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The 5 best mini PCs for gaming in 2024

Your average gaming PC is pretty big, and even worse, you actually have to keep the area around it clear so you can get good case airflow , so you end up having to clear up a lot of space just to be able to game. That can be a problem if you live in a smaller apartment or have a smaller office space that can’t really fit a large full or even mid-sized tower. Luckily, some of the best mini PCs can also be used for gaming, and while they aren’t completely tiny, they are about a fifth or smaller of your average case.

That said, keep in mind that when you go smaller, you end up having to compromise heavily when it comes to graphical capability. That’s why we’ve done our best to find the best mini PCs for gaming and collect them below at various prices and power ranges. That way, you can find something that fits your budget range, gaming needs, and space needs.

The Best Mini PC for Gaming

• Buy the  if you want the best overall mini PC for gaming
• Buy the  if you want the best-performance mini PC for gaming
• Buy the  if you want a budget mini PC for gaming
• Buy the if you want a handheld mini PC for gaming
• Buy the if you want a Windows-capable handheld mini PC for gaming

Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast Mini PC

Best overall mini pc for gaming.

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While many might feel like the best overall mini PC for gaming might be something with a high-end GPU, we’re more interested in seeing something that manages to handle both specs and price relatively well. The Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast actually does a good job of it, packing in a lot of good specs for a mini-PC at a reasonable price. One example is the surprisingly powerful Intel Core i7-12700H, a mid-to-high-end processor that will handle most work and productivity tasks without an issue, so it’s a pretty versatile PC outside of gaming.

As for the GPU, it has an Intel Arc A770M, which is an entry-to-mid-range gaming GPU from Intel, one of their first, actually, and it’s no surprise that we’re seeing it in its own gear. In terms of performance, ideally, you’re looking at solid 1080p performance, and while you could push it to 1440p, it’s probably not a good idea, especially since it’s likely going to thermally throttle to keep it from cooking the internals of the mini PC. Even so, it’s a pretty excellent achievement for something that small.

Besides that, it has a very impressive 32GB of DDR4 RAM, more than enough to have dozens and dozens of browser tabs open and a few apps on top of that. Storage is also very respectable at 1TB, so you won’t have to necessarily rely on an external hard drive to keep all your files.

Zotac Magnus ONE

Best performance mini pc for gaming.

Of course, if you do want some higher gaming performance, then the Zotac Magnus ONE is the one to do it, although it does come at a high cost. Under the hood, you get the RTX 3070, which is a solid 1440p GPU, and will likely let you play most modern games with a few graphical compromises here and there. The only downside is that it only has 8GB of VRAM, which will likely not be enough in a few years to run the latest games. This might not be a dealbreaker if you plan to upgrade in a few years anyway.

As for processing power, you get a similar Intel Core i7-10700 that’s a solid productivity CPU and won’t bottleneck the GPU, so you don’t have to worry about that. You also get 16GB, which is fewer than the Intel NUC, unfortunately, and a bit of a shame for this price point. Even so, most folks likely won’t have issues with that amount anyway since it’s ideal for gaming and general use, even on a desktop PC. As for storage, you actually get a 512GB SSD and a 1TB HDD, which is actually an impressive amount of storage for something this small.

All that said, the Zotac Magnus ONE is very expensive, hitting $2,000 without any sort of discount, and you could absolutely buy a more powerful full-sized gaming PC with that amount of money. That said, if you value the form factor and need a smaller size, then the Zotac Magnus ONE will get you as close to possible to a high-end gaming PC.

MINISFORUM Venus Series UM773

Best budget mini pc for gaming.

While all the choices we’ve seen so far are quite expensive, this budget option might be a better fit if you need something a bit more subdued. The only downside is that you don’t really get a discrete GPU with this, but instead have to rely on the CPU for that. Luckily, you do get a relatively powerful one in the form of the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, a mid-to-high-end CPU that’s versatile and great for versatility tasks too. What’s interesting is that the integrated GPU with this CPU is an AMD Radeon 680M, which can compete with some discrete GPUs, like the GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q. You’re not going to play the newest games, and even older games will require some kind of graphical compromise, but that’s still very impressive.

Besides that, you get 16GB of the newer DDR5 RAM, so it’s faster, and it’s a great inclusion for something at this price. As for storage, you get a 512GB SSD, and that should be more than enough, especially if you stick to older games that aren’t as big, although you can grab one of these external hard drive deals to help supplement it if you feel you need it. Also, you do get a ton of USB ports and two HDMI ports, which might be a bit excessive for something this simple, but certainly very appreciated.

The most impressive thing about the MINISFORUM Venus Series UM773 is that it delivers all this for just $440 without any discount, so we’re very happy to put it on this list.

Steam Deck OLED

Best handheld mini pc for gaming.

We know that this might feel like a little bit of a cheat when it comes to mini PCs for gaming. The truth is that the Steam Deck OLED is probably one of the few devices on the planet that are accessible to the average consumer and is made specifically to be a small gaming package. While there are other handheld gaming devices that try to be more like a Windows PC (more on that in the next listing), if you want something that’s more specifically for gaming, then the Steam Deck OLED is really the way to go.

Under the hood, the new Steam Deck OLED has an AMD Zen 2 processor, which is roughly equivalent to something like a GTX 1050 or so, which is great for something in such a small package. More importantly, if you want to use it as a mini PC, then you can get the dock or even just use a simple converter cable, and you’re pretty much set. As for storage, you get the choice of either 512 or 1TB, although you can expand that even further with a MicroSD, of which there are a ton of options.

If you want to use it in handheld mode, then you’ll be very happy with the newer 7.4-inch OLED screen that runs a 1280 x 800 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. More importantly, going with the Steam Deck means that you already have a ton of compatibility with a lot of the games on Steam, so you’ll almost certainly find a game to play.

ASUS ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme)

Best windows-capable handheld mini pc for gaming.

If you like the Steam Deck OLED but need something that can run Windows, then you should go for the  ASUS ROG Ally instead since it can run a full version of Windows. That means you can run all the Windows apps you could on a normal Windows device, as well as any game launchers that Windows supports. That makes the ROG Ally a much more versatile mini PC and gaming device than the Steam Deck, although it does come with the downside that, if you want to outperform the Steam Deck, you need to run it at 30 watts, which drains the battery incredibly fast.

The other problem is that, while the Asus ROG Ally runs Windows 11, that’s not really an operating system made for handhelds, so Asus’ own Armory Crate runs on top of it to make it a more handheld experience, and it’s a bit . . . frustrating at times. Essentially, that means you’ll likely be swapping between desktop and mobile mode constantly to change settings and even launch games with their own launcher, so it can be a bit of a pain sometimes. On the other hand, if you plan to use it like a mini PC with a dock, then that’s not as much of a problem since you’ll be hooking it up to a bigger screen and, most likely, a mouse and keyboard.

There’s a lot to like about the ROG Ally, and if you want to get a better sense of which of the two handhelds to go with, check out our  Asus ROG Ally vs. Steam Deck comparison for a more detailed breakdown.

How We Chose These Mini PCs for Gaming

The most important thing about a mini PC is that it’s mini because we could go for something that prioritizes graphics, but then you get things that are much larger, like Micro-ATX cases that can fit more powerful GPUs. The truth is with current tech, you will have to compromise on graphical power if you want something smaller, although things might change in the future. We’re already seeing CPUs with integrated graphics that are almost as powerful as older discrete graphics, so who knows what we’ll see a few years down the line.

