Minisforum MS-01 PCIe Card and RAM Compatibility Thread

Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.

Miesepies

New Member
Apr 3, 2025
7
1
3
My unit seems to have an issue with my 4K Asus monitor, when connected to the HDMI port. It won't boot. It does work when I use a usb-c to HDMI adapter, but as soon as I connect the cable directly, my MS-01 refuses to boot.

When connected to a Dell FHD monitor, the MS-01 works just fine.
Anyone else has seen this kind of behaviour?

(I have reflashed the latest available firmware 1.26V from the support site)
 

Arjestin

Member
Feb 26, 2024
41
6
8
My unit seems to have an issue with my 4K Asus monitor, when connected to the HDMI port. It won't boot. It does work when I use a usb-c to HDMI adapter, but as soon as I connect the cable directly, my MS-01 refuses to boot.

When connected to a Dell FHD monitor, the MS-01 works just fine.
Anyone else has seen this kind of behaviour?

(I have reflashed the latest available firmware 1.26V from the support site)
I had the same issue with an ultrawide Samsung monitor. I reset the monitor to factory settings. MS-01 booted fine, and then I reapplied my preferred settings to the monitor.
 

Miesepies

New Member
Apr 3, 2025
7
1
3
I had the same issue with an ultrawide Samsung monitor. I reset the monitor to factory settings. MS-01 booted fine, and then I reapplied my preferred settings to the monitor.
Thanks. I did a factory reset, and at first it all seemed to work fine. Boot and then a restart with working HDMI out. But unfortunately third time was not a charm. I was not able to get the MS-01 to boot with the 4K display connected after that. I did a factory reset again, I switched the monitor off, I unplugged the power of the MS-01. Nothing.

Only way to get past the POST, is by either using an USB-C to HDMI kabel or no HDMI cable plugged in at all. Once the machine is starting up, I can insert the HDMI cable and I have a working display.

This machine will run as a server, so won't be connected to this monitor after setup. But, considering my warranty, I wonder if this a bug or an actual defect.
 

rethray

New Member
Apr 10, 2025
1
0
1
I would like to update the forum on this card. Thanks to Minisforum Discord channel I've been able to get it working taping the PCI contacts 5,6,7,8 (SMBus) on both side of the board.
can you share any picture or pin out schematic ?
 

Cjlacz

New Member
Apr 8, 2025
6
3
3
IMG_0822.jpeg

just want to say thanks for some of the earlier posts talking about using the e slot as a boot drive. I had problems finding a place to mount it with a cable, especially without a 3d printer.


I just found this on AliExpress: US $5.80 | Compact M.2 Key E/A/E to NVME SSD Adapter PCIE GEN3 X4 For 2230 2242 2260 2260 2280 SSD Riser Card

Reverses the ssd direction. Just cut the support short. Put in the ssd first and carefully slide it into the type e slot. I can remove the wd red which was my boot drive and use the slot for storage now.
 

freegate

New Member
Apr 21, 2025
16
6
3
Guadeloupe
I just finished reading the 98-page thread.

Even though there are improvements thanks to BIOS 1.26, the MS-01 doesn't stand out for its stability or compatibility with standard devices.
Overheating issues, motherboard chipset not compatible with PLX PCIe switches, HBA cards not always recognized, etc.

How can we explain that this product is a bestseller?

I can understand that in February 2024, the case was having teething problems, but more than a year later, quite a few customer service returns are being reported on the forum.

I see quite a few YouTube videos where the machine is put into production at companies. No mention is made of stability issues. Are these people paid by minisforum?

For some, it's not going very well, for others, it's a nightmare. How could anyone take such a risk?

This MS-01 is a real lottery. I'm disillusioned.

I hope the future MS-A2 Minisforum will have learned from its little brother's mistakes.
 
Last edited:

Arjestin

Member
Feb 26, 2024
41
6
8
How can we explain that this product is a bestseller?
I have 2 units running Proxmox for about 10 months. Had to replace one of them after new RAM caused the MS-01 to stop POSTing. But I still use 2 MS-01 units and don't intend to replace them any time soon. The true reason is value. Simply put, there is nothing with that level of performance, networking, power efficency, and costs less than 1K USD. Of course it has all the disadvantages you mentioned, and I would not use MS-01 as an enterprise/production machine. But as a homelab, it's a great value product even in April 2025.
 
  • Like
Reactions: P00r

freegate

New Member
Apr 21, 2025
16
6
3
Guadeloupe
I have 2 units running Proxmox for about 10 months. Had to replace one of them after new RAM caused the MS-01 to stop POSTing. But I still use 2 MS-01 units and don't intend to replace them any time soon. The true reason is value. Simply put, there is nothing with that level of performance, networking, power efficency, and costs less than 1K USD. Of course it has all the disadvantages you mentioned, and I would not use MS-01 as an enterprise/production machine. But as a homelab, it's a great value product even in April 2025.
I understand but...

Even for a home lab, my criterion n°1 is stability.
Plex, Home Assistant, a nightmare for the family when the box crashes. I'll be public enemy n°1 if it doesn't work. ;)
 

Stanthewizzard

New Member
Apr 22, 2016
15
3
3
48
48.84015,2.261973
www.stanetdam.com
I have 2 units running Proxmox for about 10 months. Had to replace one of them after new RAM caused the MS-01 to stop POSTing. But I still use 2 MS-01 units and don't intend to replace them any time soon. The true reason is value. Simply put, there is nothing with that level of performance, networking, power efficency, and costs less than 1K USD. Of course it has all the disadvantages you mentioned, and I would not use MS-01 as an enterprise/production machine. But as a homelab, it's a great value product even in April 2025.
What happened with ram ?
 

Arjestin

Member
Feb 26, 2024
41
6
8
What happened with ram ?
I replaced the pre-installed OEM RAM with a Crucial 96GB kit, but the MS-01 failed to POST. There was no video output, no access to the BIOS menu - just the blue LED and CPU fan powering on. I switched back to the OEM RAM and replaced the motherboard battery, but that did not work so I had to RMA the unit. A detailed post can be found a few pages back. Other owners have also reported similar issues.
 

Stanthewizzard

New Member
Apr 22, 2016
15
3
3
48
48.84015,2.261973
www.stanetdam.com
I replaced the pre-installed OEM RAM with a Crucial 96GB kit, but the MS-01 failed to POST. There was no video output, no access to the BIOS menu - just the blue LED and CPU fan powering on. I switched back to the OEM RAM and replaced the motherboard battery, but that did not work so I had to RMA the unit. A detailed post can be found a few pages back. Other owners have also reported similar issues.
Whaaaaaat
This is the RAM I have in my two units.
No issues at all