Best Mini PC for Gaming – Top Mini PC Gaming Rigs 2023

Although many gaming PCs come in gargantuan cases decked out with water cooling systems and LED lights, sometimes a small footprint is better. And with advancements in graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs) greater performance in a tiny package is increasingly feasible. Whether you want a portable mini PC for LAN parties or simply want to save desk space, these are the best mini PC gaming rigs for 2023!

Are Mini Computers Good for Gaming?

If you want to save space and still play PC games, you’ve got two main choices: a gaming laptop or a small gaming computer. While gaming laptops are solid, often they’re still pretty large and bulky. Even though loads of slim gaming laptops provide unrivaled portability, connectivity is often lacking.

On the other hand, a tiny gaming computer usually comes with fantastic inputs and outputs. As such, a mini PC is worth buying to save desk space with a small footprint while delivering respectable frame rates and good I/O.

However, you’ll pay a premium for a tiny gaming PC. What’s more, packing a beefy GPU and CPU into a compact form factor likely won’t result in a machine capable of maxing out the latest AAA titles at 4K. But for esports titles such as CS:GO, Fortnite, and League of Legends as well as PC games from even a year or two ago, you should be able to hit medium-high on 1080p. Additionally, small-form-factor (SFF) gaming PCs can be fantastic for emulation.

What to Look for in a Small Gaming PC

When selecting an SFF gaming PC, there’s a lot to consider. You’ll want to pick out a machine with a good CPU, GPU, and decent connectivity.

CPU: While a graphics card is essential for gaming, you’ll want a CPU that can keep up and won’t throttle your GPU.

GPU: Gaming requires a strong graphics card. What GPU you’ll want depends on the games you want to play and your desired resolution as well as quality. A GPU capable of pumping out buttery-smooth graphics at 4K ultra differs from a graphics card for medium-high 1080p gaming. Dedicated graphics cards from AMD and NVIDIA are available for top-tier performance, or integrated graphics solutions deliver budget gaming performance.

RAM and Hard drive space: While you can get a barebones kit and add your own parts such as RAM and hard drives, you can also buy a mini PC that’s ready to go out-of-the-box.

Upgradeability: Because of their small stature, most SFF gaming desktops aren’t the most upgradeable. But you can usually upgrade RAM and add a hard drive or two.

Price: Mini PCs for gaming clock in at all prices, from budget options to high-end models.

Mini gaming computer considerations:

• CPU (AMD, Intel)
• GPU (dedicated GPU vs. integrated GPU, AMD vs. NVIDIA)
• RAM/HDD
• Upgrade options
• Price

Best Mini PC for Gaming Overall – Minisforum NUCXi7

The Minisforum NUCXi7 is an outstanding mini PC for gaming. It features an Intel i7-11800H CPU paired with an NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU. You can snag the NUCXi7 barebones without RAM and an SSD, or with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

Because of its 8-core, 16-thread Intel chip and NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU, the Minisforum NUCXi7 can handle most AAA video games at 4K or 1440p with high refresh rates. For instance, you can run Spider-Man: Remastered at 1440p with very high settings at nearly 90 frames per second (FPS). God of War and Cyberpunk 2077 both run at ultra on 1440p, with around 80 FPS. Titles like Witcher 3 and Doom Eternal run flawlessly with over 80 FPS on 4K ultra.

On the emulation side, you can play even newer retro games like PlayStation 2 in PCSX2, PlayStation 3 using RPCS3, and Xbox 360 in Xenia all in 4K. Thus, older games like PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, and PlayStation Portable run just fine.

You’ll find excellent connectivity including a pair of M.2 2280 SSD slot that supports PCIe 4.0 NVME drives for blazing-fast read/write speeds. The Minisforum NUCXi7 is expandable to 64GB of DDR4 RAM for superb multitasking and can house two NVME SSDs. Wi-Fi 6, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, and Bluetooth 5.2 ensure fast networking speeds and low-latency connections.

Its slim and sleek form factor resembles a laptop without a screen. There’s a stand that lets the NUCXi7 sit vertically, and unfortunately, it doesn’t lay down horizontally. As such, fitting the Minisforum NUCXi7 in a media center or TV console may be difficult. Although there’s solid connectivity including three USB 3.2 Type-A hosts, we’d like a front-facing USB-C connector. And you can’t replace the CPU or GPU, although that’s a trade-off for the thin and light form factor. Ultimately, the Minisforum NUCXi7 is the best mini PC for gaming.

