Minisforum Venus Series UN100D review: Mini-PC for office tasks with Intel N100 and DDR5 RAM starts at 219 euros
Minisforum covers a wide range of mini-PCs for many applications. The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D is one of the most affordable devices in the Chinese system manufacturer's portfolio. Based on the Intel N100 the compact PC is equipped with a frequently used processor. However, you always have to look at the available power consumption of the SoC in order to make an assessment. The manufacturer charges just 219 euros for the Minisforum UN100D, which is equipped with 8 GB DDR5 RAM and a 256 GB SSD in the smallest configuration. Only 20 euros extra (239 euros) is required for the model with 16 GB RAM, which is certainly a sensible option. In the best configuration, the Minisforum UN100D with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage space costs 256 euros. This is still a reasonable price, which is in good proportion to the current competitors. We have summarized the list of all competitors accompanying this review in the following overview.
Possible competitors in comparison
Bew. | Datum | Model | PL2 | PL1 | Gewicht | Preis | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65.8 % | v8 | 06 / 2024 | Minisforum Venus Series UN100D N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 18 | 9 | 367 g | 219 EUR |
| 77.4 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 11 / 2023 | Geekom MiniAir 12 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 25 | 15 | 453 g | 279 EUR |
| 75.8 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 03 / 2024 | Acemagic S1 N97, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 25 | 25 | 450 g | 249 EUR |
| 73.5 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 09 / 2023 | Blackview MP80 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 15 | 15 | 214 g | 250 EUR |
| 73.2 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 01 / 2024 | Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV N200, UHD Graphics Xe 750 32EUs | 25 | 6 | 828 g | 299 EUR |
| 73 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 02 / 2024 | Maxtang MTN-ALN50 i3-N305, UHD Graphics 32EUs | 35 | 15 | 685 g | 348 USD |
| 72.8 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 01 / 2024 | Minisforum Venus Series UN100L N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 18 | 7 | 365 g | 199 EUR |
| 71.1 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 07 / 2023 | BOSGAME N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 35 | 15 | 392 g | 179 EUR |
| 70.1 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 11 / 2023 | Trigkey G4 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | 23 | 20 | 272 g | 189 EUR |
Note: We have recently updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here .
Case - Lots of plastic and little metal
The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D is mainly made of plastic. Due to the pricing, you can't expect more here. Nevertheless, Minisforum uses an internal metal structure to reinforce the housing. In terms of color, the Minisforum UN100D is kept in plain black. Fortunately, the manufacturer has dispensed with glossy surfaces, which scratch quickly anyway. There is nothing to criticize about the workmanship. The space requirement of 11.5 × 11.0 centimeters is roughly comparable with the competitors. Only the Blackview MP80 has a much more compact design. At just 367 grams, our test sample is quite light and is one of the lightest devices here. The power supply unit itself weighs another 177 grams.
Equipment
The selection of connections on the Minisforum Venus Series UN100D is good and offers many options. The manufacturer has installed a total of four USB ports, one of which can also be used for image output as a USB-C port. The mini-PC can also be supplied with power via this port if the connected monitor supports the PD (Power Delivery) function. The location of the three USB Type-A ports, which are all on the front, is somewhat impractical. At the rear, Minisforum also installs two network interfaces with 2.5G support as well as one DisplayPort and one HDMI. All display outputs support 4K@60Hz.
SD card reader
The memory card reader, which can only handle microSD memory cards, is located on the side. The mini-PC does not score with high transfer rates. We carried out the performance tests with the AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60.
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Average of class Mini PC (15.1 - 214, n=26, last 2 years) | |
| Zotac ZBOX PI430AJ (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Zotac ZBOX PI336 pico (AV PRO MICROSD V60) | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| AC6-M Mini-PC (AV PRO MICROSD V60) | |
| Newsmay AC8 N6005 (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Average of class Mini PC (18.2 - 221, n=26, last 2 years) | |
| Zotac ZBOX PI336 pico (AV PRO MICROSD V60) | |
| Zotac ZBOX PI430AJ (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| AC6-M Mini-PC (AV PRO MICROSD V60) | |
| Newsmay AC8 N6005 (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Communication
The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D contains the Intel Wireless AC 9560 WLAN module, which also supports Bluetooth 5.1. The permanently installed wireless module can only handle 5- or 2.4-GHz frequencies. In the test, our device did not deliver outstanding values, which places the Minisforum UN100D only in the lower midfield. Subjectively, we did not notice any significant disadvantages in everyday work during the test period. We carried out the performance tests with the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 test router. Alternatively, the mini-PC also offers the option of wired network communication. With two RJ45 sockets, which enable transfer rates of up to 2.5 GBit/s each, the Minisforum UN100D is equipped better than most other mini-PCs in this price range.
