MINISFORUM UM890 PRO Review: The Most Powerful Mini PC of 2025?

The MINISFORUM UM890 / UM880 PRO with AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS is one of the most powerful and versatile mini PCs on the market. It combines a compact design with performance worthy of a high-end desktop.

It stands out for its OCuLink connectivity and dual 2.5G Ethernet, although its price and cooling under load might not appeal to everyone.
✅ Pros: Outstanding performance, dual PCIe 4.0 SSDs, 5600 MHz DDR5 RAM, excellent connectivity.
❌ Cons: Somewhat noisy in turbo mode, high price, no dedicated GPU.

Table of key technical specifications

Design and construction quality

The UM890 / UM880 PRO maintains MINISFORUM's understated and professional style, with a brushed aluminum chassis that helps dissipate heat and gives a premium feel to the touch.

Its compact size fits easily in the palm of your hand or behind a VESA monitor.

The construction is solid, with no creaks or looseness, and the rounded edges give it a modern touch. It's clearly designed for both elegant offices and minimalist gaming setups.

Screen and multimedia

It offers excellent multimedia compatibility . Its HDMI and USB4 outputs allow you to connect up to four 4K monitors simultaneously , ideal for multitasking or video editing.

The Radeon 780M chip offers smooth 8K video decoding and a good visual experience even in light games or eSports titles.

In terms of sound, the HDMI output transmits high-fidelity audio, although you will depend on the external system you use.

Performance and software

With the Ryzen 9 8945HS , the UM890 / UM880 PRO performs like a compact workstation.

In productivity tests (such as Cinebench or Geekbench), it easily outperforms mini PCs with 13th generation Intel Core i7 processors.

In gaming, the Radeon 780M allows you to play AAA titles at 1080p with medium settings, and esports games (like Valorant or CS2) at over 120 FPS. Furthermore, the OCU Link port allows you to connect an external GPU and transform it into a true desktop gaming PC .

The system comes with a clean Windows 11 Pro , without bloatware, and updates correctly from Windows Update.

Power Supply

It stands out for its efficient power supply (120W or 150W depending on configuration), with low standby power consumption (15–25W) and a good quality included charger.

Connectivity and extras

This is one of its strengths. In addition to dual 2.5G Ethernet ports , the UM890 integrates Wi-Fi 6E , Bluetooth 5.3 , multiple USB-A ports, and two USB4 ports that support video and charging up to 100W.

The OCulink port is a rarity in this type of device and allows you to connect external GPUs with bandwidth higher than Thunderbolt 4, extending their lifespan and performance.

It also supports VESA mounting and remote boot via LAN (Wake-on-LAN).

Opinions on well-known websites and technology media

Summary

• Amazon: Average rating of 4.6/5 , highlighting the power and silence in normal tasks.

• Reddit (r/MiniPCs): Users praise OCulink support and video editing versatility.

• YouTube reviewers: They agree that the performance of the Ryzen 9 8945HS and the DDR5 position it as one of the most powerful mini PCs of its size.

• Common criticisms: fan noise in “Performance” mode and above-average price.

ServeTheHome.com

The tech site ServeTheHome considers the UM890 Pro a significant upgrade over previous generations, especially with the addition of the OCuLink port for eGPUs. They point out that many improvements are "under the hood," such as the internal design and thermal management, and praise the combination of functionality and power in a compact form factor.

However, they caution that implementing the OCuLink port may require attention to detail (e.g., expansion cards or internal adjustments) to ensure it functions correctly in all scenarios.

Notebookcheck.net

The review on Notebookcheck describes the UM890 Pro as a compact and impressive mini PC thanks to its Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and integrated Radeon 780M graphics. It highlights that the device more than delivers for office tasks, multimedia, and even moderate gaming. It also emphasizes that the inclusion of OCULink makes it more attractive as a scalable platform if more graphics power is needed.

As a criticism, they mention that although the integrated graphics are competent, they do not rival dedicated GPUs, so performance in AAA titles with extreme settings will be limited.

Liliputing

Liliputing highlights that the UM890 Pro achieves "almost silent" operation even under heavy load, thanks to its well-designed cooling system. This contrasts with some mini PCs that are noisy during demanding tasks .

They also point out that the observed performance (“very good”) is consistent with what you would expect from machines with similar hardware, with no obvious negative surprises.

Professional Review (Spanish version)

The review on ProfesionalReview.com highlights the UM890 Pro as a "great option for advanced users," emphasizing its professional-grade connectivity (dual 2.5 Gb LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, OCULink) and its real-world performance, even in basic gaming. The article recommends it as a mini PC for those who demand power, although it clarifies that it's not perfect and isn't designed for everyone.

It is also mentioned that it is a versatile device, beyond purely gaming use: it performs very well for video editing, creative tasks and intensive work.

User reviews on Reddit / technical forums

• On Reddit (r/MiniPCs) , one of the comments about the UM890 Pro mentions:

  “I really have no idea about the power consumption. But what I can say is that it is very quiet and does a perfect job (I'm a software developer).”
  This aligns with what has been reported in the media: users especially appreciate the low noise level at idle or under moderate load.

