Key Takeaways
1. The Minisforum N5 Air functions as both a network-attached storage (NAS) unit and a mini-PC, powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 255 processor.
2. It features five bays for standard HDDs and three M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs, with support for U.2 drives using an included adapter.
3. The device offers dual Ethernet ports for high-speed connections (up to 10 Gbit/s) and supports Link Aggregation.
4. It comes with 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, expandable up to 96 GB, and includes an OCuLink interface for external GPUs or extra storage.
5. The pricing for the N5 Air is approximately $1,174 in the United States, with the option to consider the Minisforum N5 Pro as an alternative.
Minisforum has recently introduced the N5 Air to its lineup. Similar to other Minisforum devices we’ve looked at, this network-attached storage (NAS) unit can serve as a standard desktop PC due to its support for Windows and its robust AMD Ryzen 7 255 processor. With one HDMI port and two USB-C connections, it can output 4K resolution to several monitors at a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz. Deciding if the N5 Air is suitable as a mini-PC really depends on your specific situation. However, utilizing it as a NAS/mini-PC combo can definitely be useful. For instance, files saved on the desktop could be accessed over the network. The device comes with MinisCloud OS pre-installed on a 64 GB SSD.
Storage Options
The Minisforum N5 Air provides five bays for standard HDDs and three M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs. Users can install U.2 drives in the M.2 slots thanks to an included adapter. For network connections, there are two Ethernet ports, capable of handling speeds of up to 5 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s respectively. The NAS also supports Link Aggregation, but you’ll need to ensure your existing network equipment is fast enough to prevent bottlenecks.
Performance and Pricing
Equipped with 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, the Minisforum N5 Air can be expanded by users to a total of 96 GB. An OCuLink interface allows connections to external GPUs or extra storage devices, alongside a PCIe slot for additional expansion options. In the United States, this model is priced at approximately $1,174. Alternatively, the Minisforum N5 Pro, which we have reviewed earlier, might be worth considering.
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