Reviewing the Minisforum UH125 Pro
Despite ongoing concerns about Intel’s 14th generation CPUs, the Mini PC market continues to benefit from enhanced performance thanks to the new Ultra series.
Review of the Minisforum UH125 Pro Minisforum introduces the UH125 Pro, featuring the Ultra 5 125H processor, originally designed for high-performance laptops. This chip boasts several standout features, including support for USB 4.0 and ample PCIe 4.0 lanes that facilitate connections to various I/O devices, such as OCulink external PCIe cards. For an additional $99, Minisforum offers an eGPU Dock, enabling users to enhance graphical performance beyond the integrated GPU’s capabilities.
The UH125 Pro excels in network file transfers with its dual 5GbE LAN ports, capable of achieving speeds exceeding 1,000MB/s over suitable Ethernet setups.
Surprisingly, despite its robust capabilities, Minisforum offers the UH125 Pro at an attractively low price, either as a barebones option or with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage at a discounted Early Bird pre-sale rate, set to ship in early August.
However, potential buyers should consider that other Mini PC brands are likely to release systems based on similar platforms in the near future, suggesting that competing models may offer comparable or even superior features.
Minisforum UH125 Pro: Pricing and Availability
Minisforum UH125 Pro: Pricing and Availability
- Price: Starting at $430
- Release Date: Available soon
- Purchase: Directly from Minisforum
The Minisforum UH125 Pro comes in two variants: a barebones model priced at $429 and a fully equipped version with Windows 11 Pro, 32GB of DDR RAM, and 1TB storage for $629. For European markets, prices are €499 for the barebones and €699 for the fully configured system, which converts to approximately £429 and £599, respectively.
Compared to the Acemagic F2A, which offers similar specifications but with dual 2.5GbE LAN ports at the same price point, Minisforum’s pricing appears competitive. As the product launch approaches, it remains to be seen whether Minisforum will adjust its pricing strategy. Given the advanced features and performance capabilities of the UH125 Pro, these prices are compelling and may appeal to buyers looking for a high-value investment.
Minisforum UH125 Pro: Specifications
Certainly! Here are the specifications of the Minisforum UH125 Pro presented in Markdown table format:
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (14 cores, 18 Threads) |
| GPU | Intel Arc graphics (7 Xe-cores) |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5-5600 (2800 MHz) (16GB x 2) expandable to 96GB |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 |
| Expansion | 1x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 |
| Ports | 2x USB 4.0, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1x USB 2.0, 2x DMIC, 1x OCulink port, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort, 1x universal audio jack, 1x SD Card Reader |
| Networking | 2x 5GbE LAN, WiFi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro (pre-installed) |
| Base Power | 65W |
| PSU | 19V 6.32A 120W |
| Dimensions | 144 x 125 x 53 (mm) |
This table format presents a clear and organized view of the Minisforum UH125 Pro’s specifications.
Minisforum UH125 Pro: Design
The Minisforum UH125 Pro sports a business-like matte black finish with textured plastic on the top and smooth metal sides, featuring rounded corners for a sleek appearance. The power button, positioned on the top, emits a pleasing blue glow when the system is powered on.
Unlike traditional performance NUCs, the cooling system draws air through grills on the left and underneath, expelling it on the right side without rear vents. This design also houses a convenient full-size SD card reader on the right, contrasting favorably with the fiddly microSD alternatives.
However, Minisforum’s decision to include a dedicated button for launching CoPilot on the opposite corner of the power button is perplexing. Positioned on the computer screen itself during use, this button seems impractical, requiring users to interrupt their workflow by moving away from the mouse to press it.
Moreover, the CoPilot button’s monochromatic design resembles two plain slices of bread on a plate, lacking the visual appeal one might expect for such a feature. This quirky addition might have been intended as a gimmick to impress Microsoft, but its practicality is questionable.
While this peculiar CoPilot button stands out as a notable design flaw, the UH125 Pro also poses challenges for those looking to access its internals for maintenance or upgrades, reflecting a broader oversight in its overall design approach.
This is undoubtedly one of the most poorly designed modern user access systems we’ve encountered. To begin with, removing the screws securing the underside requires peeling off all four rubber feet, which are adhered with double-sided tape. Reattaching them securely after removal is unlikely.
