PCs have been through a number of evolutions in terms of form factor, transforming from big, heavy, and quite ugly beige boxes that took up a lot of desk space to something no bigger than a hardback book that packs enough power to handle all but the most demanding of workloads. And when gaming PCs came along, with increased power and cooling demand, they were even bigger and bulkier.
Also: The best cheap gaming PCs you can buy
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Mini gaming PCs are now very much a thing, so your gaming rig need not be a huge, noisy box.
What is the best mini gaming PC right now?
I’ve researched the current mini PC offerings on the market, examining specs, and paying close attention to user reviews, and my top pick for the best mini gaming PC is the TOPGRO T1-Pro. This is the closest to a full-sized gamig PC that you can get, but in mini form, and on top of that it’s been built with expansion in mind.
The best mini gaming PCs of 2025
The TOPGRO T1-Pro mini gaming PC has it all. It features a 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor, a high-performance GeForce RTX 4060 mobile graphics card, 32GB of fast DDR5-5200 RAM, and 1TB of M.2 NVMe storage. There’s also Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet.
There’s loads of room for expansion, too, with the system taking up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. All this hardware needs space to breathe, and the system is equipped with fans that can go from whisper quiet when workload is low to full-on maximum cooling when needed.
Mini gaming PCs don’t get much better than this one. Yes, it commands a serious price tag, but this is a system that delivers.
TOPGRO T1-Pro tech specs: 13th Gen Core i9-13900H | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 mobile | 32GB DDR5-5200 RAM | 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe4.0 SSD | 4 x USB 3.0 and 2 x USB2.0 | Windows 11 Pro
Read More
Show Expert Take Show less
The MINISFORUM Neptune HX99G mini PC is proof that performance can be packed into a tiny package. This mini gaming PC is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, AMD Radeon RX 6600M GPU, 64GB of RAM, and a 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD–this is a system built on performance.
A lot of effort has been put into cooling this system: there are dual fans and as many as seven heat pipes (three for CPU and the remaining four for GPU), liquid metal is used as a thermal compound due to its high performance, and there are dual air outlets.
There’s also no shortage of ports, from USB-A and USB-C to 2.5 Ethernet and mic/headphone ports. Everything you need to game – and win.
MINISFORUM Neptune HX99G tech specs: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor | 64GB RAM | 1TB M.2 2280 storage | USB-A and USB-C, 2.5 Ethernet and mic/headphone ports | OS
Read More
Show Expert Take Show less
For $600, you get this mini gaming PC that has an Intel Core i9-11900H processor, Intel UHD Graphics, 32GB of DDR4, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe3.0 SSD–that’s a lot of hardware packed into a small footprint.
There’s also room for upgrades—the side panel is held in place using magnetic latches, allowing access to the RAM slots (which supports 64GB), the M.2 slow (which supports 2TB), and space for a 2.5-inch SATA SSD up to 2TB.
The system features a control dial that allows the user to choose between three different performance settings, a handy touch because this way power consumption and noise can be kept to a minimum.
ACEMAGIC i9 11900H AD03 tech specs: Intel Core i9-11900H | Intel UHD Graphics | 32GB DDR4 RAM | 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe3.0 SSD | 4 x USB 3.2 Type-A and 1x USB 3.2 Type-C | Windows 11
Read More
Show Expert Take Show less
The GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro is built around the Intel Nuc form factor – a 7.6 x 7.4 x 4.9-inch box packed with high tech components. There’s an AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H with built-in AMD Radeon 680M GPU. There’s also 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB PCIe 3.0 M.2 2280 SSD.
Multiple displays are no problem for this gaming PC, and it’s capable of support quad displays (one over HDMI and DisplayPort, and two on the USB 4 ports).
There’s also a built-in OCuLink port, a connector system that allows users to connect PCIe devices to a system using an external cable, and this would allow an external graphics card to be added to the mini gaming PC, giving it a great deal of expandability.
GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro tech specs: AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H | MD Radeon 680M GPU | 32GB DDR5 RAM | 2TB PCIe 3.0 M.2 2280 SSD | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 and 2 x USB 2.0 | Windows 11 Pro
Read More
Show Expert Take Show less
| Best mini gaming PC |
Price |
Processor |
Graphics |
RAM |
Storage |
|
TOPGRO T1-Pro |
$1,500 |
Intel Core i9-13900H |
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 mobile |
32GB DDR5-5200 |
1TB M.2 SSD |
|
MINISFORUM Neptune HX99G |
$800 |
AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX |
AMD Radeon RX 6600M |
64GB DDR5-4800 |
1TB M.2 SSD |
|
ACEMAGIC i9 11900H AD03 |
$600 |
Intel Core i9 11900H |
Intel UHD Graphics |
32GB DDR4 |
1TB M.2 SSD |
|
GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro |
$550 |
AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H |
AMD Radeon 680M |
32GB DDR5 |
2TB M.2 SSD |
|
Choose this mini gaming PC… |
If you want… |
|
TOPGRO T1-Pro |
The best of the best. This is the closest you’re going to get to a full-size desktop PC in mini PC format. |
|
MINISFORUM Neptune HX99G |
A mini gamin PC for under $1,000. |
|
ACEMAGIC i9 11900H AD03 |
A good middle-of-the-road system. And if you want more, the unique magnetic latch system makes upgrading the system a snap. |
|
GMKtec Nucbox M7 Pro |
A budget system with a twist. The built-in OCuLink port allows the use of external PCIe devices, such as a graphics card. |
In many ways, choosing a mini PC is much like a regular PC. There are all the usual performance, price, and support for all your peripherals to keep in mind. But if you are after a mini PC, then the mini part does come into play, so there is a size issue to bear in mind. The good news is that mini PCs come in a range of sizes, from systems that can fit in the palm of your hand to systems so small you could fit several of them in the palm of your hand.
- Do you need a mini gaming PC? This is the top question when choosing a mini gaming PC. Do you actually need one, or would a full-size gaming PC be more apt for you?
- Performance: Pretty standard PC consideration here. This is normally a case of more speed, more spend.
- Budget: Small doesn’t always mean cheap, but you can save money by choosing a mini PC that suits your needs.
- Upgradability: How much upgradability do you want your mini gaming PC to have?
There are a lot of mini PCs on the market from a variety of different vendors, and I’ve tested and used mini gaming PCs from all the vendors listed here, I’ve based my selections on my experience using these brands, as well as current model user reviews.
Product specs and price also come into play, but being able to draw on dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of other people’s views allows me to get a broad sense of how well-received a selected mini gaming PC is. I’ve paid particular attention to reports of performance, stability, how quiet or noisy the PC is, and weeded out many that seemed to have a poor lifespan.
What we’re left with is the best of the best, in a broad selection of categories that are applicable to mini gaming PCs.
A mini PC is a compact yet fully functional computer that offers many, if not all of, the capabilities of a desktop PC, but is packaged into a smaller form factor. Mini PCs are designed to save space and can be used for a variety of tasks, from basic computing to more demanding applications such as programming or even gaming.
A mini gaming PC takes this one step further, and is a system that’s built with gaming in mind.
People often choose to invest in a mini gaming PC for these reasons:
- Space-saving: The top benefit of going for a mini gaming PC is that it takes up significantly less space than traditional desktop PCs.
- Portable: Mini gaming PCs are lightweight and easy to move, making them ideal for users who need computing power on the go.
- Energy efficiency: Most mini gaming PCs consume significantly less power than a similarly-specced desktop system, which can lead to cost savings on electricity.
- Quiet: While a mini gaming PC isn’t going to be fanless, these systems are far quieter than a standard desktop system.
It depends on the model. Most mini gaming PCs allow for upgrades — sometimes very easy upgrades — to components like RAM and storage. There’s also a system with an OCuLink port that allows the use of an external graphics card.
On the whole however, like laptops, mini PCs are better aimed at those situations where you buy the PC with the spec that you need rather than relying on an upgrade down the line. So if you want the maximum upgradability possible, a regular desktop gaming PC might be better for you.
Other mini gaming PCs worth considering
Smartphones
Smartwatches
Other Tech Resources
ZDNET Recommends
