Tag: AMD Ryzen 7 255

  • Affordable Minisforum N5 Air NAS with OCuLink and 144TB Support

    Affordable Minisforum N5 Air NAS with OCuLink and 144TB Support

    Key Takeaways

    1. High Storage Capacity: The Minisforum N5 Air offers a total storage capacity of 144 TB with five HDD bays and three M.2 slots, surpassing competitors like the Synology DiskStation DS1525+.

    2. Powerful Performance: It features an AMD Ryzen 7 255 APU with a Radeon 780M integrated GPU, allowing for GPU-accelerated tasks and external GPU support through an OCuLink port.

    3. Expandable Options: The device includes a PCIe x16 slot for SSD cache and network interface cards, and supports various RAID modes for enhanced storage management.

    4. User-Friendly Design: The design allows users to easily slide the motherboard out for straightforward upgrades of SSDs and RAM, simplifying maintenance.

    5. Competitive Pricing: The barebone version starts at $499, while the model with 16 GB of RAM is priced at $679, offering a cost-effective NAS solution.

    The Minisforum N5 Air quietly made its entrance in January 2026, and now the company has officially unveiled its NAS. This is a cost-effective network-attached storage solution that features five HDD bays and three M.2 slots for PCIe 4.0 SSDs.

    Impressive Storage Capacity

    With the combination of HDD bays and M.2 slots, the total storage capacity reaches 144 TB, making it a superior choice compared to other 5-bay NAS options like the Synology DiskStation DS1525+ (found on Amazon). Additionally, the Minisforum N5 Air is equipped with more robust hardware than many of its rivals.

    Powerful Performance

    It is driven by the AMD Ryzen 7 255, which is a Hawk Point APU with a Radeon 780M integrated GPU. This built-in graphics processor is sufficient for certain GPU-accelerated tasks, but users can enhance their NAS experience by connecting an external GPU via the OCuLink port on the N5 Air.

    Another important expansion option is the PCIe x16 slot, which can be utilized for SSD cache arrays and network interface cards (NICs). The device supports various RAID modes, and Minisforum claims that the cooling system helps maintain optimal performance of the installed drives even during high usage.

    User-Friendly Design

    In terms of design, the Minisforum N5 Air resembles the Beelink ME Pro, allowing users to easily slide the motherboard out of the case. This feature is said to facilitate simple upgrades of SSDs and RAM while also making maintenance more convenient.

    The NAS supports up to 96 GB of DDR5 RAM, features a comprehensive connectivity setup including a USB4 port, runs on MinisCloud OS, and supports Docker. The initial launch price for the barebone version of the N5 Air AI NAS is set at $499, while the model with 16 GB of RAM is priced at $679.

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  • Minisforum N5 Air: Hybrid NAS Mini-PC with AMD APU Launch

    Minisforum N5 Air: Hybrid NAS Mini-PC with AMD APU Launch

    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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