Minix ZR535 Windows 11 Pro Mini PC: Ryzen 5 3501U Specs, Dual LAN and Availability Questions

What the ZR535 actually includes​

Minix lists one configuration: 16GB of DDR4-2400 memory and a 512GB NVMe SSD. The Ryzen 5 3501U has four CPU cores, eight threads and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics. Minix offers a 15W Balance mode and a 28W Performance mode, but publishes no measurements showing how much faster—or louder—the machine becomes in the higher-power setting. It describes separate cooling fans for the processor and SSD; that is a design detail, not independent evidence of low noise or sustained performance.

There are two SO-DIMM slots, with a manufacturer-stated memory ceiling of 32GB. The installed SSD uses an M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 ×4 connection; the additional M.2 2280 slot is listed at PCIe 3.0 ×1. That distinction matters if the second drive is intended for frequent large transfers: the expansion slot has less connection bandwidth than the primary slot. Minix advertises up to 4TB of total NVMe storage but does not spell out a required drive arrangement.

The short version: this looks configured for everyday desktop work and flexible connectivity, not for buyers seeking a demonstrated leap in graphics or storage performance.

A port-count discrepancy worth catching​

ARY News reports three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports plus one USB-A 2.0 port. Minix’s detailed specification instead lists two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and one USB-A 2.0 port. Until Minix clarifies the mismatch, its own detailed specification is the safer basis for planning peripherals. It also lists one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port with DisplayPort output, HDMI 2.1 TMDS, DisplayPort 1.4, a 3.5mm audio jack, two 1Gb Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Minix rates each of the USB-C display, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs for up to 4K at 60Hz. ARY News describes triple-display support, but the manufacturer’s specification does not detail which simultaneous combinations it has validated. Anyone building a three-monitor desk around this PC should confirm that point rather than assuming three listed outputs guarantee every three-screen setup.

Where it may fit—and what remains unproven​

ARY News compares the 3501U’s performance with Intel’s N97 and suggests the ZR535 could double as a lightweight NAS. Those are useful possibilities to investigate, not benchmark or NAS-test results: the reporting supplies no comparison methodology, storage-redundancy test or network-throughput measurements. Two Ethernet jacks could be useful for a home-network project, but they do not by themselves establish faster file sharing or a ready-made backup system.

For Windows users, the more immediate question is what arrives configured. Minix says Windows 11 Pro is preloaded and advertises a TPM, describing it differently across its marketing text and specification. Do not take the TPM claim as proof that drive encryption is active. Microsoft says Windows users can check Device Encryption under Settings > Privacy & security > Device encryption; if that setting is missing, running System Information as an administrator can show whether the device meets its prerequisites. That is a practical check once a ZR535 is in hand, particularly before storing important files on either SSD.

The ZR535’s appeal rests on its compact size, upgrade slots and unusually useful pair of wired network ports. Its unanswered questions are just as concrete: availability, real-world performance, noise and the disputed USB count. For now, $529 is a listing price for a coming-soon PC, not evidence of a shipping, tested product.