MINISFORUM MS-A2 Technical Guide

William Lam says on his website (https://williamlam.com/2025/06/vmware-cloud-foundation-vcf-on-minisforum-ms-a2.html) that the MS-A2 can support a combination of M.2 and/or U.2 devices, the following configurations are possible:

Configuration 1 - All M.2 SSDs

1 x PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (2280/22110)
1 x PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (2280/22110)
1 x PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (2280)

Configuration 2 - M.2 + U.2 SSDs

1 x PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (2280/22110)
1 x PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (2280/22110)
1 x PCIe Gen 4 U.2 SSD (7mm ONLY)

With the support for 3 storage devices, you do not have to resort to these creative tricks, which is typically required if you are using a traditional 4x4 system that only has support for 2 storage devices. The MS-A2 can have have ESXi installation, ESX-OSData and spare VMFS volume on one device, while allowing you to make use of the two other storage devices in various combinations from using NVMe Tiering to vSAN OSA or ESA depending on your preference.

His testing confirms the MS-A2’s impressive storage flexibility, which is particularly valuable for virtualization and homelab setups. Let me break down what this means:

Key Storage Capabilities:

3 total storage devices supported simultaneously (not just 2 like most mini PCs)
M.2 slots support extended 22110 form factor (110mm length vs standard 80mm), allowing for higher-capacity enterprise SSDs
U.2 support via adapter enables enterprise-grade NVMe drives typically found in servers

Why This Matters for Development/Homelab:

Given your programming background in Python, Go, Java, and Bash, this storage flexibility is excellent for:

Virtualization Labs - Run multiple VMs without storage bottlenecks
Container Orchestration - Separate storage for OS, container images, and persistent volumes
Development Environments - Isolate different project environments on separate drives
Database Testing - Dedicated high-performance storage for database workloads

The U.2 Consideration:

U.2 drives offer enterprise features like power-loss protection and higher endurance
The 7mm height restriction for U.2 drives is important - standard 15mm enterprise U.2 drives won’t fit
U.2 drives often have better sustained write performance than consumer M.2 drives

William Lam’s VMware Cloud Foundation testing demonstrates this is a serious virtualization platform, not just a typical mini PC. The ability to properly separate ESXi boot, OSData, and VMFS volumes across three devices follows enterprise best practices that aren’t possible on systems with only two storage slots.

The MS-A2 is particularly well-suited for virtualization/homelab work. Based on William Lam’s VMware testing and the system’s capabilities, here are some recommendations:

Memory Configuration:

Go for the maximum 96GB (2x48GB kit) - virtualization is memory-hungry
Consider testing 128GB (2x64GB) if budget allows, as some users report success
DDR5’s higher bandwidth really helps with multiple concurrent VMs

Storage Strategy for Virtualization:

Boot/Hypervisor: Fast M.2 2280 (256-512GB) for ESXi/Proxmox/XCP-ng
VM Storage: Large M.2 22110 or U.2 drive (2-4TB) for primary VMs
Lab/Testing: Third slot for scratch VMs, ISOs, or vSAN testing

Network Configuration:

Dual 10GbE SFP+ ports are perfect for:
- vMotion/live migration traffic
- Storage network (iSCSI/NFS)
- Lab network segregation
Dual 2.5GbE for management and VM traffic
Total 25Gbps aggregate bandwidth supports serious lab work

Virtualization Platforms That Excel:

VMware vSphere/ESXi - William Lam confirmed VCF 5.2 runs perfectly
Proxmox VE - Great for mixed VM/container workloads
XCP-ng - Open source XenServer alternative
Hyper-V - If you prefer Microsoft ecosystem

Practical Homelab Considerations:

The 16 cores/32 threads easily handle 20-30 lightweight VMs
Low noise profile suitable for home office
PCIe slot could add HBA for external storage array later
Consider the Ryzen 9 9955HX model for the extra performance headroom

Power/Cooling Tips:

Place in well-ventilated area - it can draw 160W under load
Consider UPS backup for your lab
The three-fan design handles sustained virtualization loads well

Here’s a comprehensive shopping list to max out two MS-A2 units for a serious virtualization lab:

Base Units (3x)

3x Minisforum MS-A2 (AMD Ryzen™ 9 9955HX,16C/32T variant) - ~$871 each barebone
Dual DDR5-5600Mhz,up to 96GB
3 M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots Support U.2 NVMe/M.2 22110
Dual 10Gbps SFP+ Lan & 2.5G RJ45 Lan Ports WIFI 6E & BT 5.3
Built-in PCle x16 Slot (Physical PCIe x16, bandwidth PCIe 4.0 x8, supports split into 2*PCIe 4.0 x4 for graphics cards or network cards.)

