Picking a flagship Ryzen mini PC increasingly comes down to how memory, ports, and cooling match your workflow, not just which CPU wins a benchmark. The Beelink SER9 pairs AMD’s newer Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12 cores, Radeon 890M graphics, and an NPU rated up to 50 TOPS) with a compact chassis and soldered LPDDR5X memory that can’t be upgraded after purchase. The Minisforum UM890 Pro runs the Ryzen 9 8945HS (8 cores, Radeon 780M graphics) in a differently sized chassis — check each manufacturer’s official spec sheet for exact dimensions before assuming either unit is taller — but compensates with standard, upgradeable DDR5 SODIMM slots and a second 2.5 GbE port. Neither machine includes a discrete GPU, and both rely on two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slots for storage. The real differences show up in memory upgradeability, port counts, wireless hardware, and physical footprint — details that matter more for day-to-day use than raw core counts. This guide compares the two spec-sheet to spec-sheet, using AMD’s official processor pages and each brand’s published spec sheets, so you know what you’re buying — pricing runs roughly $600 to $1,000 or more depending on configuration, and varies significantly by SKU and retailer, so check the manufacturer’s official sales page for the current price before you buy a machine you’ll likely keep for years.
Quick Facts
| Spec | Beelink SER9 | Minisforum UM890 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12 cores / 24 threads, up to 5.1 GHz) | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (8 cores / 16 threads, up to 5.2 GHz) |
| GPU | Radeon 890M (16 CUs, RDNA 3.5) | Radeon 780M (12 CUs, RDNA 3) |
| NPU | Up to 50 TOPS (AMD XDNA 2) | Up to 16 TOPS (AMD XDNA) |
| Memory | Soldered LPDDR5X, not upgradeable | DDR5 SODIMM, dual-channel, upgradeable |
| Storage | 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slots | 2x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slots |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 (may vary by SKU) | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Wired LAN | 1x 2.5 GbE | 2x 2.5 GbE |
| Power Adapter | External adapter; wattage varies by SKU | External adapter; wattage varies by SKU |
| Dimensions | ~135 x 135 mm footprint (manufacturer-published); exact height not independently confirmed for this SKU — check Beelink’s official spec sheet, allowing extra clearance for rubber feet and cable bend radius, before planning tight installations | Footprint and height not independently confirmed for this SKU — check Minisforum’s official spec sheet before planning shelf or rack clearance |
| Weight | ~0.8 kg (approx.) | Not officially published — check current spec sheet |
Source note: CPU, GPU, and NPU figures come from AMD’s official Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Ryzen 9 8945HS product pages. Wireless, port, and chassis specs come from Beelink’s and Minisforum’s published spec sheets together with independent reviews, including Notebookcheck’s SER9 teardown. Physical dimensions, weight, power adapter wattage, exact memory capacity/speed, and wireless chipset revision can vary by SKU — confirm those against your unit’s label or the current official spec sheet before buying replacement parts or planning upgrades.
CPU and GPU: What the Silicon Actually Buys You
Both machines are built on AMD’s mobile silicon, but they represent two different generations of the same design philosophy. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 inside the SER9 mixes 4 full Zen 5 cores with 8 efficiency-focused Zen 5c cores for 12 cores and 24 threads total. The Ryzen 9 8945HS in the UM890 Pro is a Zen 4 chip with 8 full-size cores and 16 threads.
In practical terms, the HX 370’s extra core count and newer architecture typically translate into better multi-threaded throughput for video encoding, batch photo processing, or running several virtual machines at once. The 8945HS clocks marginally higher on paper (up to 5.2 GHz boost vs 5.1 GHz), so single-threaded responsiveness in everyday apps — web browsing, office work, light gaming — should feel similar between the two.