Gaming Performance

Of course, we can’t ignore gaming performance altogether, so we’ve done our best to include at least a couple of options with discrete GPUs, even though those tend to be a bit pricey. We’ve also done our best to pick systems that have powerful integrated GPUs if they don’t have a discrete one, so you can at least get some gaming done. That’s especially the case with the handheld systems, which are surprisingly powerful for their size and cost.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.

Editors' Recommendations

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Why you should buy the Razer Blade 17 gaming laptop As you can deduce from its name, the Razer Blade 17 features a 17.3-inch screen with QHD resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, which will allow you to spot even the smallest details of the best PC games. To maximize the large display, the Razer Blade 17 is equipped with the 12th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, the Nvidia GeForce RX 3070 Ti graphics card, and 16GB of RAM -- these specifications aren't as powerful as those found in some of the best gaming laptops, but they'll be more than enough for most gamers, whether you're just starting out or you've been into PC gaming for years.

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Best mini gaming PC: top compact PCs in 2024

Gaming PCs don’t have to be enormous and finding a powerful compact PC is easier than ever. We've tested the best mini gaming PCs at all price points.

Published: Jan 17, 2024

What is the best mini gaming PC? The traditional image of a gaming custom PC is some hulking behemoth of a machine, with frantically spinning fans, blazing rainbow RGB LEDs, and monstrously large graphics cards. But the  best mini gaming PCs  are compact machines that house full-scale components. Despite their size, mini PCs don’t skimp on performance and are ideal for smaller gaming desk s or if want to take it traveling.

In this guide, we’ve chosen pre-built mini gaming PCs from the likes of Origin, Corsair, and more. Check out how to build a gaming PC  if you want to choose the components and PC case  yourself.

Some exceedingly small and cheap mini gaming PCs such as those offered by Minisforum take AMD mobile CPUs, with their iGPUs that punch well above their weight and let them rip with their maximum power draw – which can be capable even at 1080p.

We suggest thinking about cooling solutions and how easy it is to upgrade the machine. There’s no point in spending money on components that are going to throttle the moment they heat up. These are the best mini gaming PCs to game in confidence and small spaces. If you want full power (and have the room), check out our full  best gaming PC s guide.

Why you can trust our advice ✔  At PCGamesN, our experts spend hours testing hardware and reviewing games and VPNs. We share honest, unbiased opinions to help you buy the best. Find out  how we test .

Best mini gaming PCs today:

• Minisforum UM773   – best for most gamers
• Origin PC Chronos V3  – best premium PC
• Intel NUC 12 Serpent Canyon   – true mini PC
• Corsair ONE i400   – stunning design
• Beelink SER6   – best budget option
• Blackview MP200 – best under $450/£350
• Asus Rog Ally   – best handheld PC

1. Minisforum UM773 Lite

Best mini PC overall for light gaming.

Minisforum Venus UM773 Lite Specs:

• Small yet mighty
• Plenty of RAM
• Reported defective WiFi cards

“Integrated graphics?” we hear you cry, and we respond with a resounding yes. The $539.99 (£495.20) Minisforum UM773’s AMD 680M sits between the integrated graphics of Valve’s Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally which as we all know by now are very capable little machines.

The 680M is allowed to perform at its best because of the inclusion of very fast DDR5 which AMD’s CPUs and iGPUs work nicely with and 32 GB of it no less. Though it is not as capable as its younger sibling the 780M, it manages to be slightly more efficient due to its lower power draw so those working with constrained power budgets will be served here.

Esports titles will run well at 1080p and emulation will be no problem at all. Older titles too will, of course, return great performance so if you’re not too fussed about the latest AAA games, you’re sure to have a great time with this seriously handy little machine, especially when paired with the  best gaming monitor  to get the most out of this mighty box.

Whilst the Minisforum Venus UM773 doesn’t offer the same portability as the Deck or Ally, it makes up for it in connectivity with a plethora of ports making this a very practical little machine.

It is also surprisingly upgradable with two SODIMM slots, a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot, and room on the bottom for a 2.5-inch hard drive. You could also connect an eGPU via the USB4 port if you wanted some extra GPU down the line as the CPU will age more gracefully than the iGPU.

2. Origin PC Chronos V3

Best premium mini gaming PC.

Origin Chronos V3 specs:

• Powerful all-rounder
• Easily upgradeable
• PCIe Gen 5.0
• Not the smallest

Well-established custom PC builders Origin have updated their CHRONOS line to use parent company Corsair’s svelte 2000D case whose vertical design makes us think that it’s some supercharged Xbox Series X with its cuboid design.

At $2,806 it isn’t the cheapest, but Origin PC has been in the business a long time for good reason so you can be sure you will be getting a quality product that won’t be giving you any headaches.

With an AMD Ryzen 7 7800 X3D and Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti, you can be sure to be playing the latest AAA games for a while, especially with more games supporting DLSS 3 frame generation introduced with the RTX 4000 series.

Being owned by Corsair, you can quite often get good deals on peripherals if you need a new monitor, keyboard, mouse, and streaming goodies. Be sure to check out our best gaming headsets if you need a sonic solution for your ears.

It’s on the cusp of being a mini PC however as it is quite large still, but is certainly smaller than your average ATX case. You can go smaller with other options but given Origin’s credentials, customer service, and flexibility, we’ve included it as our best overall pick.

3. Intel NUC 12 Serpent Canyon

Best true mini PC with dedicated graphics.

Intel NUC 12 Serpent Canyon Specs:

• Pint-sized gaming PC
• Slick console-like design
• Powerful dedicated graphics
• Intel Arc teething issues

Intel’s NUC (Next Unit of Computing) series has been around for a few years now but for the first time, they’ve updated their designs with their own Arc series of GPUs for a true-blue all-Intel system.

This is all packaged in an exceedingly handsome and small case that puts the PS5 and Xbox Series X to shame when it comes to a performance-to-size ratio as the NUC 12 Serpent Canyon is so small that we’re surprised there’s even a GPU in there. It has an air of “This is what the Xbox 720 will look like” about it which we’re quite fond of too.

The Serpent Canyon has an Intel Arc A770M with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM so you shouldn’t run into any limitations with the recent spate of resource-heavy AAA games. The Arc cards have excellent ray-tracing performance for their price point, eclipsing AMD in this regard.

Also included is a very capable i7-12700H so CPU workloads will be breezy and will keep up with the performant A770M.

Whilst the CPU and GPU aren’t upgradable, there are plenty of drive options with 2 M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots and an M.2 PCIe slot. The RAM is also user-replaceable.

Something to consider is how the Intel Arc cards have fared since release. They are leaps and bounds better than were with DX9, 10, and 11 performance seeing massive improvements but Nvidia and AMD have better legacy support for older titles. Intel’s upscaling technology XeSS isn’t as widely supported but it is being increasingly integrated by developers.

Recent AAA titles that have VRAM issues have influenced our decision to include the Serpent Canyon as the 16GB of VRAM and good DX12 performance see the NUC punching above its weight here. This is at a high cost, but we think it’s worth it given the unique design and improved performance.

4. Corsair ONE i400

The mini gaming PC with the best design.

Corsair ONE i400 Specs:

• Striking design
• Excellent performance
• Expensive for RTX 3080 PC
• Difficult to upgrade

Look at that subtle RGB lighting. The tasteful thickness of it Oh my god, it even has water cooling. It’s the Corsair ONE i400 with Intel’s latest 13th gen i7-13700KF and clearly, they are still pretty proud of themselves as they have stuck with the tried and true Corsair One case, and really, who could blame them?