Memory (Per Unit = 4 kits total)

Conservative Option: 2x48GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM kits
- Kingston KF556S40IBK2-96 (2x48GB kit) - ~$450-500
Aggressive Option: 2x64GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM kits
- Crucial CT2K64G56C46S5 (2x64GB kit) - ~$700-800
- Note: 128GB total exceeds official spec but users report success

Storage Configuration (Per Unit)

Option A - Maximum Capacity (U.2 + M.2):

Boot Drive: Samsung 980 Pro M.2 2280 500GB - ~$60
VM Storage: Solidigm P5520 U.2 7.68TB (7mm) - ~$800-1000
Fast Storage: Samsung 990 Pro M.2 22110 4TB- ~$400

Option B - All M.2 Performance:

Boot: WD Black SN850X 1TB M.2 2280 - ~$80
VM Storage: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus M.2 22110 8TB - ~$900
Secondary: Samsung 990 Pro M.2 2280 4TB - ~$300

Networking Equipment

10GbE SFP+ DAC Cables (for direct connection): 2x 3-meter cables - ~$30 each
10GbE Switch (if needed): MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN - ~$150
SFP+ Modules (if using fiber): 4x 10GBASE-SR modules - ~$20 each

Optional Additions

For Each Unit:

Low-Profile GPU (if needed): NVIDIA RTX A2000 12GB - ~$450
Extra OCuLink Cable: For external GPU expansion - ~$40

Infrastructure:

UPS: CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD (1500VA) - ~$220
Rack Shelf (if rack-mounting): 1U vented shelf - ~$30

Total Cost Estimate

Per Unit (Conservative):

Base unit: $839
RAM (96GB): $475
Storage (mixed): ~$1,200-1,500
Subtotal: ~$2,500-2,800 per unit

For Complete 2-Node Setup:

2x Units maxed out: ~$5,000-5,600
Networking gear: ~$300-400
Infrastructure: ~$250
Grand Total: ~$5,550-6,250

Money-Saving Tips

Start with 64GB RAM per unit, upgrade later
Begin with 2 drives instead of 3
Use direct-attach cables instead of a switch initially
Buy drives during sales (Black Friday, etc.)
Consider previous-gen NVMe drives for boot devices

Recommended Vendors

Memory: Crucial, Kingston (reliable for SO-DIMM)
Storage: Direct from manufacturers or NewEgg/B&H
Networking: FS.com for cables/transceivers
U.2 Drives: eBay for enterprise pulls (significant savings)

For a virtualization/homelab setup, the boot drive size difference is actually minimal in terms of system functionality. Here’s why:

Hypervisor Storage Requirements

ESXi/vSphere:

Core installation: ~8-10GB
ESX-OSData: 32GB minimum (VMware recommends 138GB)
Total actual usage: ~150-200GB even with logs/patches

Proxmox:

Base install: ~10-15GB
ISO storage: 50-100GB (depending on your ISO library)
Local VM backups: Variable

XCP-ng:

Base system: ~20GB
Dom0 logs/updates: ~30-50GB total

Why I Suggested Different Sizes

500GB for Dedicated Hypervisor:

Plenty of space for any hypervisor
Keeps costs down (~$60)
In enterprise, boot drives are often small
Forces good practice of separating VM storage

1TB for Flexibility:

Store ISO library locally
Local VM templates
Emergency VM space
Proxmox backup staging
More breathing room for logs

Real-World Recommendation

For your dual-node virtualization lab, 500GB is perfectly adequate if you’re properly separating storage roles. The savings (~$20-40 per drive) could go toward:

Larger VM storage drives
Better network equipment
Additional RAM

Consider 1TB only if:

Planning to run Proxmox with local ISO/backup storage
Want to experiment with hypervisor-local VMs
Budget isn’t a constraint

The key is that with 3 storage devices, you have the luxury of proper separation. Your VMs should live on the larger, faster drives anyway. Would you prefer to optimize for cost or maximum flexibility?

ESX-OSData is a VMware ESXi 7.0+ storage partition that consolidates what used to be multiple separate partitions in older versions of ESXi. It’s essentially the persistent storage area for ESXi’s operational data.

