Minisforum UM690L Slim: Compact MiniPC Built for USB4 Single-Cable

Reprinted from Christoph's blog | Original link: https://www.dahlen.org/2025/10/27/minisforum-um690l-slim/

For users who don't need top-tier gaming performance but want a clean desk setup with plug-and-play convenience, the Minisforum UM690L Slim offers a highly attractive option. Its standout feature is the USB4 single-cable solution — a single USB-C cable handles power delivery, video transmission, and peripheral connections all at once.

Hardware Specifications

Processor

Powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX mobile processor, 8 cores / 16 threads, up to 4.9 GHz, TDP 65W. Integrated AMD Radeon 680M graphics provide ample performance for daily office work, home automation, and programming.

Memory & Storage

• Memory: Onboard LPDDR5 6400MHz, up to 32GB (non-upgradable, configuration must be selected at purchase)
• Storage: Supports dual M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slots, each up to 4TB, theoretical read speed up to 7000MB/s, RAID support

Ports & Networking

• USB4 ×1: 40Gbps, supports video output, data transfer, PD power input (65-100W), and 15W power output
• Video output: HDMI 2.1 (8K@60Hz), DP 1.4 (4K@120Hz), USB4 (8K@60Hz), supports triple 4K simultaneous output (see port diagram below)

• Networking: 2.5G LAN (Realtek chip) + Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3
• Other ports: USB 3.2 Gen2 ×2, USB 2.0 ×2, 3.5mm audio jack

Cooling & Power

Features PCM phase-change material cooling technology with active cooling, reducing temperatures by 25% compared to single-fan designs. Comes with a 120W power adapter, also supports power delivery via USB4 from compatible monitors.

Dimensions & Weight

130×126.5×50.4mm, net weight 0.67kg

User Experience

The UM690L Slim supports single-cable connection via its USB4 port: one USB-C cable handles power delivery, video transmission, and peripheral connectivity simultaneously. Keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals can be connected to a monitor's USB hub, leaving only the Mini PC and one cable on the desk — significantly reducing clutter.

The system comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, no bloatware, with the license embedded in the BIOS — ready to use out of the box.

Use Cases

• Office Work: Supports triple 4K output (see scenario diagram below), handles documents, spreadsheets, video conferences, and web browsing simultaneously with smooth multitasking.

• Home Automation: Run Home Assistant or similar platforms 24/7 — the 65W TDP makes it suitable for long-term idle operation.
• Lightweight Programming: Run VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and other IDEs, with support for Docker containerized development and testing environments.
• Proxmox Virtualization Node: After installing Proxmox VE, run multiple VMs simultaneously such as OpenWrt, Ubuntu Server, and AdGuard Home. Dual M.2 slots support RAID 0/1, while 2.5G LAN and USB4 handle high-speed node communication.

Purchase Information

The UM690L Slim is currently available as a new unit on the Minisforum official website, with 30-day hassle-free local returns. For the 16GB + 512GB configuration, the current reference price is €519. Refurbished units are sold out and will not be restocked.

Summary

The UM690L Slim is a compact MiniPC with ample performance and a unique single-cable convenience. It is well-suited for office work, home automation, programming, and even as a Proxmox cluster node. The fan is slightly audible at idle but not intrusive, and does not become significantly louder under load. If you value a clean and efficient desktop experience, this is a worthy option.

Looking for different performance tiers? The Slim series offers more choices to match your needs and budget.