Minisforum has launched the NAB9S mini PC with two configurations: a barebones unit at $399 and a pre-built model at $759 that includes 32 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and a 1 TB SSD. The company chose older DDR4 memory over DDR5 but added a full 2.5-inch SATA bay for secondary storage, targeting buyers who need expandable capacity in a compact workstation. An aluminium chassis with toolless access simplifies upgrades.

The system runs on an Intel Core i9-13900HX laptop processor packing 24 cores (eight P-cores, 16 E-cores) and 32 threads with a 5.4 GHz boost clock. That mobile-class silicon caps sustained performance, so the NAB9S falls short for serious SFF gaming or heavy content creation despite its core count.

Connectivity is generous: the front offers dual USB 3.2 Type-A, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, and a 3.5 mm combo jack, while the rear adds dual 2.5 GbE LAN ports, dual HDMI, two USB 3.2 Type-C (one with DisplayPort Alt Mode), and dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A. Minisforum includes a SATA adapter cable, VESA mount, active SSD cooling, and flow-through airflow for the CPU.

For home-lab builders or office deployments needing multi-gig networking and storage flexibility at a low price, the NAB9S makes sense. Creators and gamers should look elsewhere — the laptop CPU throttles under sustained loads, and DDR4 bandwidth limits integrated graphics headroom.