Japanese media outlet PC Watch reports that MINISFORUM has introduced the MS-R1, a compact mini workstation built around an ARM instruction set processor. The system features the CP8180 SoC from CIX, fabricated on a 6nm process, aimed at providing efficient performance for development and professional workloads.
The CIX CP8180 uses an 8+4 CPU core structure that includes eight Arm Cortex-A720 cores and four Arm Cortex-A520 cores. Its graphics capabilities come from the Arm Immortalis-G720 MC10 GPU, which includes ray tracing support. The chip also integrates a 45TOPS NPU designed to accelerate neural processing and other compute-intensive operations.
The MS-R1 supports up to 64GB of 128-bit LPDDR5 memory running at 5500MT/s, with 4GB of the total reserved for ECC error correction. For storage, users can choose between 512GB or 1TB SSD options, allowing flexibility for different usage requirements.
In design, the MS-R1 continues MINISFORUM’s established approach seen in products such as the MS-A2. The device measures 196×189×48 mm and maintains a small footprint suitable for limited desk spaces. Expansion support includes a full-length PCIe 4.0×8 slot, along with a variety of internal interfaces such as a 40-pin GPIO, UART, eDP, I2C, and TPM. Wireless communication is handled by an integrated module offering Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 compatibility.
External connectivity is arranged across both the front and rear panels. The front side includes one USB-A 5Gbps port and two USB-A 480Mbps ports. On the back, users will find two USB-C 10Gbps ports, two USB-A 10Gbps ports, two USB-A 480Mbps ports, dual 10GbE RJ45 Ethernet ports, and an HDMI 2.0 output. This range of ports provides flexibility for connecting displays, peripherals, and high-speed networks.
The MS-R1 operates on a custom Linux distribution developed by MINISFORUM and based on Debian 12. This system is optimized for 10 Gigabit Ethernet and includes enhanced driver support for Arm-based computing tasks.
With the launch of the MS-R1, MINISFORUM expands its lineup of compact workstation solutions, targeting developers, engineers, and users who prefer an Arm-based environment with open-source operating systems. The combination of high-performance components, compact design, and extensive connectivity positions the MS-R1 as a flexible option in the mini workstation category.
MINISFORUM MS-R1 Specification
| Specification | MINISFORUM MS-R1 |
|---|---|
| Processor (SoC) | CIX CP8180 (6nm) |
| CPU Configuration | 8x Arm Cortex-A720 + 4x Arm Cortex-A520 (8+4 design) |
| GPU | Arm Immortalis-G720 MC10 (supports ray tracing) |
| NPU | 45TOPS performance |
| Memory | Up to 64GB LPDDR5 (128-bit, 5500MT/s) |
| ECC Memory | 4GB reserved for error correction |
| Storage Options | 512GB or 1TB SSD |
| Expansion Slot | PCIe 4.0 ×8 (full-length) |
| Internal Interfaces | 40-pin GPIO, UART, eDP, I2C, TPM |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Front I/O Ports | 1× USB-A (5Gbps), 2× USB-A (480Mbps) |
| Rear I/O Ports | 2× USB-C (10Gbps), 2× USB-A (10Gbps), 2× USB-A (480Mbps), 2× RJ45 10GbE, 1× HDMI 2.0 |
| Operating System | Custom Linux distribution (based on Debian 12) |
| Chassis Dimensions | 196 × 189 × 48 mm |
| Design | Same mold as MS-A2 mini workstation |