It’s become something of a PC design icon since the original Corsair One debuted back in 2017, and we’ve been fans of it ever since – its predecessor was in our best gaming PC list.

The ONE i400 also has faster DDR5 RAM to help raise those 1% lows whilst gaming and chewing through the embarrassing amount of tabs we have open. The RTX 3080 is still a formidable card and most of the time you should have a great experience playing games or using GPU-accelerated programs.

It is a bit disappointing to see only the RAM and CPU see a refresh. At the asking price of $2,499.99, we think an RTX 4070 Ti would be the obvious pairing as the extra VRAM would help ease any concerns about how memory-hungry new AAA games have been as of late. The Corsair ONE i400 is also a little more awkward to work in than even some smaller PCs due to its unique design, but we think the tradeoff here is worth it if you feel confident pulling it apart and back together again.

5. Beelink SER6 Gaming Mini PC

Best budget mini gaming PC.

Beelink SER6 Specs:

• Steam Deck level of performance
• Upgradable RAM and storage
• Loud and high-pitched fan noise
• Only a little cheaper than 680M systems

AMD’s integrated graphics make another showing here with the Beelink SER6. The SER6 has an AMD 660M that is slightly less powerful than the iGPU of the Steam Deck, but the SER6 has two extra CPU cores and more power available to it so you can expect your games and general computing to feel a little snappier. To keep the Ryzen 5 6600U running sweet there is 16GB of DDR5 RAM and older and lighter titles such as Minecraft and League of Legends will hum along nicely.

You also have good options for expanding your storage and RAM with user two SODIMM slots and a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot which are user-replaceable. Similarly to the Minisforum, there is space for a 2.5” drive at the bottom of the SER6 if you want to get silly with the storage and dump all your (legally owned) ROMs for a great little emulation machine. If the included 512GB isn’t enough, be sure to check out our best SSD for gaming roundup.

An unfortunate flaw here though is the dual fan design. Because the individual fans are smaller, they are much higher pitched than a larger singular fan would be so when things heat up, it can be a little loud. It’s also only a little cheaper at $429 (£539) than a 680 M-equipped mini PC so you may want to spend an extra bit of cash for the additional CPU and CU cores.

6. Blackview MP200

Best mini PC under $300/£300

Blackview MP200 specs:

• One of the cheapest mini PCs
• Good for daily tasks
• Noisy fans during medium loads
• No dedicated graphics card

The Blackview MP200 is the ideal mini PC for those who want to spend as little as possible. Its competitive pricing makes it our top cheap option, but that price does mean limitations with performance.

Inside the MP200, the Intel Ultra-HD Graphics hinder gameplay somewhat, to the extent that you’ll need to play most in the lowest settings. It’s not impossible to play the best PC games, but you may struggle with triple AAA releases.

There are enough ports to add three displays with USB 3.2 connectivity, and the storage and RAM can both be doubled if you want to add second modules and upgrade the machine further down the line. We’d recommend the Blackview MP200 if you want one of the  cheapest Windows 11 PCs on the market, but if gaming is your priority then lack of graphics card and cooling will let you down.

Read our Blackview MP200 review .

7. Asus ROG Ally

Best portable mini gaming PC.

Asus ROG Ally specs:

• Inexpensive
• Very powerful
• Highly portable
• Armory Crate software needs improving
• Windows 11 isn’t the best portable OS

The  Asus ROG Ally  may have a display and a built-in controller but it is by all accounts, a mini gaming PC that just so happens to be extremely portable. We were mightily impressed by the $699 (£699) Ally in our review.

It’s eeked out the Steam Deck for the best portable mini gaming PC because of its extra grunt in the GPU and CPU department which lets us play games on the go at 1080P.

When plugged in at home, you can opt for the maximum power envelope that would normally rinse your battery and have a very capable little computer that you can do pretty much anything on. With the XMG connector, you can plug in one of Asus’ external GPUs without losing any performance to the limitations of USB 4 as you have full access to the PCIe lanes.

You’ll need a good  gaming keyboard  and  gaming mouse  setup to make full use of the desktop environment though, editing the Excel spreadsheet might be a little difficult with the joysticks.

Any hiccups in performance will be smoothed out by the VRR screen too so unless you have some very heavy 1% and 0.1% lows, you shouldn’t notice any dips in frame rate allowing for a smooth and consistent experience.

Unfortunately, Asus’ Armory Crate overlay paired with Windows 11 doesn’t shine a candle to Valve’s SteamOS in terms of functionality, but this will no doubt improve with time and you have the added benefit of knowing that games such as Fortnite and Roblox will work out of the box.

Read our ASUS Rog Ally review .

Are mini PCs good for gaming?

A mini PC can be a good option for gaming, but it all depends on how much performance you need – and how much you’re willing to spend. The most expensive mini PCs like the Corsair i400 are equipped with high-end CPUs and dedicated GPUs, while there are some limitations to truly mini PCs.

With less space for cooling systems, this can lead to higher temperatures and loud fan noise during intensive gaming sessions – something we found to be true with the Blackview MP200. The compact form factor may also limit upgradability compared to larger desktop counterparts, as you might get fewer expansion slots. As mini PC technology has improved, high-performance mini gaming PCs can now mostly meet the demands of modern gamers.

Cole Luke Cole Luke is a freelance writer for PCGamesN and our sister site Pocket Tactics. They have written a myriad of reviews for Radio Times’ gaming division, are currently tinkering with the Steam Deck, and continually longing to be back in 2008 playing Garry’s Mod and The Orange Box till the wee small hours. Cole has become an expert on the best handheld gaming console accessories and regularly reviews hardware for us, from the best monitors for gaming to the best budget gaming laptops.

Best small gaming PCs 2024: Mini, compact, and SFF

Optimize your gaming and maximize your space.

Best overall

Best alternative, best tiny pc, best productivity, best portable.

• The list in brief 1.   Best overall 2. Best alternative 3. Best tiny PC 4. Best productivity 5. Best portable

Having a Windows PC doesn't have to mean giving up a ton of space on your desk.

There are some options out there where you can get a quality computer for playing games or getting work done without sacrificing huge amounts of room. Mini PCs aren't all winners, but some are pretty great, and our team has done a great job examining what you need to know if you're going to go for a more bite-sized computing approach while still playing some of the best PC games available.

Obviously, some cuts are going to be required, and you shouldn't expect to play the newest games at the highest settings. Here's some great options to consider, depending on your exact budget:

The quick list

In a rush? No worries, just check out our quick list below that gives you everything you need to know about buying a mini-PC at a glance. There's a few different options available, so take a moment to consider which one will best suit your needs.

With RTX 30-series technology, the MSI MPG Trident 3 provides great performance without breaking your bank, all in a tiny, compact shell that doesn't take up too much room. If you want the best overall gaming experience on a mini-PC, this is a pint-sized winner. 

The Zotac Magnus One isn't as new as some of the other options, meaning it's best for someone who is looking to save some money while still getting decent performance with its Intel chipset. 

Best Tiny PC

This option is best for someone whose main goal is to have the tiniest computer setup available, sacrificing some performance in older games, while running newer games quite well thanks to its ARC A770 graphics card. 

Best Productivity

Maybe you don't want to play games, but instead you want a mini-PC that's great with productivity software? If so, the Geekom MiniAir 11 is just the right option, giving you a small way of easily getting your office work done. 

