ASUS NUC 14 Pro+ vs Minisforum MS-01
The MS-01 is the better pick for anyone who needs fast networking or a small virtualization lab: two 10G SFP+ ports, two 2.5G Ethernet ports, three M.2 slots and two USB4 ports are things the NUC 14 Pro+ cannot match. The NUC 14 Pro+ is the easier machine to live with day to day, with a newer Core Ultra 9 185H, Arc graphics, Wi-Fi 6E and a 150W adapter in a 600g chassis. On price, the MS-01 is listed at $679.00 as of November 1, 2026, and the NUC 14 Pro+ has no price given here, so compare its current store prices before deciding.
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ASUS NUC 14 Pro+
Choose the ASUS NUC 14 Pro+ if you want a compact, quiet desktop with the newest Intel silicon, Arc graphics and Wi-Fi 6E built in, and you do not need 10G networking.
Pros
- Newest Core Ultra 9 185H with Arc graphics
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 built in
- Small 600g chassis with a 150W adapter
- Two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, up to 48GB DDR5-5600
Cons
- Only one 2.5G Ethernet port, no 10G
- No USB4 or SFP+ ports listed
- Second M.2 slot is limited to 2242 size and 2TB
What separates them
| ASUS NUC 14 Pro+ | Minisforum MS-01 | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 65W cTDP | Intel Core i9-13900H, 14 cores / 20 threads, up to 5.4 GHz |
| Graphics | Intel Arc GPU (Core Ultra) | Intel Iris Xe Graphics at 1.5 GHz |
| Networking | One 2.5G Ethernet port, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Two 10G SFP+, two 2.5G RJ45, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Storage slots | Two M.2 slots (2280 PCIe 4.0 x4, 2242 PCIe 4.0 x4) | Three M.2 slots (one 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 with U.2 option, two PCIe 3.0) |
| Memory | Two DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM slots, up to 48GB | Two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, barebone ships with none |
| USB and video | Standard USB and display outputs, compact 144 x 112 x 41mm, 600g | Two USB4 at 40Gbps with Alt DP 1.4, HDMI 2.0, six USB-A ports |
| Form and power | 600g chassis with a 150W external adapter |
Price history
$887.00$679.00
- ASUS NUC 14 Pro+: lowest $887.00 on Nov 1.
- Minisforum MS-01: lowest $679.00 on Nov 1 at Walmart; $679.00 on Nov 2.
Prices at every store
Minisforum MS-01
- AmazonCheck price at Amazon
- B&H Photo-Video-AudioCheck price at B&H Photo-Video-Audio
- GigaParts.comCheck price at GigaParts.com
Specs compared
| Spec | ASUS NUC 14 Pro+ | Minisforum MS-01 |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Type | Intel GPU | — |
| CPU Brand | Intel CPU | — |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor 185H, cTDP 65W | — |
| Graphics | Intel® Arc™ GPU (Core Ultra) | — |
| Memory slots | Max Capacity: 48GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM x 2 | — |
| Storage slot 1 | 128GB~4TB M.2 2280 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 x 4 SSD | — |
| Storage slot 2 | 128GB~2TB M.2 2242 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 x 4 SSD | — |
| Wireless | Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (Gig+), Bluetooth 5.3 | — |
| LAN | Intel® Ethernet Controller I226-V, 2.5G | — |
| Power supply | 19.5VDC, 7.69A, 150W Power Adapter (Core Ultra … | — |
Questions and answers
- Which is better for a home virtualization lab?
- The MS-01. Its dual 10G SFP+, dual 2.5G LAN and three M.2 slots make it a natural Proxmox or ESXi host. The NUC 14 Pro+ has only one 2.5G port and two M.2 slots.
- Which has the faster CPU?
- The NUC 14 Pro+ has the newer Core Ultra 9 185H at 65W cTDP. The MS-01 uses the older i9-13900H with 14 cores and 20 threads, so the NUC is the better bet for single-thread and graphics work.
- Is the MS-01 worth the extra over the NUC?
- At $679.00 as of November 1, 2026, the MS-01 is a barebone, so add RAM and an SSD to that figure. Buy it for the 10G ports and extra M.2 slots, not for raw CPU speed.
- Which is better for gaming?
- The NUC 14 Pro+. Its Intel Arc GPU is well ahead of the MS-01's Iris Xe, and it comes with Wi-Fi 6E and a power adapter ready to go. Neither is a serious gaming machine.
- Does the MS-01 come with Windows?
- No. The MS01-S1390(0+0) edition is a barebone with no RAM, SSD or OS. The NUC 14 Pro+ listing does not state an OS either, so check before buying.
- Which is smaller?
- The NUC 14 Pro+ at 144 x 112 x 41mm and 600g. The MS-01 is a larger mini workstation chassis built to hold three drives and more ports.