Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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My first Minisforum experience didn't turn out quite like I expected.

Find out more about Build a Cubesat: youtube.com/@buildacubesat

Subscribe to @saveitforparts ;)

And check out all the parts I used to build the Minisforum MS-A1:

- Minisforum MS-A1 Barebones kit: amzn.to/4o2GEcL
- Crucial DDR5 SO-DIMMs (4800 MT/s): amzn.to/45ha1AC
- AMD Ryzen 7 8700G CPU: amzn.to/4oiopAm
- Kioxia XG8 2TB NVMe SSD: amzn.to/44VlJRD

Special thanks to Kioxia for sending me the drive I used in this build! And the U.2 NVMe SSD that I couldn't quite make fit :P

Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/geerlingguy
Sponsor me on GitHub: github.com/sponsors/geerlingguy
Merch: redshirtjeff.com
2nd Channel: youtube.com/@GeerlingEngineering
3rd Channel: youtube.com/@Level2Jeff

Contents:

00:00 - Gathering dust, and gathering parts
03:29 - What you get with the MS-A1
05:20 - Cracking the case
07:08 - Building a custom PC - CPU and RAM
08:44 - Picking the right M.2 NVMe slot
10:43 - Cooling in a tight space
12:15 - U.2 don't fit
13:30 - First boot and Windows install
14:43 - Microsoft shenanigans
15:44 - Breaking in the new build with Cinebench
17:58 - An unexpected result
19:51 - A satisfying conclusion