When I first unboxed the Minisforum UM880 Plus, I’ll admit my expectations weren’t particularly high for this compact silver box.
Boy, was I wrong.
What I discovered during my comprehensive testing was a powerhouse that punches way above its weight class.
This AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS mini PC has completely changed my perspective on what budget friendly mini PCs can achieve.
The UM880 Plus stands out not just for its impressive Radeon 780M gaming performance, but for a feature that most competitors lack entirely: a native OCuLink mini PC port.
Minisforum UM880 Plus Specs: What You’re Actually Getting
The Minisforum UM880 Plus specs reveal this isn’t your typical budget mini PC – it’s packed with serious hardware that initially seemed impossible to fit in such a small form factor PC.
First Impressions: Unboxing and Build Quality
When I lifted the UM880 Plus from its packaging, I was surprised by how light it felt at just 600 grams (1.3 lbs).
The silver-gray exterior delivers serious Mac mini vibes, which I found quite appealing.
Despite the full plastic casing, I was impressed by how solid and well-engineered the build quality feels.
The hollow design serves dual purposes – weight reduction and optimal heat dissipation.
Port Selection: More Than Expected
The Minisforum UM880 Plus USB4 capabilities truly shine in connectivity options.
The front panel houses two USB 3.2 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack alongside the prominent power button.
The rear panel offers the real excitement with that OCuLink port – something I rarely see on mini PCs in this price range.
The 2.5G LAN mini PC connection ensures future-proof networking, though I would have preferred dual LAN ports.
CPU exhaust placement above the ports prevents cables from blocking airflow – a thoughtful design detail that shows Minisforum’s experience in the compact desktop computer space.
Ryzen 7 8845HS Benchmarks: Real-World Performance Testing
In my testing, the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS mini PC delivered consistently impressive results throughout the benchmarking process.
Ryzen 7 8845HS Cinebench R23 Results
In my Cinebench R23 testing, the UM880 Plus delivered 1787 points single-core and 17070 points multi-core.
What I found even more impressive was the sustained performance – during the 10-round stress test, scores remained stable between 16,059 and 16,585 points.
This consistency told me the cooling system actually works effectively.
Many small form factor PC units throttle after the first few minutes, but I found the UM880 Plus maintained performance throughout my extended testing sessions.
Ryzen 7 8845HS Geekbench 6 Performance
Geekbench 6 testing revealed the average from multiple benchmark sources hitting approximately 2581 points single-core and around 12564 points multi-core.
These results place this firmly in high performance mini PC territory.
Storage Performance: Kingston SSD Delivers
The included 1TB SSD mini PC storage performed admirably in my CrystalDiskMark testing.
Sequential reads hit 4,057 MB/s with writes at 3,216 MB/s – numbers that ensure snappy boot times and application loading.
Radeon 780M Gaming: Better Than Expected
I’ll admit my integrated graphics expectations weren’t particularly high when it came to gaming performance.
The Radeon 780M vs GTX 1650 comparisons seemed optimistic at first glance.
My testing period revealed that Radeon 780M gaming performance genuinely surprised me with its capabilities.
3DMark TimeSpy Graphics Performance
The 3DMark TimeSpy benchmark revealed the integrated Radeon 780M achieving 2961 points.
This score places the integrated graphics ahead of many comparable laptop implementations.
Esports and Competitive Gaming
My League of Legends testing at 1080p high settings consistently achieved around 170 FPS.
Counter-Strike 2 ran smoothly at 160 FPS on low settings.
These aren’t just playable – they’re genuinely competitive frame rates that impressed me.
AAA Gaming Reality Check
For demanding AAA titles, I found the integrated graphics show their limitations clearly.
Cyberpunk 2077 testing managed only 43 FPS at 1080p low settings.
Black Myth: Wukong with 75% FSR delivered 37 FPS – playable but not ideal in my opinion.
OCuLink Mini PC: The Game-Changing Feature
The OCuLink performance capability truly sets the UM880 Plus apart from competitors in my experience.
This isn’t just marketing – it’s a legitimate pathway to desktop-class gaming performance.
External GPU Testing Experience
When I tested OCuLink eGPU functionality with several graphics cards, the results impressed me tremendously.
With an RTX 4070 SUPER, I experienced virtually no performance loss compared to desktop configurations – scoring 20,685 points in TimeSpy versus 20,693 on desktop.
