Minisforum BD795i SE
Over the years, I have built countless computers, many for myself, but also a lot for family and friends.
I started experimenting with computers in 1992 when I was eight years old. My first PC was an Intel i486SX with 4MB of EDO Memory. I have very fond memories of tweaking the hardware and software of this system, especially my first major upgrade, the 3DFX Voodoo Banshee graphics cards, which I consider the most important and influential technology purchase of my life.
My son is now nine years old and the world of technology has shifted dramatically, with smartphones, tablets and high-performance video game consoles. Therefore, the need to “build” a desktop PC is not what it once was. However, like most kids, my son loves gaming (he mostly plays Fortnite, Minecraft and FC 25). Therefore, I consider it a “rite of passage” that we build his first PC together.
Therefore, leveraging some unused components and taking advantage of a few timely second-hand bargains, we recently built the following PC.
- Minisforum BD795i SE and Cooler Master SickleFlow 120
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX 2.5 GHz Base / 5.4GHz Boost (16C/32T)
- Crucial DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 5600MHz SODIMM
- Samsung 980 Pro NVMe M.2 SSD 1TB (7GB/s Read / 5GB/s Write)
- Asus Prime AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Edition PCIe 5.0 16GB GDDR6
- AMD RZ616 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2
- Corsair SF850 850W 80 Plus Platinum PSU
- Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P
- Gigabyte M32U 31.5-inch IPS Display (3840x2160 @ 144Hz)
The highlight of the build is the Minisforum BD795i SE, which we purchased this part new from Amazon for £383.99.
The Minisforum BD795i SE is a unique Mini-ITX motherboard with an integrated processor and heatsink, advertised as a “Mobile on Desktop”.
In short, this means the motherboard is coupled with an integrated (non-upgradable) mobile processor, speciifclly the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX. This may sound like a negative. However, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX is a highly capable Zen 4 processor, with 16 cores, 32 threads and a boost clock of 5.4GHz.
In addition, as this is a mobile part, it is very power and thermal efficient. Therefore, when combined with the large integrated heatsink and 120mm fan, it can run at full performance (no throttling), whilst consuming just 75W.
In my testing, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX performs extremely well, with a Geekbench 6 CPU score of 2,903 Single Core / 16,335 Multi Core. These are impressive numbers, especially when compared against my AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (3,402 Single Core / 21,587 Muti Core), but costs £579.98 for the processor alone (not including the motherboard, heatsink, etc.)
The image below is my son installing the 120mm fan bracket, which comes with the Minisforum BD795i SE.
The only other unique aspect of the Minisforum BD795i SE is the use of SODIMM memory (mobile memory, not desktop). We ordered 32GB (2x16GB) from Amazon Resale (Used), alongside the Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P case. Purchasing used components can be a little risky. However, the cost savings are difficult to ignore and I am pleased to report both parts were perfect (like new).
The memory itself is 5600MHz but clocked at 5200MHz with the Minisforum BD795i SE. This is below the “sweet spot” for AMD Ryzen 7000 series. However, the real-world impact (outside of specialist workloads and/or Synthetic benchmarks) is very low.
The Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P is a great Mini-ITX case, very versatile with great build quality and an elegant aesthetic. Build Mini-ITX can be a little fiddly, especially with a large graphics card (not ideal for a first build), but the outcome is well suited for a kid’s PC (small footprint, power efficient, low noise).
The image below highlights my son installing the motherboard into the case.
As highlighted in my recent article, I found myself with a spare AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card.
My son has no idea how lucky he is to have this graphics card, delivering a level of performance far beyond his requirements. However, the cost and effort to sell/replace is likely more than it is worth, meaning he finds himself with a very capable gaming system, able to deliver high resolution and high frame rates in the most demanding games (and certainly enough for Fortnite). I hope this graphics card will serve him well for many years to come.
The graphics card will be connected to a Gigabyte M32U 31.5-inch IPS display, which has a native resolution of 3840x2160 at 144Hz, with support for G-Sync and FreeSync. The inclusion of multiple HDMI 2.1 ports is also very useful, making it compatible with modern video game consoles (e.g., PlayStation 5 Pro, etc.)
The display is several years old, but still an excellent choice for productivity and gaming, thanks to the IPS panel. Due to its age, it can also be found for a lower price on the used market, we purchased it second-hand from eBay.
Finally, to ensure the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has ample power (750W recommended), we selected the Corsair SF850 850W 80 Plus Platinum PSU. This is a small form factor PSU that is ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 certified, with a Zero RPM mode for the integrated 92mm fan.
Fitting the PSU was a little tricky, as the modular cables sit flush against the back of the graphics card. This issue was compounded by the 3x8-pin power requirements for the Asus Prime AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Edition. Thankfully, with some careful manipulation, the cables could be routed under the graphics card without negatively impacting airflow.
Overall, the build process went well. I cannot say my son demonstrated the same level of enthusiasm as me, but it was a fun project to complete together.
The choice of an Mini-ITX build did complicate the process as it does not provide much room for manoeuvrability. However, the outcome was worth the effort, avoiding the need for a full-size ATX system.
The only other minor pain point is wireless connectivity, which does not come as standard with Minisforum BD795i SE. Thankfully, the motherboard supports standard Wi-Fi modules, such as the AMD RZ616 Wi-Fi 6E, which can be purchased for £18 from Framework.
In conclusion, I hope this PC build project sparks the same curiosity as it did for me as a kid! If not, he can at least enjoy playing Fortnite at a high frame rate!