Mini-PC enthusiasts who recently purchased Minisforum's powerful NAB9 model are facing a frustrating setback. The company has officially announced a recall for specific batches of the NAB9 due to a hardware defect causing significant boot and shutdown failures. This issue renders affected units unreliable or completely unusable out of the box.
The core problem, identified by Minisforum and corroborated by user reports and independent tech outlets, stems from faulty capacitors within the power delivery circuitry. These defective components prevent the system from initializing correctly when the power button is pressed. Users report symptoms including:
- Complete failure to boot: Pressing the power button yields no response – no lights, no fan spin, no display signal.
- Intermittent booting: The system might start only after numerous attempts or seemingly at random.
- Failure to shut down or restart: The system might hang during shutdown or restart processes.
Minisforum's Response & Recall Notice
In a formal Quality Notice published on their official store blog, Minisforum acknowledged the problem. They confirmed it's a manufacturing defect isolated to capacitors in the power circuit of units produced within a specific timeframe. Crucially, they state this is not a design flaw inherent to the NAB9 model itself, but a component quality issue in certain production batches.
"Minisforum has always been committed to providing high-quality products and services," the notice states. "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused. We are taking full responsibility and implementing measures to resolve it promptly for affected customers."
- Read Minisforum's Official Quality Notice Here: https://store.minisforum.com/blogs/blog/minisforum-nab9-quality-notice
Scope of the Problem and Temporary Workaround (Not a Fix)
Reports detailing the capacitor issue and its impact have surfaced across the tech community. Sites like ITHome and VideoCardz have covered the growing user complaints and Minisforum's subsequent response, highlighting the frustration of customers encountering this problem on a brand-new device.
- ITHome Coverage: https://www.ithome.com/0/868/783.htm
- VideoCardz Report: https://videocardz.com/newz/minisforum-nab9-mini-pcs-hit-with-capacitor-issue-preventing-system-boot
Some users discovered a temporary, albeit inconvenient, workaround: completely unplugging the power adapter for several minutes before replugging it in can sometimes allow the system to boot once. However, this is not a reliable solution, and the failure inevitably returns, especially after shutdown. Minisforum explicitly states that affected units require repair or replacement.
What Affected Customers Need To Do
Minisforum is offering free repair or replacement for all NAB9 units confirmed to be suffering from this specific capacitor defect. The recall process involves:
- Contact Support: Affected customers must contact Minisforum's official customer support team.
- Provide Proof: You will need to provide proof of purchase (invoice/order number) and the device's serial number (found on the bottom label). Photos or videos demonstrating the failure may also be requested.
- Return Authorization: Once eligibility is confirmed, Minisforum will provide a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number and instructions for returning the defective unit.
- Repair/Replacement: Minisforum will either repair the unit by replacing the faulty capacitors or send out a replacement NAB9 verified to be from a non-affected batch.
The affected NAB9 units were sold through various channels, including Minisforum's own store and major retailers like Amazon.
- View the NAB9 on Amazon (Check if yours is affected): https://amzn.to/4nQOkyV
Moving Forward
Minisforum assures customers that units currently in production and shipping have undergone rigorous checks, and the faulty capacitor issue has been resolved. They emphasize their commitment to quality control moving forward. For owners experiencing boot/shutdown issues with a recently purchased NAB9, contacting Minisforum support promptly is the essential next step to secure a functioning replacement or repair. This recall highlights the challenges of component sourcing and quality assurance in the competitive mini-PC market but shows Minisforum taking ownership of the problem.
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