Graphics is where the gap widens, and it’s not just a compute-unit count. The SER9’s Radeon 890M has 16 compute units and uses AMD’s newer RDNA 3.5 architecture, while the UM890 Pro’s Radeon 780M has 12 compute units on the older RDNA 3 architecture. That combination should give the SER9 a real edge in integrated-GPU gaming and GPU-accelerated creative work. The SER9 has no OCuLink port, so an external GPU is only possible over its USB4 connection — reviews report this path isn’t well optimized and can run into stability issues. The UM890 Pro’s dedicated PCIe 4.0 x4 OCuLink port offers a more reliable route to a discrete-GPU boost, though using it occupies one of its two M.2 slots, so factor that trade-off into your storage plans.
NPU and AI Workloads
AMD lists the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370’s NPU at up to 50 TOPS (tera operations per second), clearing Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC threshold of 40 TOPS. The Ryzen 9 8945HS’s NPU is rated at up to 16 TOPS, well below that bar. If on-device AI features — local image generation, offline transcription, Windows Studio Effects — matter to you, the SER9 is the only one of the two that qualifies as a Copilot+ PC.
Memory and Storage: Where You Can Grow
This is the sharpest practical difference between the two machines, and it’s easy to miss on a spec sheet. The Beelink SER9 uses LPDDR5X memory soldered directly to the board — fast and power-efficient, but fixed at the factory with no slot to open and no path to add more RAM later, so buy the configuration you’ll need for the life of the machine. The Minisforum UM890 Pro takes the opposite approach: two standard DDR5 SODIMM slots running in dual-channel mode, fully upgradeable with off-the-shelf laptop memory. Exact maximum capacity and speed vary by SKU.
Storage is evenly matched. Both machines offer two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots for full-size NVMe drives. Whichever you choose, plan on two NVMe drives as your practical ceiling.
| Storage Detail | Beelink SER9 | Minisforum UM890 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| NVMe slots | 2x M.2 2280, PCIe 4.0 x4 | 2x M.2 2280, PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| System memory | LPDDR5X, soldered and fixed | DDR5, 2x SODIMM, dual-channel |
| Memory upgradeable? | No | Yes |
Ports and Connectivity: The Detail That Decides Daily Use
Port layout often decides daily comfort more than raw performance does — it determines how many monitors you can run, whether you need a dongle for your webcam, and how fast external drives transfer files. Here’s the port breakdown for both machines.
| Port Type | Beelink SER9 | Minisforum UM890 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| USB4 | 1x USB4 (40 Gbps, DisplayPort + Power Delivery) | 2x USB4 (40 Gbps, DisplayPort Alt Mode) |
| USB-C (non-USB4) | Varies by SKU — check Beelink’s official spec sheet or the port labels on your unit for the exact configuration | Not published |
| USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 | Varies by SKU — check Beelink’s official spec sheet or the port labels on your unit for the exact configuration | 4x (10 Gbps) |
| USB-A 2.0 | 2x | Not published |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 | 1x HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| Ethernet | 1x 2.5 GbE (RJ45) | 2x 2.5 GbE (RJ45) |
| OCuLink (PCIe 4.0 x4) | Not available | 1x (using it occupies one M.2 slot) |
| Audio jack | 1x 3.5 mm combo | 1x 3.5 mm combo |
| Max simultaneous displays | Up to 3 | Up to 4 |
The UM890 Pro pulls ahead on connectivity: it doubles up on USB4 (2x versus the SER9’s 1x), adds a second 2.5 GbE jack, offers more high-speed USB-A ports (the SER9’s exact 10 Gbps USB-A/USB-C count varies by SKU — check Beelink’s official spec sheet), and is the only one of the two with an OCuLink port for external GPU expansion. That makes it the better fit for a desk with several wired accessories, a dual-dock setup, or an eGPU down the line. The SER9 covers the essentials — one USB4 port for a dock, display, or fast external SSD, plus HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 — but tops out at three simultaneous displays versus the UM890 Pro’s four. Wireless hardware differs mainly in Wi-Fi band: independent reviews report the SER9 shipping with a Wi-Fi 6 card, while the UM890 Pro uses Wi-Fi 6E (both use Bluetooth 5.2) — if you need the 6GHz band, the UM890 Pro has the edge.
