Best Mini PC for Gaming in 2023: 7 mini PCs reviewed

Mini PCs are also known as small form-factor or SFF PCs. They have gained popularity for their compact size and versatility. Miniature is modern these days and this has trickled into gaming as well. On an Ironic note, game sizes are getting larger :(.

Here’s an interesting fact. According to a Market research done by SPER Market Research, the Global Mini PCs Market is estimated to reach USD 33.11 billion by 2032 with a CAGR of 5.26%. 

In this article we are going to look at the 7 best mini pc for gaming. 

Quick List: 7 Best Mini Gaming PCs

This is the TLDR; version 🙂

• Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Beast Canyon) – Best Premium Pick
• Minisforum Neptune HX99G – Best Overall Pick
• Kamrui AM08 Mini PC – Best Value Pick
• GMKtec Nucbox K1 Mini Gaming PC – Best Budget
• Beelink Mini PC SER5 MAX – Best List & Casual Gaming Pick
• Acemagician AM06 Pro – Best affordable Pick
• Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC – Best Cheap Retro Emulation Pick

Are mini PCs powerful enough for gaming? A million dollar Question

Gaming is a different beast all together. A powerful GPU and ample RAM are more prominent in gaming performance than a powerful CPU. That being said, with the technology getting better, compact size pcs are now providing enough power even for gaming needs as well. 

Simple Answer : it depends on the type of games you play.

For games like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, Vampire Hunters, CS GO, LOL, Valorant and other esports yes Mini PCs are powerful enough. 

For AAA games like Witcher 3, Cyberpunk, Red Dead Redemption II etc.. , if you are comfortable with medium to high settings then yes. If you want to run even these at ultra max settings , 4k and 1440p and above then not powerful enough. You might have to look at a mini tower rather than mini pc.

7 Best Mini PC for Gaming : Short Reviews

Intel NUC 11 Extreme Mini PC – Best Premium Pick

The intel NUC 11 Extreme also known as beast canyon is the largest amongst all of the mini gaminig pcs listed. But it still comes under the sff size. It is the most powerful on our list and most expensive as well :).

With its 11th generation Intel Core i9-11900KB processor, it can tackle demanding tasks with ease. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB GDDR6 graphics card is more than enough to handle most heavy games without breaking a sweat.

This mini pc comes with an upgraded 64GB DDR4 RAM and 2TB M.2 SSD. This means round the clock gaming performance without having to worry about removing one game just because you wanted another.

The sleek black chassis with RGB lighting adds a touch of style. The highlight which is the Skull outline that lights up as you start the machine is a delight. This of-course is subjective but I found it super impressive to look at.

Pro tip : If You have a full sized graphics card and SSD lying around, go for the NUC 11 barebones kit. You will save heavily on the cost.

Minisforum Neptune HX99G – Best Overall Pick

The the MINISFORUM HX99G Mini PC is what you want if you are looking for some serious power from a SFF pc of this size. This is one of the best mini pc for gaming available in the market and is over our overall pick.

The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor a powerhouse. With 8 cores, 16 threads it can handle heavy computing tasks smoothly and better for multitasking.

The on board AMD Radeon RX 6600M Discrete Graphics is a game-changer. Featuring the ground-breaking AMD RDNA 2 architecture powering the new generation of AMD graphics, the AMD Radeon RX 6600M allows you to handle any game (even AAA) smoothly at high settings in 1080p. Infact the performance is similar to rtx 3060 for 1080p gaming.

MINISFORUM Neptune HX99G comes in a slim and beautifully designed case. In addition to the design, it has impressive cooling considering the small form factor. It runs at a low noise even under heavy load despite of having dual fans and 7 heat pipes for cooling.

Other Alternative : Sinbun Mini Gaming PC

KAMRUI AM08PRO Mini PC – Best Value Pick

In addition to gaming , KAMRUI Ryzen AM08Pro Mini PC is a multi-purpose mini computer is perfect for a variety of solutions such as education, home office, media center, HTPC etc.

It comes with two HDMI 2.0 and one Type-C ports that are enough to drive triple monitors 4k@60, which is perfect for multitasking, saving time and improving your work efficiency.

The presence of 3 modes: Silent, auto and performance is a good addition which allows you to comfortable switch depending on the load. It’s a good feature which allows you to make the best use of the this pc if you are not into overclocking.

The small PC features a unique vertical design and stunning RGB lighting effects, saving space and running cool. With the latest WiFi 6 (802.11ax, speed upgrade to 9.6Gbps), you can take your mini computer anywhere .

If you’re looking for a mini PC that can handle medium-range games and various needs, KAMRUI Ryzen Mini PC Gaming is a great option. However, it may not be suitable for high-end gaming.

GMKtec Nucbox K1 Mini Gaming PC – Best Budget

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Specifications

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
• GPU: AMD Radeon 680M
• RAM: 32GB DDR 5
• Storage: 1 TB SSD
• Recommended PSU: 750W
• Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4a / 2x HDMI 2.1
• Dimensions: 4.4 x 1.7 x 4.84 inches

This mini PC is a great choice for gamers who want a compact and powerful gaming setup. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor and 32GB DDR5 RAM make it fast and responsive, and the 1TB PCIe M.2 2280 NVMe solid-state drive provides plenty of storage space.