Pros:

• Powerful 8-core 16-thread Intel i7-11800H processor up to 4.6GHz
• Beefy NVIDIA RTX 3070 graphics processing unit
• Excellent connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI, 1x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, 3x USB 3.2 Type-A, 1x SDXC slot, 1x 3.5mm combo headphone/microphone port
• Expansion: Up to 64GB DDR4 RAM, 2x M.2 NVME slots
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
• Runs Windows and Linux distributions (distros) like SteamOS
• Great for modern AAA gaming at 4K and 1440p with high refresh rates

Cons:

• Only stands up vertically
• Lacks front USB-C port
• Non-user-replaceable CPU and GPU

Best NUC Mini Desktop for Gaming – Intel NUC 11 Enthusiast Phantom Canyon

The Intel NUC 11 Enthusiast mini PC is one of the best mini gaming PCs with NVIDIA graphics. It’s a virtual reality (VR) capable micro PC outfitted with an i7-1165G7 CPU and NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU. Its quad-core i7 processor clocks up to 4.7GHz. On the graphics side, the Intel NUC 11 Enthusiast Phantom Canyon boasts an impressive RTX 2060. There’s 802.11ac Wi-Fi alongside dual Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports.

You’ll enjoy great connectivity, a powerful processor, and incredible graphics in a small form factor. Despite its compact chassis, the Intel NUC 11 Enthusiast Kit NUC11PHKi7C Phantom Canyon sports a smorgasbord of ports like USB 3.2 Type-A, ThunderBolt 4, HDMI, and an SDXC card reader for hooking up various peripherals. Disappointingly, the NUC 11 is pretty pricey. Additionally, it’s not the most expandable – you can’t upgrade the CPU or GPU, and it doesn’t accept a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive. Despite a few minor quibbles, the NUC 11 Enthusiast Kit NUC11PHKi7C Phantom Canyon is one of the top mini gaming PC rigs with NVIDIA RTX graphics.

Pros:

• Intel i7-1165G7 CPU
• NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU with 6GB of VRAM
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 2 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports
• VR-ready
• Excellent I/O: 1 x HDMI, 2 x ThunderBolt 4, 5 x USB Type-A, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo port, 1 x SDXC card reader, 1 x Ethernet LAN
• Linux and Windows support

Cons:

• Expensive
• No 2.5-inch drive bay, only dual M.2 Type-2280 slots

Best Midrange Mini Gaming PC – Minisforum UM690

The Minisforum UM690 is a good cheap small-form-factor (SFF) gaming computer. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, the UM690 comes with AMD Radeon 680M graphics. Its powerful AMD embedded integrated GPU can many newer AAA titles at 720p and 1080p. Spider-Man: Remastered plays just fine at over 60 FPS at low settings on 720p, Street Fighter V runs at 1080p high over 60 FPS, and Modern Warfare 2 handles 1080p 60 FPS on recommended settings.

With emulation, you can play even ROMs from challenging systems like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox or Xbox 360 at 1080p and 1440p. Older consoles such as the NES, SNES, N64, PSP, and PS1 prove no issue.

Where the Minisforum UM690 really shines is its USB4 port with 40GBps support meaning you can connect an external GPU (eGPU) for better graphical performance. Just plug in one of the best eGPUs on the market and you can pair a more powerful GPU with the UM690’s outstanding AMD Ryzen CPU.

Its Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU features eight cores, 16 threads, a base clock of 3.3GHz, and a boost clock of up to 4.9GHz. You can pick up a barebones model to add your own RAM and hard drives, or snag a UM690 with up to 64GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

Boasting two HDMI ports plus a USB4 with 8K 60Hz video output support, you can easily hook up the Minisforum UM690 to a gaming monitor, projector, or TV. There’s a USB-C 3.2 gen 2 and four USB Type-A 3.2 hosts for connecting peripherals like a gaming keyboard, gaming mouse, or controller. You’ll also enjoy Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and a 2.5 Gigabyte LAN port for solid wired and wireless networking. In the end, the Minisforum UM690 is a well-specced out machine.

