Minisforum BD795M & BD795i SE Review: Should You Build a PC With Them?

Sometimes I come across a piece of hardware that completely changes how I look at PC builds. Today, I want to share my thoughts on two such boards that have done just that: the Minisforum BD795M (Micro-ATX) and the Minisforum BD795i SE (Mini-ITX). Both motherboards bundle an AMD Ryzen™ 9 7945HX mobile CPU, yet they offer desktop-like performance and remarkable flexibility.

In this post, I’ll explain how these boards work, show you some real-world performance benchmarks, and help you decide if either one is right for your next build.

The BD795M and BD795i SE come with 16 cores and 32 threads baked right into the motherboard. It sounds like a strange mix—mobile CPU meets desktop board—but the results are surprisingly good. Each board handles itself differently, with the Micro-ATX version offering more storage and cooling choices, and the Mini-ITX version aiming for a smaller footprint. Let’s explore both options in detail.

An Overview of Minisforum’s AMD 7945HX Motherboards

Both the BD795M and BD795i SE share a powerful AMD Ryzen™ 9 7945HX processor. It’s a mobile CPU that can ramp up to 5.4 GHz, with 16 cores and 32 threads providing desktop-level performance in a compact form. While it may be a mobile chip, it behaves quite close to a higher-watt desktop processor in demanding tasks, from gaming to encoding to virtualization.

One of the most intriguing aspects is the combination of a soldered mobile CPU with the typical format of a desktop motherboard. These boards allow you to slot in a discrete GPU via a PCIe x16 connection, plug in standard power supplies, and treat them much like you would any normal motherboard. However, you also inherit some laptop-like quirks, such as using SODIMM DDR5 memory and having certain power limitations around the CPU. I still find this approach fascinating, because it lets you build a system that’s both highly customizable and incredibly compact.

BD795i SE (Mini-ITX): Key Features and Impressions

The BD795i SE is a Mini-ITX motherboard measuring 170×170 mm. Its big claim to fame is bringing that embedded AMD 7945HX chip into a small form factor. If you’re like me and you love compact builds—perhaps for a travel case or a desk-friendly gaming rig—this board is quite appealing. Despite its size, it offers several high-end features.

DDR5 SODIMM and PCIe Gen5 x16 Slot

The board uses two DDR5 SODIMM slots, supporting up to 96 GB of memory at speeds up to 5200 MT/s. The smaller SODIMMs make sense for a mobile CPU, but it’s still unusual if you’re used to desktop DIMM sticks. The included PCIe x16 slot is actually PCIe Gen5, opening up plenty of headroom for modern graphics cards. This helps if you’re aiming for high-end gaming performance. Additionally, you get dual M.2 2280 slots that support PCIe 4.0 x4 SSDs, although no SATA ports are provided on this model.

Cooling Setup

Minisforum ships the BD795i SE with a large heat sink on the CPU. However, you’re expected to bring your own 120 mm fan and attach it. I found it peculiar that they don’t include a fan, given the fairly hefty cooler block is in the box. Still, it’s not a big deal to pick up a silent or high-airflow fan of your choice.

In my own build, I ended up using a standard 120 mm PWM fan mounted inside a small ITX case. The board remained stable, with CPU temps staying below 90 °C in heavy loads, so it’s definitely enough to handle the 7945HX at its typical 100 W TDP limit.

Performance Benchmarks

In Cinebench R23 multi-core tests, the 7945HX powering the BD795i SE topped out higher than many current flagship mini PCs. Its 16-core, 32-thread design yields stunning multi-threaded performance. Single-core results are also impressive, holding up well against more expensive desktop CPUs. If you pair it with a discrete graphics card, it handles gaming at hundreds of frames per second in esports titles and thrives with big AAA games when set up with a modern GPU.

Even integrated Radeon 610M graphics can handle tasks like light gaming and media playback. However, you obviously won’t get the same performance you’d see with a discrete GPU. This board’s real strength is in allowing that GPU upgrade, thanks to the PCIe Gen5 x16 slot.

No SATA Ports and Other Quirks

The main downside is that the BD795i SE lacks SATA ports, so you can only rely on two M.2 slots. Most people these days do use NVMe drives, but if you still have a couple of 2.5-inch SSDs or a big spinning disk you want to leverage, you’ll need to consider external enclosures or expansions. It’s also a one-and-done solution for the CPU: it’s soldered to the board, so you can’t swap it out later for a different processor.

