The elaborate carbon fibre adorned enclosure can either lay flat on two rubber strips on the underside or be placed vertically on an included wedge-shaped foot. Sadly, this machine is too big to be VESA mounted. The max RAM of HX80G is 64GB with speed limit to 3200MHz. The max RAM of HX99G is 64GB with speed limit to 4800MHz. The HX99G is the highest model in the Minisforum lineup featuring discrete GPU. This is a small form factor system, but it is significantly larger than most 4-inch MiniPC, in fact, it could be just about four times as large. However, this system is not designed to be a work computer, but a proper gaming machine considering the form factor. In terms of storage, this mini Ryzen desktop offers an M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD slot that supports up to 4TB of lightning-fast storage. This means you can store your entire digital library, including games, videos, and creative projects, all in one place. Additionally, the MinisForum HX99G Mini PC features an M.2 2280 SSD slot that supports NGFF SATA or NVMe PCIe4.0 SSD, providing flexibility and expandability for your storage needs. May 7th 2020 AMD B550 Chipset Detailed, It's Ready for Zen 3, Older AM4 Motherboards not Compatible (434)

Overall, some considerable thought went into the design of the HX77G, how it might be used and what owners might want to do with it. Minisforum Neptune HX77G: Performance I’m a big fan of the Minisforum HX99G. In fact, it’s difficult to find anything truly wrong with it other than some particular issues with my unit. For example, it seems like the model I received struggles with display output inconsistencies, where it simply won’t output to any monitor from any of the HDMI or USB4 ports. I never did figure out the problem, and I suspect a manufacturing defect is to blame. This cookie is set by the provider Akamai Bot Manager. This cookie is used to manage the interaction with the online bots. It also helps in fraud preventions Expandable Memory and Storage: With support for up to 64GB of DDR5 dual-channel memory and M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSDs up to 4TB, it provides ample space for storing large files, running resource-intensive applications, and ensuring smooth multitasking.

Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G in detail

The system is an upgrade to the existing HX80G and HX90M models which were based on older APUs. This Mini-PC has DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen4 SSD support, comes with USB4 connectors and has a dedicated Radeon RX 6600M GPU. If not for the fact that this product was shipped to us after AMD announced Ryzen 7000 Phoenix series, this could just have been the best small form factor PC on the market. During the synthetic performance comparison, our test unit places only in the lower middle of the comparison field. The age of the AMD Radeon RX 6600Mis noticeable at this point, and the successors based on RDNA-3 are getting ready. Those who still need a higher 3D performance can use the Thunderbolt connection, which is currently only offered in the HX99G of the series. We got to work and documented the performance in combination with the Razer Core X and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. With that, we achieve a performance in our comparison that corresponds to that of the Minisforum NUCXi7with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop. At the same time, you still have to make do with significant performance limitations, since using Thunderbolt, the external graphics card is only connected via 4 PCI Express lanes. The AMD APU scores 2076 points in single-core Geekbench test and 9695 points in multicore workload. Those are better results than 6900HS or 6900H variants, and 14% to 32% increase over last-gen 5900HX APU. Minisforum were kind to borrow a computer based on AMD CPU and GPU architecture. What makes this product special is the fact that it does not rely on a low-power integrated GPU, but it is equipped with a discrete GPU powerful enough to enable some high-quality gaming, but more on that later.

Running benchmarks over and over is all well and good. But what about games at playable settings? In our MinisForum HX99G review will take a brief look at a few AAA games and see how far we can push the settings before we get performance issues that affect playing. Visually, there are hardly any differences between the Minisforum Neptune Series HX90Gand the Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G. The case continues to be constructed mainly from plastic, with some added small Carbon visual elements. Internally, there is also some metal, which supports the stability.The workmanship of our test unit is good, although we would have also appreciated a higher quality selection of materials. With the Minisforum Neptune Series NAD9, the manufacturer already proved that things can also be done differently.The computer includes a stand that allows you to place it vertically on the desk. But you don't have to use it, since you can also operate the device horizontally without any problems. The physical separation of the primary system and graphics modules allows air to flow through the case easily, with it being pulled in through the sides and vented through a hexagon lattice on the top. Due to the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, the pure gaming performance of the Minisforum Neptune Series HX99G is good, offering about the same speed as the Minisforum Neptune Series HX90G . The faster SoC is unable to ensure a noticeably higher performance here. Compared to the Lenovo Legion 5 with the same graphics card, our test sample is very clearly ahead. The reason is the power consumption of the dedicated pixel accelerator, which is a maximum of 100 watts throughout with Minisforum.One downside to consider is the size of the power supply, which is larger than expected and may compromise portability. This could be a limiting factor for users who prioritize mobility or require a more compact form factor. In terms of gaming performance, the mini-PC delivers a praiseworthy experience, comparable to that of a laptop GPU like the RTX 4050. This makes it suitable for gaming enthusiasts who want a compact yet powerful gaming setup. Overall, the mini-PC strikes a balance between upgradability, performance, and noise levels, making it an appealing option for users who value customization and gaming capabilities.

Removing four screws hidden under the rubber feet makes it possible to remove the top of the HX77G and then remove a metal frame to have full access to the mainboard. Our review system came with 32GB of Corsair branded DDR5, but these 16GB modules can be removed to upgrade this machine to 64GB if required. The MinisForum HX99G Mini PC for productivity takes your computing performance to the next level with its remarkable memory and storage capabilities. Supporting DDR5 dual-channel memory, it accommodates up to 64GB of RAM, allowing for lightning-fast data access and seamless multitasking. Whether you are running resource-intensive applications or working with complex projects, the MinisForum HX99G memory capacity ensures a smooth and efficient workflow.

Accessories

HX99G supports quad display: two 4K/60 Hz displays through HDMI 2.0 and two 8K/60 Hz displays through USB 4. Other ports include: The MinisForum HX99G is designed with productivity in mind. It offers a range of ports and buttons strategically placed for easy access and convenience. With a USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A port located at the front; you can connect your peripherals without hassle. Additionally, a USB3.2 Gen1 Type-C port at the front provides fast data transfer speeds and supports various USB-C devices. The rear of the mini PC features two USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports and a USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A port, offering versatility and flexibility for your connectivity needs.

Minisforum warns you upfront not to mess with the cooler on the CPU and GPU unless you know what you’re doing with liquid metal, so I don’t recommend taking it apart. Minisforum Neptune HX99G review: Performance

Conclusion

That’s the HX99G’s final charm. It’s so flexible with its software given its hardware that you can run whatever OS you want on it and you should be fine. Minisforum Neptune HX99G review: Verdict When discussing the synthetic benchmarks, we already mentioned the option to connect an external graphics card via Thunderbolt. But in the pure gaming tests, the configuration using the Razer Core X and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Tiis unable to deliver a convincing performance. Unfortunately, the limited bandwidth of the external PCI Express connection is demanding its due. We've seen plenty of brands brandishing the word 'Game' for Mini systems when they've only integrated GPUs. And while these have been getting progressively better, they don't yet compete with even the lowest rung on the discrete graphics card ladder.