Minisforum AD650I impression: Trying too hard to please everyone

[TimedPing]

WARNING: CONTAINS CONSTANT RANTING AND HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE OPINION!

Just few hours ago, ETA Prime review the Minisforum AD650I - A "mini ITX" board with soldered 12th gen Intel core i7 mobile CPU and have few quirks at its sleeve, here's the detailed specs:

• CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-12650H
• GPU: Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors
• Memory: DDR4 Dual channel (SODIMM Slots×2, up to 3200 MT/s, Max 64GB)
• Storage: 3×M.2 2280 PCIe3.0 SSD Slots(Support RAID0, RAID1 and RAID5) + SATA ports ×2
• Storage Expansion: 2×2.5 inch SATA HDD Slot (SATA 3.0 6.0Gb/s) + 1×MXM SSD Expansion Card(Included 3×M.2 2280 PCIe3.0 SSD Slots)
• Wireless Connectivity: M.2 2230 Key E Slot (Blank slot I suppose)
• Video Output: HDMI ×2 + USB4×1
• Ethernet: RJ45 2.5G Ethernet Port×1
• USB Ports: USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A Port ×2 + USB4 Port ×1 + USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A Port ×2
• I/O Ports: 4-pin CPU Fan header ×1 + 4-pin System Fan header ×2 + SATA Power connector ×1
• $399 price point (now at discount for $350)
• Image spoiler below:

Spoiler

 

Looks fine to me, until you see how Minisforum (or the ODM) do to the supposed "Mini ITX" form factor. Sure its technically Mini ITX sized board, but what happened with the high-speed I/O ports! Alright, here's probably what Minisforum think this motherboard targeted for:

1. DIY and faster option to Asus Flashtor NAS Series
2. overpowered HTPC???
3. Embedded board for specialized use case?

Whatever crossed in their mind, I cant believe they decide to use MXM instead of standard open-ended PCIe x8 or PCIe x16 (wired as x8 due to limited CPU lane allocation), Sure, maybe the y can use this for embedded solution, for general public tho? WHY? Yes, I know there's a converter to adapt MXM to PCIe like this one from ADT Link, but considering the price and the mess it created, bruh. Now for MXM eGPU, its expensive, VBIOS is a constant hurdle to mess with, and even trough they using MXM standard, every GPU is using different cooler layout, and some board require custom power connector directly in the module (I'm former user of Dell Precision M6700, I know the pain lol). Even in their Q&A section, they still unsure about it.

 

Ok, they apparently include the MXM to 3x M.2 NVMe adapter equipped with ASMedia PCIe switch (ASM2824). This is both generous and ridiculous, why? they probably spending more money to make this custom board including custom heatsink for it, instead just sticking with good old PCIe x8/x16 slot and rebrand readily available PCIe to 4x4 NVMe adapter with the same silicon onboard for cheaper price, this is just creating solution to a problem that should been not exist in the first place. And also we can just hook up standard GPU without any extension cable with it.

 

Now to the power supply, it's a smart move to make it compatible with standard barrel jack with 19v DC adapter to save internal space if you using it in some very small mini ITX case (like ETA Prime shown in the video), and seems like from the image, they include 4 pin EPS power connector for connecting standard ATX PSU, I hope they include built in PSU jumper or internal header that connect to 24 pin ATX connector to send PS_ON signal to the PSU with some jumper cable (like some embedded board does).

 

Overall, I confuse with this product, is they trying to catch niche market like homelabbers that need all those storage speed and running some LXC/Docker container or VM? Or they using already available design from some other OEM/ODM and rebrand it? I don't really know. But definitely the design decision is pretty awful in my opinion.

 

Now you maybe thinking "The OP talking crap about this product", well I kinda do, because I have exact polar opposite of this motherboard that have more "conservative" approach, some of you may know it, some of you don't ,is one of newer lineup From Erying, a Chinese (Aliexpress) brand that probably pioneering this kind of hacksawed mobile CPU put into standard desktop board. It's Erying 12th gen "M-ITX" lineup. For less price ($50 less) you get more powerful Intel Core i9-12900HK, standard DDR4 DIMM, 3x M.2 PCIe slot running in all x4 mode (2x PCIe 4.0, 1x PCIe 3.0), PCIe x16 slot (wired x8 4.0 speed), compatibility with standard LGA 1700 cooler, and more. ON THAT NOTE, IM NOT IN ANYWAY SPONSORED BY THEM IN ANY WAY, I use this board as example that this is more better approach in my opinion. Image spoiler down below:

 

Spoiler

 

I also realize there's a high chances that Erying or their OEM is using some refurbished part, but still, a deal is a deal, now calculate that this board ship almost to any country mostly with no additional shipping cost, well you didn't the same convenient for RMA and some other after-sales stuff like constant software support (like frequent BIOS update) , it is what is it for now. Let me what your take on this product down below!

 

[fangiodelavega]

This card makes no sense to me to be coupled with a GPU.

 I think I will take it for my nas++ for the following reasons:

- 6 m.2 ootb + 2 sata

- efficiency: 7w idles (wccftech)

- thunderbolt port (tb over ip, or 10gbe sfp+)

 

the only regret for me is the lack of a native 10gbe lan card.

 

I'm not sure the Trying m-itx I-9 12900HK srld 3 will be better in my case. 

appear 100$ more expensive on AliExpress for me (EU)

 

A better comparison seems to be :

- Qnap TBS-574TX E1.S : https://www.servethehome.com/qnap-tbs-574tx-e1-s-thunderbolt-4-10gbe-nas-spotted/

- Lincstation N1 : https://www.lincplustech.com/fr-fr/products/lincstation-network-attached-storage-pre-order

Both not released at this time.

[TimedPing]

7 hours ago, fangiodelavega said:

This card makes no sense to me to be coupled with a GPU.

 I think I will take it for my nas++ for the following reasons:

- 6 m.2 ootb + 2 sata

- efficiency: 7w idles (wccftech)

- thunderbolt port (tb over ip, or 10gbe sfp+)

 

the only regret for me is the lack of a native 10gbe lan card.

 

I'm not sure the Trying m-itx I-9 12900HK srld 3 will be better in my case. 

appear 100$ more expensive on AliExpress for me (EU)

 

A better comparison seems to be :

- Qnap TBS-574TX E1.S : https://www.servethehome.com/qnap-tbs-574tx-e1-s-thunderbolt-4-10gbe-nas-spotted/

- Lincstation N1 : https://www.lincplustech.com/fr-fr/products/lincstation-network-attached-storage-pre-order

Both not released at this time.

10gbe pcie vs 10gbe over TB, I choose 10GBe pcie any day, not paying for overpriced thunderbolt premium.

[fangiodelavega]

Yes, then sacrifice 1 m.2. pcie for https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005005072420460.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa for RJ45 or

Use https://www.adt.link/product/R48SF.html to plug an Mellanox MCX312A-XCBT for dual sfp+

Quote

 

 

[TimedPing]

7 hours ago, fangiodelavega said:

Yes, then sacrifice 1 m.2. pcie for https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005005072420460.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa for RJ45 or

Use https://www.adt.link/product/R48SF.html to plug an Mellanox MCX312A-XCBT for dual sfp+

 

I know, I use M.2 NVMe to 10GBe myself too! (I got the SFP+ one, AQC100 chip, and your provided link cost twice the usual price for RJ45 one), its amazing, but again, native PCIe slot is much convenient to use rather than use adapter or specialized NIC.