Best Portable

Okay, so in the strictest sense the Steam Deck isn't a desktop. It can be docked however, and you can also choose to load Windows on it, so if you're willing to squint it fits the definition of a mini-PC. It's also perfect for taking your games on the go. 

The best small gaming PCs

Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

Below, you'll find a complete breakdown with the exact positives and negatives of each option. This will provide context for the decisions made in this buying guide, and give you full context for what you'll be getting with any purchase you make. 

1. MSI MPG Trident 3

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

For the serious player that wants a smaller PC capable of tackling more recent games at higher settings, the MSI Trident 3 is by far the best option to choose from. You're getting great Intel and NVIDIA technology that can tackle graphically-intensive games like Starfield or Alan Wake 2 , and you've got some options for how you'd like to handle the storage situation.

Getting that kind of performance comes at a cost though, it's just that simple. If you want a top-end NVME SSD for ultra-fast load times, then you can expect this mini-PC to run you around $1600, with some fluctuation depending on available sales. If you've got that kind of money and want the best gaming performance? It's worth it. If not, you should look at another model. 

• ^ Back to the top

2. Zotac Magnus One

Maybe you still want to play some of the newest PC games, but you don't feel like spending a huge amount of money, and you're alright with turning a couple of settings down here or there? In that case, the Zotac Magnus One is going to be the smaller PC for you to grab. 

An Intel 5-10400 CPU and RTX 3060 ensure it can play new games, but maybe not with all the settings at max. If you're okay with that kind of performance, then it's hard to beat this option, especially since it's often available around $1000, or about $600 lower than the MSI Trident 3.

3. Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast

The Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast is one of the more curious small gaming PCs on our list. This thing is tiny at a super-compact 13 pounds, and it's also far less expensive than the prior two options. Even the higher-end option with 32GB RAM and a 512GB SSD will only cost you $800, meaning this is perfect for someone who wants to save a fair bit of cash. 

Equipped with an ARC A770 graphics card, this PC is pretty good with more recent games, but may run into issues with older games running in DirectX 11 formats, which weren't designed with supporting this third entrant to the market in mind. As a result, it's really important to consider what's more important, old games or new games, if you're thinking of buying this. 

4. Geekom MiniAir 11

Our expert review:

The Geekom MiniAir 11 is a fair bit different from the other computers on this list. It's only really suitable for playing much older games, since it uses Intel integrated graphics instead of a dedicated graphics card. As a result, you'll be limited in your options, though you'll still be okay for playing games like League of Legends. 

The benefit is that you won't be spending as much money. The Geekom MiniAir 11 is usually available for under $300, making it the most affordable mini-PC on this list by a mile and a half. 

Read our in-depth Geekom MiniAir 11 review . 

5. Steam Deck

The Steam Deck isn't technically a PC...immediately out of the box, anyway. But load Windows on it, and you've got yourself a portable computer. Even if you don't want to do that, the Steam Deck has found its role as a successful way to play games on the go, provided you're willing to turn some settings down. 

The screen quality of the original model isn't the best, but you're looking at spending only around $500 or less (depending on the exact model and the amount of storage you want) in order to play games like Marvel's Spider-Man and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on the go. There's also a new OLED model with an improved screen and battery life, so keep your options open!

Choosing the best small gaming PC

Getting into PC gaming doesn't mean you need a monstrous tower on your desk, flooding the room with RGB neon lights. You can pack a lot of power into some seriously compact pre-built computers, with the Trident 3 from MSI being a shining example. It's packed to the gills with gaming-centric hardware, and that's reflected in its price. If you'd prefer to cut some costs, you can step down to the Zotac Magnus One without sacrificing much gaming power.

The NUC series from Intel are some of the best mini PCs available for the seriously small. Whether you choose the NUC 11 Enthusiast for an out-of-the-box PC ready for action or the barebones NUC 9 kit to complete yourself, they're impressive little space savers. If you want it tiny and portable, the Steam Deck can act as a mini gaming PC when using the official dock and connected to a screen of your choice, and a fully-fledged Linux OS lurks underneath.

Grabbing a small PC means making some choices. Interested in seeing what Alan Wake 2 looks like with path tracing? Then you should be looking elsewhere. If you're looking to play some games without spending more money than required, however, then you've got some great options that'll make you extremely happy. 

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Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter @SamuelTolbert .

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Best Mini PC 2024

Size does matter, especially when lacking in space.

The best mini PCs save a lot of space. Since space can come at a premium, there are a lot of benefits to keeping things on and around your desk a little more compact. Whether you're looking for a gaming PC in small form or an everyday PC that can handle all of your tasks, there's a mini PC to suit everyone and every budget.

TL;DR – These are the Best Mini PCs of 2024:

• Apple Mac mini
• Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini
• Apple Mac Studio
• Asus Chromebox 5
• Acer Chromebox CXI5
• Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast
• GEEKOM Mini PC Mini IT13

Just because you opt for a mini PC, it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice power and performance. The only thing you'll need to consider as an extra would be a suitable monitor , keyboard , and mouse because mini PCs do not come with these.

1. Apple Mac mini

Best mini pc.

• See it on Amazon
• M2 Pro chip
• Excellent performance
• Lack of ports

The M2 Pro-powered Mac mini is every content creator’s dream. With it, you get a 10-Core CPU that offers six performance and four efficient cores, a 16-Core GPU, and a 16-Core Neural Engine. When you pair that with 16GB of memory and 512 GB of storage, this machine is powerful enough to edit multiple streams of ProRes, H.264, and HEVC video at an 8K resolution and support up to three high-res displays. For even more oomph, it’s possible to boost the RAM to 32GB and storage up to a wild 8TB.

Beyond being one of the fastest, quietest, and smoothest machines available, the Mac mini somehow manages a compact, lightweight design making it easy to toss in a carry-on bag—a detail that nomadic creative professionals can appreciate. Even though this beast is tiny, it’s still packing all the ports you need, including four Thunderbolt 4, two USB-A, an HDMI, a headphone jack, and a 10Gb Ethernet for faster network speeds. It's also a pretty decent budget Mac for gaming thanks to the power of the M2 Pro chip.

2. Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini

Best mini pc for everyday tasks.

• Lots of configurations available
• Decent performance
• Expensive for what it is

If you’ve decided a mini PC is what you need, then the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini is a great option for everyday tasks. There are plenty of configurations available, but with 16GB of RAM, you should be good to achieve most of what you need for your home office. And with 1TB SSD storage, there’s plenty of room to store your files, photos, and more.

Yes, you could get a full desktop PC setup with slightly better specs at roughly the same price, but not everyone has space for that. Despite being mini in size, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini performs well and comes with a range of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.

With Windows 11 pre-installed, you’re basically good to go. All you’ll need is a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and you’ve got a home PC for everyday tasks at well under $1,000.

3. Apple Mac Studio

Best mini pc for creators.

• Lots of ports
• Quiet performance

Small in size, and huge in performance, the Apple Mac Studio is one of the most powerful Apple computers around. This stylish mini PC is slightly larger than the Mac mini but comes equipped with Apple’s M2 Max or Ultra chip, depending on the configuration you choose. With a 12-core CPU, 38-core GPU, and 32GB of RAM, you can expect to pay a premium, but this is hands-down the best mini PC you’ll get for creators. And with this setup, you could comfortably play games on your Mac , too!

Unlike the Mac mini, the Mac Studio comes with a wealth of ports. There are four Thunderbolt 4 ports, multiple USB ports, HDMI, Ethernet, and more. It’s also equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E, making it a seriously versatile machine.