Still, if you’re chasing a tiny DIY rig that can handle monstrous multitasking, the BD795i SE is a fantastic option. It doesn’t demand a massive cooler to keep it in check, which is a big plus for compact PC enthusiasts like me.

BD795M (Micro-ATX): Larger Form Factor, More Flexibility

If you want the convenience of a desktop board form factor, the BD795M is the next step up. It’s built around the same AMD 7945HX CPU but comes in a Micro-ATX layout measuring 240×220 mm. This additional space provides more expansion possibilities, plus two SATA ports for traditional storage drives. Minisforum also made a few other changes to set it apart from the Mini-ITX model.

Swappable Cooling and LGA1700 Mount

Unlike the BD795i SE, the BD795M does not include a CPU heat sink, and you must supply your own cooler. This might sound like a hassle, but it’s actually a bonus if you prefer to choose from an even wider range of air or liquid cooling solutions. The board uses an LGA1700 mounting bracket, which is generally meant for modern Intel sockets, but it’s become the standard for many after-market coolers. This means you’ll find an abundance of compatible coolers to keep that 7945HX in check.

In one build I saw, a large thermal assassin cooler was attached. It had to be mounted sideways for the best fit, which is typical if you’re pairing an Intel-based cooler bracket to a board with a mobile AMD CPU. Since we’re only looking at around 100 W to 120 W TDP for this chip, you can even use an AIO liquid cooler if you want a clean look.

Two SATA Ports and Additional Headers

The BD795M includes two SATA 3.0 ports, allowing you to connect older SATA SSDs or hard drives directly to the board. This is important if you’re building a budget or flexible system with mixed storage. You still get two M.2 2280 slots that support PCIe 4.0 x4 SSDs, but notice that on this model, you won’t get PCIe Gen5 for the GPU or the SSD. That small trade-off may or may not matter to you, depending on whether you need next-gen speeds.

Beyond that, the BD795M has a 24-pin main power connector, an 8-pin 12 V CPU power connector, and more fan headers, including a dedicated AIO pump header. You can power the board with a standard ATX or SFX power supply, which broadens your build options.

Typical Performance and Power Consumption

Some users tested the BD795M in a Proxmox environment, where idle power hovered between 27 W and 40 W, depending on whether Core Performance Boost was enabled. A full load with 32 threads all maxed out can briefly spike around 100 W to 148 W, though you can tune the board in the BIOS to run at different TDPs. Even so, that’s pretty impressive for a system offering 16 cores in an mATX form factor. If you need a home lab server, a virtual machine host, or a flexible workstation, the BD795M can do it with minimal fuss.

In gaming scenarios, you can pair the BD795M with a midrange or high-end GPU. Tests with an Intel Arc A580 or an NVIDIA RTX 4070-class card showed good synergy, hitting an average of around 80–90 fps on demanding titles at 1440p or higher settings. Since the CPU is quite powerful, you won’t be bottlenecked in most games. And with the right cooler, noise and temps stay well under control, thanks to the CPU’s moderate power usage.

Detailed Specifications

I’ve put together a quick reference of official Minisforum details for both boards so you can see what’s on offer at a glance.

BD795i SE (Mini-ITX)

BD795M (Micro-ATX)

The base CPU is the same for both, with a TDP around 100 W (though it can push up to 120 W). The BD795i SE leans toward ultra-compact builds, whereas the BD795M suits those who want greater storage possibilities and a more typical desktop layout.

Building with the BD795i SE Mini-ITX Board

I tend to gravitate toward smaller PC cases, so I put the BD795i SE into a Cooler Master NR200. Inside, I attached a 120 mm fan on the CPU cooler, populated the dual SODIMM slots with 32 GB of DDR5-5600 (which runs at 5200 on this board), and installed a 1 TB M.2 NVMe drive.

I also added a midrange GPU (an RTX 4070). Since it’s a standard ITX chassis, I used an SFX 650 W power supply, giving me enough overhead to handle both GPU and CPU. The entire process felt just like building a normal Mini-ITX PC, except for the little quirks of having SODIMMs and that embedded CPU. Once everything was booted up, I performed a BIOS update from a USB drive and found the system easy to configure.

In gaming, I saw frame rates near 100–120 fps for many modern titles at 1440p, especially with settings like DLSS or other upscalers. For CPU-heavy tasks like video encoding and streaming, the 7945HX absolutely soared, handling multiple tasks without breaking a sweat.

