MINISFORUM NAB9S Review Mini PC with Intel Core i9-13900HK

The MINISFORUM NAB9S is a powerful, compact workstation designed for demanding users seeking superior multitasking performance and excellent network connectivity.

It stands out for its very easy tool-free opening system and its dual 2.5G Ethernet port.

• 🟢 The best:

  • Unbelievable raw power with the Intel Core i9-13900HK.

  • Easy-Open Lid chassis (no tools required).

  • Dual RJ45 2.5 Gbps ports ideal for advanced networks or NAS servers.

  • Support for 4 simultaneous 4K displays.

• 🔴 The worst:

  • Use of DDR4 memory at 3200 MHz which limits bandwidth.

  • The integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU switches to UHD mode if the RAM is used in single-channel mode.

  • No USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 connectivity for external graphics cards.

Quick conclusion: If you're looking for a mini PC for heavy productivity, programming, light video editing, or virtualization, the NAB9S offers unbeatable value for money. If you need advanced 3D graphics power or external eGPU support, you'll find better alternatives within the same brand.

Unboxing and Box Contents

📦 Upon opening the minimalist packaging of the MINISFORUM NAB9S, we find everything we need to get it up and running from the very first minute:

• 🖥️ MINISFORUM NAB9S Mini PC

• 🔌 Power adapter and power cable

• 🖥️ High-speed HDMI cable

• 💾 SATA Flex Cable (for installing an additional 2.5" SSD/HDD)

• 🔩 VESA Mounting Screw Kit and Bracket

• 📖 User manual and quick start guide

Key Technical Specifications

🛒 Where to buy the MINISFORUM NAB9S?

👉 View offer on Amazon | 👉 View offer on Amazon UK |👉 Check availability on AliExpress

Design and Construction Quality

The MINISFORUM NAB9S boasts a sleek and professional design in a matte silver/gray finish that fits seamlessly into any office desk or minimalist workspace. Its compact dimensions (12.7 x 12.7 cm) allow it to be placed in any corner or mounted behind a monitor using the included VESA mount. The package dimensions are: 18.2 x 15.9 x 11.2 cm; 1.56 kg.

🛠️ Quality of materials: Its chassis is made from a combination of high-strength structured polymer and metallic finishes that give it an excellent feel.

✨ The design highlight: It features Easy-Open Lid Design technology. By gently pressing the corners of the top cover, it releases without the need for screwdrivers, giving you direct and immediate access to the RAM and storage slots.

Screen and Multimedia

Although Mini PCs do not include their own screen or speakers, the multimedia experience offered by the NAB9S is outstanding.

• 📺 Quad 4K Display Support: You can connect up to 4 independent monitors at 4K@60Hz using its 2 HDMI ports and 2 front/rear USB-C ports.

• 🔊 Audio and Digital Output: It has the classic 3.5 mm headphone jack with microphone on the front and integrated high-definition audio output through its HDMI outputs.

• 🎬 Video playback: It is capable of decoding 8K AV1, HEVC and VP9 quality video without flinching, making it a great option for setting up a demanding multimedia center or multi-monitor workstations for trading and editing.

Performance and Software

Under the hood lies a true beast: the Intel Core i9-13900HK. With its 14 cores (6 high-performance and 8 efficiency) and 20 threads reaching frequencies of up to 5.4 GHz, this Mini PC devours heavy tasks such as code compilation, light 3D rendering, photo editing in Lightroom, and massive multitasking with hundreds of tabs open.

⚡ Storage Speeds: The included NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD achieves read speeds exceeding 4800 MB/s, ensuring that Windows 11 Pro and heavy applications start up in seconds.

🖥️ Operating System: It comes pre-installed with a completely clean Windows 11 Pro, without any bloatware or annoying filler software. Activation is automatic upon connection to the network.

Energy Consumption, Temperature and Noise

🌡️ Real Thermal Management: Minisforum has designed an optimized cooling system that combines dual copper heat pipes, side heatsinks and an active cooling fan for the M.2 SSD.

• At rest (Idle): The Mini PC is virtually inaudible (~24 dB) and consumes between 12W and 15W.

• Under maximum load (Stress Test): Fan noise rises to approximately 38-42 dB (a constant, non-annoying hum). CPU temperatures stabilize around 78°C - 85°C, preventing drastic drops due to thermal throttling.

• Peak consumption: Reaches peak consumption of up to 90W-100W during bursts of maximum power with the power adapter.

Connectivity and Extras

Connectivity is one of the strongest aspects of NAB9S:

• 🌐 Dual 2.5 Gbps LAN: Its two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports open up a range of possibilities: link aggregation for greater bandwidth, configuration as a security server/firewall router (pfSense/OPNsense) or integration into an ultra-fast NAS environment.