4. Asus Chromebox 5

Best mini pc for students.

• Very affordable
• ChromeOS is great for novices
• Won't handle more than basic tasks

If you’re a student living in a dorm and are tight on space, a mini PC can be helpful, especially to those who prefer a desktop computer over a laptop . The lightweight and compact Asus Chromebox 5 is a great solution, easily fitting on a desk or in a backpack. Thrifty students will also love the under $300 price tag, so you can grab a great budget monitor and other peripherals to pair with it.

More than just affordable and portable, this ChromeOS-based PC is secure and doesn’t need excessive power, seeing users through research, writing papers, and movie streaming when taking a break from studying. Support for up to four 4K displays through Dual HDMIs, a DisplayPort 1.4, and a Thunderbolt 4 can come in handy, while a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet and WiFi 6E ensure a reliable and speedy internet connection. However, for those looking to do more graphics-heavy tasks like video editing or gaming, you may want to grab something with more oomph under the hood.

5. Acer Chromebox CXI5

Best chromebox.

• Various models/configs available
• 12th Gen CPU

Chromebooks are a popular choice of laptop alternative for those looking for a simpler and more affordable way to perform everyday tasks on the go. But what if you need something similar in desktop PC form? The Acer Chromebox CXI5 does just this - running Chrome OS, this mini PC is designed for lightweight desktop use.

It doesn’t boast the best specs around, but it does offer an easier way for those who are less tech-savvy to complete basic processing tasks, web browsing, and word processing. Still, you’re getting a 12th-Gen i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM in a tiny package.

Unfortunately, this Chromebox is limited to DDR4 RAM, so it’s not the most futureproof mini PC around. It’s also on the higher end of the scale when it comes to affordability, but for some, the compact nature and simplicity will be just the ticket.

6. Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast

Best mini barebones pc.

• Highly customizable
• Unique style
• Can get very expensive

PC enthusiasts and DIYers will appreciate this barebones mini PC. Think of it as your own personal project that you can build upon and customize to your heart’s content. While you don’t get an OS or any accessories, you do get a plethora of ports like HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.0, supporting up to six 4K monitors.

It’s also designed to support the latest connectivity standards like Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E, with an even larger selection of ports via the I/O. Packing plenty of performance, you can easily whisk the NUC 12 Enthusiast away on vacation or to a friend’s house, neatly transporting it in your backpack.

Supporting up to a monstrous 64GB of RAM, 3x M.2 SSD slots, and enough ports to handle all of your accessories, the NUC 12 Enthusiast is one of the best barebones mini PCs around.

7. GEEKOM Mini PC Mini IT13

Best mini pc for businesses.

• Excellent connectivity
• Potential to upgrade

With the latest 13th-Gen Intel mobile processor pre-installed, the GEEKOM Mini PC Mini IT13 is quite a beast. However, we have to remember that this chip was designed for a laptop, and therefore power consumption is limited at a base level of 45W. That’s how this mini PC manages to keep cool while delivering decent performance.

Upgrading the GEEKOM Mini PC Mini IT13 is pretty straightforward if you have a little technical know-how. There’s space here for an additional M.2, as well as an HDD or SSD. Despite being the latest model, not much has changed since the IT11 or IT12. It would have been great to see an upgrade to DDR5 memory, but unfortunately this mini PC is still limited to DDR4.

But forgetting the slightly unusual spec config here, the GEEKOM Mini PC Mini IT13 does deliver on ports and connectivity. It’s incredibly versatile, with support for 8K@60Hz and 4K@60Hz. Heck, you could connect two 8K and two 4K displays in total, making it a serious multitasking machine.

Upcoming Mini PCs

There were several mini PC releases and announcements during CES 2024. One of those that stood out the most was the ASUS ROG NUC which boasts an Intel Core Ultra processor. There are currently two models to choose from, including the Intel Core Ultra 7 and Ultra 9. These beastly mini PCs are perfect for gamers, thanks to the inclusion of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU - who knew it was possible?

How To Pick the Best Mini PC

If you’re in the market for a mini PC, chances are you’re looking to save space, or you don’t have much room for a full desktop PC in the first place. When looking to buy a mini PC, size really does matter - after all, there’s no point in investing in a machine that’s too big, because that defeats the purpose.

But, just because something is smaller in size, it doesn’t mean it can’t perform well. There are plenty of mini PCs that can deliver the same, if not more power than a desktop PC. Apple’s Mac Studio, for example, is equipped with a 12-core CPU and 30-core GPU!

One thing mini PCs don’t come with, however, is any peripherals - no monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. For this reason, one of the biggest considerations when choosing the best mini PC is connectivity and available ports. If you’re going to spend your hard-earned cash on a mini PC, it would be incredibly disappointing to realize it doesn’t support both of your monitors or many of your accessories.

What Is a Mini PC Used For?

Mini PCs are primarily chosen thanks to their small and compact form. Unlike a traditional tower desktop PC which takes up a lot of space, mini PCs can neatly be tucked in a small space on your desk, or even be transported in your bag.

Do Mini PCs Overheat?

While mini PCs are smaller, and therefore cram components into a smaller space, they are designed to have proper cooling and ventilation for their size.

Are Mini Pcs Better Than Laptops?

Mini PCs compared to laptops tend to be more powerful. They tend to be more customizable, allowing you to upgrade components that you might not be able to do on a laptop.

Is a Mini PC Good for Working From Home? There’s no reason why a mini PC wouldn’t work for your at-home setup. These compact machines are more capable than ever, offering impressive CPUs, a good deal of memory, and ample storage opportunities. You’ll have no problem getting online, editing spreadsheets, and doing all your everyday tasks. And, of course, you’ll save space by not having a big tower case to deal with. It’s even possible to mount some of these rigs on the back of your monitor, while it’s simple to take the computer with you when you need to head into the office.

Many mini PC options have integrated GPUs, making them better for less graphically intensive tasks. But there are gaming and editing alternatives offering the latest and greatest graphics cards. Just note that it’s much harder to upgrade components, and cooling can also become issue due to the small form factor, similar problems that plague some laptops .

• What is RAM?
• Best CPU for Gaming
• Best Compact Graphics Cards

Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae .

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

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Mini pc gamer : les 5 meilleurs modèles de 2023

Le mini pc gamer est une version réduite des pc avec leur tour. Il est plus petit et compact mais conserve une bonne puissance non négligeable pour jouer aux jeux vidéo. Après avoir passé en revue une trentaine de modèles, nous avons sélectionné les meilleurs mini pc pour gamer. Nous nous sommes basés sur les performances des composants comme le processeur, la carte graphique ou encore la capacité de stockage.

Comparatif des meilleurs mini pC gamer

NiPoGi AM03 – Mini PC gamer à petit prix

NiPoGi AM03

Si vous recherchez un mini PC gamer mais que votre budget est serré alors ce modèle de NiPoGi est fait pour vous. Sa configuration intègre un processeur AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, qui intègre une puce graphique Graphics Radeon Vega 10, 16 Go de RAM et un SSD de 512 Go. Vous pourrez donc jouer à quelques jeux légers dans de bonnes conditions. Cependant, les jeux les plus récents et les plus gourmands en termes de ressources restent difficilement jouables.

