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Just days after introducing the MINISFORUM UM590 compact desktop computer with an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor, MINISFORUM has unveiled a new UM690 variant with a faster processor, better graphics, speedier RAM and faster USB connectivity.
The new MINISFORUM UM690 has an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, Radeon 680M graphics, DDR5 memory, and a 40 Gbps USB4 port. It’s up for pre-order now, and expected to begin shipping in mid-December, 2022.
Available with up to 64GB of DDR5 dual-channel memory and a 512GB SSD, list prices start at $599 for a barebones model (or $759 for a 16GB/512GB configuration). But MINISFORUM is offering pre-order discounts so if you’re willing to wait for yours to ship, you can pick up a barebones model for $499 (or a 16GB/512GB model for $649).
Interestingly, the UM690 only costs a little more than the Ryzen 5900HX-powered UM590, which sells for $499 and up during pre-orders (or $529 and up at retail pricing).
On the one hand, that’s not too surprising, since the two computers are nearly identical in most respects: they have the same chassis and both are powered by 45-watt AMD Ryzen HX-series mobile processors.
But while the Ryzen 9 6900HX only offers a modest boost in CPU performance, it includes Radeon 680M graphics which should bring up to twice the graphics performance over the Vega 8 integrated GPU featured in the previous-gen chip.
Other upgrades include a bump from DDR4-3200 memory to DDR5-4800 memory, from PCIe 3.0 storage to PCIe 4.0, and from a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port to a 40 Gbps USB4 port. MINISFORUM says that the system should be able to work with external graphics docks. Or when using both the USB4 and HDMI ports, you should be able to connect up to three displays: two 4K/60 Hz displays and an 8K/60 Hz display.
Other ports include a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, two HDMI ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. And in addition to the PCIe 4.0 slot for an M.2 2280 SSD, the system supports an optional 2.5 inch, 7mm SATA 3 hard drive or SSD.
I was giving this serious consideration but then I remembered that I’m rather fond of DisplayPort…
With the photos, what kind of a maniac, puts a hot cup of coffee, on top of a tablet, still, nice to have 2 USB C ports and 2 HDMI ports.
How fast things change, I’ve a 4700U, with 32GB of ddr4, but now we have ddr5 and PCIe4, I came close to PCIe4 a year and a half ago, right board, PCIe4 stick. But the Ryzen 5, apu wouldn’t do PCIe4, even though the Ryzen 3 cpu would, saving money in all the wrong places, my 5G mobile, won’t run WiFi 6. I factory reset 4 devices, 5G phone, iPad mini 6, Mac mini M1 and the Ryzen 7, with 32GB of RAM, in 7 hours, with office and google Chrome apps, so I suppose we’re making progress.
The Mac went from 80GB of software, on the PCIe4, to 32GB of software, it shows how much code bloatware you can get, by accumulation. It actually took less time, to reset the Mac mini M1, than the AMD mini computer, even though it had 1/4 of the RAM, it used to take much longer, to reset the Mac. But Apple must be learning, to use the PCIe4, on chip die RAM, 16 billion transistors, in 5nm better; I wasn’t impressed with Microsoft’s android version, Amazon App Store, no central Google apps. Yet I could get google apps, on the Mac and mini PC, installed, via the Chrome apps install, I once got the primary factory reset down to 15 minutes, on the 6 core. But it was over half an hour, for the primary factory reset, with 32GB of ram and it only went from 80GB, to 45GB, as opposed to 32GB on the Mac, code bloat. Well one of these days, I’ll get ddr5 and PCIe4, on Windows, we’ll see how that works.
This is just what I’ve been waiting for!
The links in the article didn’t work, I had to manually go to MINISFORUM website.
I checked out the prices, and it’s tough to swallow. The most value for money option seems to be the 32GB+512GB option, but at USD $630 (plus international shipping) it’s a bit rich. It’s approaching the price of a similar specced laptop, but the laptop includes a battery, screen, microphone, speakers, touchpad, and keyboard. So I don’t see why I can’t just use the laptop hooked up to a TV or Monitor.
If there was a way to add a dGPU to this, it would win me over. That’s what I foresee as the big upgrade for this system in the future. It only has an m.2 port, it doesn’t have a Pcie Slot. No expansion port like on their previous (5700g) model. And eGPU solutions would work well, but that itself costs almost as much as this unit. Perhaps I should look into SFF PCs instead of Mini PCs.
Will have to sleep it over this purchase.
Have a look at the HX90G. Includes a discrete 6600M GPU, with a 5900HX. Barebones $799 with pre-order discount.
Amazing!
(but the UM590 has 10 Gbps USB ports. 20 Gbps is USB 3.2 Gen 2 x2. Yes, too confusing)