The 6 Best Mini Gaming PCs
Updated by · How we research
Six mini gaming PCs compared, from budget boxes with built-in graphics to tiny towers with a real graphics card. The Minisforum G1 Pro is our top pick. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Most mini PCs sold for gaming have no graphics card at all. Their graphics are built into the processor, which copes with online games and older hits at modest settings but not big new releases at high detail. Only a few small boxes fit a real card. This list covers both kinds, for living rooms, small desks and dorm rooms.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Minisforum G1 Pro leads this list because it fits a desktop graphics card and its own power supply into a slim tower, and it costs about half as much as the Asus ROG NUC 16. That price gap matters more than ever: memory shortages have pushed some small PCs, like the GMKtec EVO-X3, far above what they cost a year ago.
Every machine from the old version is gone. Most were 2019 and 2020 builds you can't buy anymore, and two weren't gaming PCs at all: the HP EliteDesk 705 G4 is an office desktop and the Nvidia Shield is a streaming box. Intel stopped making its own mini PCs in 2023 and handed the line to Asus, which is why the Intel Hades Canyon is gone and the Asus ROG NUC 16 is here.
The G1 Pro had two full reviews to lean on, from Tom's Guide and PC Gamer, and the EVO-X3's chip had a Notebookcheck lab review in another maker's box; for the rest, we read the makers' spec sheets and looked up each brand in the CPSC recall database. If you only play online games, the GMKtec K12 or the Acemagic Retro X3 saves a lot of money.
July 10, 2020:
Compact gaming computers are a particularly niche category, and many users prefer to build their own small form factor desktops, but there's certainly no shame in buying a pre-built PC. The Computer Upgrade King Continuum comes from a company that specializes in just that and it's full of promising hardware that can make any game look great. Similarly powerful is the MSI Meg Trident X, and both of these high-end models also come with a keyboard and mouse. The MITXPC Ray Tracing is another impressive collection of high-end components, although none of these three are quite as small as most others, because it's just about impossible to fit such hot and bulky equipment into anything more compact.
To really get down there in size, a PC has to make at least a few compromises in terms of power. The Zotac Magnus makes the fewest such concessions, although its lack of storage and RAM mean it's just a bit more work to get up and running than many others. The Intel Hades Canyon is an interesting option because, while it's not exactly recent, it uses a specially designed APU that combines an Intel CPU with a reasonably fast AMD GPU. The Venoen Micro offers just a bit more firepower thanks to GeForce GTX 1650, which is the smallest and least demanding of Nvidia's latest GPU lineup. The HP EliteDesk 705 G4, on the other hand, is less expensive than many others, but its Vega 11 graphics chipset leaves a bit to be desired at high resolution in many games.
Then there's the Nvidia Shield, which comes in standard and Pro models and is somewhat of a crossover between a PC and a console. Its ability to stream a huge amount of games using the GeForce Now! platform and its low price combine to make it a good choice for those who don't want to spend a bunch of money and who don't have a ton of space.
May 21, 2019:
The benefit of desktop PCs versus laptops is that their size and energy consumption allow for better mitigation of heat, which is the mortal enemy of high-performance electronics. With that in mind, there are a handful of compact gaming computers on the market, and in the last year or so, we've seen an increase in design quality that's led to more reliable miniature gaming PCs.
First of all, if you don't need something extremely small, check out SkyTech's Legacy Mini line. It comes in three versions that feature GTX 1660 Ti, RTX 2060, and RTX 2070 graphics chipsets. The 2070 is our favorite card overall and the 1660 Ti one of the best budget-friendly ones, and depending on your budget, one of SkyTech's boxes will certainly provide the performance you need. Alternately, if you demand the best, consider MITXPC's high-end build. They're a custom PC builder and in this case they've pulled out all the stops by using top-of-the-line parts at every turn. You'd be hard-pressed to find a computer of any size that outperforms it. The MSI Trident is another mid-size option that's slimmer than most others, yet it's also wider and deeper, as it utilizes a mini-ITX motherboard instead of the microATX used by SkyTech.
The HP Omen X isn't exactly tiny, either, but it is a compact and specialized unit that's meant to be strapped to your back while you explore virtual reality games. It's a very interesting piece of equipment, though it is pretty pricey, and the matching backpack is actually sold separately. The Lenovo Legion is one of the most portable thanks to its reliable top-mounted handle, though its graphics performance leaves a bit to be desired. The Zotac Mek is about 10x10x5 inches, and it's also blessed with an RTX 2070 graphics processor, but as there aren't a ton of user reviews, we aren't certain just how reliable it is.