Ce modèle reste assez polyvalent et vous permettra d’effectuer d’autres tâches, comme de la bureautique et de la création sur ordinateur. Le boîtier PC est plutôt robuste et est bien ajouré afin de permettre une circulation de l’air correcte. Sa connectique est très généreuse et se compose de quatre ports USB Type-A 3.0, un port USB Type-C, un port HDMI 2.0, un Displayport 1.4, un port Ethernet RJ45 et une prise jack micro/casque. Côté connectivité, il possède une carte Wifi et prend en charge le Bluetooth.

Ses dimensions ( 12,8 x 12,8 x 5,2 cm ) réduites le rendent particulièrement discret. En conclusion, ce modèle de NiPoGi est un mini PC gamer suffisant pour des sessions gaming sur des jeux légers ou rétro, il n’est, en revanche, pas assez performant si vous souhaitez profiter des derniers jeux AAA.

• 16 Go de RAM
• SSD de 512 Go
• Connectique généreuse
• Petit et discret
• Parfait pour les jeux légers ou rétro
• Il n’est malheureusement pas assez puissant pour profiter de jeux AAA récents

Ace Magician AMR5 – Mini PC gamer à petit prix alternatif

Ace Magician AMR5

Ce modèle d’ Ace Magician dont le look confirme qu’il s’agit bien d’un Mini PC gamer, comme vous l’assure ses tranches munies de LED RGB du plus bel effet. Vous pourrez aussi utiliser le mode d’utilisation de votre machine grâce à la molette présente sur le bouton d’activation, vous aurez le choix entre trois modes : le Silent/ ECO mode, l’Auto Mode et le Performance Mode.

Sa configuration l’oriente aussi vers le gaming avec son processeur AMD Ryzen 5 5600U, qui intègre une puce graphique AMD Radeon RX Vega 7, ses 16 Go de RAM et son SSD de 512 Go. Vous pourrez jouer à la plupart des jeux actuels en 1080p, même s’il faudra faire des concessions sur le niveau de graphisme pour certains titres.

Sa connectique est plutôt complète avec quatre ports USB Type-A 3.0, un port USB Type-C, un port HDMI 2.0, un Dislayport, un port Ethernet RJ45 et une prise jack micro/casque. Avec ses dimensions de 15 X 15 X 6 cm il a l’allure d’un véritable PC gamer version mini. Un autre de ses avantages est qu’il est très simple de changer la RAM ou le SSD ; il suffit de retirer le panneau droit pour avoir directement accès aux emplacements RAM et SSD. Si vous cherchez un mini PC gamer efficace et avec un design gaming pour un budget inférieur à 600€ alors nous vous recommandons ce modèle.

• Jeux en 1080p
• Trois mode d’utilisation
• RAM et SSD facilement changeable
• Look gaming RGB
• Des concessions graphiques doivent tout de même être faites pour jouer à des jeux AAA récents
• Fabrication légère

Asus ExpertCenter PN52-BBR758HD Barebone – pour un accès aux derniers jeux

Asus ExpertCenter PN52-BBR758HD Barebone

Asus propose ici un mini PC gamer au meilleur rapport qualité/prix. Cette marque bien connue dans le milieu gaming nous livre avec ce modèle un mini PC gamer tout à fait capable de faire tourner les jeux récents en 1080p avec la certitude de pouvoir en profiter entre 30 et 60 FPS, même sur des jeux particulièrement gourmands comme Red Dead Redemption 2, Death Stranding ou encore Cyberpunk 2077. Attention, il faudra tout de même faire des concessions sur le niveau de qualité des graphismes et passer un peu de temps dans les paramètres du jeu pour en profiter de manière optimale.

Son boîtier PC particulièrement robuste abrite un processeur AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, qui intègre une puce graphique AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics. Attention, il s’agit d’un barebone, il faudra donc acheter la RAM et le SSD à part et c’est bien là son principal défaut. Nous vous recommandons de choisir une RAM d’au minimum 8 Go à la norme DDR4 3200 mHz et de préférer un SSD M.2 NVME 2280 PCIe Gen 3 de 512 Go, cela représente en moyenne un surcoût d’un peu moins de 100€.

Ce modèle de mini PC gamer dispose d’une connectique généreuse avec trois ports USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, deux ports USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, deux ports USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, deux ports HDMI 2.0, un Displayport, un port Ethernet RJ45 et une prise jack micro/casque. Ses petites dimensions ( 13 x 12 x 5,8 cm ) rendent facile de lui trouver une place sur votre bureau. Ce mini PC gamer se révèle donc performant et particulièrement robuste, il fait donc un très bon choix si l’achat supplémentaire de RAM et d’un SSD n’est pas une limite.

• Boîtier PC robuste
• Processeur performant
• Petit taille
• RAM et SSD à acheter séparément puisqu’il s’agit d’un barebone

Trigkey W11 – le meilleur rapport qualité/prix

Trigkey W11

Le TRIGKEY W11 est un mini PC gamer puissant, animé par l’architecture Ryzen 7 5800H , qui offre une expérience haut de gamme. Grâce à ses 8 cœurs et 16 threads, il présente des performances exceptionnelles et une latence réduite grâce à son TDP de 54W. Avec une fréquence maximale de 4,4 GHz, il surpasse largement le Ryzen 5 5500U. Que vous soyez dans le domaine de la conception ou des jeux, ce mini PC répondra à vos besoins avec aisance.

Le TRIGKEY W11 est équipé d’un puissant processeur graphique AMD Vega 8 à 8 cœurs . Grâce à ses deux ports HDMI et son interface de type C, vous pouvez profiter d’une résolution 4K à 60 Hz. Son processeur graphique de haute performance et sa compatibilité multi-écrans offrent une expérience visuelle immersive et parfaite.

Pour ce qui est de la mémoire et du stockage, le TRIGKEY W11 dispose de 16 Go de mémoire DDR4 et d’un SSD de 500 Go . Vous pouvez étendre la mémoire jusqu’à 64 Go grâce à la prise en charge de la DDR4 double canal. Quant au stockage, il prend en charge des disques durs externes de 2,5 pouces jusqu’à 2 To (non inclus). La gestion thermique efficace est assurée par un ventilateur intégré et des conduits de chaleur doubles, garantissant un refroidissement silencieux et évitant toute surchauffe.

Le TRIGKEY W11 est équipé de la dernière génération de WiFi-6 , offrant des taux de transfert allant jusqu’à 2400 Mbps . Il dispose également du Bluetooth 5.2 et de multiples interfaces, dont des ports USB3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps), un port USB2.0 , un port RJ45, deux ports HDMI et une prise audio (HP&MIC). De plus, il offre des fonctionnalités pratiques telles que le Wake On Lan et le Wake On Power. Le Wake on LAN est une fonctionnalité qui permet d’allumer un appareil à distance via le réseau local.

• Très bon processeur
• Connectique très correcte
• Bonne connectivité
• Peu de mémoire morte
• Carte graphique de peu d’envergure

Corsair One i300 – le très très haut de gamme

Corsair One i300

Le Corsair One i300 est un mini PC gaming haut de gamme qui offre des performances exceptionnelles dans un format compact. Avec son boîtier noir élégant, il présente des connexions externes pratiques, notamment deux ports USB 3.1 Gen 1 et un port USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-C à l’avant, ainsi qu’une prise casque/micro. À l’arrière, on retrouve deux ports Thunderbolt 4 , deux ports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), quatre ports USB 3.2 Gen 1 et une prise audio 7.1. L’une des caractéristiques clés des ports Thunderbolt est leur capacité à prendre en charge le chaînage de périphériques. Cela signifie que vous pouvez connecter plusieurs appareils Thunderbolt en série, en les reliant les uns aux autres à l’aide d’un seul câble Thunderbolt.

