Minisforum has introduced the MS-A2, a compact 1.78-liter mini workstation powered by AMD’s Ryzen 9 9955HX processor. The launch follows other high-performance compact platforms from the company, including the BD895i SE Mini-ITX system.
The system combines a 16-core, 32-thread Zen 5 CPU with dual 10GbE networking and PCIe expansion in a chassis small enough for deskside deployments, home labs, and edge installations.
The Ryzen 9 9955HX is a high-performance mobile-class processor adapted for compact systems. It boosts up to 5.4 GHz and is designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads. In the MS-A2, it targets virtualization, container environments, software development, media production, and other compute-intensive tasks typically associated with larger towers or rack servers.
The chassis measures 196 × 189 × 48 mm, totaling just 1.78 liters. Despite the small footprint, memory and storage options are substantial. The system includes two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots with support for up to 96GB of memory. This makes it suitable for running multiple virtual machines, database testing, or memory-heavy container stacks.
The MS-A2 supports three M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots compatible with 2280 and 22110 drives, along with U.2 NVMe support for enterprise SSDs. Minisforum says total storage capacity can reach up to 15TB in supported configurations, giving the unit enough bandwidth and capacity for compact NAS builds or high-speed local datasets.
A full-length PCIe x16 slot is built into the system and operates in PCIe 4.0 x8 mode. It supports low-profile expansion cards and split configurations. That allows users to install additional networking adapters, storage controllers, AI accelerators, or compact GPUs. Very few systems under two liters offer native PCIe expansion, which places the MS-A2 between a mini PC and a small workstation-class platform.
The rear panel includes dual 10G SFP+ ports and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 or 5.3, depending on configuration. For small businesses or homelab users building 10GbE networks, integrated high-speed networking reduces the need for add-in cards.
Also Read: Best Wi-Fi 7 Laptop
Graphics are handled by integrated Radeon 610M graphics. It is not intended for gaming, but it supports multiple high-resolution displays and USB Type-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode. The system prioritizes CPU performance, storage bandwidth, and networking over graphics acceleration.
The MS-A2 starts at $799 for the barebones version, which includes the Ryzen 9 9955HX but requires users to add their own memory and storage. Preconfigured models are also available with up to 96GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. Minisforum notes that the $799 pricing reflects a launch promotion from an original $999 base price.
With Zen 5 compute performance, multi-drive NVMe support, PCIe expansion, and built-in dual 10GbE, the MS-A2 is positioned for users who need workstation-level capabilities in a compact enclosure. It offers an alternative to larger towers while retaining expansion options that most mini PCs do not provide.
Key Specifications
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX (16C / 32T, Zen 5) |
| Boost Clock | Up to 5.4 GHz |
| Memory | Up to 96GB DDR5 (Dual SO-DIMM) |
| Storage | 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 + U.2 NVMe support |
| Expansion | PCIe x16 (PCIe 4.0 x8 mode, low-profile) |
| Networking | Dual 10G SFP+ + Dual 2.5G LAN |
| Wireless | WiFi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2 / 5.3 |
| Graphics | Radeon 610M |
| Volume | 1.78 Liters |
| Starting Price | $799 |
Source: Minisforum