Power, Adapter, and Thermal Design
Both machines ship with an external power adapter. Neither brand publishes a full electrical spec sheet for every SKU, so check the label on the adapter that came in your box, and the manufacturer’s current spec sheet, for the exact voltage, current, and wattage rating. Use only that adapter or an official manufacturer replacement rated to the same figures — avoid third-party or USB-C chargers unless the manufacturer explicitly confirms compatibility, since an undersized or mismatched adapter can cause instability or prevent the system from reaching full CPU boost clocks. Never open the adapter or the mini PC’s power circuitry yourself.
Both machines use active cooling with a fan and heat pipe assembly. Minisforum publishes a 43 dB noise rating for the UM890 Pro under load; Beelink does not publish a comparable figure for the standard SER9, so there’s no direct apples-to-apples comparison available.
Dimensions, Weight, and Desk Footprint
Size differences here affect airflow, VESA mounting, and how much desk or shelf space you give up.
| Physical Spec | Beelink SER9 | Minisforum UM890 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Length x Width x Height | ~135 x 135 mm footprint; height not independently confirmed for this SKU — see Beelink’s official spec sheet | Footprint and height not independently confirmed for this SKU — see Minisforum’s official spec sheet |
| Volume (approx.) | Not independently confirmed — depends on confirmed height | Not independently confirmed — depends on confirmed height |
| Weight | ~0.8 kg (approx.) | Not officially published — check current spec sheet |
| VESA mount support | Not supported — independent teardown reporting confirms no VESA mounting, no upgradeable RAM, and no Kensington lock on the SER9 | Manufacturer states VESA/wall-mount support; confirm hole pattern and included bracket with the current spec sheet before buying |
Exact height and internal volume for these two chassis are not independently confirmed for the current SKUs, so treat any claim about which one is taller with caution until you check each manufacturer’s official spec sheet. The SER9’s smaller published footprint may still make it easier to tuck onto a crowded shelf or set behind a display, though it lacks VESA mounting hardware for a true monitor-back installation. The UM890 Pro’s VESA support gives it the edge if a wall- or monitor-mounted placement is a requirement, regardless of exact height.
Operating System, Warranty, and Included Accessories
Both mini PCs typically ship with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, though barebone (no-OS, no-RAM, no-storage) configurations are also sold by both brands at a lower price point. Check the specific SKU you’re buying carefully, since RAM and storage capacity — and sometimes the OS license — can vary between listings that share the same model name.
Standard accessory bundles include a power adapter, an HDMI cable, and basic screws for both machines; the UM890 Pro’s box also adds a VESA mounting bracket, while the SER9 ships without one since the chassis has no VESA mount points. Warranty terms vary by region and retailer; both manufacturers commonly offer a 1- to 2-year limited hardware warranty, but confirm the exact term with the specific seller, since coverage isn’t always uniform across marketplaces.
Price and Value Positioning
Pricing on both mini PCs fluctuates with RAM and storage configuration. As a general pattern, barebone units (chassis and CPU only, no RAM or SSD) sit at the lowest price tier, while fully configured units with a larger RAM and NVMe SSD allotment command a premium. Because the SER9’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is the newer, higher-end chip with a stronger NPU, it commonly carries a higher price than a similarly configured UM890 Pro — buyers are paying for the newer Zen 5 architecture, the larger integrated GPU, and Copilot+ PC eligibility. Always confirm current pricing on the manufacturer’s official sales page before buying, since configuration and retailer discounts shift the numbers frequently.
Who Should Buy Which
If your priority is the strongest integrated graphics, the most capable on-device AI, and the lowest-profile chassis — and you’re comfortable locking in your RAM at purchase — the Beelink SER9’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Radeon 890M combination is the more future-facing choice. It suits creators doing light video editing, developers running multiple containers or VMs, and anyone who wants a Copilot+ eligible desktop without a full-size tower.
