Portability is a big factor that leads many gamers to go for gaming laptops instead of traditional desktops, as laptops are easier to carry in a backpack and already include a display. However, laptops tend to be quite expensive compared to their desktop counterparts and operate on built-in batteries that don't last long. Desktop systems, on the other hand, are constantly powered through a power outlet and are generally cheaper as they don't bring a display and peripherals on the same body.
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When you try to make traditional desktop machines more portable, you get "mini" PCs. Mini PCs are generally smaller than laptops and even modern gaming consoles. With the introduction of advanced designs to limit the footprint of these systems, it's now possible to have powerful configurations that can play video games quite satisfactorily without having to go for standard-sized desktops. If you are looking for such a PC, these are the top mini-gaming PCs to buy in 2024.
Game ZXC's Picks for the Best Mini-Gaming PCs in 2024
2024 ROG G22CH DS764
This ROG G22CH DS764 is a 2024 model with the latest hardware from Intel and Nvidia. Combining one of the best high-end CPUs and the best budget GPU, the gaming PC delivers 60 fps in modern titles while being compact on the desk. It's beautiful and provides a keyboard-mouse combo to get started right away.
- Brand
- ASUS
- CPU
- Intel Core i7 14700F
- Graphics
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060 Dual
- Memory
- 16GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- Dimension
- 11.30" x 4.53" x 12.72"
- Weight
- 18.52 lbs
- Uses the latest Core i7 CPU for intensive tasks
- RTX 4060 to take care of gaming at 1080p
- Free keyboard-mouse combo
- Somewhat bigger than traditional mini PCs
- No USB-C port at the rear
The ROG G22CH creates a perfect balance between size and configuration. It gives you the power to max out modern titles at 1080p resolution without consuming too much power. This is possible through the combo of the Core i7 14700F and the RTX 4060, which are fairly power-efficient and are ready for intensive CPU/GPU tasks such as rendering, compilation, and gaming. It's just 11.3 inches tall, which helps in carrying it easily compared to the standard mid-tower cases we have today.
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It's pretty narrow as well, but Asus did a great job of fitting all the hardware inside without restricting the system to a dedicated GPU like the Asus RTX 4060 Dual GPU. The system RAM and storage are on par with modern standards, and you also get built-in Wi-Fi 6E to start downloading your favorite games quickly. To make sure every component gets sufficient power, a 600W PSU is installed inside, capable of powering some high-end GPUs too, assuming that you are upgrading to a low-profile edition to avoid any clearance issues. However, at this point, it's best to stick with the current hardware as it's ideal for 1080p gaming.
Ningmei Gaming PC Desktop
Ningmei Gaming PC Desktop uses an ITX chassis that results in a compact system, which is also easy to carry around through the dedicated handle provided at the top. Using the budget Core i5 and RTX 3050 combo, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, this PC is ready to take on your favorite games, delivering satisfactory gaming performance.
- Brand
- Ningmei
- CPU
- Intel Core i5 12400F
- Graphics
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3050
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4
- Storage
- 512GB SSD
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- Dimension
- 17.72" x 11.81" x11.41"
- Weight
- 17 lbs
- Good upgradeability despite small form factor
- Satisfactory 1080p gaming
- Easily portable through a handle on top
- Cannot fit inside a backpack
- Modern titles may struggle on ultra presets
Here is an excellent mini-PC for those who need to get the job done within $800. The Ningmei mini-Gaming PC brings a small ITX chassis to fit regular-sized components, including the RTX 3050 GPU and an ITX motherboard, so that you can upgrade to better parts in the future. Upgrading the graphics card will be much easier in this case versus on most mini-PCs listed here as the chassis here has sufficient clearance for most dual-fan GPUs.
Nonetheless, with the current configuration, it can provide satisfactory gaming performance on high to ultra settings at 1080p resolution. The Core i5 12400F will make sure the GPU reaches its full potential while staying at a much lower usage to have some more apps running in the background hassle-free. The Ningmei PC is also easy to carry around as it brings a dedicated handle on the top, which is much more convenient than using both hands to pick up the chassis.
MLOONG MINI Gaming PC
MLOONG MINI Gaming PC is a fantastic mini-gaming computer, boasting an all AMD CPU-GPU configuration to deliver a terrific gaming experience on a budget. It brings a good 32GB RAM and a 1TB storage capacity to fulfill the requirements of gamers and has a distinguished chassis to show off.
