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A Proxmox message such as watchdog: BUG: soft lockup or watchdog: hard LOCKUP on cpu means the kernel watchdog detected a CPU that stopped responding as expected. It does not, by itself, identify whether the trigger is the BIOS, Intel microcode, memory, a kernel change, or a hardware fault. MS-01 owners have reported different symptoms and configurations, and no single cause or universal fix is established.
Before changing firmware, kernels, or components, save the exact error and surrounding logs, record the machine and software versions, and note what the host was doing when it failed. Those details are what make a controlled comparison—and useful support request—possible.
What a CPU hard-lockup message tells you
A watchdog hard-lockup report is a serious kernel-level stall: a CPU was not responding to the watchdog as expected. The wording is a failure signature, not a diagnosis. A general freeze, spontaneous reboot, machine-check exception (MCE), general protection fault, and watchdog hard lockup are related-looking but distinct observations; preserve the exact message rather than grouping them all as “Proxmox crashed.”
The available MS-01 reports do not establish how often this issue occurs or a general root cause. They involve different CPUs, RAM configurations, BIOS and kernel versions, and workloads. One account is not enough to diagnose another machine.
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#1 Best Overall
MINISFORUM MS-01 Mini Workstation Core i9-13900H 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Mini PC, HDMI+2X USB4 8K Display, 2x10G SFP+ Port, 2x2.5G LAN Port, Support M.2 2280/22110/U.2 SSD/RTX 3050 Graphics Cards
- 【Excellent Performance】The MINISFORUM MS-01 Mini Workstation is equipped with Intel Core i9-13900H(14 cores/20 threads/up to 5.4 GHz) that uses a hybrid architecture. It adopts "7nm SuperFin" with improved process, featuring the built-in Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Graphics frequency 1.5 GHz) with Xe architecture that makes a difference, it is designed for next-generation efficient high-performance gaming and widely used in games, 3D rendering, video editing and teleworking.
- 【USB4 8K@30Hz Video Output】This i9 Mini PC is Equipped with 1x HDMI (4K@60Hz) and 2x USB4 (8K@30Hz/ 4K@144Hz) Outputs, you can connect ultra HD screens to 3 displays at the same time. Increase work efficiency by expanding multiple workspaces. It is used in fields that require high-performance computing and graphics processing, including digital signage and securities trading, as well as work that uses CAD, such as engineering design, scientific calculations, animation production, and post-production for movies and television. These are typically used by individual users or experts in their field.
- 【Super Fast Network Speed】The MS-01 workstation comes with two 10G SFP+ ports, each supporting a 10 Gbps transfer rate and link aggregation, which is ideal for users demanding ultra-fast wired network connections to high-speed LANs, network storage devices, servers etc. It also includes two 2.5G RJ45 ports. It’s suitable for connecting to high-speed home and office networks and other scenarios requiring rapid network transfers. Furthermore, it is equipped with 2xUSB4 and supports 20G Thunderbolt Ethernet. Total transfer speed: up to 65Gbps.
- 【Expandable Storage】This Workstation equipped with 32GB DDR5 + 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD. This SSD slot compatible with RAID0 and RAID1, supports U.2 SSD. U.2 enterprise-grade solid-state drives can easily achieve larger capacities, reaching 7.68 TB/15.36 TB or more on the same four PCIe channels. With two more M.2 NVMe SSD Slots(compatible with M.2 2280 SSD/enterprise class 22110 SSD/RAID0/RAID1), you can store movies, videos, photos, important files easily. What’s more, it also comes with 1x standard PCIex16 slot(PCIe4.0x8 compatible|128GT/s), you could also expand the graphics card -- RTX 3050(TESTED).
- 【Package contents】 1x MS-01 MiniWorkStation, 1x U.2- M.2 Conversion Adapter, 1x Power Adapter, 1x Power Cord, 1x SSD Heat Sink, 1x HDMI Cable, 1x Screw Set, 1x Manual.
