Minisforum MS-01 vs Beelink SER8
Buy the Minisforum MS-01 if you need raw CPU power, fast networking, or plan to add your own RAM and drives. Buy the Beelink SER8 if you want a ready-to-run machine at a lower price. The MS-01's lowest price was $679.00 on November 1, 2026, and the SER8's lowest was $580.00 on November 2, 2026, so the SER8 costs about $99 less.
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Minisforum MS-01
5Choose the Minisforum MS-01 if you want a 14-core i9 workstation with dual 10G SFP+ and USB4 for heavy multitasking, virtualization, or fast networking.
Pros
- 14-core i9-13900H with 20 threads handles heavy multitasking and virtualization
- Dual 10G SFP+ and dual 2.5G Ethernet suit NAS, router, or lab builds
- Two USB4 ports at 40Gbps for fast external drives and displays
- Three M.2 slots give room for large, fast storage
Cons
- Barebone: you must buy RAM, an SSD, and an OS separately
- No memory or storage included despite the 32GB/1TB listing text
- Higher entry price at $679.00
What separates them
| Minisforum MS-01 | Beelink SER8 | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i9-13900H, 14 cores / 20 threads, up to 5.4 GHz | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, 8 cores, up to 5.1 GHz |
| Memory included | Barebone: no RAM included, 2 DDR5 SODIMM slots | 16GB DDR5 installed, upgradeable to 64GB |
| Storage included | Barebone: no SSD, 3 M.2 slots (one PCIe 4.0, two PCIe 3.0) | 512GB NVMe installed, 2 M.2 slots |
| Networking | 2x 2.5G RJ45 plus 2x 10G SFP+ | Dual Gigabit Ethernet |
| USB4 / Thunderbolt-class ports | 2x USB4 at 40Gbps with Alt DP | No USB4 listed; USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, DP |
| Operating system | Barebone, no OS installed | Ships with an OS installed |
| Price | $679.00 lowest, November 1, 2026 | $580.00 lowest, November 2, 2026 |
Price history
$679.00$580.00
- Minisforum MS-01: lowest $679.00 on Nov 1 at Walmart; $679.00 on Nov 2.
- Beelink SER8: lowest $580.00 on Nov 2 at eBay.
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
Beelink SER8
- AmazonCheck price at Amazon
- BeelinkCheck price at Beelink
- eBayCheck price at eBay
Specs compared
| Spec | Minisforum MS-01 | Beelink SER8 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows | — |
| Processor Brand | Intel CPU | — |
| Number Of Cores | 14-core | — |
| Color | Black | — |
| Hard Drive Type | Solid State Drive | — |
| Processor Speed | 5.4 GHz | — |
| Installed Memory | 32 GB RAM | — |
| Drive Capacity | 1 TB Storage | — |
| Edition | MS01-S1390(0+0) | — |
| CPU | — | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8-core, up to 5.1 GHz) |
| RAM |
Questions and answers
- Which is better for video editing?
- The MS-01. Its 14-core i9-13900H has more threads for rendering and exports, and USB4 moves footage fast. The SER8's 8-core Ryzen 7 8845HS is fine for light edits.
- Which is better for a home server or router?
- The MS-01, thanks to dual 10G SFP+ and dual 2.5G Ethernet. The SER8's dual Gigabit ports limit it to about 1Gbps links.
- Is the SER8 worth it if I don't want to build?
- Yes. It ships with 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an OS, so it runs on day one. The MS-01 barebone needs RAM, an SSD, and an OS added.
- Which lasts longer?
- Both are upgradeable, but the MS-01 has three M.2 slots and two RAM slots, giving more room to grow. The SER8 supports up to 64GB RAM and has a second M.2 slot.
- How much cheaper is the SER8?
- About $99 at the lowest prices: $580.00 on November 2, 2026 versus $679.00 on November 1, 2026. That gap shrinks once you price RAM and an SSD for the MS-01.