I'm looking for a Mini PC suitable for gaming as an alternative to consoles (since I need Windows). I don't want to spend money on one of those compact pc crap that don't have adequate cooling and thermal throttles more frequently than it snows on the Arctic. I hope I get some good suggestions.
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What should you look for when buying a mini PC?
The first thing you have to check off your list is just what configuration you need to get your job done. Are you going to use your new mini PC for browsing only? Then a cheap budget-friendly device with a decent CPU and 16GB of RAM will do the trick.
Do you want it to be able to juggle a bunch of apps and not choke on 50 browser tabs? Then a more powerful CPU and at least 32GB of RAM would be better.
Do you want to do some light gaming in your downtime? Look for a device that comes with a GPU or Occulink connectivity to hook up an external GPU instead.
Are you looking to utilize the mini PC as a home server? Your priority then should be a large SSD—2TB or more.
There are devices for each and every one of these scenarios, and they're all quite affordable. The best part is that mini PCs are... well, small, so they can be placed practically anywhere depending on your intended use and available space. They also support multiple monitors out of the box, which makes it easy to replace your old, larger desktop and you won't even need to pay for extra hubs.
Can a mini PC run modern games?
Mostly, yes. But it will ultimately depend upon the mini PC you buy and which modern games you want to play. Some high-performance mini PCs can run modern AAA games. You might not be able to run them at the highest settings though, and performance will depend heavily on the specific hardware.
If you do want to game on a mini PC, look for powerful models with dedicated discrete GPUs such as an Nvidia RTX or AMD Radeon rather than integrated graphics. Alternatively, you can opt for cloud streaming services to game on less powerful mini PCs, which bypasses the need for high-end hardware.
Can a mini PC replace a desktop computer?
For most people, the answer is "yes"! Mini PCs are definitely powerful enough to replace desktops for most users, especially if you're going to use it for work, browsing, or streaming movies. If you want something for photo and video editing, or even gaming, there are models that allow you to do that, but they'll cost a bit more. If you're into hardcore gaming, however, you're still better off with a proper gaming PC or laptop.
My budget is around $800. Would it be better to just wait until some better ones are developed?
I plan to buy mini PC from these brands and there are some models that have caught my attention. Can anyone suggest or recommend me which one should i buy?
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Beelink GTR 7 Ultra Version Ryzen 7 7840HS
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Beelink SER 7 Ryzen 7 7850HS
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Geekom XT12 Pro i9-12900H
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Geekom A7 Ryzen 7 7840HS
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Geekom IT13 i7-13700H
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Geekom IT12 i7-12650H (cheaper)
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Minisforum UM780 XTX
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Minisforum UM790 Pro
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Minisforum UM773 Lite (cheaper)
I just wanna play games like the sims, genshin, minecraft. Does anyone have experienced + or - with those PCs like in performance, noisy, heating, wifi, etc.
Hey everyone,
I'm completely new to the world of gaming PCs, and I'm looking for some advice. I've heard about mini PCs being a great option for gaming, especially for someone like me who doesn't have a lot of space and wants something relatively portable. However, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options out there and could really use some guidance.
I'm not looking to play anything with the best graphics or anything like that, just a few games here and there. Any recommendations that would be relatively cheap?
Edit: Thank you so much everyone for your input! I'll take a look at everything mentioned and make a decision on my budget
Beelink? GmkTek? Minisforum? Chuwi? Acemagic?
Anybody has a tier list on here?
which would you use for business/customers?
Is there a good mini gaming pc you guys recommend? I know it’s better investing to a regular good gaming pc but I was just wondering since I see a lot of mini pcs becoming more popular plus some of them are more affordable as well.
Hey everyone! I’m looking to buy a mini pc for gaming and need some suggestions. I don’t have much space, so I want something small but still good enough for 1080p or maybe 1440p gaming.
Edit: After going through everyone’s suggestions, I finally decided to go with the ASUS ROG 2025, it just fits my needs perfectly. For anyone else looking to buy a mini gaming PC, here’s a short list I made (with quick notes so you know which one might suit you best):
ROG NUC 2025 – Absolute beast! Great for 1080p and even 1440p gaming. If you want raw performance in a compact form, this one’s hard to beat.
MINISFORUM AI X1 Pro – Best overall for a compact gaming + AI powerhouse. Radeon 890M integrated graphics handles 1080p gaming very well, and the OCuLink port lets you add a desktop GPU down the road. Great long‑term pick.