What MS-01 owners have reported
| Report | Configuration and symptom | What it does—and does not—show |
|---|---|---|
| Proxmox forum discussion, begun September 9, 2024 | Participants discussed Intel microcode and stability reports involving some 13th-generation MS-01 systems with 96 GB RAM. BIOS 1.24 was described as beta or request-only at the time; a later comment said a release had appeared. | Historical user reports, not an official Minisforum advisory or proof that BIOS 1.24 fixes every affected system. Verify current firmware status with Minisforum for your exact model. |
| MS-01 owner discussion, 2024 | One owner described weekly hangs on an i9-13900H with Proxmox 8.2.4 and kernel 6.8.8-2. Another said BIOS 1.24 had resolved similar freezes on their system; the original poster said they needed more time to confirm. | Anecdotal reports from particular systems; they do not establish a universal BIOS fix. |
| Proxmox Reddit report, January 2026 | One i9-12900H MS-01 running Proxmox 9.0.3 reportedly ran on kernel 6.14.8-2, then rebooted with CPU watchdog hard-lockup messages after an upgrade to 6.17.4-2. The poster said three other MS-01 nodes updated without the issue. | A kernel-version correlation on one system, not a confirmed general kernel regression. |
| Proxmox forum report, May 25, 2025 | One owner reported an MCE and hard hangs during larger VM migrations or ZFS replication, despite BIOS 1.26, Intel microcode, and multiple clean Memtest86 passes. A reply suggested checking temperatures. | Neither a clean memory test nor the temperature suggestion identifies the cause. The report does not establish that RAM, cooling, or another component was responsible. |
A separate 2024 Reddit result titled “Kernel panic on my almost new Minisforum MS-01” is based on a search-result excerpt, so it is not enough to draw additional conclusions.
What to record before troubleshooting
Collect the information while the host is still available, then save logs from the previous boot after it recovers. A fully frozen machine may not flush its final log messages, so the last recorded line may not show what triggered the stall.
Rank #2
MINISFORUM MS-01 Mini Workstation Core i5-12600H Barebone Version Mini PC, HDMI + 2xUSB4 8K Display, 2x10G SFP+ Port, 2x2.5G LAN Port, Support M.2 2280/22110/U.2 SSD/RTX 3050 Graphics Cards
- 【Excellent Performance】The MINISFORUM MS-01 Mini Workstation is equipped with Intel Core i5-12600H(12 cores/16 threads/up to 4.5 GHz) that uses a hybrid architecture. It adopts "7nm SuperFin" with improved process, featuring the built-in Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Graphics frequency 1.4 GHz) with Xe architecture that makes a difference, it is designed for next-generation efficient high-performance gaming and widely used in games, 3D rendering, video editing and teleworking.
- 【USB4 8K@30Hz Video Output】 This i5 Mini PC is Equipped with 1x HDMI (4K@60Hz) and 2x USB4 (8K@30Hz/ 4K@144Hz) Outputs, you can connect ultra HD screens to 3 displays at the same time. Increase work efficiency by expanding multiple workspaces. It is used in fields that require high-performance computing and graphics processing, including digital signage and securities trading, as well as work that uses CAD, such as engineering design, scientific calculations, animation production, and post-production for movies and television. These are typically used by individual users or experts in their field.
- 【Super Fast Network Speed】The MS-01 workstation comes with two 10G SFP+ ports, each supporting a 10 Gbps transfer rate and link aggregation, which is ideal for users demanding ultra-fast wired network connections to high-speed LANs, network storage devices, servers etc. It also includes two 2.5G RJ45 ports. It’s suitable for connecting to high-speed home and office networks and other scenarios requiring rapid network transfers. Furthermore, it is equipped with 2xUSB4 and supports 20G Thunderbolt Ethernet. Total transfer speed: up to 65Gbps.
