R1 resembles a standard mini-PC or workstation, featuring a modest design and a case size of 1.7 liters. Nonetheless, it utilizes the CIX CP8180 chipset, which is a 12-core and 12-threaded processor with a thermal design power (TDP) of 28 W.
Impressive Performance Specs
Reportedly capable of achieving up to 45 TOPS of AI compute thanks to a 28.8 TOPS NPU, the CIX CP8180 also incorporates an Arm Immortalis-G720 MC10 GPU, which is a 10-core variant found in the Dimensity 9400e and Dimensity 8400. Furthermore, the MS-R1 is equipped with multiple ports:
The image below illustrates that the MS-R1 can be outfitted with as much as 64 GB of LPDDR5-5500 RAM and dual NVMe SSDs through two M.2 slots. In addition, Minisforum has incorporated a full-length PCIe x16 slot to accommodate desktop graphics cards. The starting price for the MS-R1 is $503.90 for a configuration with 32 GB of RAM but no storage. Alternatively, users can opt for a setup that includes 64 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of storage, with the highest configuration priced at $695.90. It’s important to mention that these prices are currently discounted in honor of the MS-R1’s launch. The detailed pricing information is as follows:
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