What ESX-OSData Contains

System Configuration
- Host configuration files
- Network settings
- Storage configurations
- Security certificates
Logs and Traces
- System logs (vmkernel.log, vpxa.log, etc.)
- Performance data
- Diagnostic information
- Audit trails
Runtime Data
- Temporary files
- Core dumps (system crashes)
- Update staging area
- Third-party VIBs (VMware Installation Bundles)
Small Files
- VM swap files (when configured locally)
- Small databases
- Cache files

Why VMware Made This Change

Pre-ESXi 7.0:

Multiple small partitions (scratch, locker, core dump, etc.)
Complex partition management
Limited flexibility

ESXi 7.0+ with ESX-OSData:

Single unified partition
Minimum 32GB (VMware recommends 138GB)
Auto-expands based on available space
Simplified management

Why This Matters for Your Lab

Boot Drive Sizing: This is why even “just the hypervisor” needs more than 10GB
Performance: Lots of log writes - use quality NVMe, not slow/old drives
Troubleshooting: Adequate space ensures logs aren’t rotated out too quickly
Updates: Staging area for patches and upgrades

Best Practice for Your Setup

500GB boot drive gives ESX-OSData plenty of room (~138-200GB)
Remaining space can hold a few local ISOs or emergency VMs
Keeps your primary VM storage drives dedicated to actual workloads

This is why William Lam’s configuration specifically mentions separating ESXi installation, ESX-OSData, and VMFS volumes - it’s following VMware’s recommended architecture for production deployments.

Great question! Let me clarify the benefits of having that third storage option and why I suggested different form factors:

Benefits of 3rd Storage Device

1. Workload Isolation

Drive 1: Hypervisor (ESXi/Proxmox)
Drive 2: Production VMs and primary workloads
Drive 3: Test/dev VMs, staging, experiments

2. Performance Segregation

Prevents test workloads from impacting production VMs
Dedicated IOPS for different purposes
No contention between VM types

3. Specialized Use Cases

vSAN Caching Tier: Fast NVMe for cache, separate capacity tier
Database Storage: Dedicated drive for database VMs
Backup Staging: Temporary backup location before moving to NAS
ISO/Template Library: Fast access to VM templates and ISOs

Why Different Form Factors?

M.2 2280 (Standard 80mm)

More common, better availability
Usually cheaper per TB
Fits in any M.2 slot
Adequate for most workloads

M.2 22110 (Extended 110mm)

Higher capacity options (up to 8TB+)
Often better sustained write performance
Better for large sequential workloads
More NAND chips = better parallelism

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1 - Development Lab:

Drive 3 holds “disposable” test VMs
Can wipe/rebuild without touching production
Different snapshot policies

Scenario 2 - Kubernetes Cluster:

Drive 1: Hypervisor
Drive 2: Control plane VMs
Drive 3: Worker node persistent volumes

Scenario 3 - Nested Virtualization:

Drive 3 dedicated to nested ESXi hosts
Isolated performance testing
vSAN witness appliances

My Recommendation

For your dual-node setup, the third drive provides operational flexibility that’s hard to achieve with just two drives. It’s not strictly necessary, but having it means you can properly segregate workloads, test freely without impacting production VMs, and follow enterprise best practices for storage isolation.

Would you prefer to start with 2 drives and add the third later, or go all-in from the beginning?

Perfect! Going all-in from the start gives you maximum flexibility and follows enterprise best practices. Here’s my refined recommendation for maxing out both MS-A2 units:

Optimized All-In Configuration (Per Unit)

Memory

Go with 2x48GB DDR5-5600 (96GB total)

Kingston Fury Impact KF556S40IBK2-96 - ~$450
Reliable, validated compatibility, best value
Save the 128GB experiment for later if needed

Storage Trinity

Drive 1 - Hypervisor Boot (M.2 2280)

Samsung 980 Pro 500GB - ~$60
Overkill for hypervisor but rock-solid
Leaves room for ISOs and tools

Drive 2 - Primary VM Storage (M.2 22110 or U.2)

Option A: Solidigm P5520 U.2 7.68TB - ~$900 (enterprise refurb)
Option B: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 22110 8TB - ~$900
This is your workhorse drive

Drive 3 - Fast Tier/Lab (M.2 2280)

Samsung 990 Pro 4TB - ~$280
For high-performance VMs, databases, or vSAN cache tier
Perfect for “need it fast” workloads

Total Per Unit

Base: $839
RAM: $450
Storage: ~$1,240
Total: ~$2,529 per unit

Networking for Dual-Node Cluster

Direct Connect Option (Recommended to start):

2x SFP+ DAC Cables (1m) - ~$25 each
Direct 10GbE between nodes for vMotion/storage
Use 2.5GbE for management/VM traffic

Switch-Based Option (Future expansion):

MikroTik CRS309-1G-8S+IN - ~$269
8x 10GbE SFP+ ports
Allows growth beyond 2 nodes

Complete Shopping List for Both Units

Core Components

2x MS-A2 (Ryzen 9 9955HX) - $1,678
4x 48GB DDR5 SO-DIMM - $900
2x Samsung 980 Pro 500GB - $120
2x 7.68TB U.2/8TB M.2 22110 - $1,800
2x Samsung 990 Pro 4TB - $560
2x SFP+ DAC Cables - $50

