- Ryzen 7 255 is a Downclocked, China-Exclusive Chip without the usual 16 Tops AI NPU
- Minis Forum N5 supports up to 96 GB DDR5 RAM but lacks ECC memory support
- N5 offers double USB4 ports and 10GBE networks for versatile connection
The Minis Forum has introduced the N5, a Compact Network associated storage (NAS) device that is now available globally.
Published next to the more powerful N5 Pro, this new model is run by AMD Ryzen 7 255, a processor so unclear that it doesn’t even appear on AMD’s official global site.
Instead, it is only listed in AMD’s Chinese place like Ryzen 7 H 255, a chip with eight Zen 4 kernels and a basic watch of 3.8 GHz that increases up to 4.9 GHz.
Downclocked chip with missing AI features
Falling during the Ryzen 200 and the Hawk Point series, the processor has a standard TDP of 45W, configurable between 35W and 54W.
However, Ryzen 7 255 raises some questions about positioning and performance.
The Minis Forum also uses this processor in the AI X1, but it seems to be a re-accused Ryzen 7 8745HS, essentially a lower watt variant of Ryzen 7 8745h, a chip offered exclusively in China.
It seems that Ryzen 7 255 misses the 16 Tops NPU that most of the Ryzen 7 250 series Chips use, which means the chip is expected to hang in AI-centric tasks.
CPU and GPU are also slightly blinded, which can lead to modest but noticeable benefit reductions.
Despite these warnings, the Minis Forum N5 offers an attractive range of features that can appeal to users looking for a hybrid between a NAS device and a Mini -PC.
Like its pro-variant, N5 supports up to 96 GB of DDR5 memory through double SO-DIMM slots.
However, it does not offer ECC RAM support, an important distinction for those who prioritize data integrity.
The device can run multiple operating systems, including Linux, MiniCloud OS and Windows 11 Pro.
For connection options, it includes two USB4 ports, 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps ethernet gates, an oculink -interface and a PCI X16 castle running at PCIe 4.0 X4 speeds.
These features make it viable not only as a NAS device, but also as a potential mini work station, especially when paired with the best NAS drive for storage expansion.
Pricing begins at $ 553 for a basic configuration that includes 64 GB of storage space, but no RAM, although a version of 16 GB RAM is available for an extra $ 48.
