We've previously discussed Mini ITX boards with integrated mobile processors, and we've also looked at those same chips with adapters for installation in desktop platforms. However, the very nature of these hacks makes them a lottery, and many users would love to have a more stable option. One such option could be the Minisforum BD795M, a combo of processor and MicroATX board equipped with a Ryzen 9 7945HX, capable of reaching a 5.4 GHz Turbo under the right conditions.
Installing processors from different manufacturers on the same socket was natural in older machines. Over time, 'private gardens' emerged, and both Intel and AMD forced users to adopt a specific platform. In fact, they went as far as sacrificing backward compatibility with their own processors, and I clearly remember that strange hybrids like the AsRock 939Dual (which could accept Socket 939 or AM2 chips with the help of a special card) were needed to achieve greater flexibility.
Today, we must admit that the AM4 socket has spoiled us a lot, and personally I hope AM5 shows similar longevity, but even more interesting are the developments that take mobile processors and place them on desktop motherboards. While the reuse of these chips is very common in Mini PCs, their expansion to a standard format opens a wide range of possibilities. That brings us to the Minisforum BD795M, which we can study more closely thanks to the latest video from ETA PRIME on YouTube:
Minisforum BD795M: One of the best mobile Ryzen 9 chips on the desktop
Minisforum has released a significant number of products with mobile chips, but the BD795M is the first of its kind in MicroATX format. The chosen processor is a Ryzen 9 7945HX, with 16 cores, 32 threads, a base of 2.5 GHz, and a Turbo mode of 5.4 GHz, under an average TDP of 75 watts. However, not being limited by the thermal characteristics of a laptop, the BD795M can push its processor above 100 watts, as long as the cooler (which must be LGA 1700 compatible) doesn't lag behind.
The board uses SODIMM DDR5 memory (max 5200 MHz), has two NVMe slots, and an M.2 'E' slot for WiFi cards, but the big absence is the USB-C port in its I/O. On the other hand, we find two SATA3 ports, and the PCI Express slot is 4.0, ready for any high-end graphics card. Its BIOS includes several advanced options (including overclocking and voltage control), and when comparing its performance with a Core i7-14700 in Geekbench 6, the BD795M basically ended up at the same level. With the help of an Intel ARC B580, it devoured a 1440p gaming session.
Minisforum's official page reports that the current price of the BD795M is 489 euros, and although we must add memory and storage, at the time of writing these lines I don't feel that's an exaggerated number, especially when the i7-14700K still floats around 400 euros in some portals.
Official site: Click here
