Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official MINISFORUM site.
2026 verdict
For a compact home lab that wants the largest shared memory pool, the MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) is the better of these two mini PCs.
It wins on memory type and speed (quad-channel LPDDR5X-8000 against DDR5-4800), on memory capacity (64GB against 32GB) and on storage (2TB against 1TB), and it pairs a Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with Radeon 8060S graphics, dual 10GbE and four USB4 ports. The MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB) is the more affordable of the pair and the only one whose memory and storage are upgradeable, so it stays the pick for a buyer who wants to start small and expand later.
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| Feature | MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB) | MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1659.00 | $2599.00 | MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB) |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.8 | MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) |
| Memory Type | DDR5 | LPDDR5X | MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) |
| Memory Speed | 4800 MT/s | 8000 MT/s | MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) |
| Memory Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB | MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) |
| Storage Capacity | 1 TB | 2 TB | MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) |
| CPU Model | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (24 cores, 8P + 16E, up to 5.5 GHz) | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Different strengths |
| Memory Configuration | Dual-channel | Quad-channel | Different strengths |
| GPU Model | Intel Graphics (integrated, up to 2 GHz) | AMD Radeon 8060S Graphics | Different strengths |
| NPU Model | Intel AI Boost NPU (13 TOPS) | AMD Ryzen AI NPU (50 TOPS) | Different strengths |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | Tie |
What the differences mean
Memory type and expansion
The MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra takes four DDR5 SO-DIMM slots up to 256GB, so its memory is replaceable and grows over time. The MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max is soldered at 64GB of LPDDR5X-8000, faster and quad-channel but fixed, so you buy the capacity you will need up front.
Processor platform
The MS-02 Ultra runs a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which favors heavy parallel CPU work. The MS-S1 Max uses a 16-core AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 whose Radeon 8060S graphics and 50 TOPS NPU are the stronger AI and GPU platform of the two.
Networking
The MS-02 Ultra carries two 25GbE SFP+ cages, a 10GbE port and a 2.5GbE port, which suits a wired lab with a fast switch. The MS-S1 Max offers two 10GbE ports, plenty for most homes but a step below those SFP+ links.
Graphics out of the box
The MS-02 Ultra relies on Intel integrated graphics, so gaming or GPU rendering needs a low-profile card in its PCIe slot. The MS-S1 Max ships with a Radeon 8060S that can already handle 1080p gaming and light GPU work without an add-in card.
Which one to buy if
- you run local AI models that need a large shared memory pool
The MS-S1 Max gives 64GB of quad-channel memory the GPU and NPU can draw on, with no card to add.
- you plan to add memory and drives over several years
The MS-02 Ultra has four replaceable SO-DIMM slots and four M.2 positions, so it grows with the workload.
- your lab needs 25GbE SFP+ links
The MS-02 Ultra is the only one of the two with 25GbE SFP+ cages, alongside 10GbE and 2.5GbE.
- you want usable integrated graphics without installing a card
The MS-S1 Max ships with a Radeon 8060S, where the MS-02 Ultra wants a low-profile card for real graphics.
$1659.00
- + Price: $1659.00
- - Rating: 4.3 vs 4.8
- - Memory Type: DDR5 vs LPDDR5X
Winner
$2599.00
- + Rating: 4.8
- + Memory Type: LPDDR5X
- + Memory Speed: 8000 MT/s
- - Price: $2599.00 vs $1659.00
What owners say
Owners of the MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB) describe a powerful, well-built box that opens with two screws and lays out its upgrade points immediately. Many run Proxmox or Hyper-V on it for Plex, Windows 11 and Home Assistant, and report it handles many virtual machines once the memory is filled. The port selection and fast networking come up as highlights, along with quiet everyday running, though the power-supply fan is the one part they notice. Their recurring caveats are about software maturity: hand-installing drivers for Windows Server, and PCIe and IOMMU quirks under Linux and Proxmox, with one owner finding the 25GbE NVMe card hurt performance. A few report the 32GB arriving as a single module, so a second had to be added.
Price history compared
Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.
- MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB)
- MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB)
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB) or MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB)?
The MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) for a home lab that wants the largest shared memory pool, since it pairs 64GB of quad-channel LPDDR5X-8000 with a Radeon 8060S, dual 10GbE and four USB4 ports. The MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB) is the more affordable option and the only one whose memory and storage are upgradeable.
What is the biggest difference between the MS-02 Ultra and the MS-S1 Max?
Memory and platform. The MS-02 Ultra uses upgradeable DDR5 SO-DIMM on a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, while the MS-S1 Max solders 64GB of LPDDR5X-8000 and pairs it with an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and Radeon 8060S graphics.
Can either mini PC's memory be upgraded?
Only the MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB) can be upgraded: it has four DDR5 SO-DIMM slots and accepts up to 256GB. The MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) is soldered at 64GB, so the capacity shipped is the capacity kept.
Which one has better networking?
The MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB) has the deeper stack, with two 25GbE SFP+ cages, a 10GbE port and a 2.5GbE port. The MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB) offers two 10GbE ports, which is more than enough for most homes.
Who should buy the MINISFORUM MS-02 Ultra (Ultra 9 285HX, 32GB + 1TB)?
A builder who wants to start small and expand later, and a home lab that needs 25GbE SFP+ links and the option of a low-profile add-in card for graphics.
Who should buy the MINISFORUM MS-S1 Max (64GB + 2TB)?
Anyone who wants a large, fast memory pool for local AI and GPU work out of the box, with a Radeon 8060S, a 50 TOPS NPU, dual 10GbE and four USB4 ports, and no plan to open the case.
Full comparison table
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