• In discussions about similar models (UM880 / UM880 PRO), users compare manufacturers and advantages: for example, one comments on Reddit

  "As far as companies are concerned, I've seen fewer complaints about Beelink than about Minisforum."
  While not directly about the UM890, it provides context that the brand, according to some users, has higher expectations or receives more criticism than others.

• On Forocoches (a Spanish-language forum) , a user has been discussing their experience buying from stores like "store.minisforum.de". One user recounts that, after paying for customs insurance, the device was held up and they had to pay around €80, but this amount was later refunded without any further issues. They added that the device "works perfectly and is like new" and that dealing with the store was smooth.

Comparative summary of what they usually value and criticize

👍 Frequent positive aspects

• Quiet/low noise : many media outlets and users agree that the fan does not become annoying except in extreme situations.

• Adequate power for its size : for heavy office tasks, light content editing or even moderate gaming, it meets expectations.

• Advanced connectivity : OCuLink, dual 2.5 GbE, USB4 and Wi-Fi 6E are valued features, especially for those who require future expansion.

• Compact yet complete design : the ability to expand (dual SSD, internal slots) and mount (VESA) is also favorably mentioned.

👎 Recurring criticisms or warnings

• Limited graphics performance : the integrated GPU is not made for ultra-demanding AAA gaming.

• OCuLink implementation with nuances : some reviewers indicate that not all dock configurations work "out-of-the-box", they may require adjustments.

• Power consumption and temperatures under load : although acceptable, they can approach thresholds in prolonged scenarios.

• Prices and added costs : Users who import from international stores face extra tariffs or insurance, which increases the final cost.

• Brand expectations : Some comparative comments suggest that, due to Minisforum's reputation, users have higher expectations and may be more critical compared to other brands.

Summary of technical tests

Extended technical summary of tests and benchmarks

CPU performance / general computing tests

• In Liliputing 's review , the UM890 Pro scored approximately 2,712 points in single-core and 13,543 points in multi-core on Geekbench 6.2.1 .

• In 3DMark Time Spy , the tests showed an approximate overall score of 3,395 points , with CPU: 11,192 and GPU: 3,024 .

• In integrated graphics tests with Unigine Heaven 4.0 , Liliputing reports ~79.7 FPS and ~2,008 as the base system graphics score.

• The Notebookcheck review notes that the APU (Ryzen 9 8945HS) initially operates at ~65W during bursts, stabilizing afterward at ~54W, and that the BIOS "Performance" modes raise the TDP to 70W (at the cost of increased noise) to squeeze more performance out of multithreaded applications .

• Notebookcheck 's test tables offer comparisons between "Balanced" and "Performance" modes in Cinebench (R15 / R20 / R23). For example, in "Balanced" mode, it achieves ~107 points in 1T and ~978 points in nT (modern version of Cinebench) as representative values ​​for its class.

• In the Notebookcheck article “The perfect mini PC” , it is noted that the device “never really disappoints” and offers well-sustained performance without serious thermal issues.

Thermal performance, consumption and noise

• Liliputing measured the actual power consumption using a power meter:
    • Shutdown: 0.8 – 1.2 W
    • Idle: ~9.5 W (Windows) / ~9.9 W (Ubuntu)
    • Under full load (Cinebench + FurMark): maximum ~95.7 W, average ~91.3 W

• Regarding temperatures, Liliputing notes that the unit can reach ~88 °C under sustained high-stress use, which is high but acceptable considering its compact size.

• Notebookcheck notes that the "Performance" mode significantly increases fan noise, so the standard balanced mode is more advisable for everyday use.

• The review “The perfect mini PC” highlights that the system maintains good thermal control and emits relatively low noise levels compared to mini PCs of similar power.

Performance with external GPU / graphics expansion

• At ServeTheHome , tests were conducted using the OCuLink port to connect an eGPU (for example, a Radeon Pro W7700), and the results were compared to those of the integrated GPU. A substantial improvement was observed when using an eGPU via OCuLink, and OCuLink (by bypassing protocol layers like USB4/ Thunderbolt ) offers lower latency and better utilization of PCIe bandwidth.

• The same review indicates benchmarks for compiling the Linux kernel, 7-zip and OpenSSL, where the new APU performs very close to the previous generation, but with slight improvements in verification, decompression and cryptographic tasks.

• ServeTheHome claims that the integrated graphics (Radeon 780M) can handle esports games and light graphics multitasking, although it is no match for dedicated GPUs without the OCuLink expansion.

Final conclusion

The MINISFORUM UM890 / UM880 PRO is a high-end mini PC that redefines what you can expect from such a small form factor. Its raw power, professional-grade connectivity, and external GPU support make it an ideal choice for:

• Professionals who work with video editing, 3D modeling, or virtualization.

• Players looking for a compact system with expansion possibilities.

• Users who want a quiet, powerful, and modern station.

Is it worth it? Yes, if you need power and versatility. If you're just looking for a mini PC for basic tasks, there are cheaper alternatives like the Beelink SER7 or the Intel NUC 13 Pro .

Where to buy

You can find out more or purchase the MINISFORUM UM890 / UM880 PRO directly from the official MINISFORUM store or authorized distributors such as AliExpress .