Ultimate Small Form Factor Workstation with Intel ARC Pro B50 – Benchmarks, AI, and Gaming
Ultimate Small Form Factor Workstation with Intel ARC Pro B50 – Benchmarks, AI, and Gaming
Introduction
The demand for powerful yet compact PCs has never been higher. Mini‑PCs that can handle demanding workloads—gaming, video editing, and AI inference—while fitting on a desk or even a shelf are increasingly popular. In this article we explore the Minisforum MS02 Ultra paired with Intel’s low‑profile ARC Pro B50 GPU. The combination delivers a surprisingly robust workstation in a chassis the size of a small router, and we put it through its paces with benchmarks, AI tasks, and real‑world gaming.
The Minisforum MS02 Ultra: A Tiny Powerhouse
Design and Form Factor
The MS02 Ultra sports an industrial aesthetic that works both vertically and horizontally. Its compact chassis houses a custom cooling duct that directs air over the CPU, ensuring temperatures stay in check even under load. The system is built for flexibility:
- Dimensions: Small enough to sit on a bookshelf or mount behind a monitor
- Orientation: Supports both vertical and horizontal placement
- Expansion: Dual‑slot, low‑profile GPU slots; four RAM slots; 2.5” and M.2 storage options
Core Specifications
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 285HX – 24 cores / 24 threads, 90 W (PL1) / 110 W (PL2) |
| GPU (stock) | Integrated Intel UHD graphics |
| RAM | 64 GB DDR5 (factory installed), expandable to 256 GB with ECC support (Ultra model) |
| Power Supply | 300 W SFX unit, includes an 8‑pin PCIe connector for discrete GPUs |
| Connectivity | USB4‑Gen2 (up to 40 Gbps), dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet, Wi‑Fi 6E |
| Storage | Supports up to four drives (M.2 NVMe & 2.5” SATA) |
The system also ships with a dual‑port 2.5 Gb Ethernet card, providing fast wired networking out of the box.
Upgrading to Intel ARC Pro B50
Why the B50?
The Intel ARC Pro B50 is a low‑profile, dual‑slot workstation GPU that offers 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM and a blower‑style cooler. It does not require an external power connector, drawing all its power from the PCIe slot—perfect for a small chassis like the MS02.
Installation Experience
Installation is straightforward:
- Remove the two rear screws and slide the side cover off.
- Locate the PCIe x16 5.0 slot and the 8‑pin power connector (unused by the B50).
- Insert the B50 into the slot and secure it with the provided bracket.
- Re‑attach the cover; the blower cooler pulls fresh air through the chassis vent, keeping temperatures low.
The GPU fits snugly, and the chassis’s top vent ensures adequate airflow when the unit is mounted vertically.
AI and Content Creation Capabilities
Image Generation with Intel AI Playground
Intel’s AI Playground integrates seamlessly with the B50, allowing one‑click deployment of tools like Comfy UI for diffusion‑based image generation. Even though the B50 is a workstation card, it handles a 12 GB diffusion model comfortably, producing high‑quality images in seconds.
Large Language Model (LLM) Inference
Using LM Studio, the system runs a 20‑billion‑parameter GPT‑OSS model locally. Key performance metrics:
- GPU memory usage: ~11.6 GB of the 16 GB VRAM
- Throughput: 33.42 tokens per second
- Latency: 0.34 s for the first token
The workload splits between the CPU and GPU, but the B50’s dedicated memory accelerates inference significantly. With the MS02’s ability to support up to 256 GB RAM, even larger models (potentially 120 B parameters) could be explored in the future.
Gaming Performance
Although the B50 is marketed as a workstation GPU, it delivers respectable gaming performance, especially when paired with Intel’s XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) and XeC Frame Generation technologies.
Benchmark Titles and Settings
| Game | Resolution | Settings | Avg. FPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1440p Ultra (XeSS Balance) | ~84 FPS | |
| Horizon Forbidden West | 1440p Ultra (no XeSS) | ~78 FPS | |
| Horizon Forbidden West | 4K Ultra (no XeSS) | ~78 FPS | |
| Spider‑Man 2 | 1440p High (XeSS Quality) | Mid‑70s FPS |
Enabling XeSS Frame Generation pushes Cyberpunk 2077 past the 100 FPS mark, while Low Latency Mode eliminates noticeable input lag.
Gaming Verdict
The B50 provides a solid experience for 1440p gaming with high settings. While it won’t match a dedicated RTX 5060, it offers a compelling balance of performance, power efficiency, and size—ideal for gamers who value a compact desktop.
Benchmark Results
CPU Benchmarks (Intel Core Ultra 285HX)
- Geekbench 6 – Single‑core: 2,957 | Multi‑core: 17,992
- Cinebench R24 – Single‑core: 1,280 | Multi‑core: 19,300 (beats many laptop and even some desktop CPUs)
GPU Benchmarks (Intel ARC Pro B50)
- 3DMark Time Spy – Overall score: 8,478 (reasonable for a low‑profile workstation GPU)
- 3DMark Fire Strike – Overall score: 1,632 (FPS: 16.32)
These numbers confirm that the combination of a high‑core‑count mobile CPU and a dedicated GPU delivers performance well beyond typical integrated graphics solutions.
Conclusion
The Minisforum MS02 Ultra paired with the Intel ARC Pro B50 demonstrates that a tiny chassis does not have to mean compromised capability. The system excels in:
- AI workloads – Fast LLM inference and efficient diffusion image generation.
- Content creation – Sufficient CPU and GPU power for video editing, Photoshop, and DaVinci Resolve.
- Gaming – Playable 1440p experience with XeSS enhancements, making it a viable daily gaming rig.
With up to 256 GB of ECC‑supported RAM, a robust 300 W power supply, and extensive connectivity, this mini‑workstation is a strong contender for professionals and enthusiasts who need power without the footprint. Future experiments, such as dual‑GPU configurations, could push its limits even further.
The ultimate small form‑factor workstation is here—compact, powerful, and ready for the next generation of AI‑driven applications.