Mini PC specialist Minisforum has launched its third MoDT (Cell on Desktop) motherboard product, the AR900i. In an electronic mail to Tom’s {Hardware} it fanfares this highly effective Mini ITX kind issue product, that includes a laptop computer Intel Core i9-13900HX and pre-fitted cooler, as “the Final MoDT… designed particularly for players.” Two different issues within the Minisforum AR900i’s favor are its inclusion of 4 M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD slots and a launch value of $559. That is marketed as a pre-sale low cost on the common retail value of $689.
To make it clear, it is a mini ITX kind issue motherboard for PC DIYers, however it’s a little bit totally different because it has a soldered laptop computer CPU on board. On this case, the laptop computer designated CPU is the potent Intel Core 13900HX. The 13900HX presents 24C / 32T, 32 MB good cache, and a max turbo frequency of 5.4 GHz. We see that Minisforum’s promotional materials additionally briefly mentions the Core i7-13650HX, so it seems to be like there will probably be a follow-up packing Intel’s 14C / 20T laptop computer chip with 24 MB good cache, and a max turbo frequency of 4.9 GHz.
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If you’re apprehensive about getting a desktop CPU cooler to suit these merchandise, don’t be. They’re decrease wattage than the desktop collection, and Minisforum has pre-installed “custom-made CPU coolers” supporting an non-obligatory 120 mm fan on prime, able to dealing with 100W, it says. On the subject of cooling, a customized PCIe SSD heatsink with an lively fan will be seen on one facet of the CPU heatsink.
Within the intro, we talked about the 4 M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD slots on this motherboard, which is loads for a Mini-ITX answer. We solely see two M.2 2280 slots on the higher facet of the board. A product web page picture reveals two additional M.2 2280 slots on the underside, flanking the CPU socket retainer. Thus, the SSD lively cooling covers the “entrance SSDs solely”.
Different DIY delights on this motherboard embrace the supply of two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots (as much as DDR5-5600 and 96 GB whole capability). Constructing a well-rounded SFF gaming PC additionally depends upon including a discrete GPU to the system, and on this motherboard there’s a PCIe 5.0 X16 connector prepared for the very best GPUs. Alternatively, you should utilize CPU onboard graphics by way of the system’s built-in HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, or USB-C ports. Full Minisforum AR900i motherboard specs will be checked within the desk under.
|
Processor |
Intel Core i9-13900HX Processor, 24 Cores/32 Threads (36M Cache, as much as 5.4 GHz) |
|---|---|
|
GPU |
Intel UHD Graphics for thirteenth Gen Intel® Processors |
|
Chipset |
Intel HM770 Chipset |
|
Reminiscence |
DDR5 Twin channel (SODIMM Slots×2, as much as 5600 MT/s, Max 96GB) |
|
Storage |
4×M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD Slots |
|
Enlargement Slot |
PCIe 5.0 X16 connector ×1 |
|
Wi-fi Connectivity |
M.2 2230 Key E Slot |
|
Video Output |
HDMI2.0 ×1；DisplayPort1.4 ×1；USB-C ×1 |
|
Audio Output |
HDMI2.0 ×1；DisplayPort1.4 ×1；USB-C ×1；Line Out ×1 |
|
Ethernet |
RJ45 2.5G Ethernet Port×1 |
|
USB Ports |
USB3.2 Gen2 Kind-C Port ×1(Alt DP), USB3.2 Gen2 Kind-A Port ×2, USB2.0 Kind-A Port ×2 |
|
I/O Ports |
4-pin CPU Fan header ×1, 4-pin System Fan header ×2, 4-pin SSD Fan header ×1, USB 3.2 Gen 2 header ×1, Entrance Panel Audio header ×1, System Panel header ×1 |
|
Kind Issue |
Mini-ITX Kind Issue(170x170mm) |
The Minisforum AR900i is the third Mini-ITX motherboard with a pre-installed laptop computer processor. In September it launched the AD650i board with the Intel Core i7-12650H. That one additionally provided superlative storage choices for the scale, with single M.2 SSD and twin SATA 3.0 drive ports on board – in addition to a bundled MXM card for as much as three additional M.2 2280 PCIe3.0 SSDs.
Minisforum additionally launched the BD770i MoDT with built-in AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX CPU and twin PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots at $399, again in October.