Although it’s upgradeable with RAM, SSDs, and a SATA hard disk drive (HDD), getting into the machine is somewhat tricky. Additionally, we’d like a front-facing USB 3.2 Type-A port for connecting devices like keyboards, mice, and controllers. Still, with a reasonable price tag, fantastic performance, and a USB4 port for eGPU expansion, the Minisforum UM690 is the best midrange mini gaming PC on the market.

Pros:

• Reasonable price
• Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, Radeon 680M iGPU with 8 cores and 16 threads
• Excellent connectivity: 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x microphone port, 1x USB 4, 1x HDMI, 1x USB-C 3.2 gen 2, 1x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, 3x USB Type-A 3.2, 2x HDMI
• Great expansion: Supports dual-channel DDR5 RAM, M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs, 2.5 SATA HDDs
• Fantastic cooling with dual heat sink and liquid metal
• Runs many modern games on 720p and 1080p
• USB4 40GBps port with eGPU support for improved graphical performance
• Great for emulation up to PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, GameCube, Xbox, Xbox 360
• Handles Windows and Linux well
• Available with up to 64GB of RAM, 1TB SSD
• Easily upgradeable

Cons:

• Lacks USB-A port on the front
• Tricky disassembly

Best Nvidia Compact Gaming PC With NVIDIA Graphics – Zotac Magnus

With a slew of CPU and GPU pairings to pick from the Zotac Magnus One is a small gaming PC that performs incredibly well. The base model comes with an Intel i5-10400 and an Nvidia RTX 3060. You can step up to a beefy Intel i7-10700 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU. The RTX 3060 i5 variant should be able to handle 1080p and 1440p gaming, while the Zotac Magnus One RTX 3070 i7 option can tackle 4K and 1440p gameplay.

Unfortunately, the main downside is price. If you’re willing to build a PC or go with a larger tower gaming computer, you can save some money. Granted, with the Zotac Magnus One you’re getting a small desktop PC that can game at 4K and sports VR capabilities, all in a backpack-friendly form factor. With many different alternatives to pick from, the Zotac Magnus One is a superb small desktop computer.

Pros:

• Lots of options, from an i5/RTX 3060 to an i7/RTX 3070
• Great I/O
• Small but mighty
• Barebones kits or PCs with RAM/HDDs available
• VR capable

Cons:

• Expensive for the specs
• Can get loud under load

Best Value Mini Gaming PC – Beelink SER6 Pro

The Beelink SER6 Pro is an outstanding tiny gaming desktop. It packs a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 6800H chip with 8 cores and 16 threads with a boost clock up to 4.7Ghz. You can pick one up outfitted with up to 32GB of DDR5 and a 500GB PCIe NVMe SSD, or add your own RAM and hard drive.

Out-of-the-box, the Beelink SER6 Pro plays demanding AAA titles like Sider-Man: Miles Morales on 720p low, Doom Eternal at 1080p medium with over 70 FPS, and Cyberpunk 2077 on 1080p low at 50 FPS. However, you can add an eGPU with its USB 4 slot featuring full 40GBps throughput.

The onboard AMD embedded Ryzen iGPU punches well above its weight class, outperforming similar class Intel integrated GPUs. However, it’s not suitable for hardcore 4K, 1440p, or even 1080p high-refresh rate, high-quality gaming. Still, it’s an excellent pint-sized desktop on its own, and the USB4 port lets you connect an eGPU for better performance. At the end of the day, the Beelink SER6 Pro is the best value mini gaming PC on the market.

Pros:

• AMD Ryzen 7 6800H (8 cores, 16 threads, 4.7GHz boost clock)
• Up to 32GB DDR5 RAM, 500GB SSD, expandable to even more RAM and HDD space
• Fantastic AMD Ryzen embedded iGPU performance
• USB 4 with 100W power delivery and eGPU support

Cons:

• AMD Ryzen 7 isn’t great for 4K, 1440p, 1080p high-quality, high-refresh rate gaming on its own

Best Budget Mini Gaming Desktop -Geekom Mini IT11

The Geekom Mini IT11 is an outstanding value mini PC. It’s available with an Intel i5 or Intel i7 CPU and comes with Intel Xe integrated graphics. You’ll appreciate its generous port selection including a pair of USB 4 ports that provide eGPU support.

