Minisforum UM890M

The Minisforum UM890 Pro positions itself as a premium mini PC with AMD's Ryzen 9 8945HS, but its $649 price (32GB/1TB) faces stiff competition. The 8945HS offers only a marginal 3–5% performance gain over the older 8845HS (5.1GHz vs. 5.3GHz boost) while costing ~$100 more than equivalent 8845HS models like the GMKtec K8 Plus. Its Radeon 780M GPU handles 1080p gaming (e.g., CS:GO at 120fps, GTA V at 60fps Medium), but the single 40mm fan struggles under sustained loads, hitting 45dB—noticeably louder than the GMKtec K11's 80mm fan (38dB). The aluminum chassis feels premium, though the lack of top-panel ventilation limits thermal headroom .

Compared to the GMKtec K11 (8945HS, $599), the UM890 Pro loses value. The K11 matches its specs (32GB/1TB) but adds superior cooling (80mm fan + top air gaps), and dual USB4—all for $50 less. Both systems support eGPUs via OCuLink (PCIe 4.0 x4), but the K11's thermal design sustains higher clock speeds (4.2GHz all-core vs. UM890's 3.9GHz under load). Minisforum's USB4 ports support DP 1.4 and 100W PD, but real-world transfer speeds cap at 35Gbps (vs. theoretical 40Gbps), and the OCuLink port's placement blocks some eGPU docks . For creators, the 8945HS's NPU (16 TOPS) enables smooth background blur in Zoom, but this feature works identically on cheaper 8845HS models .

The UM890 Pro shines in connectivity with dual 2.5G Ethernet and quad USB-A ports—ideal for NAS setups or peripherals—but its 40mm fan's whine undermines office use. At $649, it's hard to recommend over the K11 or discounted 8845HS models like the Beelink SER8 ($600). If you need OCuLink, the K11 is objectively better; if not, the 8845HS offers nearly identical performance for less. Minisforum's build quality is excellent, but the thermal design feels outdated next to competitors .

- GhostKeyboard Review.