Pros: I installed an SSD with Windows 7 pre-loaded and then upgraded it to Windows 10. No BIOS changes or updates of any kind were required for Windows 10. It works flawlessly on the Celeron version ($110 after rebate) and I can not tell the difference between it and my i5 desktop with 3.7 Ghz CPU. Both have 4 GB Crucial RAM. It streams HD video without any stuttering and CPU core temps are very cool. It is quiet too.

All new music/photos/videos are auto loaded to a usb stick so no SD card is required.

Many games are running in fairly high settings so until I spring for the latest games, the gaming pc is relegated to sitting in the back room.

Cons: Cons:

None.

Other Thoughts: The Celeron version is all thats needed and 4 GB RAM is plenty too. RAM is the 1.35 volt type , not 1.5 volts as stated in the specs above.

Pros: For a fact: It is capable of booting from and run clean install on old 2.5 SATA HDD's - mine did like a champ after disabling EVERY option for MSI Fast boot, or fast boot Win 8 - even if you installing Win 8 or up. No need for mSata.
Performance - even on conventional old spinning HDD is phenomenal for a small thing like this - celeron now a days is way better performer than it used to be back in a days.
For a VIZIO owners - HDMI sound out is perfect with no distortion or "clicking" sound.
Over all I am very happy with the barebone - 4k video streams with no issues when using dual channel memory ( using 2 x 2gigs IS better then just one 4gig stick)
It can stream Steam with no problems at 1080p. Have not tried 4k yet

Cons: so far no cons.

Other Thoughts: Setup:
This ( Celeron) Barebone
2 X 2 gigs of Patriot ram stix - they were on sale
Old left over from my dead laptop 120Gb Hdd.

Pros: The size of this computer is insanely small. It can be hidden extremely easily behind a monitor, TV or any desk or shelf. Easy to install with only 4 screws to take apart.

Cons: Can think of any at the moment. Is working well for me.

Other Thoughts: Currently using this to make my TV smart. I was always turned off by the so call smart TV as they are slow and take forever to switch to an app, but that for another review. So my primary purpose of this machine is to surf the web, stream movies and light office work. It is fast enough for anything that I throw at it. I was originally going to get the NUC N3700, but saw this was 1/3 cheaper and had the same speed as the NUC counterpart with the N3700 CPU.

So here is my build. Not much to get as I had all parts as spares.

MSI CUBI
Patriot mSata 64GB SSD
750GB HDD 2.5"
4GB Ram 1.35v

Pros: - PERFORMANCE: After installing all updates, it can easily stream Youtube/Hulu/Netflix at 1080p and play lower-end games. Windows Experience Index of 5.9 CPU, 5.0 Aero graphics, and 6.5 gaming graphics. Great for productivity, web browsing, and HTPC usage, though gaming would largely be limited to casual 2D games.

- STORAGE: It offers an mSATA SSD slot AND a 2.5" HDD/SSD connector, which is uncommon for a miniPC in this class. Despite some reports, the Cubi seems to have no issue booting to the 2.5" drive without an mSATA installed. Just swap out the bottom with the included replacement to accommodate the larger drive.

- NETWORK: The included M.2 WiFi/Bluetooth card can be removed/replaced as desired and has antenna wires wrapping around the inside of the case. WiFi connectivity is excellent within a small house, but poor when going between floors and almost non-existent when going outside.

- EFFICIENCY: Offers above-average performance given that the entire PC is smaller than a cable/DSL modem and uses less than 40W of power, making it cheaper to run than a lightbulb. The CPU averages around 50C under basic use, but the case only becomes slightly warm with extended use.

- SUPPORT: The Cubi comes with a 2-year warranty, which is above-average for a barebones system like this. During a couple "test" phone calls, MSI technical support was very responsive (less than 3 minutes to get a real person on the phone), easy to understand (no thick accents or other communication issues), and very helpful/knowledgeable on the subject matter.

Cons: - SETUP: The setup instructions and user manual are extremely poor, focusing mostly on how to use Windows and system recovery software that's not included while leaving out the crucial instructions and specs. There's not much to setting the Cubi up, but it expects you know what you're doing and what hardware you need without any guidance. You can preview these materials as PDFs on MSI's website.

