Hey everyone,
A while back I covered Framework’s new Desktop. If you liked the idea but were looking for a (cheaper) alternative, Minisforum just introduced the MS-S1 MAX.
This is a compact, rack-friendly mini workstation built around the same processor — AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16C/32T) with Radeon 8060S graphics. It supports up to 128GB LPDDR5X (8000 MT/s) in unified memory, has 2× USB4 v2 (80Gbps) plus 2× USB4 (40Gbps), dual 10GbE, Wi-Fi 7, two M.2 NVMe (PCIe 4.0 ×4 + x1), a full-length PCIe x16 slot inside (x4 electrical) for expansion, and a built-in 320W PSU.
Minisforum quotes up to 126 TOPS total AI performance (50 TOPS NPU) and a 130W sustained / 160W peak power envelope, and the first hands-on reviews seem to put it at least a notch above the model from GMKTec.
Pre-orders are live at $2,299 for the 128GB RAM + 2TB SSD config, with shipping expected late October 2025.
I would honestly love to see this one become a Tryout. Its specs make it an amazing machine to run local LLMs: that big 128GB unified memory (no separate VRAM ceiling) plus a chunky RDNA 3.5 iGPU means more room for models and faster in-memory work; dual 10GbE + PCIe let you scale out or add a card later. As always, vendor claims like “run 100B+ models” depend on quantization and your setup.
If self-hosted AI isn’t your cup of tea, this server can also be the perfect small-footprint gaming PC for your living room, running Bazzite OS.
What do you think—pay more for the Framework Desktop’s larger chassis and expandability, or go with the MS-S1 MAX for a compact powerhouse?