The multiple connections make it easy to connect to other devices and enhance your workspace. However, the license authentication may fail at first, and the mouse may lag occasionally. The price may also be higher than other mini PCs, but the performance makes it worth it.

Beelink Mini PC SER5 MAX – Best List & Casual Gaming Pick

The Beelink SER5 MAX Mini PC delivers impressive performance for its size, thanks to its powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and fast DDR4 RAM and SSD. It’s capable of handling a wide range of tasks, including gaming, video editing, and more. The mini PC also supports up to 4K triple displays, making it an excellent choice for productivity.

One potential downside of the Beelink SER5 MAX Mini PC is its limited storage capacity, although you can expand it with a 2.5-inch HDD/SSD. Additionally, while the mini PC is capable of light gaming, it struggles with the latest AAA titles. Finally, the mini PC may run hot during extended use, although the cooling system is effective.

Acemagician AM06 Pro – Best affordable mini gaming pc

The Mini PC is also equipped with automatic power-on, RTC wake-up, and wake-on-LAN features, as well as WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity for a stable running experience. The VESA bracket provided with the Mini PC allows for easy mounting on the wall or on a monitor, freeing up even more space on your desk.

In terms of ports, the Mini PC features 1 HDMI port, 1 Type-C port, 1 DP port, 2 1G RJ45 ports, 1 1G RJ45 port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, and 1 audio-in/out jack, making it easy to connect all of your peripherals.

Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC – Best Cheap Retro Emulation Mini Gaming PC

The Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC is a powerful and portable device for its price. Under the hood is a 12th gen Alder Lake Intel N100 which is 25% faster than N95 processors. Combined with a 750 MHz Intel UHD Graphics 24EUs this mini palm sized gaming pccan handle a variety of tasks, including gaming, streaming, content editing etc.

The small size makes it easy to carry around, and the dual HDMI2.0 ports allow for dual monitor setup, which is great for multitasking. The empty expansion bay also allows for easy upgrading and customization.

One downside of the Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC is its limited storage capacity, although this can be expanded with an additional hard drive. While it can handle gaming, it may not be suitable for high-end gaming due to the lack of a good graphics card.

Ironically this makes it a perfect choice for running emulation and other retro games. With Batocera, Lukka, Retropie or other such linux distros installed, the Beelink S12 Mini Pro makes emulation gaming all the more fun.

Guide to Buying Mini pc for gaming

When you are in the market to purchase a compact gaming pc, you’ll need to consider some additional factors apart from the usual. Here are somethings your should ask yourself first ?

Should You Buy a Bare-Bones or Fully Configured Mini PC?

If you have an engineering knack and like to build things yourself, opt for a bare-bones PC. You will get the satisfaction of building your own version of a great mini PC . 

If you simply want a small gaming pc that works out of the box and don’t want to get into the nitty gritty of building a pc yourself,  then a fully configured mini pc is for you. 

Worry not, some of the options we have presented come with a barebones kit as well. Specifically, the Intel NUC barebones kit.

What games are you looking to play ?

This is a key question to ask yourself. From retro games to Minecraft to Esports to heavy duty AAA games, take your favourite pick/picks. If you want it all , at highest of the settings then a normal gaming pc might be your best pick. Otherwise these days there are enough powerful mini pc’s to cater to even AAA games if you can do with medium to high settings in some games.

Size of the Small Form Factor 

What is the size of the PC Cabinet you have in mind. A compact pc comes in various form factors : from downright small to a thin mini tower to a Lian Li sized PC.

How to Choose the a mini gaming pc

Make sure you are clear on the above 3 questions and any other minor use cases defined.  Here’s what you should then look for in order to get the best mini pc for gaming.

Configuration

Configuration or Specs as we call it is the first thing that everyone looks. Consider the Processor, memory and storage here. Many mini pc’s have multiple config options. 

Processor and Graphics card form the core of any pc. GPU directly affects gaming performance

As far as Ram is concerned look for a minimum of 8gb ram. For modern gaming 16gb and 32gb should be on your mind. Having more ram ensures your smaller gaming pc handles power hungry tasks as well. Considering the size of your mini desktop pc, a laptop Ram might be needed.

SSDs are a norm these days as they are better performing than typical HDD. Once again for a small size mini pc, you might have to get a M.2 SSD rather than a typical 2.5″ SSD. An M.2 SSD is the size of a laptop Ram :). 

Ports

Bare minimum you need a HDMI display port, USB for Keyboard and gaming mouse plus couple of additional ports for other peripheral items like external HDD or Mic etc. The more the merrier runs true for ports.

Price

Of course everyone has a budget. And it might happen that given your budget you might get a better pc which is a tad bigger but still is a small desktop pc. Because of the size of the components and tech involved, powerful mini pc’s tend to be on the costlier side.

FAQ About Mini PCs for Gaming

Here are some commonly asked questions about mini pc’s. If you think there is a question you would like to answer contact us with your question right away.

Do mini gaming PCs overheat?

Typically Yes, Mini gaming PCs can overheat. But!!! it also depends on their components, cooling systems. Also if pushed to the limits from either overclocking, running more demanding games / softwares than possible , overheating will happen.

Is a mini PC as good as a normal PC?

Yes, a mini PC is as good as a normal PC. Again, but a full blown High end Gaming PC will kick the balls out of any of the best mini pcs for gaming.