Building with the BD795M Micro-ATX Board

For a more traditional desktop experience, I looked at the BD795M. The main difference was in cooler choice: it doesn’t come with the CPU block installed, so you supply your own. I used a large 120 mm tower cooler with an LGA1700 bracket. The CPU is still the same 7945HX, so TDP is around 100–120 W, which a decent air cooler can easily handle. I also appreciate that the board includes an AIO pump header for water-cooling setups.

In an mATX case, I had enough room for extra fans and a second M.2 SSD, plus a pair of 2.5-inch SATA drives for additional storage. If you want more SATA devices, you’ll need to consider PCIe or M.2 expansions. Still, having two built-in SATA ports is already more than you get with the BD795i SE. Again, because the CPU is fixed, you should think carefully about your future needs. If 16 cores are enough for the foreseeable future, the BD795M is a compelling option.

Why Choose Mobile CPU on Desktop?

At first, I was skeptical about having a mobile CPU on a desktop board. The advantage is that the 7945HX is incredibly efficient. It’s engineered for laptops with power constraints, yet it can scale up in a desktop environment. You end up with impressive multicore performance in a lower-watt package, often staying cooler than a desktop CPU at the same performance tier. It also opens the door to extremely compact, portable builds.

On the flip side, you lose the ability to upgrade the CPU, and you rely on specialized SODIMM modules. For many of us building a mini workstation or powerful home server, that’s a fair trade-off. I like that I don’t have to worry about CPU seating or matching CPU cooler brackets. It’s all set from the start—just make sure to attach a fan or a cooler if it’s the BD795M version, and you’re off and running.

Comparing BD795M and BD795i SE: Which Is Right for You?

I see the BD795i SE as the go-to option for enthusiasts wanting a Mini-ITX form factor without giving up high-end performance. Its PCIe Gen5 x16 support means you can pair the system with the latest graphics card if you want the best gaming or GPU-accelerated productivity. You do, however, miss out on SATA ports, which can be a deal-breaker if you have older SSDs or big HDDs to integrate.

Conversely, the BD795M offers you a Micro-ATX form factor, two SATA ports, and an easier time customizing the cooling solution. It’s more flexible if you want standard 240 mm or 360 mm liquid coolers, or if you prefer to set up multiple case fans and additional storage. The main difference is that it’s limited to PCIe 4.0 for both the GPU slot and M.2 drives. If that limitation doesn’t bother you, it’s an excellent way to get a 16-core system with less fuss.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

1. BD795i SE (Mini-ITX):
   • Pros: PCIe 5.0 x16, ultra-compact, high performance, included CPU heatsink (fan not included), powerful for its size.
   • Cons: No SATA ports, limited SODIMM speeds (up to DDR5-5200), CPU is soldered, must add your own 120 mm fan, slightly trickier to find an ITX case that accommodates the cooler.
2. BD795M (Micro-ATX):
   • Pros: Flexible cooler choices (LGA1700 mount), two SATA ports, easier cable management in many mATX cases, good performance at 100–120 W TDP.
   • Cons: PCIe 4.0 slot (not 5.0), bigger footprint than Mini-ITX, still uses DDR5 SODIMMs, CPU is soldered, no cooler included by default.

Real-World Use Cases

Although these motherboards work fine for general computing, they excel at specific tasks. Here are a few scenarios where they shine:

• High-End Small Form Factor Gaming: Pair a BD795i SE with a powerful GPU, and you’ve got a mini desktop that won’t flinch at modern AAA games.
• Workstation for Content Creation: The 16-core CPU offers plenty of rendering and encoding horsepower, while the small size makes it easy to move between offices or events.
• Virtualization Lab or Home Server: If you run Proxmox or other hypervisors, these boards handle multiple VMs well. Tuning the TDP can keep idle power consumption surprisingly low.
• Portable Editing/Gaming Station: The combination of power efficiency and small form factor is ideal for creators on the go. You can build a compact rig that’s easy to transport.

Personally, I see the BD795M as a good home lab server solution. With two SATA connectors, I can install a couple of drives for local storage plus multiple M.2 drives, which is appealing for virtualization or container deployments.

FAQ

Below are some commonly asked questions about both Minisforum BD795i SE and BD795M motherboards, along with answers drawn from my own observations and additional discussions in user communities.

1. What is the TDP range on these motherboards?

The default TDP is around 100 W for the AMD 7945HX, but it can push up to around 120 W in certain workloads. You can manually tune this in the BIOS if you want less heat or slightly higher performance.

