5 best mini PCs for gaming: tested and reviewed by experts

Over the previous couple of years, we have seen a surge of mini gaming PCs, most of which come from manufacturers that, particularly within the U.S., most lovers have not heard of. It is a herculean job to scroll by Amazon and discover the very best mini gaming PCs with so few evaluations and little in the best way of name recognition, however we have carried out the onerous give you the results you want.

No, we did not simply scroll Amazon. We usher in a great deal of gaming PCs every year to completely check and assessment, and that features the entire choices right here we have rounded up for the very best mini gaming PCs. No matter if you need a console-like expertise on the sofa, otherwise you’re simply attempting to avoid wasting valuable desk area, we have pushed every of those mini gaming PCs to their limits to show they’re the very best of the very best.

Wish to scale up? Now we have a round-up of the very best gaming desktops which have gone by the identical rigorous testing course of, in addition to a listing of the very best gaming laptops.

One of the best mini gaming PC

Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti

I am shocked the Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti is nearly as good as it’s. Like most mini gaming PCs, the AtomMan G7 Ti is utilizing cellular parts, but it surely’s utilizing a number of the strongest cellular parts cash should buy, together with the 24-core Intel Core i9-14900HX and Nvidia RTX 4070 with a full 140 watts devoted to the GPU.

The efficiency is off the charts. In my testing, the AtomMan G7 Ti managed to outclass full-on desktop {hardware}, and it shot previous a number of the different choices on this very listing, together with the Asus ROG NUC 970. There’s some efficiency wizardry occurring right here, permitting you to simply max-out video games like Cyberpunk 2077 with out breaking a sweat.

Efficiency is one factor, however the cause I actually love the AtomMan G7 Ti is that it would not succumb to the entire points that usually plague mini gaming PCs. It barely whispers, even underneath full load, and I by no means encountered any thermal throttling on the monstrous 24-core CPU, even when doing intense work like video encoding in Premiere Professional.

Given the efficiency, value, and dimension of the AtomMan G7 Ti, I used to be tempted it to provide it an ideal rating in my assessment. Nonetheless, the PC solely comes with two USB-A ports, and restricted port choice usually, so you will want a USB hub if you wish to plug your whole peripherals in.

Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti

One of the best mini gaming PC

One of the best worth mini gaming PC

Ayaneo Retro Mini AM01

Designed to appear to be a tiny model of an early Mac, the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM01 is as lovable as it’s nostalgic, however this mini PC goes far past appears. As our contributor Kunal Khullar wrote in his assessment, “the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM01 is extra than simply cute, it is downright intelligent.”

Intelligent is actually the very best phrase to make use of, too. The AM01 would not purpose too excessive so far as efficiency goes, counting on built-in graphics and an older AMD cellular CPU. That permits it to clock in for as little as $200 primarily based in your configuration, which is an insane value contemplating what this PC is able to.

No, you are not going to be enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 — Kunal tried and failed — however the built-in graphics are able to enjoying video games like Counter-Strike 2 and Apex Legends with out concern. Kunal even managed to get 60 frames per second (fps) out of Grand Theft Auto V on the PC with the bottom graphics setting, which may be very spectacular.

Older video games and lighter indie titles are a breeze on the AM01, however the mini PC actually shines with emulation. It is a powerhouse emulator, which is made all of the easier to drag off with the included AyaSpace app.

Ayaneo Retro Mini AM01

One of the best worth mini gaming PC

One of the best mini gaming PC with water cooling

Tecno Megamini G1

You solely want to take a look at the Tecno Megamini G1 as soon as to see that it is a distinctive PC. Plagued by RGB lighting and crossed with water-cooling tubes, the Megamini G1 is in contrast to anything in the marketplace. And, a lot to my shock, it managed to supply efficiency to match its insane look once I went to check the PC.

The customized liquid cooling loop fairly actually takes heart stage right here. Not solely is it framed in RGB lighting within the heart of the 5.6-liter chassis, it additionally results in some distinctive efficiency. Mini PCs are at all times battling warmth, and because of the struggle the Megamini G1 places up, it is capable of provide desktop-level efficiency with mobile-class parts.

That is what I discovered in my testing. In video games, the Megamini G1 was capable of principally match the efficiency of a full-size Lenovo Legion Tower 5i with similar parts, which is mighty spectacular. Not solely does the Megamini G1 ship the efficiency its specs would recommend, it vastly exceeds that mark.

You actually need to fall in love with the look to choose up the Megamini G1, although. It is a powerful mini gaming PC, little question, but it surely’s additionally costly attributable to its unique cooling answer. Fortunately, it is an costly mini PC with legs, permitting you to additional the efficiency by the included Oculink port.