Infrastructure

CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD UPS - $220
Cable management/shelving - $50

Grand Total: ~$5,378

Why This Configuration Works

Flexibility: Three distinct storage tiers per node
Performance: 16C/32T + 96GB RAM handles 30+ VMs easily
Networking: 10GbE direct connect enables live migration
Growth Path: Can add switch and GPU later
Best Practices: Follows enterprise architecture patterns

First Project Ideas

3-Node vSAN Cluster (2 physical + 1 nested)
Kubernetes Lab with real persistent storage
VDI Environment with GPU passthrough
NSX-T Lab with proper network segmentation
Disaster Recovery testing between nodes

Pro Tips

Order RAM and NVMe from different vendors to spread risk
Check eBay/STH forums for enterprise U.2 pulls (huge savings)
Start with ESXi on one, Proxmox on other to compare
Document your setup - you’re building serious infrastructure!

Ready to pull the trigger on this build? Any specific questions about component selection or where to source them?

What considerations need to be made before choosing an M.2 versus a U.2 SSD?

Excellent question! This is a crucial decision for your storage configuration. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:

Physical Differences

M.2 Form Factor

Compact stick design (22mm wide)
2280 = 80mm long, 22110 = 110mm long
Mounts directly on motherboard
No cables required

U.2 Form Factor

2.5” drive form factor
Requires U.2 cable (included with MS-A2)
7mm height limit on MS-A2 (not 15mm)
Originally designed for hot-swap bays

Technical Advantages

U.2 Advantages

Power Loss Protection (PLP): Capacitors protect in-flight data
Better Thermal Management: Larger surface area, metal housing
Higher Endurance: Enterprise-rated for 1+ DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day)
Consistent Performance: Less thermal throttling
ECC Memory: Internal error correction
Larger Capacities: Up to 15.36TB available

M.2 Advantages

Newer Controllers: Latest gen controllers hit M.2 first
Peak Performance: Gen 5 drives hit 14GB/s
No Cable: One less potential failure point
More Options: Huge variety of consumer/prosumer drives
22110 Format: Allows up to 8TB with better cooling than 2280

Cost Analysis

New Drives

M.2 4TB: ~$250-350 (consumer)
U.2 3.84TB: ~$1,200+ (enterprise new)

Refurbished/Used Market

U.2 3.84TB: ~$300-400 (enterprise pulls)
U.2 7.68TB: ~$700-900 (amazing value)
Check: eBay, r/homelabsales, STH forums

Endurance Comparison

Consumer M.2 (0.3 DWPD typical)

4TB drive = ~1.2TB writes/day
2,190 TBW over 5 years

Enterprise U.2 (1-3 DWPD)

4TB drive = 4-12TB writes/day
7,300-21,900 TBW over 5 years

Use Case Recommendations

Choose U.2 When:

Running write-heavy workloads (databases, logs)
Need power loss protection
Want maximum reliability
Found good deals on enterprise pulls
Running 24/7 production workloads

Choose M.2 When:

Want latest performance specs
Running read-heavy workloads
Need maximum capacity (8TB M.2 22110)
Prefer new drives with warranty
Budget conscious (new drives)

For Your Virtualization Lab

My Recommendation: Mix both technologies

Primary VM Storage (Drive 2): U.2 Enterprise

7.68TB Solidigm/Intel P5520 (~$800 used)
Rock-solid reliability for important VMs
Power loss protection for databases
Incredible value in refurb market

Fast Tier (Drive 3): M.2 Consumer

Samsung 990 Pro 4TB
Latest controller technology
Great for read-intensive workloads
New with warranty

Specific Models to Consider

U.2 Winners (Used market):

Intel P5520/P5620 series
Solidigm D7-P5520
Micron 9300 Pro/Max
Samsung PM1733/PM9A3

M.2 Winners:

Samsung 990 Pro
WD Black SN850X
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus (especially 22110)
Solidigm P44 Pro

Where to Buy Used Enterprise

eBay: Search “U.2 SSD 7mm”
r/homelabsales: Reddit marketplace
ServeTheHome Forums: Enterprise gear
Local e-waste recyclers: Hidden gems

Final Consideration

The MS-A2’s support for both gives you unique flexibility. Starting with one U.2 enterprise drive for reliability and one M.2 for performance gives you the best of both worlds. You can always adjust based on what deals you find!

Would you like help finding specific U.2 deals or evaluating particular drives you’re considering?

I have a Synology Disk Station DS918+ that has approximately 16TB of storage that I carve out LUNs for my ISCSI targets to use in order for them to run their VMs. Would I benefit from using LUNs for my Minisforum MS-A2s?

