Introduction

A big thank you to Minisforum for providing the review sample.

Minisforum is a relatively new company having been founded in 2018. Since then they have rapidly expanded into a global player in the Mini-PC space. With a vast number of innovative small form factor systems meant to fit nearly any and all needs, be it ultra-low power applications or high-performance options that can fit in the palm of your hand, their wide assortment of systems shows how far they have come in such a short period. Furthermore, they were one of the first to use pre-applied liquid metal thermal compounds to improve temperatures, and therefore overall system performance. With a willingness to experiment and a continuous drive to improve it will be interesting to see where Minisforum goes in the future.


Today's review is a deep dive into the company's EliteMini UM780 XTX. Featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS with the venerable Radeon 780M, it comes equipped with 32 GB of DDR5 SODIMM memory and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. It also features OCulink support via an add-on board that is included. While this inclusion may be a bit niche, it does offer more bandwidth than USB4 if using a compatible eGPU, meaning you can retain a larger portion of a graphics cards true performance if opting for an eGPU setup. Taking that into account along with its specifications and added flair via the illuminated top plate which you can modify, the UM780 XTX certainly looks to be a feature packed and powerful system. So let's take a closer look and see what this mini-PC is truly capable of.

Packaging and Contents

The box itself is relatively plain, with only three of the panels having any information. Looking at the top you will find the Minisforum logo in gold, but little else. Meanwhile, the bottom details the specifications which include an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, 32 GB of DDR5 5600 SODIMM memory, and a 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD. As for the side panels they are either plain or have the company logo and product name (EliteMini UM780 XTX) in gold. While it lacks flashy graphics or bulleted feature lists, the lack of these means the packaging is quite elegant and clean.


Internally the packaging is designed with the system placed in the center and wrapped in a very thin layer of foam. As for the power brick, vertical mount, etc., it is all placed below the system in a separate compartment. Overall, the system arrived in pristine condition, so I have no complaints on the packaging front.


Regarding the bundled components, you'll discover all the standard elements along with some interesting extras. First is the vertical mount / stand which does give the system a unique stance compared to leaving it on a desk, or mounting it to the back of a monitor. An RGB backlight is present for the top panel, which also has a Tiger etching to give it a bit of visual flair. However, you can customize that with an aftermarket alternative if you wish, since it just slides into place. While these inclusions wouldn't make me buy the unit they do help set it apart from its competitors to a certain degree. Regardless, everything you need is included along with Windows 11.

• Minisforum EliteMini UM780 XTX
• Power brick
• VESA mounting plate
• VESA screws
• Vertical Mount
• Tiger etching for backlight flair
• Manual

A Closer Look

The top plate is transparent to a certain degree to allow for the RGB backlight to shine through if you wish to use it. Meanwhile, the bottom plate is smooth with two holes for the VESA mounting plate or vertical stand. Four rubber feet keep the system from moving around if simply placed on a desk.


The Front I/O consists of 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and a USB4 port along with a clear CMOS button on the left next to the audio combo jack, and of course a power button. Turning to the left side there is a large vented opening for airflow, but little else.


Examining the back I/O, you'll discover a set of 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI, 1x OCulink slot for use with the add-on board, 2x 2.5 GbE LAN ports, and a 19 V power jack. Much like the left side, the right side is essentially the same with a large vented opening for airflow.


To power the system, Minisforum opted for a Huntkey HKA12019063 120-watt power brick.

A look Inside

Taking the EliteMini UM780 XTX apart is quick and easy. The top plate is held on via magnets, so it can quickly and easily be removed. Once that is done, you can remove the four screws in each corner and gently lift the RGB / secondary heatsink assembly. Just be mindful of the fan cable which you will need to unplug, and of course the Wi-Fi antennas which do have enough length to let you set the assembly off to the side.


With the system open you will find the Killer AX1675x Wi-Fi module pre-installed and ready to go, you will need to remove it if you plan to do a complete disassembly. But first remove the system memory and then peel up some tape holding the antenna wires to the motherboard. Once the memory is removed and the wires are free, you can then remove the Wi-Fi module. With everything out of the way you can now remove the screws located in each corner and remove the motherboard. It should also be noted that the unit does have a second PCIe gen 4x4 M.2 slot that is not occupied. You can either use it for another SSD, or install the OCulink add-in card if you wish.


With the system fully disassembled you can now clean the heatsinks, unplug the CMOS battery if needed, or just take care of general maintenance / upgrades.


With the system pulled out, you now have access to the CPU cooler and fan, the fan is made by ELEPEAK with the model number: BA512BSHNF2300TR. A quick Google search brought up no information on said fan. As for the SSD it's a 1 TB Kingston 0M8PG41024Q-A0 and is a PCIe Gen 4 drive. Meanwhile, the DDR5 SODIMM memory is from Crucial, model: CT16G56C46S5.C8D. The 2x 16 GB sticks are rated for 5600 MHz at CL46.


Finally, the last aspect of the cooler to look at is the Tiger etching for the RGB lighting. It slides into place with a couple of nubs to keep it centered. This can be swapped out or customized if you wish.