Minisforum Venus UN305 Mini PC Series
MINISFORUM unveiled the reviewed model, the Venus UN305, in May ’23. It debuted with the N100 version; both CPUs come from the 12th-generation Alder Lake-N family (and were presented in Q1’23). The sample we got is powered by an Intel Core i3-N305 processor with a 6M Cache, capable of reaching a peak clock speed of 3.80 GHz, making it well-suited for office tasks and moderate video editing (GPU is clocked at 1.25 GHz), thanks to the eight available cores. The TDP is 15 W.
The Intel Core i3-N305 supports the following RAM:
- DDR4 3200 MT/s
- DDR5 4800 MT/s
- LPDDR5 4800 MT/s
Mini Venus UN305 has the last one installed. There are two configurations available:
- 8GB memory with 256GB storage
- 16GB memory with 512GB storage.
The memory is soldered, preventing expansion (over 16 GB) or replacement, but upgrading to a higher-end model is reasonably priced at just a 30 USD difference. Mini Venus UN305 features one M.2 2280 PCIe SSD slot (occupied with the 512 GB M.2 SATA SSD) and a 2.5-inch SATA HDD slot to meet essential storage requirements. It also has dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, enabling network aggregation for improved performance. Additionally, it has Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 for seamless wireless connectivity. Regarding display connectivity, the NPB5 offers two HDMI (4K@60 Hz) + USB-C (Alt DP), enabling support for the 4K Triple Display. Four USB-A 3.2 ports are available, with two Gen1s and two Gen 2s. Last but not least – there’s a TF Card slot.
There are no colour variants available. Windows 11 Pro is pre-installed. The CPU supports also:
- Windows 10 - 64-Bit Edition
- RHEL x86 64-Bit
- Ubuntu x86 64-Bit
UN305 is small, W x L x H (13.6 cm x 12.1 cm x 3.9 cm), so hiding it behind the monitor/TV should be easy. The weight is 440 g. The enclosure is made of CNC metal casing.
|
Unit Price |
309 USD (for the UN305 16 GB RAM+512 GB SSD), after a discount |
|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
136 x 121 x 39 mm |
|
Weight |
440 g |
|
Material |
Metal Frame |
|
CPU |
Intel i3 Core UN305 (8 Cores, 8 Threads, up to 3.8 GHz) |
|
Graphics |
Intel UHD Graphics |
|
Memory |
16 GB, LPDDR5 4800 MHz |
|
Storage |
512 GB M.2 SATA, it’s possible to mount a SATA drive |
|
interface |
RJ45 1000M Ethernet Port ×2 |
|
Installed OS |
Windows 11 Pro |
|
Wireless LAN |
Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2 |
|
Power Adapter |
12V, xx W |
|
Accessories |
1 x UN305 Mini PC |
Intel Core i3 UN305
The Intel Core i3 UN305 is a 15-watt class CPU in an FCBGA1264 socket. It was formerly known as Alder Lake-N (12th gen CPU). It was launched in Q1’23. Its segment is mobile, and the used lithography is Intel 7. The total available cores/threads are 8/8. Max Turbo Frequency is 3.8 GHz. The size of the cache is 6 MB. TDP is set to 15 W, with configurable TDP-down of 9 W. Max memory size is 16 GB, and the memory types are DDR4 3200 MT/s; DDR5 4800 MT/s; LPDDR5 4800 MT/s, with a maximum memory speed of 4800 MHz. It’s a single-channel solution. The processor graphics are Intel UHD Graphics with max dynamic frequency of 1.25 GHz. It has a 4K support (with 60 Hz). It supports Intel Quick Sync Video, and the maximum number of displays supported is three. The PCIe revision is Gen 3, and the USB revision is 2.0/3.2. The price is 309 USD for the UN305, 16 GB RAM + 512 GB SSD (after discount). Let’s check the Minisforum UN305 in practice.