Tecno Megamini G1

One of the best mini gaming PC with water cooling

Probably the most upgradable mini gaming PC

Asus ROG NUC 970

There aren’t a ton of mini gaming PCs from mainstream manufacturers, however Asus is attempting to hold that mantle ahead. It overtook the NUC model from Intel over the previous two years, and probably the most highly effective model of the NUC Asus has launched but is the ROG NUC 970.

It is costlier than the opposite choices on this listing, however in my testing, the ROG NUC 970 earns its asking value. It gives blistering efficiency in each productiveness and gaming functions. It could actually even leverage DLSS 3 because of the Nvidia RTX 4070, unlocking excessive efficiency in demanding video games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Fantasy: Wukong.

Furthermore, it is an upgradable possibility. You will not be swapping out the CPU or GPU, however Asus nonetheless provides you entry to the reminiscence and storage, permitting you to bump up the efficiency of the PC down the road. Upgrades are simple to do, too. There is a single screw holding the PC collectively, and I used to be capable of swap out the SSD within the matter of some minutes.

The primary draw back right here is the value. I really like what the ROG NUC 970 is able to, but it surely takes a backseat to PCs just like the AtomMan G7 Ti attributable to its value.

Asus ROG NUC 970

Probably the most upgradable mini gaming PC

One of the best mini gaming PC for exterior GPUs

Asus ROG Ally X

OK, the Asus ROG Ally X is not technically a mini gaming PC, however observe me right here. That is simply the very best handheld gaming PC in the marketplace attributable to its efficiency, type issue, and battery life. However for this roundup, the ROG Ally X actually earns its stripes with twin USB 4 ports.

You possibly can take one of many USB ports and hook the ROG Ally X as much as a TV or monitor, and you will have a reasonably strong gaming expertise. The true energy lies in using the second USB 4 port, although. With it, you possibly can join nearly any exterior GPU to the ROG Ally X and rework a transportable powerhouse right into a full-fledged gaming PC.

It takes a bit extra work — and positively more cash attributable to the truth that you must spend money on an exterior GPU — however the ROG Ally X offers a superb gaming expertise with this setup. You possibly can actually take this setup so far as you need, hooking up one thing as highly effective as a desktop RTX 4090. Few different mini PCs boast that stage of compatibility.

I have been utilizing the ROG Ally X on practically a every day foundation, and it is incredible throughout each a handheld and desktop expertise. It could be costly, but it surely’s well worth the cash.

Asus ROG Ally X

One of the best mini gaming PC for exterior GPUs

What to think about

Mini gaming PCs are distinctive objects in that you must steadiness uncooked energy with correct thermal administration. Right here are some things to remember when buying.

How a lot must you spend on a mini gaming PC?

Mini gaming PCs are normally costlier than full-sized desktops, and normally with decrease efficiency. Nonetheless, how a lot you spend on one actually is dependent upon how a lot energy you want. Lighter indie titles play simply fantastic on the $200 Ayaneo Retro Mini AM01, however you will want one thing just like the AtomMan G7 Ti if you wish to play Black Fantasy: Wukong maxed out.

Is a mini PC sufficient for gaming?

Mini PCs leverage laptop computer parts typically, so they are not as highly effective or upgradable as a full desktop. Nonetheless, you possibly can nonetheless get nice gaming efficiency by specializing in a mini PC with a discrete graphics card. In case your most popular mini PC solely makes use of built-in graphics, I like to recommend investing in an exterior GPU to spice up your gaming efficiency — simply double simply help for the eGPU along with your PC.

Are you able to construct a mini PC for gaming?

You possibly can definitely construct a small type issue PC for gaming — that is what I did with an RTX 4090, the truth is. Nonetheless, should you’re in search of the smallest doable PC, you can purchase a prebuilt mini gaming PC. These rigs can leverage distinctive cooling options and laptop computer parts, resulting in a a lot smaller dimension.

How we examined

I’ve examined actually lots of of PCs and parts over time, however mini PCs require a singular method. As with all PC, I method check out efficiency in quite a lot of video games and functions, port choice, software program, pricing, and design, however mini PCs throw within the wrench of warmth and noise.

Though warmth and noise are essential for any PC, they will make or break a mini PC. Evaluating a mini PC from this angle takes each an goal have a look at information by efficiency benchmarks, but additionally a subjective have a look at the general design of the PC to see if the thermal and noise trade-offs are well worth the efficiency on provide.

Why belief us

Most mini gaming PCs are reviewed by our lead reporter Jacob Roach, who additionally handles testing of full-sized desktop and PC gaming parts like graphics playing cards. Jacob has near a decade of expertise testing PC {hardware} and writing evaluations, and he is seen nearly all the things mini gaming PCs have to supply.

Jacob has the spreadsheets and benchmark settings to supply a great deal of goal information. However his expertise reviewing the most recent and nice PC gaming tech offers a perspective that information alone cannot provide. This steadiness between goal information and subjective product expertise permits us to ship a curated listing of merchandise that we whole-heartedly stand behind, not simply what’s hottest at any given second.