Accessories
The mini-PC is delivered in nondescript packaging. It contains the device, together with the 36-watt power supply unit and an HDMI cable. The small computer can also be mounted on a VESA mount. The manufacturer includes a mounting plate and mounting material. We also find two replacement rubber feet in the box. The connection cable for an optional 2.5-inch mass storage device is already built into the device.
Maintenance
Maintenance work on the Minisforum UM100D is only possible to a limited extent. The RAM and the wireless module are permanently installed, and an M.2 SSD is already pre-installed in all configurations. This can certainly be exchanged for a model with more storage space. Nevertheless, a 2.5-inch storage can also be accommodated in the device. The device is relatively easy to open from the underside. The four screws are hidden under the rubber feet, which are only fixed with small barbs and not glued on as is often the case. The CPU fan is located on the top, which means that the entire circuit board including the cooling unit must be removed if cleaning is required. With a little skill, this can be done easily.
Performance - Intel N100 with only 4 cores
The Intel N100 belongs to the Alder Lake series and combines four native computing cores. The SoC was introduced at the beginning of 2023 and is mainly used in inexpensive devices. The memory of the Minisforum UN100D is quite limited at 8 GB, which is why we would rather recommend the device with 16 GB. Upgrading at a later date is not possible.
Test conditions
We carried out all performance tests with the "maximum performance" power plan. Deviating energy-saving plans were only used for the energy consumption measurements and the volume measurements. Further details on our test criteria can be found here.
Processor
The Intel N100 is a quad-core processor of the Alder Lake architecture, which is used in many inexpensive mini-PCs. It is important to note that the Intel N95 and Intel N97 models also use the same basis. However, there are differences in the respective power consumption of the processors, which are sometimes adjusted by the manufacturer itself. In our case, the Intel N100 in the Minisforum UN100D is allowed to work with 18 watts for a short time. Later on, the power consumption drops to 9 watts. With these power restrictions, the Intel N100 is clearly inferior to most competitors. In anticipation of the determined temperatures under load, Minisforum could have easily given the processor significantly more power consumption. Our test sample can therefore only be placed in the bottom third, even though the Trigkey G4 with the same SoC achieves a solid third place in the performance rating.
You can find more benchmarks for the processors here.
| Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| WinRAR - Result | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - 1M | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - 2M | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
| Performance Rating | |
| Average of class Mini PC | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
| Average of class Mini PC (764 - 51004, n=113, last 2 years) | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
| Average of class Mini PC (432 - 26952, n=113, last 2 years) | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
| Average of class Mini PC (5296 - 51727, n=113, last 2 years) | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
Cinebench R15 Multi loop
The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D runs through the Cinebench R15 continuous loop without any loss of performance. With a maximum temperature of just 62 °C, the SoC never reaches critical values. However, this makes it clear that Minisforum is giving away a lot of performance here, as the Intel N100 is only operated with 9 watts under continuous load.
System performance
The weak CPU performance also has an impact on the system performance, which means that our test sample is once again only at the bottom of the PCMark10 benchmarks. Crossmark and the RAM tests with AIDA64 perform somewhat better. Subjectively, the device works well, although you shouldn't expect too much from the mini-PC. The 8 GB RAM is one reason why there are sometimes some delays. If you want to shortlist the Minisforum UN100D, you should rather go for a device with 16 GB DDR5 RAM.
| AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Average of class Mini PC (44.9 - 184.8, n=113, last 2 years) | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
* ... smaller is better
DPC latencies
Our test sample cannot convince with good latencies. Even when simply surfing the internet, the values skyrocket and already reach the maximum documented here. The playback of our 4K test video as well as the brief stress test with Prime95 do not change this.
| DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
* ... smaller is better
Mass storage
In our case, the Minisforum Venus Series UN100D is equipped with an NVMe SSD from Gofatoo. With 256 GB of storage space, the mass storage is limited, and minus the operating system, the user only has around 200 GB available. The same model has already been installed in the Minisforum Venus Series UN100L. Nevertheless, the SSD in our test sample can deliver better performance due to the better PCIe connection. With that said, the performance of the SSD is not optimally utilized, because technically, built-in M.2 SSDs in the Minisforum UN100D are only connected with PCIe 3.0 x2. Our test system copes excellently with the load test. No performance losses are to be expected under continuous load. A second mass storage device in 2.5-inch format can be installed in the Minisforum Venus Series UN100D. The necessary connection cable is already included in the device.