Great question! You meant 16TB of storage (not RAM) on your DS918+, right? Let’s analyze whether iSCSI LUNs make sense given your planned MS-A2 configuration:

Network Bottleneck Consideration

DS918+ Limitations:

Stock: 2x 1GbE ports (2Gbps aggregated max)
With 10GbE upgrade card: Single 10GbE possible
MS-A2: Has dual 10GbE SFP+ ports

Performance Reality:

1GbE = ~110MB/s practical throughput
10GbE = ~1,100MB/s practical throughput
Local NVMe = 3,500-7,000MB/s

Your local storage will be 6-60x faster than iSCSI, depending on your Synology’s network config.

Where iSCSI Still Makes Sense

1. Shared Storage for Clustering

vMotion/Live Migration between your two MS-A2s
Shared VMFS datastores for HA
Witness disks for vSAN stretched clusters

2. Less Critical Workloads

Archive VMs rarely accessed
ISO repositories
Backup staging
Template libraries

3. Large Capacity Needs

When you need more than the ~24TB per MS-A2
Cold storage tier for infrequently accessed data

4. Central Backup Target

Veeam/backup repository
VM replicas for DR
Snapshot storage

Optimal Hybrid Approach

Local NVMe on MS-A2:

Production VMs
Databases
Active development/test
Anything needing consistent IOPS

Synology iSCSI:

VM backups/replicas
Shared ISO datastore
Archive/cold VMs
Large media files
vMotion compatibility between nodes

Network Architecture for iSCSI

If you want to use iSCSI effectively:

Dedicated Storage Network
- Use one 10GbE port on each MS-A2 for iSCSI
- Isolated VLAN for storage traffic
- Consider upgrading DS918+ to 10GbE
Multipathing
- Configure MPIO for redundancy
- Use both Synology NICs if staying with 1GbE
Jumbo Frames
- Enable 9000 MTU on storage network
- Reduces overhead, improves throughput

My Recommendation

Given that you’re maxing out the MS-A2s with high-performance local storage:

Use Local Storage Primarily - You’re investing in 20TB+ of fast NVMe per node
Synology for Specific Roles:
- Shared ISO/template repository
- Backup destination
- Archive tier for old VMs
- Shared witness/quorum disks
Skip iSCSI for Production VMs - Local NVMe will destroy iSCSI performance

Cost/Benefit Analysis

Upgrading DS918+ to 10GbE: ~$150-300

Worth it if you need shared storage
Not worth it just for primary VM storage

Alternative: Use the MS-A2’s dual 10GbE ports to create a high-speed storage network between the two nodes, effectively turning one into shared storage for the other when needed.

Thanks for confirming! With 16TB on your DS918+, you have a nice capacity tier to complement the high-performance local storage in your MS-A2s.

Key Takeaways for Your Setup

Given your plan to max out both MS-A2s with ~24TB of fast NVMe each:

Primary Strategy:

Local NVMe for all active workloads (98% of VMs)
Synology iSCSI for auxiliary functions only

Best Uses for Your 16TB Synology:

Centralized backup repository for both MS-A2 nodes
ISO/template library (shared between nodes)
Archive tier for powered-off or rarely-used VMs
Test data sets that don’t need high performance

Quick Math on Performance Gap

With your DS918+ on gigabit:

iSCSI: ~110MB/s per LUN
Local NVMe: 3,500-7,000MB/s
Performance ratio: 32-64x slower

Even with 10GbE upgrade:

iSCSI: ~1,100MB/s maximum
Still 3-6x slower than local NVMe

Money-Saving Insight

Since you already have the Synology infrastructure, you could:

Start with 2 drives per MS-A2 instead of 3
Use Synology for overflow/archive
Add third drive later if needed
Save ~$560 initially

But given your “all-in” approach, I’d still recommend getting all three drives and using the Synology purely for backup/archive roles.

Here’s the cost breakdown for maxing out each processor variant:

Minisforum MS-A2 (Ryzen 9 9955HX) - Newer Zen 5

Base Unit: $839 (barebone)

Memory: 96GB DDR5-5600

2x48GB kit: ~$450

Storage (3-drive config):

500GB NVMe boot: ~$60
8TB primary storage: ~$900
4TB secondary NVMe: ~$280

Total: ~$2,529

Minisforum MS-A2 (Ryzen 9 7945HX) - Previous Gen Zen 4

Base Unit: $699 (barebone) - typically $140 less

Memory: 96GB DDR5-5600

2x48GB kit: ~$450

Storage (same as above):