- Brand
- Mloong
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 7735H
- Graphics
- AMD Radeon RX 6600M
- Memory
- 32GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- Dimension
- 14.57" x 14.57" x 6.5"
- Weight
- 11 pounds
- Lightweight and compact design
- Big RGB fan for cooling
- Capable of playing most games on ultra settings
- Upgradability is pretty poor since it uses mobile-specific parts
- Unusual design may make portability difficult
Mloong Mini Gaming PC is one of a kind that is way different in appearance and also uses mobile-specific parts generally used in laptops. Still, this mini-PC can use the latest Zen 4-based configuration so that you can benefit from the latest DDR5 platform and max out your gaming performance via the Ryzen 7 7735H and RX 6600M GPU combo. The RX 6600M is significantly faster than the RTX 3050 and has plenty of VRAM for most titles to deliver a consistent 60 frames per second.
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The Mloong Mini Gaming PC costs almost the same as the Ninmei mini-PC but will deliver higher performance in video games. However, it won't be upgradeable since it doesn't use desktop parts, and you will be stuck to the current specification. Nonetheless, it is much more compact than the latter and weighs just 11 pounds. It also looks mesmerizing with the dino face design and gets adequate cooling through a big 140mm RGB fan from the side. With this system, you get pre-installed Windows 11, Office, Wi-Fi 6, and multiple connectivity ports.
2023 ASUS ROG G22CH-DH978
This ASUS ROG G22CH-DH978 2023 model is an incredible powerhouse for gaming and productivity. Using the Core i9 14900KF processor, it quickly gets the processing done in CPU-oriented tasks and maxes out the RTX 4070 GPU's potential in gaming. Despite being a compact system, the G22CH offers power similar to a standard high-end gaming system.
- Brand
- Asus
- CPU
- Intel Core i9 14900KF
- Graphics
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070 Dual
- Memory
- 32GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- Dimension
- 11.30" x 4.53" x 12.72"
- Weight
- 18.52 lbs
- Uses the flagship Intel processor to quickly get the job done in no time
- RTX 4070 for 1440p gaming
- 600W Gold-rated PSU
- For a price tag of nearly $2500, the GPU could have been better
- Despite having an overclockable CPU, the motherboard won't allow overclocking it
If you want the best gaming performance at 1440p resolution and the ability to play at 60 fps with ray-tracing at 1080p, look no further! The Asus ROG G22CH-DH978 is every gamer's dream for a compact yet powerful PC that can max out modern titles such as Hogwarts Legacy, Starfield, and other intensive titles on the highest graphical presets. The system uses the flagship Core i9 14900KF processor, featuring 24 cores and 32 threads, to make sure you can run multiple apps at the same time without causing any freezes. It also features an RTX 4070 for stutter-free gameplay.
It's surely a power-hungry one, but the 600W PSU will take care of its power requirements. Not only has it room for some smaller upgrades, but it is incredibly power efficient as well. The configuration is completed with a 32GB RAM kit and 1TB storage, but you will also get built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth support, and a keyboard-mouse combo to get started right away. It's surely expensive but an excellent one-time investment for anyone who wants to stay ahead of their opponents.
ACEMAGIC F2A Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Mini Gaming PC
ACEMAGIC F2A PC brings the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor to deliver power-efficient operation and excellent AI capabilities to help in productivity. It's ultra-compact and highly portable but, at the same time, delivers satisfactory gaming and productivity performance. Equipped with next-gen connectivity features, it is ahead of most mini-gaming PCs.
- Brand
- ACEMAGIC
- CPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7
- Graphics
- Intel Arc Graphics
- Memory
- 32GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Dimension
- 11.38 x 8.03 x 3.58 inches
- Weight
- 4.53 lbs
- Uses a power-efficient yet powerful Meteor-Lake CPU, featuring 16 cores and 22 threads for quick processing
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
- Incredibly compact and lightweight for easy portability
- Not upgradeable at all
- Not suitable for intensive gaming
Meteor Lake-based systems are still uncommon in the market, but the ACEMAGIC F2A is a good start to get used to the AI-specialist Core Ultra 7 155H processor. It's a highly versatile CPU that has a wide range of operating frequencies and reduces power consumption significantly when executing less intensive tasks. However, when it's about content creation, crunching numbers, or playing games, the processor can quickly jump up to 4.8GHz with the Turbo Boost technology.
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That said, the chip still won't use more than 115W and, surprisingly, this is together with the max GPU usage. The Core Ultra 7 155H has an iGPU based on the Intel ARC Alchemist architecture, which is drastically better than what is found on Intel Iris Xe-based iGPUs. It's somewhat better than the Rembrandt APUs and can deliver satisfactory performance at 1080p resolution. So, you get an ultra-compact gaming machine, which is not only highly portable and power-efficient but is also capable of gaming. On top of that, the Wi-Fi 7 adapter unlocks its potential for supporting an incredibly high bandwidth internet and the Bluetooth 5.4 gives it great stability for pairing with Bluetooth devices.