For further comparisons and benchmarks, please refer to our comparison table.
* ... smaller is better
Continuous read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
Image output is handled by the Intel UHD Graphics. As a simple iGPU, the model only combines 24 EUs, which significantly limits performance. The maximum power consumption of the processor is also a factor that significantly influences the 3D performance. In comparison, the iGPU of the Minisforum UN100D achieves roughly the same performance as most of its competitors. Only the Acemagic S1 and the Maxtang MTN-ALN50 can noticeably set themselves apart. However, the latter has an advantage due to a more powerful iGPU with 32 EUs.
You can find more benchmarks for the Intel UHD Graphics here.
| Unigine Valley 1.0 | |
| 1920x1080 Extreme HD DirectX AA:x8 | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| 1920x1080 Extreme HD Preset OpenGL AA:x8 | |
| Maxtang MTN-ALN50 | |
| Blackview MP80 | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Acemagic S1 | |
| BOSGAME N95 | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100L | |
| Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV | |
| Affinity Photo 2 - Combined (Single / Multi GPU) | |
| Geekom MiniAir 12 | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D | |
| Trigkey G4 | |
| 3DMark 05 Standard | 15202 points | |
| 3DMark 06 Standard Score | 10024 points | |
| 3DMark Vantage P Result | 6261 points | |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 1693 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 55804 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 6590 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 1143 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 561 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 364 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming performance
The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D only delivers very low 3D performance, which is nowhere near enough to play demanding games. The iGPU of the Intel N100 can only be used for simple casual or browser games. Devices equipped with a current AMD Ryzen or an Intel Meteor Lake SoC, for example, offer noticeably more performance. As an example, you can take a look at the Aoostar GEM12 or the Minisforum AtomMan X7 Ti.
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 62.1 | 41 | 20.1 | 18.6 |
| Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 13 | 6.35 | 4.49 | |
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 19.6 | 12.6 |
Emissions - Economical and quiet
Noise emissions
The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D is one of the quietest devices we have compared here. This is certainly also a result of the low power consumption of the processor. But the Minisforum Venus Series UN100L is configured with a similarly low power consumption, although it was somewhat louder in direct comparison. Our test sample is barely audible in idle mode and also under load, and one could almost assume that Minisforum has installed a passive cooling unit here. However, this is not the case, as we have already seen in the maintenance section.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 24.4 / 24.5 / 24.5 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 24.9 / 25.9 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Earthworks M23R (15 cm distance) environment noise: 24.4 dB(A) | ||
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Geekom MiniAir 12 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Acemagic S1 N97, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Blackview MP80 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV N200, UHD Graphics Xe 750 32EUs | Maxtang MTN-ALN50 i3-N305, UHD Graphics 32EUs | Minisforum Venus Series UN100L N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | BOSGAME N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Trigkey G4 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | -12% | -18% | -14% | -1% | -19% | -8% | -23% | -28% | |
| off / environment * | 24.4 | 24.8 -2% | 24.9 -2% | 25.2 -3% | 25 -2% | 25 -2% | 25.5 -5% | 29.7 -22% | 24.8 -2% |
| Idle Minimum * | 24.4 | 24.8 -2% | 25.8 -6% | 25.4 -4% | 25 -2% | 25.1 -3% | 26.6 -9% | 30.2 -24% | 30.6 -25% |
| Idle Average * | 24.5 | 28.6 -17% | 25.9 -6% | 25.5 -4% | 25 -2% | 25.1 -2% | 26.6 -9% | 30.2 -23% | 31.3 -28% |
| Idle Maximum * | 24.5 | 28.7 -17% | 26 -6% | 25.5 -4% | 25 -2% | 25.1 -2% | 26.7 -9% | 30.2 -23% | 32.1 -31% |
| Load Average * | 24.9 | 29 -16% | 34.5 -39% | 32.3 -30% | 25 -0% | 34.5 -39% | 27.2 -9% | 30.4 -22% | 34.8 -40% |
| Load Maximum * | 25.9 | 30.2 -17% | 38.2 -47% | 36.4 -41% | 25 3% | 43 -66% | 27.3 -5% | 31.4 -21% | 37.1 -43% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D remains comparatively cool at all times. The case only heats up slightly under load and is far away from the 40°C mark. The low limit values of the Intel N100 ensure an excellent result overall. At the start of a load scenario, the SoC has 18 watts at its disposal. Here, the processor reaches its highest temperature of just 69 °C. In the further course of the test, the power consumption drops to 9 watts, while the temperature levels off at 54 °C.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.5 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 35.8 °C / 96 F, ranging from 21.6 to 69.5 °C for the class Mini PC.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 31 °C / 88 F, compared to the average of 36.1 °C / 97 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.6 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 32.3 °C / 90 F.
