Some bad news for the mini workstation is that it is more audible when idling and under load, in my experience. Initially, I measured both systems from about arm’s length distance. My Define S desktop uses large Noctua fans and sits under the desk, and in the comparison results, you see that even using the tiny RTX 5060 didn’t increase the noticeable system noise – it is hard to be 100% confident about the 1dBA difference observed.
Having the MS-02 Ultra at arm's length from my seated position, but on the desk top, the noise level was quite high at 48 dBA under load, as per the above chart. However, sitting it under the desk, where the big DIY desktop PC was previously located, reduced the max noise level to 41 dBA. But it's a far smaller system, and when positioned in the space vacated by the Define S, the Minisforum front panel moves beyond arm's reach under the desk. It is necessary to bend quite low from the chair to reach the power button and front I/O, which isn't convenient. That's why I decided to keep it on the desk.
I also note that the Minisforum BIOS has various fan modes (quiet, balanced, and performance) and manual tweaking of the trio of system fans. I ran it at ‘Balanced,’ so there’s probably some tuning that could be done for better noise performance.
I’ll continue to work on configuring the fans, with an eye on processor and memory temperatures, as the louder fans are the one aspect of the MS-02 Ultra that pokes me in the ribs. It may also be repositioned further back on the desk or under it to scale back its audible presence. The fan noise isn’t high-pitched, and I sometimes forget it, but less is more.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) We must also talk about the price of the Minisforum MS-02 Ultra mini workstation. As of the this writing, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX model with 2x 25 GbE PCIe SFP+ NIC, 32GB DDR5, plus a 1TB M.2 PCIe4x4 SSD, and Windows 11 Pro is priced at $1,583.90 from Amazon.com . You can also go barebone (no RAM, SSD, or OS) for $1,229.90 using a $300 discount coupon on the page , which could be a great option if you have a spare DDR5 SO-DIMM, M.2 SSD, and can source your own OS. As with all PCs at this time, prices are very volatile.
The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 OC LP 8G I bought to go in this system's PCIe 5.0 x16 slot is currently $359 at Newegg . This was a necessary extra to indulge in the type and quality of gaming fun that I am used to.
Thus, for the Minisforum MS-02 Ultra 32GB/1TB with RTX 5060 LP graphics card installed, as tested, today's total price would be $1,942.90. Things have gotten a little pricier since I began my tests in early January, but that's the way the PC market is going.
We could talk about the comparison between the MS-02 Ultra build/cost and a desktop, with the latter offering much better value and expandability or upgradeability. However, getting something this performant yet compact, with this level of I/O spec and expandability, is going to be impossible with off-the-shelf parts. In this way, and especially for those with a use for the 2x 25 GbE PCIe SFP+ NIC, this mini workstation is a uniquely attractive package.
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Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-13/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Mark Tyson Social Links Navigation News Editor Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.
das_stig Another stupid Apples v Oranges review, Define-S is obviously geared towards day to day work and gaming, while Miniforum is a workstation, for crunching data. They both has strength and weaknesses in either category, jeez TH, get a clue, your doing reviews using staff who not experts in the area and getting 3rd rate content. Reply
thestryker Companies have been getting a lot more creative with mobile on desktop platforms. The minisforum workstations have been most interesting to me just due to the expandability aspect. Biggest problem I see with these platforms is that there are typically no memory tweaking options. Reply
m3city That is not a credit card, is it? That is a card that confirms that one has a health insurance, and is honored in all EU countries – free health care. Costs of aid is then agreed between countries if one has such card, given for free naturally. And the comparison really shows how small this case is Reply
Key considerations
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/desktops/mini-pcs/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/desktops/mini-pcs/minisforum-ms-02-ultra-mini-workstation-hands-on#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.