Even with high-end cards like the RTX 4090, I found the performance penalty was only around 9% – significantly better than Thunderbolt 4 eGPU solutions.
Gaming Performance with External GPU
Once I connected an external graphics card, gaming became a completely different experience for me.
Cyberpunk 2077 jumped from 43 FPS to 132 FPS at high settings.
Black Myth: Wukong easily exceeded 100 FPS with all effects maxed out.
Mini PC for Content Creation: Photoshop and Video Editing
My regular creative application work demanded testing how this best mini PC for content creation would handle demanding workloads.
Mini PC for Photoshop Performance
In my Photoshop testing, the UM880 Plus handled complex edits surprisingly well.
Large RAW files opened quickly, and I found filter applications felt responsive throughout my workflow.
The 32GB of RAM proved crucial for working with multiple high-resolution images simultaneously.
Similar Ryzen 7 8845HS systems typically achieve around 8,000 points in PugetBench – putting this firmly in capable workstation territory.
Mini PC for Video Editing Light Workloads
My video editing testing showed the UM880 Plus handled 1080p projects effortlessly.
4K editing proved possible with optimized media, though rendering times obviously couldn’t match dedicated workstations.
I noticed the Radeon 780M’s hardware acceleration helped significantly with preview playback performance.
UM880 Plus Power Consumption: Impressively Efficient
The energy efficient mini PC design consistently impressed me throughout my evaluation period.
Despite the higher 65W TDP configuration, power consumption remained reasonable across all my testing scenarios.
During stress testing, the CPU maintained 65W consumption without throttling.
Idle power draw stayed low, and even under gaming loads, the system drew significantly less power than any traditional desktop.
I was particularly impressed that the dual-fan cooling system kept temperatures at 81.4°C during stress testing while maintaining surprisingly quiet operation at just 34dB – barely audible in office environments.
UM880 Plus vs Beelink SER8: Direct Comparison
My comprehensive analysis of both systems provides direct insights into the UM880 Plus vs Beelink SER8 comparison that many readers request.
The key advantage I discovered with the UM880 Plus was the future-proofing offered by OCuLink.
While the SER8 excels for current needs, the UM880 Plus provides a clear upgrade path.
UM880 Plus vs Geekom A8: Another Strong Contender
The Geekom A8 offers similar core performance but lacks OCuLink connectivity.
However, Geekom provides a longer 3-year warranty versus Minisforum‘s typical 2-year coverage.
Minisforum UM880 Plus Price: Finding the Sweet Spot
The Minisforum UM880 Plus price varies significantly depending on where and when you purchase.
In my price observations, ranges vary from $349 during special promotions to over $650 at retail prices.
Best Mini PC Under $600 Value Analysis
Finding units for $520 with a coupon felt like an exceptional value proposition to me.
At this price point, you’re getting best mini PC under $600 performance that’s hard to match with competitors.
The 32GB DDR5 alone would cost $150+ if purchased separately, making the complete system pricing quite reasonable when found on sale.
Minisforum UM880 Plus Pros and Cons: The Complete Picture
What Impressed Most About the UM880 Plus
My evaluation period revealed several aspects that consistently impressed me:
- OCuLink connectivity – Genuine desktop-class graphics upgrade potential
- Sustained performance – 65W TDP configuration delivers consistent results
- Build quality – Solid construction despite lightweight design
- Cooling system – Remarkably quiet operation under load
- Expandability – Up to 96GB RAM and 8TB storage potential
- Triple display support – Excellent for productivity workflows
Areas for Improvement
No system is perfect, and several limitations became apparent during my testing:
- OCuLink trade-off – Uses one M.2 slot, limiting storage if eGPU is connected
- No hot-swapping – Must power down to connect/disconnect OCuLink
- Single LAN port – Some competitors offer dual 2.5G connectivity
- Price volatility – Varies dramatically across retailers
Is Minisforum UM880 Plus Worth It? My Verdict
After all my testing, my verdict is that the UM880 Plus targets several specific user groups perfectly.
Mini PC for Home Office Excellence
For home office work, I found this mini PC for home office use excels remarkably.
The combination of powerful CPU, ample RAM, and quiet operation makes it ideal for productivity tasks.
Triple display support enhances multitasking capabilities significantly.
Future Proof Mini PC Investment
In my opinion, the OCuLink port makes this a genuinely future proof mini PC.
You can start with integrated graphics and upgrade to desktop-class gaming performance later – something most competitors can’t offer.