2. Are they suitable for Proxmox or other virtualization setups?

Yes, these boards are popular among home lab users who install Proxmox, VMware ESXi, or similar hypervisors. The 16-core/32-thread CPU handles multiple VMs easily, and idle power can be lowered if you disable Core Performance Boost.

3. Can I upgrade the CPU in the future?

No. Both the BD795i SE and BD795M have the CPU soldered to the motherboard. You cannot swap out the AMD Ryzen™ 9 7945HX for another processor. Consider your long-term needs before purchase.

4. Do these boards support regular DDR5 DIMMs?

No, you must use DDR5 SODIMM modules. This is because the CPU is a mobile chip, and Minisforum designed the boards to follow the mobile memory layout.

5. Why do some builds mention LGA1700 coolers on an AMD CPU board?

The BD795M uses an LGA1700 mounting design for coolers, even though the CPU is AMD-based. This is simply a mechanical layout choice, and it means you can use a wide variety of Intel-compatible coolers without issue.

6. Are they really PCIe Gen5, or is it Gen4?

The BD795i SE features a PCIe Gen5 x16 slot for the GPU and supports up to PCIe 4.0 for the M.2 drives. The BD795M, on the other hand, uses PCIe 4.0 for both the GPU slot and M.2 slots. Always check the specific specs of the model you’re buying.

7. Is there onboard Wi-Fi or do I have to install a card?

The boards include an M.2 2230 E-Key slot (PCIe only), so you can install a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card of your choice. Minisforum sometimes includes antennas in the package, but you’ll need to bring your own card if it’s not bundled.

8. How is the power consumption at idle?

At stock settings, users have reported idle power ranging from around 27 W to 40 W in a typical Proxmox or Windows environment. The exact figure depends on BIOS settings, peripheral usage, and whether Core Performance Boost is enabled.

9. Can I attach SATA drives to the BD795i SE?

No, the BD795i SE lacks SATA connectors. If you need SATA drives, consider external enclosures, M.2 to SATA converters, or switch to the BD795M, which has two SATA ports.

10. Does the BD795M ship with a CPU cooler?

No, you have to provide your own cooler. The board is designed for LGA1700 mounting. This approach gives you more freedom in choosing an air cooler or AIO that suits your case and performance needs.

11. Can these boards be used for media encoding or streaming?

Absolutely. The 16-core CPU and optional discrete GPU provide ample horsepower for encoding, transcoding, or any content creation tasks. They’re especially good if you want a compact workstation for on-the-fly video editing and streaming.

12. How do they handle gaming?

With integrated AMD Radeon™ 610M, you’re limited to light gaming. But once you plug in a discrete GPU, the 7945HX can easily handle modern AAA titles, especially at 1440p or 4K, depending on your graphics card’s capabilities.

13. Is there any benefit of the smaller board over the mATX version?

If you want a more compact PC, the BD795i SE (Mini-ITX) saves space, offers PCIe Gen5, and is easier to tuck into small cases. The BD795M, however, is more flexible with SATA ports and cooler options but has a larger footprint.

14. Can I run a home lab or server on these boards long-term?

Yes, many users do exactly that. If you manage heat properly and pick reliable components, the BD795M or BD795i SE should work well as a server or home lab system. Just be mindful that the CPU is soldered, so repairs would involve replacing the entire board if something fails.

15. How many total USB ports do I get?

It depends on your board’s rear I/O plus any case headers. For the Mini-ITX model, you’ll typically have around four or five USB ports, plus front-panel connections. The BD795M often has a couple of USB 2.0 ports, USB 3.x ports, and front-panel connectors, so total USB ports can be up to seven or eight.

Conclusion

I’ve found both the Minisforum BD795i SE and BD795M boards to be remarkable. They let me build a compact but powerful PC that doesn’t feel like I’ve made the usual compromises in performance. The BD795i SE is perfect if you crave a Mini-ITX gaming or workstation build with PCIe 5.0 for a beefy GPU, while the BD795M’s Micro-ATX form offers more storage and cooler freedom.

If you’re seeking an innovative approach to building a system that merges laptop efficiency with desktop potential, these boards stand out. Decide which form factor and feature set you need, then enjoy the power of AMD’s 16-core 7945HX in a board that fits your style. I hope you found this useful, and I’d love to see how you put your own BD795-based system to work.

Happy building!