Once the long screws beneath the feet are extracted, the underside lid can be carefully pried off using a spudger. However, Minisforum has inexplicably connected a USB port to this lid using a delicate ribbon cable.
Our attempt to delve further inside the UH125 Pro halted abruptly at this point. The intricate cooling setup covering the CPU, memory, and M.2 slots proved too daunting to proceed with disassembly.
For barebones buyers, navigating the complex process of installing memory and storage components may require guidance from Minisforum’s documentation. Nonetheless, upgrading this system appears far from straightforward and suggests that Minisforum may discourage customer attempts to access its internals.
Design: 3 / 5
Minisforum UH125 Pro Feature`s
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor featured in the UH125 Pro introduces a versatile architecture with distinct core types optimized for performance, efficiency, and reduced power consumption. Compared to its predecessors in the 13th-generation series, the Core Ultra 5 competes favorably with lower-tier Core i7 models.
One standout feature of the Ultra Series 1 is its enhanced AI processing capabilities and the introduction of the ARC GPU. While the AI enhancements may not appeal universally, the ARC GPU represents a significant upgrade over the previous Iris Xe, leveraging more Xe cores and better utilizing DDR5 memory available in the system. The ARC GPU handles typical office tasks with ease and even supports light gaming applications.
However, the true strength of this chipset lies in its 28 PCIe 4.0 lanes, offering extensive internal bandwidth. This feature allows the UH125 Pro to accommodate dual M.2 slots, dual USB 4.0 ports, and dual 5GbE LAN ports without compromising on data throughput. For instance, the USB 4.0 ports can be used to expand networking capabilities to include high-speed LAN connections or to connect external RAID arrays for robust file serving capabilities. Additionally, these ports facilitate the connection of extra displays, although the ARC GPU supports a maximum of four displays concurrently.
Another notable feature is the OCulink port, which extends the PCI Express bus and offers flexibility for connecting external devices. Minisforum offers an OCulink external box with the UH125 Pro for just $99, providing users with the option to connect an external discrete GPU. This setup, potentially featuring an ARC desktop series GPU or one from the latest Nvidia or AMD selections, could significantly enhance the UH125 Pro’s performance, approaching that of a desktop system.
While Minisforum did not provide this external hardware for testing, the theoretical capabilities of such configurations are promising. Overall, the UH125 Pro impresses with its robust hardware configuration, making it an excellent choice for users looking to adapt and maximize their equipment’s utility as technological demands evolve.
Design: – 4/5
Minisforum UH125 Pro: Performance
| Mini PC | Header Cell – Column 1 | Minisforum UH125 Pro | Acemagic F2A |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Row 0 – Cell 1 | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H |
| Cores/Threads | Row 1 – Cell 1 | 14C 18T | Row 1 – Cell 3 |
| RAM | Row 2 – Cell 1 | 32GB DDR5 (2x16GB) | 32GB DDR5 (2x16GB) |
| Storage | Row 3 – Cell 1 | 1TB KINGSTON OM8PGP41024Q-A0 | 1TB NVMe |
| Graphics | Row 4 – Cell 1 | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics |
| 3DMark | WildLife | 16075 | 18072 |
| Row 6 – Cell 0 | FireStrike | 6706 | 6856 |
| Row 7 – Cell 0 | TimeSpy | 3185 | 3424 |
| CineBench23 | Single | 1740 | 1651 |
| Row 9 – Cell 0 | Multi | 13999 | 14474 |
| Row 10 – Cell 0 | Ratio | 8.05 | 8.77 |
| GeekBench | Single | 1632 | 1655 |
| Row 12 – Cell 0 | Multi | 10310 | 10442 |
| Row 13 – Cell 0 | OpenCL | 26952 | 27553 |
| Row 14 – Cell 0 | Vulkan | 23851 | 23474 |
| CrystalDisk | Read MB/s | 4779 | 3792 |
| Row 16 – Cell 0 | Write MB/s | 3898 | 1627 |
| PCMark 10 | Office | 6247 | 6771 |
| WEI | Row 18 – Cell 1 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
Before delving into benchmark results, it’s important to address the challenges encountered during the UH125 Pro’s testing phase.
