MINISFORUM AMD 9 9955HX MS-A2

MINISFORUM AMD 9 9955HX MS-A2

By MINISFORUM · Desktop Computers · Phones & Computers

  • AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX (16 cores, 32 threads, up to 5.4 GHz)
  • Up to 96GB DDR5 RAM
  • 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots plus U.2 support
  • Dual 10GbE SFP+ (Intel X710) + dual 2.5GbE LAN
  • PCIe 4.0 x8 slot (physical x16)

Lowest price seen
$1,399.99
from $1,399.99 at GigaParts · Checked Oct 7, 2026

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

A 1.78 L mini workstation built around a 16-core AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, with dual 10GbE SFP+, four LAN ports and three M.2 slots, aimed at homelab, networking and virtualization builds. Check the thermals before you buy: the cooling reaches its limit under sustained load and the fans are loud.

Strengths

  • 16 Zen 5 cores deliver a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36,078, close to desktop-class chips.
  • Dual 10GbE SFP+ and four LAN ports suit routing, firewall and NAS builds.
  • Three M.2 slots with U.2 support and RAID 0/1 give room for fast storage.
  • The toolless slide-out case opens without tools for RAM and SSD work.
  • PCIe bifurcation lets you run dual networking cards or NVMe adapters.
  • Ubuntu, Proxmox and ESXi all run, with the 10GbE SFP+ ports recognized.

Weaknesses

  • The cooling reaches its limit under sustained load and the CPU throttles around 90°C.
  • Fan noise is a common complaint, present even at idle and worse in performance mode.
  • The integrated Radeon 610M is very weak for gaming or GPU work.
  • There is no USB4 or Thunderbolt, a step back from the Intel-based MS-01.
  • Idle power is higher than Intel alternatives, which matters for 24/7 server use.
  • Minisforum’s warranty service is widely reported as slow and inconsistent.

Verified specifications

CPUAMD Ryzen 9 9955HX, Zen 5, 16 cores / 32 threads, up to 5.4 GHz boost, 64 MB L3 cache, 100 W PL1/PL2.
Base clock2.5 GHz.
Integrated GPUAMD Radeon 610M, 2 cores, up to 2.2 GHz.
Memory2x DDR5 SO-DIMM, up to 96 GB, DDR5-5600 on the 9955HX.
Storage3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots (2280/22110), plus U.2 NVMe through an included adapter; RAID 0/1 support.
PCIe expansionone physical x16 slot, PCIe 4.0 x8 electrical, with bifurcation into 2x PCIe 4.0 x4.
Networking2x 10GbE SFP+ (Intel X710), 2x 2.5GbE RJ45 (Realtek RTL8125 and Intel I226-V).
WirelessWi-Fi 6E (MediaTek MT7922), Bluetooth 5.2.
Video output1x HDMI 2.1 up to 8K@60Hz; 2x USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode.
USB2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A and 1x USB 2.0 on the front; 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A and 2x USB-C on the rear.
Audio3.5 mm combo jack.
Power adapter240 W (19V/12.63A), external.
Operating systemWindows 11 Pro on configured models; the barebone ships with no OS.
Warranty2 years.
Dimensions7.72 × 7.44 × 1.89 in (196 × 189 × 48 mm); volume 1.78 L. Weight 3.2 lb (1.45 kg); power supply 788 g.
In the boxmini PC, 240 W power supply, HDMI cable, U.2 to M.2 adapter card, SSD heatsink, U.2 mounting screws and user manual.
Full research notes and sources

Performance, expansion and ports

The 9955HX puts 16 Zen 5 cores and 32 threads in a 1.78 L box. Notebookcheck measured Cinebench R23 at 36,078 multi-core and 2,183 single-core, and Cinebench 2024 at 1,775 multi-core, with a performance rating of 63 points, close to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K at 65.6. Hostbor saw Geekbench 6 scores of 3,197 single-core and 18,301 multi-core, and Cachem’s barebone hit about 7,400 MB/s sequential read on a Samsung 990 Pro. For storage and I/O there are three M.2 slots, U.2 support through an included adapter, RAID 0/1, and a physical x16 slot wired as PCIe 4.0 x8 that can bifurcate into two x4 links.

Thermals, noise and power

This is the compromise. Notebookcheck’s cooling unit quickly reaches its limit and the fan is present throughout, with nervous fan control; NoobFeed measured CPU temperatures near 90°C with throttling under heavy sustained load, and SSD temperatures of 73°C. Minisforum’s manual calls CPU temperatures up to 94°C normal. NoobFeed put full-load draw at about 148 W from the wall, or 160 W in performance mode, and flagged idle power as higher than a comparable Intel system. The 240 W power brick is large, and the secondary M.2 slots run at PCIe 3.0 x4 by default; switching them to PCIe 4.0 x4 in the BIOS can overheat the SSD, according to the manual.

Homelab, networking and support

The draw is the connectivity: dual 10GbE SFP+ on an Intel X710, dual 2.5GbE, and Wi-Fi 6E. Reviewers report Ubuntu and Proxmox installing cleanly with all network ports recognized, and an ESXi write-up found the 10GbE SFP+ and Intel 2.5GbE ports working, though only that Intel I226-V port is picked up, not the Realtek RTL8125. The CPU is soldered and not upgradable; RAM, SSDs and PCIe cards are user-replaceable, and the Wi-Fi card sits in a standard M.2 2230 E-Key slot. The 2-year warranty is standard, but owners and reviewers repeatedly describe Minisforum support as unresponsive, with rejected repairs and long lead times, and MiniPC Blogs warns the warranty is only as good as the company’s willingness to honor it.

Is it worth it?

At $799 barebone on Minisforum’s US store it is a strong homelab buy: 16 Zen 5 cores, dual 10GbE SFP+, U.2 support and PCIe bifurcation have no direct rival in a sub-2 L chassis. Above about $1,000 the thermal throttling and fan noise get harder to justify for sustained workloads, and from $1,301 to $1,600 the configured models look weak next to alternatives with USB4, better integrated graphics or lower idle power. Budget for RAM, an SSD and an OS on the barebone, and note the 240 W brick is bulky; there are no subscription costs.

Which model this is

This page covers the MS-A2 with the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX. The same chassis is also sold with the Ryzen 9 7945HX and Ryzen 9 8945HX, both Zen 4, so check the processor in the listing before buying. Don’t confuse it with the Intel-based MS-01 or the socketed MS-A1. The US barebone listing is ASIN B0F8JCT9PY.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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