- 【Expandable Storage】This Workstation equipped with two DDR5-5200 slots + M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD slot. This SSD slot compatible with RAID0 and RAID1, supports U.2 SSD. U.2 enterprise-grade solid-state drives can easily achieve larger capacities, reaching 7.68 TB/15.36 TB or more on the same four PCIe channels. With two more M.2 NVMe SSD Slots(compatible with M.2 2280 SSD/enterprise class 22110 SSD/RAID0/RAID1), you can store movies, videos, photos, important files easily. What’s more, it also comes with 1x standard PCIex16 slot(PCIe4.0x8 compatible|128GT/s), you could also expand the graphics card -- RTX 3050(TESTED).
- 【Package contents】 1xMS-01 MiniWorkStation, 1x U.2- M.2 Conversion Adapter, 1x Power Adapter, 1x Power Cord, 1x SSD Heat Sink, 1x HDMI Cable, 1x Screw Set, 1x Manual.
- Logs: Save the complete watchdog or panic message and surrounding kernel log. After a reboot, retrieve the prior boot with
journalctl -k -b -1; also save relevant current-boot kernel messages. - Platform and software: Record the exact MS-01 CPU model, BIOS version, Proxmox version, running kernel, and Intel microcode revision.
- Hardware and configuration: Note RAM capacity, module part numbers and configured speed, storage devices, and any passthrough or unusual peripheral configuration.
- Timeline and conditions: Record when the problem began and any recent kernel, BIOS, microcode, memory, storage, network, passthrough, or workload changes. Note whether it happens at idle or during a specific activity, such as migration or replication.
If the machine locks so completely that logs are missing, remote logging or serial/console capture can help only if you already have an appropriate setup. Do not assume a frozen host can save the final evidence locally.
Use the failure pattern to guide the next test
Compare five details before deciding what to change: when the issue began, the exact failure signature, the workload or trigger, whether one or several similar nodes are affected, and whether a controlled configuration change alters the outcome. Each narrows the investigation; none alone proves a cause.
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Rank #3
MINISFORUM MS-01 Mini Workstation Core i9-13900H Barebone Version Mini PC, HDMI + 2xUSB4 8K Display, 2x10G SFP+ Port, 2x2.5G LAN Port, Support M.2 2280/22110/U.2 SSD/RTX 3050 Graphics Cards
- 【Excellent Performance】The MINISFORUM MS-01 Mini Workstation is equipped with Intel Core i9-13900H(14 cores/20 threads/up to 5.4 GHz) that uses a hybrid architecture. It adopts "7nm SuperFin" with improved process, featuring the built-in Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Graphics frequency 1.5 GHz) with Xe architecture that makes a difference, it is designed for next-generation efficient high-performance gaming and widely used in games, 3D rendering, video editing and teleworking.
- 【USB4 8K@30Hz Video Output】 This i9 Mini PC is Equipped with 1x HDMI (4K@60Hz) and 2x USB4 (8K@30Hz/ 4K@144Hz) Outputs, you can connect ultra HD screens to 3 displays at the same time. Increase work efficiency by expanding multiple workspaces. It is used in fields that require high-performance computing and graphics processing, including digital signage and securities trading, as well as work that uses CAD, such as engineering design, scientific calculations, animation production, and post-production for movies and television. These are typically used by individual users or experts in their field.
- 【Super Fast Network Speed】The MS-01 workstation comes with two 10G SFP+ ports, each supporting a 10 Gbps transfer rate and link aggregation, which is ideal for users demanding ultra-fast wired network connections to high-speed LANs, network storage devices, servers etc. It also includes two 2.5G RJ45 ports. It’s suitable for connecting to high-speed home and office networks and other scenarios requiring rapid network transfers. Furthermore, it is equipped with 2xUSB4 and supports 20G Thunderbolt Ethernet. Total transfer speed: up to 65Gbps.