Energy management
The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D is a very economical Mini-PC and is one of the most economical devices in this comparison. Our test sample has a small slip-up in the idle measurements. Here, the mini-PC loses a few percentage points to the Bosgame N95 or the Blackview MP80, which demonstrate better energy management. Under average load, the Minisforum UN100D is economical at 15.7 watts. For short periods, the mini-PC reaches up to 28.1 watts, which is no problem for the 36-watt power supply unit. The Minisforum UN100D can also output the image via USB-C and be supplied with power at the same time, provided the monitor supports the PD function (Power Delivery).
| Off / Standby | 1.3 / 0.97 Watt |
| Idle | 5.8 / 6.4 / 10.1 Watt |
| Load |
15.7 / 28.1 Watt |
   
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Minisforum Venus Series UN100D N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Geekom MiniAir 12 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Acemagic S1 N97, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Blackview MP80 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Asus ExpertCenter PN42-BBN200MV N200, UHD Graphics Xe 750 32EUs | Maxtang MTN-ALN50 i3-N305, UHD Graphics 32EUs | Minisforum Venus Series UN100L N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | BOSGAME N95 N95, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Trigkey G4 N100, UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Average Intel UHD Graphics 24EUs (Alder Lake-N) | Average of class Mini PC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -6% | -66% | 2% | 7% | -22% | 15% | 21% | -24% | -16% | -146% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 5.8 | 5.9 -2% | 9.8 -69% | 4.9 16% | 4.4 24% | 3.9 33% | 3.8 34% | 3.5 40% | 8.2 -41% | 6.42 ? -11% | 9.54 ? -64% |
| Idle Average * | 6.4 | 7 -9% | 12 -88% | 7.1 -11% | 6 6% | 7 -9% | 4.8 25% | 3.6 44% | 8.6 -34% | 8.2 ? -28% | 11.7 ? -83% |
| Idle Maximum * | 10.1 | 9.3 8% | 13.5 -34% | 7.3 28% | 9.7 4% | 7.2 29% | 9.8 3% | 6.2 39% | 10.4 -3% | 10.4 ? -3% | 15.1 ? -50% |
| Load Average * | 15.7 | 18.9 -20% | 27.6 -76% | 20.6 -31% | 14.6 7% | 30.1 -92% | 12.9 18% | 20.4 -30% | 19.4 -24% | 19.9 ? -27% | 59.1 ? -276% |
| Load Maximum * | 28.1 | 30 -7% | 46.2 -64% | 26.2 7% | 30.2 -7% | 48.7 -73% | 28.9 -3% | 25 11% | 33.1 -18% | 30.8 ? -10% | 100.3 ? -257% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption with the external monitor
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Intel N100 falls short of expectations
In the price range of up to 300 euros, many mini-PCs follow a similar path in terms of performance. Unfortunately, this is also the case with the Minisforum Venus Series UN100D, which is equipped with an Intel N100. The SoC is certainly fast enough for most users if only simple office work is required. Unfortunately, Minisforum does not make full use of the processor's performance. With low power limits, the processor works slower than some competitors, even though the UN100D can boast excellent emission values. The approach of installing DDR5 RAM here is a good one, so as not to additionally reduce performance. Nevertheless, we see the installed 8 GB as a bottleneck, which became apparent at times in our everyday testing. The result was waiting times, and with this in mind, the small PC should not be given too many tasks. Unfortunately, the RAM cannot be expanded, which should be taken into account when purchasing. Minisforum also offers the UN100D with 16 GB DDR5 RAM ex-works. The surcharge of 20 euros on our test sample, which costs 219 euros, is manageable and a sensible investment.
The Minisforum Venus Series UN100D is a simple Mini-PC with a sleek appearance. However, the excellent emission values only result from weak CPU performance.
The connectivity is good and doesn't offer many differences compared to its competitors. One positive point is the two network connections, each of which enables a speed of 2.5 GBit/s. However, the location of the USB-A ports is not ideal. What is good, however, is the option of sending the image and power directly via the USB-C port, which should minimize the cable clutter on the desk. There is also no need for a power connection if the monitor supports PD
(Power Delivery).
Price and availability
The Minisforum UN100D can be ordered from Amazon. Here, the device with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD is already available for $190.
Note: We have recently updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here .
Minisforum Venus Series UN100D
- 06/21/2024 v8
Sebastian Bade
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.