During our benchmarking process using tools like GeekBench and PCMark10, we faced significant issues including crashes and incomplete tests. These problems seemed linked to the ARC GPU and its memory management, although the exact cause remained elusive. It was later found that removing the official Intel ARC drivers and reverting to Microsoft’s default drivers resolved these issues.
Additionally, our review unit’s BIOS version was relatively outdated, and despite efforts, we were unable to obtain a newer release from Minisforum. We anticipate that customer units shipping in August will include updated BIOS versions that may better support the latest drivers.
Due to these issues impacting performance consistency, we have adjusted our evaluation of the UH125 Pro accordingly, reflecting that performance metrics are not solely defined by raw numbers.
When operating smoothly, the UH125 Pro proves to be a capable system suitable for a wide range of tasks. In comparisons with similar platforms like the Acemagic F2A, which shares the same CPU architecture, the UH125 Pro exhibits competitive performance, albeit slightly trailing in certain processing tests. This variance may be attributed to BIOS optimizations that competitors like Acemagic have implemented but are pending on the Minisforum side.
One area where the UH125 Pro excels is in drive performance, utilizing a Kingston OM8PGP41024Q NVMe drive that delivers superior results, as evidenced by CrystalDiskMark scores and an impressive 8.2 rating in the Windows Experience Index.
In summary, while the UH125 Pro showcases decent performance levels, potential enhancements through BIOS updates and driver optimizations could further elevate its capabilities.
Performance: 4 / 5
Asus NUC 14 Pro: Verdict
The UH125 Pro from Minisforum has left us with mixed feelings. Initially, its barebones option was attractively affordable, but using our review sample as a case in point, it seems Minisforum may have rushed this design to market prematurely.
Given Minisforum’s track record, we’re somewhat confident they’ll address the issues we encountered during benchmarking and deliver on the promises implied by the UH125 Pro’s specifications, if they haven’t already.
One significant concern is the difficulty of upgrading memory or storage, which requires complete disassembly of the machine. While it’s possible Minisforum believed most users wouldn’t upgrade, other brands offer similar hardware in more accessible configurations.
Unfortunately, this accessibility issue isn’t easily rectifiable without a fundamental reengineering effort from Minisforum, so potential buyers should be aware of this limitation.
As for the inclusion of a CoPilot button, seemingly to please Microsoft, its practical use was minimal during our review process, beyond basic functionality testing.
Should I buy a Minisforum UH125 Pro?
| Value | Barebones option is cheap, but the pre-installed SKU is as expensive as the Acemagic F2A. | 4/5 |
| Design | It has high-quality construction, but upgrading memory and storage inside is a nightmare. | 3/5 |
| Features | Two of almost everything. Including two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, two USB 4.0, and two 5GbE LAN ports. And it has OCulink. | 4/5 |
| Performance | A fast and powerful platform, but it needs some stability tweaks in the firmware. | 4/5 |
| Overalls | Barebones option is cheap for an Ultra 5 system, but installing RAM and storage isn’t a walk in the park. | 4/5 |
Buy it if
This machine offers exceptional flexibility due to its extensive array of ports, providing numerous opportunities for external enhancements. This versatility ensures prolonged usability even after the initial purchase rationale is fulfilled.
Enhanced GPU capability is a priority, underscored by the latest ARC GPU integrated into the processor. Moreover, the inclusion of an OCulink port allows for seamless integration with various discrete graphics cards, significantly boosting graphical performance.
Also consider
Here’s a rewritten version:
Introducing the Acemagic F2A, another robust solution utilizing Intel’s Ultra 5 class processor with integrated ARC GPU, albeit from a different design firm.
Priced similarly to the UH125 Pro with 32GB RAM and 1TB storage, the F2A lacks USB 4.0 ports and features 2.5GbE LAN ports.
The F2A stands out with an option sporting the more powerful Ultra 7 155H processor, making it potentially more appealing for users seeking enhanced performance.
Explore our hands-on experience with the Acemagic F2A!
The Asus NUC 14 Pro features either the potent Intel Core Ultra 7 165H or the capable Core Ultra 5 125H processors, complemented by Thunderbolt ports. Despite its plastic construction, this NUC boasts impressive specifications.
However, its pricing is less competitive, especially with the Core Ultra 5 125H option priced higher and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H version exceeding $1,000.