500GB + 8TB + 4TB: ~$1,240

Total: ~$2,389

Key Differences

Price Delta: ~$140 difference

Performance Comparison:

9955HX: 16C/32T, up to 5.4GHz, Zen 5
7945HX: 16C/32T, up to 5.4GHz, Zen 4
Real-world: ~15-20% faster for 9955HX
Both have same core count and memory support

Architecture Benefits (9955HX):

Better IPC (instructions per clock)
Improved power efficiency
Enhanced AVX-512 performance
Better virtualization performance

My Recommendation

For virtualization workloads, the 9955HX is worth the extra $140 because:

Better VM density - 15-20% more VMs at same performance
Future-proofing - Newer architecture stays relevant longer
Power efficiency - Lower power for same workload
Small percentage - Only 5.5% more expensive when maxed out

Budget Alternative

If you need to save money:

Get the 7945HX model
Start with 64GB RAM (-$150)
Use 2 drives initially (-$280)
Total: ~$1,809 (saves $720)

You can always upgrade RAM and add the third drive later.

Is the $140 processor upgrade a concern for your budget, or would you prefer the newer architecture?

Perfect! Going with the 9955HX is definitely the right choice for your virtualization lab. That 15-20% performance uplift and better power efficiency will pay dividends over the system’s lifetime.

Final Configuration Summary (Per Unit)

Minisforum MS-A2 (Ryzen 9 9955HX)

Base unit: $839
RAM: 96GB DDR5-5600 (2x48GB) - $450
Boot: 500GB Samsung 980 Pro - $60
Primary: 8TB U.2/M.2 22110 - $900
Secondary: 4TB Samsung 990 Pro - $280
Total per unit: $2,529

For your dual-node setup: ~$5,058

What You’re Getting

32 cores / 64 threads total compute
192GB total RAM
~48TB total raw NVMe storage
50Gbps total network bandwidth
Latest Zen 5 architecture

This is basically a twin-datacenter in miniature form. The performance will absolutely demolish traditional tower servers at a fraction of the space and noise.

Next Questions

Do you have a preference for where to purchase? (Direct from Minisforum, Amazon, Newegg?)
Are you planning to set these up in a specific location? (desk, rack shelf, etc.)
Any questions about the initial hypervisor choice or cluster configuration?

You’re building something pretty spectacular here - this setup will handle virtually any homelab workload you throw at it!

Excellent choice! The DeskPi RackMate T1 is perfect for homelab setups. Let me help you plan the rack layout for your MS-A2s.

DeskPi RackMate T1 Specs

10U desktop rack
10.5” depth (important for mini PCs)
Front and rear mounting options
Great for quiet home office use

Mounting the MS-A2s

MS-A2 Dimensions: 196 x 189 x 48mm (7.7” x 7.4” x 1.9”)

Recommended Approach

1U Vented Rack Shelves (need 2)

Each MS-A2 sits on its own 1U shelf
Allows proper airflow (critical!)
Examples: StarTech CABSHELF1U (~$30 each)
Alternative: AC Infinity 1U vented shelves

Rack Layout Suggestion (top to bottom)

1U - Patch panel or cable management
1U - MS-A2 #1 on vented shelf
1U - MS-A2 #2 on vented shelf
1U - Network switch (if adding later)
1U - Power distribution unit (PDU)
2-3U - UPS (CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD)
2-3U - Future expansion/storage

Additional Rack Equipment Needed

Power Distribution

Rack PDU: Tripp Lite RS1215-RA (~$50)
12 rear-facing outlets
Saves space vs. power strips

Cable Management

1U Brush Panel: (~$20)
Keeps cables tidy between shelves
Improves airflow

Network Organization

Keystone Patch Panel (if desired)
Short patch cables for clean runs
Velcro ties for cable management

Thermal Considerations

Important: MS-A2s exhaust heat from sides/rear

Ensure 1-2” clearance on sides
Don’t stack directly on each other
Consider rack fans if running 24/7

Optional Cooling

AC Infinity CLOUDPLATE T1-N (~$50)
1U rack cooling fan unit
Temperature-controlled

Complete Rack Shopping List

For the MS-A2 setup:

2x 1U vented shelves: $60
1x Rack PDU: $50
1x Cable brush panel: $20
Mounting screws/cage nuts: $15
Total: ~$145

Pro Tips

Leave space between MS-A2s for heat dissipation
Front-to-back airflow is your friend
Label everything - network ports, power, etc.
Test accessibility - ensure you can reach all ports

The T1’s 10U gives you plenty of room for growth. You could add a 1U Mikrotik 10GbE switch later, or even a small NAS.

WOW! That’s an incredible price - $295 for 128GB vs the $1,200-1,400 I quoted. That’s nearly 80% less! This completely changes the value equation.