- 【Expandable Storage】This Workstation equipped with two DDR5-5200 slots + M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD slot. This SSD slot compatible with RAID0 and RAID1, supports U.2 SSD. U.2 enterprise-grade solid-state drives can easily achieve larger capacities, reaching 7.68 TB/15.36 TB or more on the same four PCIe channels. With two more M.2 NVMe SSD Slots(compatible with M.2 2280 SSD/enterprise class 22110 SSD/RAID0/RAID1), you can store movies, videos, photos, important files easily. What’s more, it also comes with 1x standard PCIex16 slot(PCIe4.0x8 compatible|128GT/s), you could also expand the graphics card -- RTX 3050(TESTED).
- 【Package contents】 1xMS-01 MiniWorkStation, 1x U.2- M.2 Conversion Adapter, 1x Power Adapter, 1x Power Cord, 1x SSD Heat Sink, 1x HDMI Cable, 1x Screw Set, 1x Manual.
- It began after a kernel update: If an earlier kernel is still installed, a controlled boot comparison may test whether the failure tracks that version. Preserve the logs and configuration from both runs. Do not treat an arbitrary downgrade as a fix; account for kernel support and security status.
- It began after a BIOS or microcode change: Record the before-and-after versions and check current instructions from Minisforum and Proxmox for the exact MS-01 CPU and installation. Forum comments about BIOS 1.24 describe historical availability, not a current flashing procedure.
- It occurs under a particular workload or includes MCEs: Note the exact task and compare a repeatable workload where safe. The reported migration and ZFS replication hangs are a clue about when one system failed, not proof that storage activity caused it.
- It affects one of several similar nodes: A controlled comparison may help isolate differences in firmware, microcode, modules or slots, peripherals, storage, and workload. Change one variable at a time and preserve the prior configuration.
Check firmware, microcode, memory, and temperature carefully
BIOS and Intel microcode
Updating BIOS or Intel microcode is a reasonable check if the installed versions are old, but the reports do not guarantee that either update will resolve a lockup. Use current, official instructions for the exact MS-01 model and CPU, and obtain firmware from Minisforum rather than an unverified source. Confirm the current release and availability with Minisforum; the reported BIOS 1.24 status from 2024 is historical.
Memory
A clean Memtest86 result is evidence that the system passed that test under its test conditions. It does not rule out every memory-related or machine-specific problem. If symptoms or controlled comparisons point toward memory, compare modules or slots safely, one change at a time, and retain the original configuration. The cited reports do not establish a particular RAM kit as a fix.
Rank #4
MINISFORUM MS-01 Mini Workstation Intel Core i9-13900H (vPro Enterprise Support) 32GB DDR5 1TB SSD Mini PC,2x 10Gbps SFP+/2x 2.5G RJ45/2x USB4/HDMI/1x PCIe4.0x16 slot/Support 3x M.2 2280/22110/U.2 SSD
- 【Intel 13th Generation Core i9】:Mini desktop computer MS-01 S1390 is equipped with the high-end Intel 13th Core i9 13900H Processor. 14C/20T, 24MB Cache,up to 5.4GHz, Featuring integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics with maximum frequencies of 1.5GHz and 1.45GHz,it bring powerful performance and ultimate smooth experience for gaming and working.
- 【Super Fast Network Speed】2x 10Gbps SFP+ network ports, supporting link aggregation; 2x 2.5G RJ45 network ports with I226-LM and I226-V (I226-LM supports Windows Server); 2x USB4 interfaces, supporting Thunderbolt Ethernet of 20Gbps.To sum up: a total network transmission speed of up to 65Gbps. With so many high-speed interfaces, you can quickly upload and access your NAS documents.
- 【Enterprise storage】MS-01 Mini Workstation supports up to 3x M.2 NVME SSDs, including one interface that supports PCIE4.0 with a transmission speed of up to 7000MB/s, and also supports Raid0 for increased capacity and Raid1 for data safety. It is designed for business buyers which can support up to 1x U.2 NVME SSD and 2x22110 M.2 MVNE SSDs, ensuring greater capacity and stronger stability, while also meeting the storage needs of geek enthusiasts Homelabserver.
