Minisforum Venus NPB7 review 2024: offers excellent performance

Among Minisforum’s impressive portfolio of Mini PC systems is the one-of-a-kind Mars MC560, which stands out because to its utilization of an AMD mobile processor. However, Minisforum has unveiled the NPB7, exhibiting the most recent Intel mobile processors from the company’s 13th generation. The NPB7 is an attractive choice for individuals in the market for a high-powered NUC (Next Unit of Computing) because of its cutting-edge features.

There are three different NUCs in the Venus series, of which the NPB7 is one. There are two other models in this series, the NPB5 and NAB6, both of which share the same elegant chassis design and port selection as the NPB7 but use somewhat different processors. Because of this uniformity, clients may choose from a wide variety of Venus products that meet their needs while still benefiting from the same high performance and user-friendliness.

Minisforum Venus NPB7 Specifications

The Mars MC560 is a one-of-a-kind spacecraft. That accomplished a fantastic job with an AMD mobile chipset, but the NPB7 demonstrates the capabilities of the latest 13th Generation Intel mobile processors for those who require a more robust NUC. There are three NUCs in the Venus series, including the Minisforum Venus NPB7.

Minisforum Venus NPB7: Design

The NPB7 ships with everything you need to get started, including an HDMI cable, PSU and power cable, VESA mounting plate and screws, and a special connector to hook up a SATA disk. The NPB7’s SATA drive installation is a breeze thanks to the design’s ingenious quick-release lid. The top cover can be removed by pressing the left and right front corners, which releases a sprung catch.

This panel allows you to easily access the device’s memory, storage, and a few other advanced capabilities without the use of any tools. There is a 2.5-inch hard drive or solid-state drive mounting spot on the underside of the cover, and a dedicated connection will connect it to the motherboard. Dual channel support for up to 32GB of DDR5 SODIM memory, a single PCIe Gen 4 2280 M.2 NVMe drive (with fan cooling), and support for a smaller 2230 M.2 with a Wi-Fi board are all supported by the board.

Minisforum Venus NPB7: Performance

When tested in both single-thread and multi-thread scenarios, the Intel Core i7-13700H performs admirably. With its 5GHz turbo clock, this little device can accomplish a lot; processing fourteen threads simultaneously without overheating is particularly amazing. While the Intel NUC 13 Pro’s Core i7-1360P achieves comparable single-thread performance, the Core i7-13700H is around 10% quicker on multi-circuit tests like CineBench23. The only other platform we’ve examined that can compete with the NPB7 is the Beelink SER6 Pro 7735HS, thanks to its Ryzen 7 processor.

In most graphics tests, the Radeon 680m graphics outperform the Iris Xe, despite the fact that the processor isn’t as powerful as this Intel CPU. One such example is the OpenCL test included in GeekBench 5. The NPB7 scored 20910, while the Beelink SER6 Pro 7735HS scored 31122, a difference of over 49%. The system’s weak graphics are its sole real flaw if you need powerful visuals. The preinstalled Kingston om8pgp4512q-a0 NVMe drive is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) version designed for use in custom computer setups.

Minisforum Venus NPB7: Price & availability

Minisforum sells its goods directly through its website, unlike many companies that make mini PC systems. Amazon and other online retailers also sell Minisforum’s products. The bare-bones version costs $489 and is the starting point. The top choice has 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, while the other three options have 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, or 32GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. For US customers, these versions that are already set up cost $609, $669, and $699, respectively.

In the UK, the bare-bones model costs £499, and the types that come with software are priced at £609, £669, and £709. When the exchange rate and VAT are taken into account, this is more expensive than the price in the United States. EU prices are also a little higher, starting at €549 for a bare-bones model and going up to €689, €745 and €789 for ones with memory and storage.

Final Words

We have tested the Venus NPB7, which is based on the latest Intel and AMD processors, and the Venus UM690, which was based on older processors. The Venus NPB7, powered by an Intel processor, offers a little more than the Venus UM690, powered by an AMD processor, in terms of both performance and connectivity options.

Minisforum Venus NPB7 review: The good and The bad

This little machine’s central processing unit (CPU) is shockingly powerful, and it can breeze through data processing tasks that would bring even the majority of desktop computers to a halt.

Questions and Answers