Minisforum’s AI NAS S5-304 is now available after its Computex 2026 debut. It combines five M.2 NVMe bays, up to 40TB of all-flash storage, 10GbE networking and a fanless enclosure. The US configuration reported by Notebookcheck costs $599 without SSDs, so the headline price excludes the drives required to reach that capacity.
What the Minisforum S5-304 is
The S5-304 is a compact network-attached storage system built around Intel’s Wildcat Lake platform. Its Intel Core 3 304 processor has five cores and five threads and reaches up to 4.3GHz. Minisforum supplies 12GB of LPDDR5X memory, but its regional selector identifies that RAM as non-upgradeable.
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The design is unusual for a NAS in this price class because every data drive is an M.2 NVMe SSD rather than a 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch hard disk. Five M.2 bays provide a stated maximum of 40TB when populated with suitable drives. Dedicated system storage keeps the five bays available for data, although Minisforum has not published a complete, qualified-SSD list in the available product information.
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Specifications at a glance
| Specification | Minisforum S5-304 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304; 5 cores/5 threads; up to 4.3GHz |
| Memory | 12GB LPDDR5X, not upgradeable |
| Drive bays | Five M.2 NVMe bays |
| Maximum stated capacity | Up to 40TB across five NVMe drives |
| Networking | 10GbE and 2.5GbE |
| Other connectivity | Two USB4 ports and Wi-Fi 7 |
| Cooling | Fanless |
| Dimensions | 176.5 × 154 × 60mm (Canadian product page) |
| Weight | 1.8kg (EU selector) |
| Operating system | MinisCloud OS |
The dimensions and weight come from different regional pages, so buyers should treat them as region-specific published figures rather than a single measurement set.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
How much does it cost?
Notebookcheck reported a US price of $599 for a configuration without SSDs on October 15, 2026. Minisforum’s Canadian page showed CA$820.90 for a 0TB configuration, while its EU selector displayed a €659 sale price. These figures are geographically different, and the EU amount is explicitly a sale price; taxes, shipping and availability can change the final total.
Because no drives are included in those 0TB or drive-less configurations, reaching 40TB requires buying five NVMe SSDs separately. The cost of those drives can exceed the NAS chassis price, particularly when using high-endurance models for continuous workloads. Confirm the supported M.2 form factor, capacity limits and seller’s current compatibility information before ordering.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What MinisCloud OS provides
The S5-304 runs MinisCloud OS with features aimed at home users and small offices:
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- LZ4 compression.
- Multi-user isolation.
- Docker application support.
- AI photo albums.
- One-click remote access.
Minisforum says its platform is designed for local, privacy-focused AI processing. At Computex, Director of Brand & Marketing Emily Yeh described the S5 and N5 MAX as combining high-performance hardware with the company’s self-developed operating system for “private, enterprise-grade intelligence.” The announcement also refers to local data analysis and collaboration among multiple AI agents, but it does not provide independent performance results for those functions.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Why choose an all-flash NAS?
Lower noise and latency
NVMe storage has no spinning platters, and the S5-304’s fanless cooling is intended to keep acoustic output low near a desk, studio, bedroom or entertainment system. Flash storage also offers much lower access latency than hard disks, which can help databases, photo catalogs, project files and many small-file operations feel more responsive.
10GbE can match fast local storage
The 10GbE port gives a suitably equipped network a much higher ceiling than 1GbE. To benefit, the computer, switch, cabling and network adapters on the transfer path must also support 10GbE; otherwise the connection falls back to the slower equipment in use. A 2.5GbE port provides a practical alternative for mixed-speed home networks.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Compact placement
At 176.5 × 154 × 60mm, the enclosure can fit where a conventional multi-disk NAS would not. Wi-Fi 7 and two USB4 ports add flexibility for local connectivity, although wired Ethernet remains the appropriate choice for consistent high-throughput NAS transfers.
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Important limitations before buying
Memory cannot be expanded
The fixed 12GB of LPDDR5X is adequate for file serving, snapshots and a modest number of containers, but it removes an upgrade path. Minisforum’s selector specifically warns that the system is not suited to future expansion into heavy Docker or virtual-machine workloads. Anyone planning many concurrent services, large databases or several virtual machines should choose hardware with socketed or replaceable memory instead.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
40TB is a raw maximum
“Up to 40TB” describes five drives whose capacities add to 40TB before filesystem overhead, redundancy choices and reserved space. The usable figure depends on how the drives are arranged in ZFS and on the capacity of the individual SSDs. Treat 40TB as the advertised raw ceiling, not guaranteed free space.
SSD selection is your responsibility
The product information does not include a complete qualified-drive list. Before purchase, verify the physical M.2 size, PCIe generation, thermal requirements, endurance rating and whether the intended capacity is recognized by the current firmware. Five identical drives are not mandatory in every storage layout, but matching models simplify performance and replacement planning.
Who should buy the S5-304?
- Good fit: users who need quiet, compact, low-latency storage; creative teams moving large files over 10GbE; home-theater libraries; photo and media catalogs; and households running a limited set of Docker services.
- Less suitable: buyers seeking the lowest cost per terabyte, people who need easily replaceable memory, or administrators planning dense virtualization and heavy container workloads.
- Budget check: add five SSDs, a compatible 10GbE switch or adapter if required, and a backup target. ZFS snapshots help recover from accidental changes but are not a substitute for an independent backup.
Buying checklist
- Confirm the price and stock for your country; the published US, Canadian and EU figures are different and can change.
- Decide how much usable capacity and redundancy you need before selecting five SSDs.
- Check each SSD’s physical compatibility, endurance and thermal behavior.
- Budget for network upgrades needed to use 10GbE.
- Plan a separate backup destination for irreplaceable files.
- Choose the S5-304 only if 12GB of fixed memory matches your long-term Docker and application plans.
The Bottom Line
The S5-304 is compelling when silent operation, NVMe latency and a very small footprint matter more than the lowest storage cost or future memory expansion. Its $599 US drive-less price is only the starting point: five SSDs and a suitable 10GbE network are separate costs, and the fixed 12GB RAM makes it a better compact file-and-media server than a virtualization-heavy platform.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