GEEKOM AX8 Pro– Balanced performer with Ryzen 7 8745HS + Radeon 780M. Smooth 1080p gaming at medium‑high settings, solid everyday performance, and great value if the X1 Pro is too pricey.
AOOSTAR MACO– Another strong 780M option with OCuLink + Dual 2.5G LAN and support for four displays. Excellent for productivity setups and casual gaming, with room to expand later.
Beelink SER9 Pro– Best for multi‑monitor productivity and daily use. Radeon 780M is capable of esports and lighter titles at 1080p. Not the gaming king, but a well‑rounded mini PC.
GMKtec Gaming Mini PC K8 Plus – Terrific Ryzen 7 8845HS performance and modern ports (HDMI 2.1, USB4, Dual 2.5G LAN). Radeon 780M does well at 1080p gaming, and the overall package is solid if the price is right.
GMKtec Gaming PC K11 – Built for power users. Tons of ports, OCuLink support, and strong CPU performance. Perfect if you plan to expand or use external GPUs.
These are all solid options depending on your budget and needs, hope this helps anyone else who’s short on space but still wants solid gaming performance!
Does anyone mind helping me look for a good mini pic for under $400? I've been looking at a couple of products, but I am unable to tell which model/options would be the best option for gaming. Especially for rocket league or minecraft.
been lurking for a while and finally decided to ask for some help. last year i moved into a smaller apartment and my old desktop just takes up too much space. i mostly use my pc for work stuff like spreadsheets, zoom meetings and some coding, but i also play a bit of lighter games when i have time.
im thinking about picking up a mini pc in 2026 but not sure what to look at or what even counts as good these days. my rough budget is around 600 to 1000 usd. ive read some old posts but feels like things change fast.
what kind of specs should i aim for if i want it to feel snappy for everyday stuff and not choke on casual gaming? are there any processors or gpu options in mini pcs that are actually decent this year? ive seen some with integrated graphics but not sure if thats worth it or if i should try to find one with something stronger.
also curious about ports and upgradability. do most mini pcs let you add more storage or ram easily or is that something i should ask sellers about before buying? and for people who have switched from a normal desktop is there anything you wish you knew before making the jump?
thanks in advance and would love to hear what you all think or what youve been happy with. any real world experiences help a lot.
Okay so... I want to finally game on a PC, but I don't have the space or funds for a full setup. I want to make a temp setup (that's still decently powerful) with a Mini PC that'll last say 2 years from now till I can build my official setup. For reference it will not be used for any casual use other than discord. Pretty much only for gaming and the largest game I plan to run right now is heavily modded MC. I would say a budget range is preferably $800 or less for the whole setup and I'd like to have 32GB RAM. What would be my best options for a Mini PC for what i'm wanting to do? (Please try to water down any technical explanations I'm still learning PC terms and what the different specs mean.)
Looking for the best mini gaming PC out there!!! Need one ASAP
minipc #gamingpc
Good afternoon yall I am looking into getting a miniPC that is good for gaming and regular work. My budget is $600. The games I am looking at playing on this are. Miside. Stardew Valley. BloonTD6. Terraria. Marvel Rivals(If possible).
I see many people saying that affordable mini-PCs are not really good for gaming, because they'll overheat and so on. But what assumptions do they have in mind here? As to how demanding the games are?
I mean.... I don't need 60 fps photo-realistic 1440p graphics and so on, which some modern games probably have? If I play Breath of the Wild or Max Payne 3, these games have, as far as I understand, 720p graphics, and 30 fps, and they look amazing in my view.
900p would also be nice I suppose, but really, does anyone really need more than that?
Would a good mini PC costing less than 1000 dollars handle occasional gaming like that all fine, without overheating or other problems?
(Related bonus question... I've been thinking of making games myself in Unreal Engine some day, with "mid" graphics like the specs I mentioned, and without any need to open huge behemoth sofwares like Visual Studio simultaneously. I prefer to do things in simple and lightweight ways. Would a mini PC under 1000 dollars handle that as well? As long as I have the RAM required?)
Hey! Looking for a Mini PC for gaming, budget is around $800. Will be playing mostly in 1080p, but would be really nice to be able to output 4K 120HZ over HDMI (for movies and cloud gaming). What is the best option right now?
I’m in the market for the best mini PC that will have no problems with whatever games I play, or work I am doing. I’ve looked at the Apple studio M3 ultra, beelink SER9 and others. Any suggestions?