Why this pair matters

MINISFORUM announced the MS-S1 MAX-P495 on October 8, 2026, at 07:07 ET, bringing a new 192 GB configuration into the comparison with GMKtec's EVO-X5 PRO. The manufacturer announcement establishes the launch news; it does not confirm retail stock or delivery.

The practical question is which internal device you need to install. The MINISFORUM has an expansion-card position alongside two native NVMe positions. The GMKtec has three native NVMe positions. That distinction can guide a purchase once there is a concrete expansion requirement.

What the comparison holds constant

The selected MINISFORUM MS-S1 MAX-P495 and GMKtec EVO-X5 PRO are complete mini PCs, each configured with an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 processor, AMD Radeon 8065S graphics, 192 GB of LPDDR5x memory at 8533 MT/s and a 2 TB SSD. The memory is a shared CPU/GPU pool, rather than 192 GB of dedicated discrete-GPU VRAM.

AMD's processor specification lists a 192 GB memory ceiling, a 256-bit memory bus and support for LPDDR5x up to 8533 MT/s. Those are platform capabilities, not proof that an application needs this capacity or will run better with it. Establish the application's working set, runtime behavior and task completion time on the existing machine before treating 192 GB as a purchase requirement. GMKtec also specifies that its onboard memory cannot be upgraded.

External connectivity is similar on paper. Each system lists two RJ45 Ethernet ports rated at 10 GbE apiece, two front USB4 ports rated at 40 Gbps and two rear USB4 ports rated at 80 Gbps.

Where internal expansion differs

MINISFORUM provides one physical PCIe x16 card connector with a PCIe 4.0 x4 electrical link. Its description accommodates full-length cards, but the connector's length does not confer x16 electrical bandwidth. A particular card still needs checks for dimensions, power requirements and operating-system drivers, with confirmation that the x4 link is sufficient for its intended job.

Its two native M.2 2280 NVMe slots are also wired differently: the first is PCIe 4.0 x4 and the second is PCIe 4.0 x1. MINISFORUM lists up to 8 TB per slot, a 16 TB total maximum, and RAID 0/1 support.

GMKtec provides three native M.2 2280 Key-M NVMe slots. SSD1 and SSD2 use PCIe 4.0 x4 links; SSD3 uses PCIe 4.0 x1. The listed limit is 8 TB per slot and 24 TB in total. SATA SSDs are not supported. The third native position is useful only if the intended SSD is compatible and its x1 connection suits the workload.

These are native-slot layouts, not an exhaustive account of possible storage configurations. A PCIe-to-NVMe adapter in the MINISFORUM could change the options, but its fit, bifurcation requirements and compatibility have not been established. Simultaneous lane-sharing behavior is also unverified. The Ethernet, USB4 and PCIe ratings describe interfaces rather than measured transfers or SSD speeds; the specifications do not establish a winner in application or AI performance, noise, thermals or efficiency.

Who each system suits

The MS-S1 MAX-P495 is the relevant choice when a specific, compatible internal expansion card is essential. The EVO-X5 PRO is the relevant choice when the requirement is three native NVMe positions without an add-in adapter. The device checks above determine whether either route actually meets that requirement. This expansion comparison does not support a price or value verdict.

Keeping an adequate existing machine is also a sound outcome. The older MS-S1 MAX 128 GB Max AI Compute Edition, with Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and Radeon 8060S, already lists a physical PCIe x16 card slot wired at PCIe 4.0 x4, two native NVMe slots wired at PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1, and two 10 GbE ports. If that machine already handles the workload and required I/O, those expansion features alone do not establish a reason to replace it with the P495.