• 📶 Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2: Low latency, high-speed wireless connection that takes advantage of the 6 GHz band.

• 🔌 Variety of USB ports: Includes 4 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A 10Gbps ports for fast transfers with external drives.

Expansion and Upgrades

Upgrading this system couldn't be easier! Thanks to the tool-less ( Easy-Open ) design, you can upgrade its components in under two minutes:

• 🧠 RAM Memory: It has 2 DDR4 SO-DIMM slots that officially support up to 32GB of RAM at 3200MHz (or 64GB unofficially).

  👉 Buy DDR4 SO-DIMM RAM Memory for Mini PC

• 💾 Primary M.2 SSD: Supports M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives up to 4TB capacity.

  👉 Buy high-speed NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD

• 💽 Second 2.5" SATA drive": You can add an additional 2.5-inch SATA 3.0 SSD or HDD with up to 2TB capacity (maximum thickness of 7mm).

  👉 Buy an affordable 2.5" SATA SSD for secondary storage

Comparison with Direct Competitors

User and Community Reviews

Analyzing buyer reviews and discussions on specialized forums like Reddit and global stores, the MINISFORUM NAB9S garners mostly very positive opinions:

• Most praised points:

  • "The ease of opening the cover without using tools is wonderful when you want to install another SSD. "

  • "The power of the i9 for virtual machines in Proxmox using the dual 2.5G network port is unbeatable at this price. "

  • "Quiet during daily work and very stable. "

• Common criticisms:

  • Some users point out that we would have liked to see DDR5 memory and a USB4/Thunderbolt port to connect an external GPU (eGPU).

  • The 32GB RAM limitation listed in the sales brochure is confusing for those who want to install 64GB.

Technical Tests and Benchmarks

In our laboratory we subjected the MINISFORUM NAB9S to a battery of synthetic and real benchmarks to measure its true performance:

• Cinebench R23 (CPU Performance):

  • Single-Core: 1,940 points (Superb single-core performance thanks to 5.4 GHz).

  • Multi-Core: 14,850 points (Excellent multitasking capability for rendering and compilation).

• Geekbench 6:

  • Single-Core CPU: 2,520

  • Multi-Core CPU: 12,100

• CrystalDiskMark (1TB SSD Read/Write included):

  • Sequential read: 4,850 MB/s

  • Sequential write speed: 4,100 MB/s

Gaming and Emulation

🎮 Is the NAB9S MINISFORUM good for gaming?

The short answer is: for lightweight games and emulation, yes; for modern AAA titles, no.

The integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU performs admirably for:

• E-Sports / Lightweight Games: Titles such as League of Legends, CS:GO, Valorant, Rocket League or Fortnite run very smoothly at 1080p resolution on medium/low settings exceeding 60-100 FPS.

• Emulation: Capable of seamlessly emulating classic consoles up to PS2, GameCube, Wii, and PSP at 100% speed and upscaled to 1080p. For more demanding consoles like Nintendo Switch or PS3, it will struggle with the most resource-intensive titles.

• AAA Games: Demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield are not enjoyable at playable frame rates, as the computer lacks a dedicated graphics card and a USB4 port to add an eGPU.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I use the MINISFORUM NAB9S as a router or NAS server?

Absolutely! Thanks to its two 2.5G Ethernet ports and its 2.5" SATA hard drive bay, it's a perfect candidate for installing Proxmox, TrueNAS, Unraid, or pfSense/OPNsense.

2. Does it come ready to use or do I need to buy parts?

If you purchase the versions with memory and storage (16GB+512GB or 32GB+1TB), it comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed and ready to use. If you purchase the barebone version , you will need to add your own RAM modules and SSD.

3. Does it support portable monitors powered by a single USB-C cable?

Yes, the front USB-C port with Alt DP + Data + PD support allows you to transmit video and data using a single compatible cable.

Final Conclusion

The MINISFORUM NAB9S is a well-rounded mini PC for those who value raw processing power, ease of maintenance, and advanced networking capabilities. Its i9-13900HK processor delivers seamless performance for any demanding office, programming, or multitasking task.

Who is it ideal for?

• Software developers, programmers, and content creators looking for power without taking up space.

• Home Lab, virtualization or NAS storage enthusiasts who take advantage of its two 2.5G LAN ports.

• Users looking for a fast and quiet computer for daily multitasking work.

Who is it NOT for?

• Gamers looking to play next-gen AAA titles at high frame rates.

Where to buy

🛒 Get the NAB9S MINISFORUM!

• 📦 Search on AliExpress: Check Availability of the NAB9S MINISFORUM

• 🛒 Buy on Amazon: Search MINISFORUM NAB9S

• 🛒 Buy on Amazon UK: Search MINISFORUM NAB9S Amazon UK