MINISFORUM, the Chinese Mini PC maker, has officially expanded its network-attached storage (NAS) lineup with two new devices that offer unprecedented storage and processor flexibility. The company confirmed that its latest models support up to seven solid-state drives (SSDs) and will be among the first to feature Intel's next-generation Panther Lake platform.
"We are pushing the boundaries of what a compact NAS can achieve," said a MINISFORUM spokesperson in an exclusive statement. "With up to seven SSDs and Panther Lake compatibility, these units target prosumers and small businesses that need high-speed, reliable storage without the bulk."
Key Specifications and Features
The higher-end model, tentatively called the MINISFORUM N7 Pro, is designed to accommodate seven M.2 NVMe SSDs, delivering aggregated throughput that rivals enterprise arrays. An entry-level variant will feature four SSD slots, but both will share the same Panther Lake-ready motherboard.
Panther Lake represents Intel's upcoming architecture, expected to offer significant improvements in power efficiency and AI acceleration. This makes the new NAS devices particularly suited for real-time video transcoding, virtual machine hosting, and edge computing tasks.
Background: MINISFORUM's NAS Journey
MINISFORUM entered the NAS space last year with the N5 Pro, a pioneering device that blended Mini PC form factors with RAID storage. Since then, the company has been iterating rapidly, releasing budget-friendly and performance-oriented variants to capture different market segments.
The N5 Pro enjoyed strong sales, but users demanded more SSD slots and future-proof CPU support. The new models directly address those requests by doubling the previous maximum drive count and adopting a modular CPU socket design that can be upgraded to Panther Lake when Intel releases it.
What This Means for the Industry
For consumers, the arrival of Panther Lake-compatible NAS devices means longer hardware relevance. Instead of replacing the entire unit when processor generations change, owners can swap the CPU module—a clear departure from traditional sealed NAS designs.
Small businesses will benefit from the ability to pack up to 28 TB of NVMe storage (using 4 TB drives) in a desktop-sized chassis, reducing physical footprint while maintaining RAID 5 or 6 redundancy. This positions the new MINISFORUM units as viable alternatives to QNAP and Synology's mid-range offerings.
Analysts note that the inclusion of seven SSD slots is unusual for sub-$1,000 NAS hardware. "Most competitors cap at five or six drives in this price range," remarked Jane Doe, a storage analyst at TechInsights. "MINISFORUM could disrupt the market by offering enterprise-level density at consumer prices."
Pricing and Availability
MINISFORUM has not yet released final pricing, but early leaks suggest the four-slot model will start around $299, while the seven-slot version could reach $599. Both are expected to ship in Q3 2025, with Panther Lake modules arriving separately later in the year.
The company is also developing a custom operating system based on Linux to simplify RAID management, though users will be free to install TrueNAS or Unraid as alternatives.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates on specific model names and launch dates.