Ce mini PC est alimenté par une alimentation SFX de 750W 80 PLUS Platinum , offrant une puissance fiable et efficace. Il est équipé d’un impressionnant stockage de 2 To en SSD NVMe pour des temps de chargement rapides et une grande capacité de stockage.

Le Corsair One i300 est refroidi par un système de watercooling pour le CPU et le GPU, garantissant des températures optimales même lors de sessions de jeu intenses. Son processeur est un Intel Core i9-12900k , et il est accompagné de 32 Go de mémoire DDR5-4800 pour des performances fluides et réactives. La génération i9 est encore toute récente et vous permet aussi bien des tâches bureautiques que des sessions

Avec une carte graphique Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, le Corsair One i300 offre des graphismes incroyablement détaillés et des performances de jeu exceptionnelles. Il est également équipé d’une connectivité avancée, notamment un Ethernet 2,5G , du Wi-Fi 6E et du Bluetooth 5.0 , offrant des options de connectivité polyvalentes.

Le Corsair One i300 fonctionne sous Windows 11 Pro , offrant une expérience logicielle optimisée pour le gaming. Avec un poids de 9,6 kg , il est facilement transportable pour les joueurs en déplacement. Avec ses composants haut de gamme, son système de refroidissement efficace et sa connectivité étendue, le Corsair One i300 est un choix idéal pour les joueurs exigeants en quête de performances de pointe dans un format compact.

• Vendu avec Windows
• Marque réputée dans le gaming
• Carte graphique
• Watercooling
• 2 To en SSD
• Possibilité d’upgrade car format mini-ITX
• Connectique ultra complète (Thunderbolt, 3.2)
• Dimensions plus élevées

Comment choisir son mini PC gamer ?

Le processeur

Tout comme les pc gamer standard, il faut regarder la vitesse du processeur . Un processeur de 2,1 GHz serait un bon début pour jouer à la plupart des jeux récents mais avec une qualité graphique diminuée. 

Quant à la question de choisir entre un processeur Intel ou AMD Ryzen, ils sont à peu près égaux en termes de puissance. Cependant les processeurs Intel résistent mieux à la chaleur que les AMD Ryzen ce qui est non négligeable pour des mini pc qui sont vendus sans ventilateurs. 

Chez Intel, nous vous recommandons d’éviter les gammes pentium qui sont dédiées au pc pour la bureautique. Ils n’auront pas la puissance nécessaire pour faire fonctionner vos jeux.

Les processeurs d’ entrée de gamme d’Intel sont les i3 . Les cadences vont de 1Ghz à 4.20 Ghz pour la génération. Cette catégorie de processeur vous permet de jouer à de petits jeux comme Minecraft. Par contre, vous ne pourrez pas jouer à GTA V en ultra. Pour les jeux intermédiaires comme League, vous pourrez y jouer mais avec une résolution réduite.

La gamme de processeur Intel i5 correspond à la catégorie milieu de gamme . Un processeur Intel i5 de 12 ème génération peut être plus performant qu’un i7 des premières générations. Ces processeurs i5 permettent de jouer à tous les jeux, même les plus gourmands. Veillez uniquement à partir sur les dernières générations de i5 (11ème voire 12ème génération).

Les processeurs i7 et i9 sont les produits haut de gamme d’Intel . Ces processeurs permettent bien évidemment de jouer à tous les jeux en haute résolution. L’avantage de cette gamme est que vous investissez pour quelques années. En effet, vous pourrez faire tourner les jeux des années à venir sans problème. Le i9 a un intérêt uniquement si vous vous intéressez à la VR. Si vous jouez uniquement à des jeux classiques, le i7 est amplement suffisant.

Les AMD Ryzen sont un peu moins chers. Les équivalents chez ce constructeur sont faciles à retrouver. Les Ryzen 3 sont équivalents au Intel i3, de même pour les Ryzen 5 (équivalent i5) et Ryzen 7/9 (i7 et i9).

Sur des pc classiques le processeur n’est pas si important que ça pour les graphismes des jeux, cependant dans les mini pc, une puce graphique peut être intégrée au processeur ce qui remplace la carte graphique. Vous retrouverez des équivalences de ces puces graphiques avec les puissances de cartes graphiques.

La carte graphique

La carte graphique s’il y en a une, car certains mini pc n’en ont pas. La plupart fonctionnent avec une puce graphique qui est un peu moins puissante qu’une carte graphique. 

Les mini pc gamer ne sont pas compatibles avec toutes les cartes graphiques sorties à ce jour du fait de leur taille. Pour utiliser une carte graphique sur votre mini pc gamer il faut acheter des cartes “ low profile ”, c’est-à-dire qu’elles ne dépassent pas une certaine taille. La mention de low profile est indiquée dans les spécificités du mini pc avec la mention “low profile” ou “LP bracket included”.

A ce jour la carte la plus performante pour les mini pc est la RTX 3080 . Avec cette carte vous pouvez jouer à tous les jeux même les plus gourmands en ressource sans perte de FPS.

En terme de puce graphique, la AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 est plutôt faite pour du gaming “casual” , elle ne permet de faire fonctionner de gros jeux mais fait très bien l’affaire pour des jeux moins gourmands. Fortnite fonctionne très bien avec cette puce graphique en medium. Vous pouvez jouer aux jeux modernes en mettant vos graphismes en medium.

La série des Ryzen 4000 est un peu vieille maintenant, donc moins cher mais permet quand même de jouer aux anciens jeux sur émulateurs mais aussi à aux jeux les plus récents à condition de baisser les graphismes.

Tout comme les PC classiques, il est possible de changer sa carte graphique pour en installer une meilleure. Vous pouvez donc installer des cartes graphiques Nvidia de la génération GTX et RTX. Dans le cas des puces graphiques, il faut également changer le processeur puisque la puce est intégrée au processeur.

Si vous voulez profiter d’un maximum de jeux, un disque dur de 1 To est conseillé . Les plus gros jeux faisant dans les 100 Go, comme Call of Duty Warzone ou Destiny 2 sont finalement assez rares. 1 To d’espace disque vous permet donc de télécharger plus de jeux qu’il n’en faut sans avoir à désinstaller un jeu pour en installer un nouveau.

Un minimum de 500 Go est nécessaire aujourd’hui . Les jeux prennent de plus en plus d’espace et les plus gros dépassent les 100 Go. Avec 500 Go vous avez de quoi télécharger un peu plus d’une quinzaine de jeux de 30 Go , ce qui est la taille d’un jeu moyen aujourd’hui.

Vous pouvez même aller jusqu’à 2 To si vous voulez vraiment télécharger un maximum de jeux. 2 To n’est pas du tout obligatoire mais cela permet quand même de télécharger ce que l’on veut sans soucier de la taille des fichiers . A noter quand même que les prix des mini pc gamer varient en fonction des espaces disques. Plus il y a d’espace et plus le prix est élevé . C’est la même chose si vous achetez votre disque dur à part.

Les mini pc gamer fonctionnent avec des disques dur SSD et HDD. Le HDD a plus de capacités de stockage et coûte moins cher. Mais un disque dur SSD est plus rapide et demande moins d’énergie . Pour le gaming il est donc conseillé de prendre un disque dur SSD. Les disques dur de 2,5 pouces sont réservés aux ordinateurs portables et sont compatibles aux mini PC gamer

La mémoire vive

Nous vous conseillons d’avoir 16 Go de RAM pour profiter de vos jeux en toute tranquillité. Avec 16 Go de RAM vous pouvez même jouer en 4k sans problème La mémoire vive ou RAM permet au processeur de stocker temporairement des données. En jeu c’est ce qui permet les niveaux, les textures et d’autres éléments. Une RAM faible empêche un chargement rapide de ces éléments et rend le jeu saccadé.

