ASUS NUC 13 Pro i7 vs Minisforum MS-01
ASUS NUC 13 Pro i7 is both faster and cheaper here - the default pick unless you need something specific from the other.
The verdict
- CPU
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro i7 has 1.2x the CPU throughput (21,000 vs 18,000 PassMark).
- Idle power
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro i7 idles lower (9W vs 18W) - cheaper to run 24/7.
- Networking
- Minisforum MS-01 has more NICs (2 vs 1) - better for a firewall or VLAN trunk.
- RAM ceiling
- Minisforum MS-01 takes more RAM (96GB vs 64GB).
- Local AI
- Minisforum MS-01 has a PCIe slot for a low-profile GPU - the other needs a DIY build for local LLMs.
Which wins for each job
| Job | ASUS NUC 13 Pro i7 | Minisforum MS-01 |
|---|---|---|
| Plex / Jellyfin | ~8 streams | ~8 streams |
| Frigate NVR | ~6 cameras | ~6 cameras |
| Proxmox / VMs | 21,000 PassMark win | 18,000 PassMark |
| Firewall / router | 1 NICs | 2 NICs win |
| Local AI / LLM | no slot | PCIe GPU slot win |
Approximate - capacity estimates from curated specs, the same logic as the recommender. Verify against your exact setup. Prices move; check the retailer.
Full specs
| Spec | ASUS NUC 13 Pro i7 | Minisforum MS-01 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (list) | $599 | $599 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-1360P | Intel Core i5-12600H |
| Cores / threads | 12 | 12 |
| PassMark | 21,000 | 18,000 |
| iGPU | Iris Xe | Iris Xe |
| NICs | 1 | 2 |
| NIC model | Intel I226-LM | Intel I226-V |
| RAM max (GB) | 64 | 96 |
| M.2 free | 1 | 3 |
| PCIe slot | none | x16 |
| Idle (W) | 9 | 18 |
| TDP (W) | 28 | 45 |