Geekplus Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast Gaming Mini PC
Geekplus Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast Gaming Mini PC is a beautiful vertical tower that supports RGB logo customizations while offering a powerful configuration, incorporating a 12th-generation Core i7 processor combined with the flagship Intel GPU to excel at productivity and gaming. It's highly stable on the desk, thanks to a dedicated stand, and it has plenty of connectivity features.
- Brand
- Geekplus
- CPU
- Intel Core i7 12700H
- Graphics
- Intel ARC A770M
- Memory
- 32GB DDR4
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- Dimension
- 9.06 x 7.09 x 2.36 inches
- Weight
- 2.59 lbs
- Incredibly lightweight
- Tons of connectivity ports
- Allows RGB logo customization
- Intel's GPU drivers still need time to compete with AMD and Nvidia
- Limited upgradeability
The Geekplus Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast PC is the lightest mini-gaming PC on the list and is also probably the lightest gaming system you will find on the market that features incredibly potent hardware. Unlike most systems, it uses an Intel CPU with an Intel GPU from the mobile lineup to achieve an ultra-compact design, which is one of the main reasons for its ultra-lightweight. Weighing just 2.59 pounds, you won't even feel it inside your backpack when you take it to LAN parties.
As for the performance, no worries! Its Intel Core i7 12700H takes care of CPU-oriented apps, while the ARC A770M will have sufficient juice for modern titles. It is the flagship Intel GPU using the Arc Alchemist architecture. Plus, it provides quite a big 16GB VRAM capacity to max out the textures, foliage, antialiasing, and other such graphical presets that need more video memory. It's powerful from the inside and beautiful from the outside, boasting an RGB logo that can be customized according to individual needs.
Things to Consider When Buying a Mini-Gaming PC
Form Factor: The primary purpose of a mini-gaming PC is to be as small as possible. While it's difficult for a potent gaming system to be compact as it generally uses a dedicated GPU, there are mini PCs equipped with powerful APUs that bring iGPUs onboard. Still, as you go up in the price range, you are most likely to see a mid-range or high-end CPU-GPU combo to deliver excellent gaming performance.
If a mini gaming PC is larger than a console, then it's not going to be easily portable. Aim for a size that is the size of a PS4 or lower. This should be while being as powerful as the console or even better, as we already have PS5 and Xbox Series X on the market. Fortunately, we do have some excellent mini-gaming PCs, which are more powerful than these consoles and are smaller in footprint.
Configuration: Look for how much RAM and storage you are getting out of the box. You should also see what generation the CPU and GPU belong to. It's quite common to see PC manufacturers equip their mini-gaming systems with an older 8th or 9th-gen Intel or 2nd/3rd-gen Ryzen CPUs, but they won't be as powerful as the current-gen 12th/13th/14th Intel and Zen 3/4-based AMD CPUs.
Similarly, if the PC uses an APU, it should be from the latest AMD Zen 3/Zen 4-based lineup. Anything older than that is a big no. While these APUs bring powerful iGPUs, it's still best to go for a configuration that uses a dedicated GPU, particularly those that have the RTX 3050 at the minimum. It will guarantee smooth gameplay at 1080p resolution. The higher you go in the price range, the better your chances will be of scoring a more powerful GPU.
Connectivity: Many Mini-gaming PCs don't use standard motherboard form factors like Mini-ITX, M-ATX, and ATX. Most of these PCs use proprietary motherboards to reduce the overall size of the PC. Hence, the number of ports for peripheral connection won't be as high as you generally find on general form-factor PCs. Still, a couple of latest-gen USB ports, including Type A and Type C, along with a LAN port and Wi-Fi adapter are highly recommended to look for when you buy a mini-gaming PC.
FAQ
Q: Do mini PCs work for gaming?
Definitely! However, it depends on what configuration you are getting. Generally, mini-PCs are mostly for office-specific and less intensive applications, but some mini-PCs come with powerful GPUs to play games with decent frame rates. We have already compiled the best mini-gaming PC list for you if you want a potent gaming system without sacrificing portability.
Q: Is a mini PC worth buying?
Depends on what you are looking for. If you want high portability and low power consumption, Mini PCs are excellent for most uses, including content creation, office work, and gaming. Still, you have to keep in mind that most mini PCs do not offer good upgradeability.
Q: Are mini PCs the future?
With the quick evolution of technology, PCs are becoming smaller and more powerful simultaneously. It is highly possible that in the near future, you could have the power of a standard desktop that can easily fit in your pocket.