Minisforum MS-02 Ultra: Workstation proves itself as a barebone version
The Minisforum MS-02 Ultra is a compact workstation. The manufacturer has brought the device onto the market with different CPUs: The most powerful variant is currently the Intel Core Ultra 9-285HX version. Depending on your budget, a cheaper Core Ultra 5-235HX version is also available. You may be able to save money if you rely on components you already have at home Barebone version buys. The price difference is enormous: For the 285HX variant, 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD already amount to 540.00 euros per day. Barebone hardware versions are becoming increasingly popular.
There are two reasons for this: on the one hand, you can breathe new life into old hardware, and on the other hand, you can choose the RAM and SSD yourself. Especially in view of the sharp increase in memory prices, it can be worthwhile to continue using existing components. However, if you have to buy all new hardware, you should do the math carefully. Many new mini PCs will be released in 2026 with single-channel RAM, although a dual-channel configuration may well be a better option. 32 GB of dual-channel RAM from Crucial with DDR5-5600 currently costs 544.99 euros.
In order for the PC to be ready for use, it needs a data storage medium. When researching, our colleague Timm Mohn noticed: Even if you choose a comparatively cheap gaming SSD, the selected components are already higher than the additional price of the preconfigured variant. The WD Black SN7100 with 1 TB of storage space currently costs 185.99 euros. The total price for RAM and SSD is therefore 730.98 euros. This means that this is far above the price difference that results from Minisforum. Any shipping costs are not taken into account.
From a purely financial perspective, purchasing these two components separately is not worth it. The biggest savings come from installing existing hardware. For example, if you still have a compatible DDR5 SO-DIMM kit and an M.2 SSD, you can completely avoid the surcharge for the preconfigured version. Reasons for reuse can be different: Be it a defective notebook from which still working components can be taken, or simply curiosity about crafting. Reuse can be worthwhile, especially given current storage prices. However, before purchasing, you should check whether the existing components are actually compatible with the MS-02 Ultra.
Installation doesn’t cause any problems
The MS-02 Ultra makes installing new hardware components quite easy. Minisforum has one Video about installing the hardware created that gives an insight into the inside of the hardware before you buy it. Important: The MS-02 Ultra has a total of four RAM slots. However, the rear slots cannot be used as primary slots. If you only want to install two RAM modules initially, you should pay attention to the assembly order provided by the manufacturer. According to the manufacturer, the MS-02 Ultra supports a total of up to 256 GB of RAM.
This is a considerable amount for a mini PC and makes the device particularly interesting for demanding workstation tasks, virtualization and memory-intensive applications. In this case, however, only 32 GB of RAM should be installed. The two memory modules can easily be inserted into the slots provided. The cooling cover is then fixed again with two screws. Important: The barebone version still has a protective film on the cooling pads. This must definitely be removed.
If you only want to use one SSD initially, the slot on the back of the mainboard is recommended. This offers a PCIe 4.0 x4 connection and therefore sufficient bandwidth for modern NVMe SSDs. The fact that the rear M.2 slot is also preferred at Minisforum is shown by the fact that the manufacturer places an SSD here in preconfigured systems and not on the daughterboard. A cooling pad is also included in the scope of delivery for the SSD.
Two additional SSDs can be installed on the network expansion card. But be careful: thermal paste is applied to a chip inside. If the corresponding cooling solution is removed, care must be taken to properly renew the thermal paste. Particularly with such a compact system, sufficient cooling is important so that the installed components can maintain their performance even under prolonged load.
Research Snipers is currently covering all technology news including Google, Apple, Android, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung News, and More. Research Snipers has decade of experience in breaking technology news, covering latest trends in tech news, and recent developments. Can be reached at author1@researchsnipers.com