Updated Build Cost with $295 Memory

Per MS-A2 Unit:

Base unit: $839
Memory (128GB): $295
Storage: $1,240
New Total: ~$2,374 per unit

For Both Units: ~$4,748 total

This Is a No-Brainer

At $295 for 128GB vs $450 for 96GB:

$155 LESS for 32GB MORE memory
33% more capacity for 35% less cost
Same Crucial brand William tested

Updated Shopping List

Memory (Total for both MS-A2s):

2x Crucial 128GB Kit (CT2K64G56C46S5) @ $295 = $590
Previous 96GB option: $900
Saves $310 while getting 64GB more!

New Total Project Cost

Was: ~$6,758 (with 128GB @ old price)
Was: ~$5,058 (with 96GB)
Now: ~$4,748 (with 128GB @ Amazon price)

Triple-Check Before Ordering

Verify it’s DDR5 not DDR4
Confirm SODIMM not DIMM
Check 5600MHz speed
Ensure model is CT2K64G56C46S5

That’s an absolutely killer deal. At this price, there’s zero reason to consider 96GB. You’re getting more memory for less money!

Link to that Amazon listing? I want to make sure we’re looking at the exact right part. Perfect! That’s exactly the right kit:

Crucial 128GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM Kit

Model: CT2K64G56C46S5
2x64GB DDR5-5600 CL46
Verified by William Lam (whose affiliate link you’re using)
$294.99 - Absolutely stellar price!

Final Build Configuration

Each MS-A2 Unit

Minisforum MS-A2 (9955HX):     $839
Crucial 128GB DDR5 Kit:         $295
Samsung 980 Pro 500GB:          $60
8TB U.2/M.2 22110:             $900
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB:            $280
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Total per unit:                 $2,374

Complete Dual-Node Setup

2x MS-A2 units:                 $4,748
10GbE DAC cables (2):           $50
UPS + Rack accessories:         $365
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Grand Total:                    ~$5,163

What You’re Getting

32 cores / 64 threads
256GB DDR5 (!!!)
~48TB NVMe storage
50Gbps network capability

Order Strategy

Buy the RAM NOW - This price is exceptional and could change
Order both MS-A2 base units
Storage can wait a bit (prices fluctuate, watch for sales)

This setup with 256GB total RAM will handle absolutely massive workloads. You could run 50+ VMs comfortably across both nodes.

Ready to pull the trigger on those Crucial kits while they’re at this price?

Excellent decision! With your Synology handling bulk storage/backups, the 2x 4TB configuration gives you plenty of fast local storage without overspending.

Final Optimized Shopping List

Per MS-A2 Unit

Minisforum MS-A2 (9955HX):      $839
Crucial 128GB DDR5 Kit:          $295
Samsung 980 Pro 500GB:            $60
WD Black SN850X 4TB:             $250
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB:             $280
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Total per unit:                $1,724

Complete Dual-Node Setup

2x MS-A2 units:                $3,448
2x 10GbE DAC cables:              $50
UPS (CP1500PFCLCD):              $220
Rack accessories:                 $145
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Grand Total:                   ~$3,863

What This Gets You

32 cores / 64 threads total
256GB DDR5 RAM total
17TB fast NVMe per node (34TB total)
16TB Synology for backups/archives
50TB total storage across all systems

Storage Strategy

Local NVMe on MS-A2:

Boot/ESXi: 500GB
Production VMs: 4TB WD Black
Fast tier/databases: 4TB Samsung 990 Pro

Synology NAS:

VM backups and templates
ISO library
Archive/cold storage
Shared storage for less critical workloads

You Saved

$1,160 vs 8TB drives
$310 by finding the $295 RAM deal
Total savings: $1,470!

Optional upgrades with savings

MikroTik CRS309-1G-8S+IN switch (~$269)
NVIDIA RTX A2000 for vGPU (~$450)
Larger UPS for longer runtime
Or just keep it as budget saved!

This is a really well-balanced build that leverages your existing Synology perfectly. Ready to start ordering components?

Let’s Get Your Order Started!