- DRIVERS: For those installing Windows, the Cubi is somewhat unstable until after downloading and installing the latest drivers and firmware. Out of the box, it cannot connect to Ethernet/WiFi/Bluetooth, has no audio, and has slow/stuttering video output. All the latest updates can be downloaded from MSI's website, which completely correct the issues after ~30 minutes of installing.

- BIOS: The Cubi may not boot with 2 RAM modules installed at first. Installing a single RAM module and updating the BIOS (downloaded from MSI's website) fixes the issue, but it should 'just work' out of the box. In addition, you need to go into the BIOS and change a 'fast boot' setting if you plan to install/use an OS other than Windows 8/8.1/10. This is a mild inconvenience for Windows XP/Vista/7 and Linux users.

- INPUT: The keyboard and mouse only work if plugged into the 2 rear USB ports. This is probably fine for most, but still awkward and confusing.

Other Thoughts: - SPECS: Newegg currently states the Cubi only supports 8GB of RAM, which is incorrect. It actually supports 2 x 8GB modules, for 16GB total. Check MSI's site for the real specs. Kingston is on MSI's official compatibility list - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239697.

OVERALL: Pretty impressive for a PC of its size and cost. Definitely not for gamers or non-DIYers, but it's a solid productivity and HTPC machine that's roughly equivalent to a lower-end laptop. Compared to Gigabyte's BRIX and Intel's NUC lines, this easily offers the better value, support, and expandability.

Pros: - Outstanding performance; boots to Windows 10 Pro in seconds, full 1080p streaming video without jitter (even while dragging the window across screens!), runs many Steam games well (e.g. Rocksmith 2014 @ 1280 x 720)

- Relatively easy to assemble. Just add RAM and mSATA

- Multi-monitor support

- Very quiet even at max fan speed

- Perfect HTPC (Connected to Sony 4K BRAVIA 75")

- Runs office productivity applications well

Cons: - Poor documentation from MSI

- Funky, laptop-style SATA connector for 2.5" SSD/HDD

- This version does not seem to support UHD (on displayport or HDMI)

Other Thoughts: I'm absolutely floored by how well this little guy performs. I initially planned to use this in a thin-client application, however, it holds it's own as a full-featured PC.

It will not boot from 2.5 HDD; use mSATA

DDR3 RAM is cheap now: 1 x CORSAIR Vengeance Performance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3L 1600 (PC3L 12800) Laptop Memory Model for <$50

With performance like this from a Celeron CPU I imagine this would be blazing fast on an i7.

Pros: Tiny
Relatively quiet
Space for an 2.5 drive
Quality case
Broadwell

Cons: Not easy to fit the bottom of the case perfectly.
Micro SD slot would be nice

Other Thoughts: Very nice system. Works really well with Xubuntu and 4.0 kernel.

Pros: Small (11 x 11 x 3 cm), two memory slots (but max is 8 GB), Intel Wi-Fi .ac/BT included, mSATA for SSD and regular laptop HDD can be used simultaniously, VESA support.

Cons: None so far

Other Thoughts: Bought together with G.SKILL 4GB memory and hybrid hdd. Also installed slightly used 32GB samsung msata ssd for Windows 8. Boots into system in a couple of seconds (after the MSI boot screen). Low noise, does not heat so much, the main purpose is HTPC, but can be used for internet/office, too. And amazingly small, 3 cm height when only ssd is used, slightly thicker (replacement bottom cover is included) when hdd is installed.

Pros: Cheap

Cons: This device is extremely picky about the brand of RAM you use. I bought standard RAM that fits the criteria (DDR3L-1600 SODIMM, 1.35v) and it would not even post. This is quality Crucial RAM, not some flaky cheap stuff. I pulled the RAM from my working Intel NUC in tried it. Same problem. I went to the MSI forums and found people having the same issue. There's a reason for memory standards, and apparently MSI doesn't care to follow them.

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Valued Customer,
Based on the symptom you reported, we suggest you checking following steps below since many reasons can cause the situation like this ,
1. Check your other major hardware’s (memory and hard drive) to ensure that they are not the cause of the issue.
2. For best result refer to our list of recommend RAMs for the unit from link here; http://www.msi.com/support/desktop/Cubi.html#support_avl
3. If you need further assistant, please feel free to contact our technical support department directly at 626.271.1004 from M to F, 6am to 6pm Pacific standard Time.

Best Regards,
MSI Review Team | usreview@msi.com