Minix's updated NR660 LP mini PC trades upgradability for compactness with soldered LPDDR5 RAM and dual M.2 slots supporting up to 8TB storage, while dropping USB4 connectivity.
Minix has refreshed its mini PC lineup with the NR660 LP, a compact system prioritizing space efficiency at the cost of hardware flexibility. This model introduces significant changes from its predecessor while retaining the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor. Here's what professionals and compact-PC enthusiasts need to know.
Core Hardware Trade-Offs
The most notable shift is the transition to soldered 16GB LPDDR5-6400 RAM. This permanently integrated memory addresses supply chain constraints but eliminates future RAM upgrades. While LPDDR5 offers power efficiency advantages, the fixed capacity may limit long-term viability for memory-intensive workflows. Storage flexibility remains robust through dual M.2 2280 slots supporting PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives. Though the base configuration ships with a 512GB PCIe 3.0 SSD, users can configure up to 8TB total storage – a significant capacity for a device this size.
Connectivity: Gains and Losses
The port selection reveals strategic compromises. The NR660 LP omits USB4 support available on the non-LP model, eliminating Thunderbolt compatibility and external GPU potential. Instead, connectivity includes:
- 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10Gbps)
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps)
- 1x USB 2.0 Type-A
- Dual 1GbE Ethernet ports
- 3.5mm audio combo jack
This configuration favors peripheral quantity over cutting-edge bandwidth, positioning it below competitors like Minisforum's UM780 XTX which retains USB4.
Performance Profile
Powered by AMD's 6-core/12-thread Ryzen 5 6600H (Zen 3+, 45W TDP), the system pairs Radeon 660M integrated graphics. Benchmark comparisons show this chip delivers:
- Approximately 85% of the Ryzen 7 7735HS in multi-core workloads
- Competent 1080p gaming at low-medium settings (40-60fps in titles like GTA V)
- Hardware-accelerated AV1 decoding
Despite being a 2022 architecture, thermal testing indicates the compact chassis maintains stable 3.3GHz all-core boosts under sustained load. Wireless features include WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.0, while display outputs support triple 4K monitors via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C.
Market Position and Availability
Priced at $515 (unavailable at launch), the LP model commands a $16 premium over the non-LP variant's $499 listing despite hardware reductions. This positions it against BeeLink's SER6 Pro and GMKtec's NucBox K3. The device targets users prioritizing:
- Maximum storage density in minimal footprint
- Office productivity and media playback
- Network appliance applications (dual Ethernet)
Early adopters should note the non-LP version remains available with socketed DDR5 and USB4 at lower cost, making the LP's value proposition highly workload-dependent. Minix has not confirmed global availability timelines beyond its initial listing.
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