Geekom sells the Mini IT11 with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, but it’s expandable to 2TB of SSD storage space, a 2TB 2.5-inch SATA HDD, and up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. Excellent networking like Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and Gigabit Ethernet.

While the Geekom Mini IT11 lacks a dedicated GPU, its USB 4 expansion lets you connect an external GPU for improved graphical performance with hardcore gaming. But with older AAA games, less demanding titles, and emulation, its i5 or i7 coupled with Intel Xe graphics should be fine so long as you’re willing to dial back the graphics in a pinch. In our experience with the Geekom, we found its NVMe drive a bit slower than expected. Nevertheless, the Geekom Mini IT11 is a terrific budget mini gaming PC.

Pros:

• Choice of Intel i5 or i7 CPUs
• Intel Xe integrated graphics iGPU
• Available with up to 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD, expandable to 4TB and 64GB of RAM
• Good price-to-performance ratio
• Can run most modern AAA titles at 1080p on medium-high
• USB 4 with eGPU support

Cons:

• Not the strongest iGPU
• Middling NVMe SSD performance

Best Small Desktop for Gaming With an NVIDIA Dedicated GPU – Googdico G1

The Goodico G1 ushers in an absolutely insane performance. Onboard, there’s an NVIDIA GTX 1650 dedicated GPU mated to either an Intel i5-9300H CPU or an i9-8950H. Outfitting the Goodico G1 with an i9 and GTX 1650 yields an octa-core gaming powerhouse. With unrivaled performance for the size and an upgradeable CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD, as well as Wi-Fi, the tiny yet portable Goodtico is a beast of a computer. Whereas most mini PCs aren’t upgradeable, the Kingdel A3 lets you swap out its GPU and CPU.

However, for GPU upgrades, you’re limited to half-height graphics cards which somewhat limits an upgrade path. What’s more, the CPU turbo is limited to 3.2GHz out-of-the-box. While its 8-core CPU can boost to 4.6Ghz, the stock cooler can’t handle that load and will reach high 100-degrees Celcius temperatures and thermal throttle. Though it’s unfortunate that the Goodico can’t reach its full potential, the G1 is nevertheless an awesome tiny PC.

Pros:

• Choice of Intel i5-9300H CPU or i9-8950H CPUs
• GTX 1650 GPU
• Upgradeable RAM, hard drive, Wi-Fi, CPU, and GPU

Cons:

• Stock cooler can’t handle theoretical highest boost of 4.6GHz
• Only upgrade path is half-height cards

Best Cheap NVIDIA-powered Mini Gaming Desktop – Kingdel NC610

The Kingdel NC610 is a customizable SFF gaming PC that comes in several different flavors. Each version features an NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU. You’ve got a choice of three CPUs in the i3-9100F, i7-9700F, and i5-9400F. You can snag a barebones NC610 or outfit it with several different RAM and hard drive configurations. The GTX 1650 is a solid graphics card, especially for a tiny gaming computer. While 4K video output works for watching movies, you won’t be able to sustain high-frame-rate gaming at 4K. And there’s no ray tracing support. Nevertheless, the Kingdel NC610 is a good value SFF gaming computer that delivers NVIDIA graphics without breaking the bank.

Pros:

• Choice of i3-9100F, i7-9700F, and i5-9400F
• NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU
• Lots of configuration options including barebones kits all the way up to 64GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD
• Runs Windows and Linux well

Cons:

• Can’t game in 4K over 30 FPS
• No ray tracing
• CPU and GPU aren’t upgradeable

Best Mini PC for Gaming: FAQs

Best Mini PC Gaming Rigs – Final Thoughts

With advancements in PC technology, tiny form factor PCs are capable of pumping out incredible graphics. You can even find VR-ready mini desktop computers smaller than a shoebox. Of course, you can expect to pay more for a gaming-capable compact PC than you would a comparatively-specced out larger desktop.

Still, there are plenty of options for all budgets. The Minisforum NUCXi7, Intel NUC 11 Enthusiast Kit, Zotac Magnus One, Goodtico G1, and Kingdel NC610 all offer Intel and Nvidia pairings with tons of different CPU and GPU combinations. Minisforum, Beelink, and Geekom offer great mini PCs with USB4 for eGPU connectivity. And you’ll even find a few mini gaming PCs capable of handling desktop-class GPUs for best-in-class performance.

Your turn: which tiny gaming PC desktops do you recommend?