Mini PC for Students and Budget Creators
As a mini PC for students or budget-conscious creators, I believe the UM880 Plus delivers impressive capability.
The strong CPU handles demanding applications while the upgrade path ensures longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Minisforum UM880 Plus unique compared to other 8845HS mini PCs?
The UM880 Plus stands out with its native OCuLink port for external GPU connectivity and higher 65W TDP configuration that allows for better sustained performance compared to most competitors running at the standard 45W TDP.
This combination of features provides both immediate performance advantages and future expandability that most other 8845HS mini PCs lack, making it particularly attractive for users who might need graphics upgrades later.
Is the UM880 Plus good for gaming, and how does the OCuLink port help?
The integrated Radeon 780M graphics handle light gaming and esports titles excellently, achieving 170 FPS in League of Legends and 160 FPS in Counter-Strike 2 at 1080p.
For demanding AAA games, the OCuLink port becomes crucial – it provides 64 Gbps bandwidth (compared to Thunderbolt 4’s 40 Gbps) for connecting external GPUs with minimal performance loss.
With an external graphics card, the system transforms from moderate gaming capability to high-end AAA gaming performance at 1440p and beyond.
How much can you upgrade the RAM and storage in the UM880 Plus?
The UM880 Plus supports up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM using its two SODIMM slots and can accommodate up to 8TB of total storage with two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots (4TB per slot).
However, there’s an important trade-off: if you use the OCuLink port for an external GPU, it occupies one of the M.2 slots, reducing your maximum internal storage to 4TB but unlocking significant graphics performance potential.
Is this a good mini PC for content creators using Photoshop or video editing software?
Yes, the UM880 Plus excels as a budget option for content creators.
The Ryzen 7 8845HS provides strong multi-core performance for demanding tasks, while the 32GB of DDR5 RAM handles large files and multitasking efficiently.
For Photoshop work, similar systems achieve around 8,000 points in PugetBench, indicating excellent performance.
The system handles 1080p video editing smoothly and can manage 4K projects with optimized media, making it ideal for photographers and moderate video editors on a budget.
Can the UM880 Plus replace a traditional desktop, and how does it stack up against competitors?
For most users, the UM880 Plus can absolutely replace a traditional desktop computer.
Its main advantages over key competitors like the Beelink SER8 and Geekom A8 are the OCuLink port for future graphics upgrades and the higher 65W TDP configuration for better sustained performance.
While competitors might offer features like longer warranties (Geekom’s 3-year warranty) or quieter operation, the UM880 Plus provides the best upgrade path and future-proofing in its price category.
What operating systems are compatible with the UM880 Plus?
The UM880 Plus comes with Windows 11 pre-installed and runs it excellently.
For Linux users, most distributions work well, but there’s an important compatibility note: the included MediaTek MT7921 WiFi card may not be supported by all Linux kernels.
For better Linux compatibility, users often replace it with an Intel AX210 WiFi card (around $20), which provides WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 with full Linux support.
Conclusion: A Compact Powerhouse That Delivers
Throughout my comprehensive review period, the Minisforum UM880 Plus exceeded my expectations in almost every category.
What impressed me most wasn’t just the immediate performance – though the Ryzen 7 8845HS benchmarks consistently delivered excellent results.
The forward-thinking design makes this more than just another budget friendly mini PC.
In my experience, the OCuLink port transforms this from a capable compact desktop computer into a genuinely future proof mini PC.
You can start with integrated graphics today and upgrade to desktop-class gaming performance tomorrow – something most competitors simply can’t offer.
For content creators, home office professionals, and gaming enthusiasts on a budget, I believe the UM880 Plus strikes an excellent balance.
The AMD Advantage mini PC design delivers where it matters: sustained performance, upgrade potential, and energy efficient operation.
Is it perfect? No.
The OCuLink implementation requires trade-offs, and price volatility can be frustrating.
But when found at the right price point, this represents one of the best values in the Zen 4 mini PC category.
The mini PC market continues evolving rapidly, but the UM880 Plus demonstrates that compact doesn’t mean compromised.
This small PC for productivity and gaming proves that with thoughtful design and the right features, a mini computer Ryzen 7 configuration can genuinely compete with traditional desktops.
For anyone seeking a powerful, expandable, and energy efficient mini PC that won’t dominate their desk space, I highly recommend giving the Minisforum UM880 Plus serious consideration.