If your priority is upgradeable memory, a second Ethernet jack, a second USB4 port, OCuLink for future GPU expansion, and more USB-A ports, and you don’t need the newest NPU, the Minisforum UM890 Pro’s SODIMM slots, four USB-A ports, and dual 2.5 GbE make it the more practical pick for a home server, a NAS-adjacent box, or a productivity desktop where you’ll plug in several drives and peripherals at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mini PC has the faster processor, the SER9 or the UM890 Pro?
The Beelink SER9’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has more cores (12 vs 8) and a newer Zen 5 architecture, so it generally offers stronger multi-threaded performance. The Minisforum UM890 Pro’s Ryzen 9 8945HS has a marginally higher single-core boost clock (5.2 GHz vs 5.1 GHz), so lightly threaded tasks should feel similarly responsive on both.
Can I upgrade the RAM and storage on both machines myself?
Only partially. Both machines use two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slots for NVMe storage that you can upgrade yourself. RAM is different: the Minisforum UM890 Pro uses standard SODIMM DDR5 modules you can swap or expand, while the Beelink SER9’s LPDDR5X memory is soldered to the board and can’t be changed after purchase — buy the RAM capacity you’ll need up front. Always power down and unplug the unit before opening the case, and follow the manufacturer’s official disassembly guide.
Does either mini PC support three or more monitors?
Not identically. The Minisforum UM890 Pro is specified for up to four simultaneous displays via its two USB4 ports, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4. The Beelink SER9 tops out at three simultaneous displays, using its single USB4 port alongside HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4. Actual results depend on your monitors’ resolution, refresh rate, and cables.
Which one runs cooler or quieter?
Minisforum publishes a 43 dB noise rating under load for the UM890 Pro. Beelink does not publish a directly comparable figure for the standard SER9, so there isn’t an apples-to-apples number to compare.
Do these mini PCs qualify as Copilot+ PCs?
The Beelink SER9’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has an NPU rated at up to 50 TOPS, clearing Microsoft’s 40 TOPS Copilot+ PC requirement. The Minisforum UM890 Pro’s Ryzen 9 8945HS NPU is rated at up to 16 TOPS, well short of that threshold, so it would not qualify as a Copilot+ PC under Microsoft’s current requirements.
What power adapter wattage do I need for each unit?
Check the label on the adapter that shipped with your unit for the exact voltage, current, and wattage rating — both companies vary these by SKU and region. Use only that adapter or an official replacement rated to the same specs; a mismatched third-party adapter can cause instability or prevent the CPU from reaching its full boost clock.
Which has more storage expansion room?
They’re close but not identical. Both offer two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots for full-size NVMe drives, so your storage ceiling is two SSDs either way. The UM890 Pro also has an OCuLink port for external GPU expansion, but using it occupies one of its two M.2 slots, dropping you to a single NVMe drive if you go that route — the SER9 has no equivalent trade-off since it lacks OCuLink entirely.
Is the Radeon 890M in the SER9 significantly better for gaming than the Radeon 780M in the UM890 Pro?
The Radeon 890M (16 compute units, RDNA 3.5) has both more compute units and a newer architecture than the Radeon 780M (12 compute units, RDNA 3), so the SER9 should handle demanding integrated-GPU gaming and GPU-accelerated tasks noticeably better out of the box. If you want to go further, the UM890 Pro’s dedicated OCuLink port gives it a more reliable path to an external GPU enclosure for real discrete-GPU performance. The SER9 has no OCuLink, so an eGPU there only works over USB4, and reviewers have flagged that connection as less optimized, with occasional stability issues. Without a working eGPU setup, both machines are best suited to esports titles and older or lighter games at moderate settings rather than the latest AAA releases maxed out.
Reviewed and edited by Jason Paik. Spotted an error? Tell us — we verify and correct. See how we create content.