But if you're looking for the ultimate in very-small-form-factor gaming performance, there are two machines you cannot ignore. The Nvidia Shield, while not a Windows machine, is one of the sleekest and easiest to use, and it comes with a top-quality controller and has access to more games than you can shake a stick at, plus, it's incredibly affordable compared to the rest. But you can't beat the Hades Canyon when it comes to straight desktop performance. It uses integrated Radeon graphics and is capable of running nearly any game at nearly any resolution. Also, comparatively speaking, it's tiny.
Special Honors
Framework Desktop Framework sells this 4.5-liter desktop direct, prebuilt or as a do-it-yourself kit. It runs AMD's Ryzen AI Max chips with up to 192 GB of memory, so it plays games well at 1080p and suits running AI models at home. It's built on a standard Mini-ITX board and power supply, so the parts can move into another case later, which few mini PCs allow. frame.work
Why Pick Such A Small Computer?
The smallest boxes here are about the size of a paperback, and the G1 Pro holds 3.8 liters, about a tenth of a typical tower.
A mini gaming PC fits where a tower won't: under a TV, beside a monitor on a small desk, or in a backpack for a trip home. The smallest boxes here are about the size of a paperback, and the G1 Pro holds 3.8 liters, about a tenth of a typical tower. PC Gamer called the G1 Pro "insanely compact," yet Minisforum fit a low-profile RTX 5060, two drive slots and a 350-watt power supply inside it.
The trade-offs are real. Small boxes cost more for the same gaming power, they have fewer ports, and most can't take a full-size graphics card later. If you have room for a tower and want to upgrade parts for years, a regular desktop is the better buy. If you'd like a small machine you can rebuild, the Framework Desktop uses a standard Mini-ITX board and power supply, so its parts can move into another case later.
How Much Game You Get: Built-In Graphics Or A Real Card
Most cheap mini PCs have no graphics card. They rely on graphics built into the processor, and the class matters a lot. AMD's Radeon 780M, found in many mid-priced boxes, runs online games such as Fortnite, Counter-Strike 2 and Genshin Impact at 1080p on low to medium settings. Older Vega-class graphics handle lighter games at low settings.
AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a different animal. Notebookcheck found its Radeon 8060S graphics comparable to a laptop RTX 4070 and smooth in current games at 1080p, and the system stayed fairly cool and quiet. The catch is price and soldered memory.
For 1440p at high detail, you need a real graphics card. Watch the wording: an "RTX 5070 Ti" in a mini PC is usually the laptop chip, which runs slower than the desktop card with the same name. Some boxes have an OCuLink port that connects an external graphics card in a dock. That works well, but the dock, card and power supply add a lot to the cost.
Heat, Noise And Upgrades
Packing a fast chip into a small box makes heat, and heat makes noise. Tom's Guide found the G1 Pro can get noticeably loud in demanding games, and PC Gamer noted it can run hot. Leave a few inches of open air around the vents, keep the box off carpet, and blow out dust now and then. Many mini PCs have a button or a setting that trades speed for quiet.
Check what you can change later. Boxes with standard memory sticks (SO-DIMM) and spare M.2 slots, such as the GMKtec K12, can grow with you. Chips like the Ryzen AI Max use soldered LPDDR5X memory, so buy the amount you'll need on day one. Use only the power adapter that came in the box, since many run 120 to 330 watts.
If you're shopping for an Intel NUC, the line now lives at Asus: Intel handed it over in 2023, and Asus makes the ROG NUC gaming models.
How we researched this
We compared 16 small gaming PCs, read the makers' spec sheets for the 6 finalists, read full reviews of the Minisforum G1 Pro from Tom's Guide and PC Gamer and a Notebookcheck lab review of another computer built on the EVO-X3's chip, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We found no independent test of the other five models.
Frequently asked questions
Can a mini PC really play games?
Yes, within limits. Boxes with built-in Radeon 780M graphics run online games at 1080p on low to medium settings. Boxes with the Ryzen AI Max chip or a real graphics card handle current games at higher detail, but they cost much more.
Can a cheap mini PC run Fortnite?
Yes, at low to medium settings. A budget box with built-in AMD graphics can run Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox. Don't expect high detail or very high frame rates for competitive play.
Can I add a graphics card to a mini PC later?
Not inside most of them. Some, like the GMKtec K12 and GMKtec EVO-X3, have an OCuLink port for an external graphics dock. You'll need the dock, a graphics card and a power supply, which add up.
What happened to the Intel NUC?
Intel stopped making NUC mini PCs in 2023 and licensed the line to Asus, which now makes and supports them, including the ROG NUC gaming models.
Is a mini gaming PC worth it over a tower?
Only if space matters. A tower gives more gaming power for the money and is easier to upgrade. A mini PC wins under a TV, on a small desk or when you move often.