- 【Standard PCIE slot】Minisforum MS-01 is equipped with a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, allowing for the installation of high-performance external GPUs, network cards, storage controllers, and other external devices. The PCIe 4.0 x16 slot enables faster data transfer, delivering optimal performance in various applications that require high computational power and bandwidth, such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering.
- 【Rich Interfaces】3*USB3.0 type-A ports +2*USB2.0 type-A ports +1*HDMI2.0 ports(4K@60Hz) +2*USB4 40Gbps Type-C(Alt DP,8K@30Hz). Including 1xMS-01 MiniWorkStation, 1x U.2- M.2 conversion adapter, 1x power adapter, 1x power cord, 1x SSD heat sink, 1x HDMI cable, 1x mounting screw, 1x manual.
Temperature and other hardware
Temperature was suggested in one forum reply, but the discussion did not confirm overheating as the cause. If you investigate thermals, record measurements alongside the workload and failure timeline rather than treating the suggestion as a diagnosis. Component replacement or an RMA is best considered after controlled comparisons and support review point toward hardware.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to escalate
If hard lockups persist, send Proxmox or Minisforum the exact watchdog/MCE logs, surrounding kernel messages, system and firmware versions, RAM details, workload, and a concise timeline of changes. Include results from any controlled comparison. A clear record gives support a basis to distinguish a version correlation from a system-specific fault; the reports above do not establish that any particular reader needs replacement hardware.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
MINISFORUM MS-01-S1260 Mini PC,Intel Core i5-12600H,vPro Enterprise Support,32GB DDR5 1TB SSD,2x10Gbps SFP+LAN/2x2.5G RJ45/2xUSB4/HDIM/16xPCIe 4.0/M.2 NVMe SSD/U.2 NVMe SSD,Mini Computer
- 【Intel 12th Generation Core i5】:Mini desktop computer MS-01 S1260 is equipped with the high-end Intel 12th Core Core i5-12600H Processor. 12C/16T, 18MB Cache,up to 4.5GHz, Featuring integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics with maximum frequencies of 1.5GHz and 1.45GHz,it bring powerful performance and ultimate smooth experience for gaming and working.
- 【DDR5 & PCIe4.0x16】:Supports dual channel DDR5,up to 96GB .The PCIe 4.0 x16 slot allows for the installation of high-performance external GPUs, network cards, storage controllers, and other external devices.Faster data transfer, delivering optimal performance in various applications that require high computational power and bandwidth, such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering. Meanwhile,PCIe 4.0 x8 (128GT/s) and is compatible with up to RTX A2000 Mobile.
- 【Support Enterprise-class Storage】:MS-01 supports enterprise-class storage, and expands with up to three M.2 NVMe SSDs, with each slot supporting a maximum capacity of 2TB. The leftmost slot is PCIe 4.0 compatible, with a maximum transfer speed of 7000MB/s.It supports both RAID0 for increased capacity and RAID1 for enhanced data safety. Supports enterprise-class storage, allowing for expansion up to a total max storage of 24TB with a configuration of one U.2 NVMe SSD and two 22110 M.2 NVMe SSDs.MS-01 meets a wide range of capacity requirements.
- 【Compatible with Intel vPRO】:Mini PC MS-01 supports Intel vPRO technology for hardware-level protection, provides hardware-level protection and reduces security risks between virtual machines. vPRO supports hardware acceleration, such as device virtualization for GPUs and sound cards, allowing for more efficient processing of graphics and audio tasks.
- 【Ultra Fast Connectivity】:Micro PC MS-01 is equipped with two 10Gbps SFP+ Ethernet ports. The SFP+ module provides high stability and fiber-optic transmission to prevent eavesdropping and interception, ensuring network security. The 10Gbps transmission speed is 10 times that of traditional 1000Mbps Ethernet, which meets the needs of high-performance network devices. In addition, to the two SFP+ network ports, the MS-01 is equipped with two standard 2.5Gbps RJ45 network ports, which deliver twice the transfer speed of a single 2.5Gbps port for improved network performance.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