Order Priority (Act Fast on Deals)

1. ORDER TODAY - Memory 🔥

2x Crucial 128GB DDR5 Kits @ $294.99 each
Amazon link you provided
This price is exceptional and could change
Total: $589.98

2. Base Units - Direct from Minisforum

2x MS-A2 (Ryzen 9 9955HX) @ $839 each
Order from: store.minisforum.com
Sometimes Amazon has them too
Total: $1,678

3. Storage - Best from Amazon/Newegg

2x Samsung 980 Pro 500GB @ ~$60
2x WD Black SN850X 4TB @ ~$250
2x Samsung 990 Pro 4TB @ ~$280
Total: $1,180

4. Networking & Infrastructure

2x 10GbE DAC Cables (1-3m) @ ~$25
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD UPS @ ~$220
2x 1U Vented Shelves @ ~$30
1U PDU @ ~$50
Total: $380

Where to Buy Each

Amazon:

✓ Crucial RAM (use that link!)
✓ All SSDs
✓ UPS
✓ Rack shelves

Minisforum Store:

✓ MS-A2 units (check for coupon codes)

FS.com:

✓ 10GbE DAC cables (best quality/price)

Newegg (alternative):

Check SSD prices vs Amazon

Quick Checklist Before Ordering

RAM Order:

Verify price still $294.99
Confirm model: CT2K64G56C46S5
Order quantity: 2 kits

MS-A2 Order:

Select Ryzen 9 9955HX variant
Choose barebone (no RAM/storage)
Check shipping time

Storage Order:

Compare prices across vendors
Watch for flash sales
Consider buying all from one vendor (easier returns)

Pro Tips

Create accounts first for faster checkout
Use cashback sites/cards where possible
Screenshot prices in case of price matching
Save all receipts in one folder
Note serial numbers as items arrive

Total Investment: ~$3,863

Want me to help you find any current coupon codes for Minisforum or check if any SSDs are on sale right now?

Let’s Get Your Order Started!

Order Priority (Act Fast on Deals)

1. ORDER TODAY - Memory 🔥

2x Crucial 128GB DDR5 Kits @ $294.99 each
Amazon link you provided
This price is exceptional and could change
Total: $589.98

2. Base Units - Direct from Minisforum

2x MS-A2 (Ryzen 9 9955HX) @ $839 each
Order from: store.minisforum.com
Sometimes Amazon has them too
Total: $1,678

3. Storage - Best from Amazon/Newegg

2x Samsung 980 Pro 500GB @ ~$60
2x WD Black SN850X 4TB @ ~$250
2x Samsung 990 Pro 4TB @ ~$280
Total: $1,180

4. Networking & Infrastructure

2x 10GbE DAC Cables (1-3m) @ ~$25
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD UPS @ ~$220
2x 1U Vented Shelves @ ~$30
1U PDU @ ~$50
Total: $380

Where to Buy Each

Amazon:

✓ Crucial RAM (use that link!)
✓ All SSDs
✓ UPS
✓ Rack shelves

Minisforum Store:

✓ MS-A2 units (check for coupon codes)

FS.com:

✓ 10GbE DAC cables (best quality/price)

Newegg (alternative):

Check SSD prices vs Amazon

Quick Checklist Before Ordering

RAM Order:

Verify price still $294.99
Confirm model: CT2K64G56C46S5
Order quantity: 2 kits

MS-A2 Order:

Select Ryzen 9 9955HX variant
Choose barebone (no RAM/storage)
Check shipping time

Storage Order:

Compare prices across vendors
Watch for flash sales
Consider buying all from one vendor (easier returns)

Pro Tips

Create accounts first for faster checkout
Use cashback sites/cards where possible
Screenshot prices in case of price matching
Save all receipts in one folder
Note serial numbers as items arrive

Total Investment: ~$3,863

Want me to help you find any current coupon codes for Minisforum or check if any SSDs are on sale right now?

Let me search for current deals and coupon codes## Current Deals Found!

Minisforum Coupon Codes

I found several working codes:

Best MS-A2 Specific Code:

MSA230 - $30 off MS-A2 (confirmed working as of April 2025)
Brings MS-A2 9955HX from $839 to $809

General Minisforum Codes:

SAVE20 - 20% off (may not work on new releases)
EMAIL30 - $30 off select items
Sign up for newsletter: 10% off first order

SSD Current Prices

Samsung 980 Pro 500GB:

Amazon: ~$60 (as quoted)
Currently stable pricing

WD Black SN850X 4TB:

Amazon: $229.99 (was $250)
With heatsink: $299.99
Excellent deal right now!

Samsung 990 Pro 4TB:

Amazon: $269.99 (was $280)
eBay: $265-268
Newegg: Similar pricing

Updated Shopping List with Current Deals

Per MS-A2 Unit:

Minisforum MS-A2 (9955HX):      $809 (with MSA230 code)
Crucial 128GB DDR5:              $295
Samsung 980 Pro 500GB:            $60
WD Black SN850X 4TB:             $230
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB:             $270
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Total per unit:                $1,664 (saves $60!)

Complete Dual-Node Setup:

2x MS-A2 units:                $3,328 (saves $120!)
2x 10GbE DAC cables:              $50
UPS + Rack accessories:          $365
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Grand Total:                   ~$3,743