4 Go de RAM n’est pas du tout envisageable dans une optique de gaming. Essayez et vous verrez lentement votre pc mourir.

8 Go de RAM , vous ouvre doucement les portes du gaming. C’est le minimum du minimum aujourd’hui pour pouvoir jouer. Vous pourrez jouer à des petits jeux sans soucis mais pour ce qui est des plus gros jeux vous aurez une expérience de jeux saccadée avec des graphismes élevés . Cela vous oblige à baisser les graphismes sur beaucoup trop de jeux pour ne pas perdre d’images.

Pour ceux qui ont plus de budget vous avez aussi la possibilité d’avoir 32 Go de RAM . Cela vous permet de lancer vos jeux et d’effectuer des tâches en arrière plan sans ralentissement que cela soit sur vos jeux ou sur les tâches en question. Si vous voulez streamer en même temps par exemple c’est tout à fait possible sans pour autant avoir une baisse des performances de jeu. La VR est également accessible avec 32 Go de RAM.

Au maximum vous pouvez avoir jusqu’à 64 Go de RAM . Cela permet de ne pas avoir à changer vos barrettes mémoires pendant encore de très longues années . En plus de la longévité, vous avez accès à la technologie de la VR , très gourmande en ressources, à ses pleines capacités. 

Plus il y a de RAM et plus l’ordinateur est rapide. Il est possible de rajouter des barrettes mémoire pour augmenter votre RAM et ainsi augmenter la rapidité de votre pc à lancer des programmes. 

Lorsque vous rajoutez de la RAM faites attention à ce que toutes vos barrettes soient du même type. Les barrettes DDR4 qui sont le modèle le plus utilisé n’est pas compatible avec des barrettes en DDR3, DDR2 et DDR . A noter que les DDR et DDR2 sont obsolètes. Choisissez donc au minimum des barrettes en DDR3 mais privilégiez le DDR4.

Le système d’exploitation (L’OS)

Faîtes aussi attention à regarder si un système d‘exploitation comme Windows ou Linux par exemple est installé ou pas. Le système d’exploitation est nécessaire. Si vous pouvez éviter d’acheter en plus de votre mini pc gamer une clé de système d’exploitation ça fera de l’argent économisé. 

Le système d’exploitation Windows 10 est le plus répandu et le plus simple d’utilisation. Il est également compatible avec tous les jeux contrairement à macOS , le système d’exploitation des mac de chez Apple. Linux est également compatible avec la plupart des jeux mais est plus utilisé pour la bureautique et la programmation.

La connectique

Il faut un minimum de 2 ports HDMI pour pouvoir utiliser 2 écrans, ce qui est quasiment une norme dans le monde du gaming. Un grand nombre de ports USB 2.0 et 3.0 est recommandé pour brancher tous vos appareils. Il vous faut au moins avoir de quoi brancher votre manette sans avoir à débrancher votre clavier ou votre souris. Les ports USB-C sont beaucoup plus rapides et permettent aussi de charger votre téléphone au besoin.

Vérifiez que vous ayez un port Ethernet , meilleur pour le gaming car plus stable et plus rapide ou au moins de quoi vous connecter au réseau en wifi. 

Des prises jack pour votre casque même si aujourd’hui vous pouvez très bien trouver des casques qui se branchent en USB ce qui à part pour des casques très haut de gamme ne change rien à la qualité du son. Les casques en prise jack sont tout de même compatibles avec beaucoup plus de systèmes que les casques USB.

Pourquoi acheter un mini pc gamer ?

Le mini pc gamer à l’avantage d’être plus petit , compact et transportable qu’un pc gamer dit classique avec sa tour. Il mesure entre 10 et 25 cm voir 30 cm pour les plus gros. Il permet aux joueurs de transporter leur matériel de jeu un peu partout à condition d’avoir un moniteur sur lequel le brancher. Une fois en place, il est très discret et se fond dans votre décor.

• Performance

Malgré sa petite taille, le mini pc gamer ne renonce pas à la performance . Avec un bon processeur comme le intel i9 11ème génération et une bonne carte graphique comme la RTX 3080 il est tout à fait possible de jouer aux mêmes jeux que sur pc classique . L’avantage c’est qu’avec une configuration faîte pour le gaming vous pouvez également faire toutes les tâches de bureautique et regarder des séries et des films. Le mini pc gamer garde la polyvalence d’un pc, vous pouvez faire bien plus que jouer.

Les mini pc gamer de par la taille de leurs composants sont également moins gourmands en énergie. Vous pouvez donc jouer longtemps en consommant moins que sur un pc gamer classique.

Ces petits boîtiers que sont les mini pc gamer sont également beaucoup plus silencieux que les pc gaming. Le bruit vient principalement des ventilateurs mais ceux des mini pc gamer étant plus petits que ceux des pc classiques, ils font moins de bruit. Certains mini pc gamer sont même vendus sans ventilateur et ne font donc pas de bruits. Aujourd’hui il est possible d’acheter des tours qui sont faites pour réduire le bruit sur les pc gaming mais elles coûtent cher. Alors qu’un mini pc gamer sera plus silencieux de base.

Possibilité d’amélioration des composants

Le mini pc gamer est également personnalisabl e puisque l’on peut sur certains modèles changer les composants à sa guise afin de rester le plus performant possible. Mais il faudra cependant faire attention à la taille de ceux-ci car certaines cartes graphiques par exemple sont beaucoup trop grandes pour les mini pc. C’est la seule contrainte, sinon les composants sont changeables.

Pourquoi acheter un Mini pc gamer complet ?

Les mini pc gamer sont quasiment prêts à l’emploi dès la livraison, pas besoin d’attendre que chaque pièce arrive. Une fois branché, il suffit de l’allumer et de le configurer. C’est beaucoup plus rapide que d’avoir à le monter soi même.

Si vous n’avez pas de connaissances en montage informatique, il vaut mieux se fier à des experts qui monteront votre mini pc gamer sans problèmes. Vous aurez moins de risques de bugs liés au montage.

Un mini pc gamer déjà monté possède une garantie sur l’ensemble du produit.

Inconvénients

Un mini pc déjà monté est plus cher que si vous le montez vous mêmes. Vous payez l’expertise d’un professionnel.

Toute la configuration ne nous intéresse pas forcément, cela vous force à faire des compromis voir de changer ce qui ne vous plait pas et de faire des dépenses supplémentaires.

Pourquoi monter son mini pc gamer?

Un premier avantage des mini pc gamer à monter soi-même est certainement le prix. Le fait d’acheter pièce par pièce vous permet de réaliser des économies sur chacune d’entre elles pour réaliser une économie globale sur le mini pc gamer entier.

 Au delà du prix, en montant votre mini pc gamer vous le personnalisez comme vous le souhaitez. Lorsque vous achetez des mini pc déjà montés, tous les composants ne vous intéressent pas forcément.

Monter son propre mini PC gamer offre plus de possibilités d’amélioration. Sur des mini PC déjà montés, certaines pièces sont soudées ensembles et ne peuvent donc pas être changées individuellement.

Il faudra acheter soi même son OS ce qui implique une dépense en plus. Les possibilités d’amélioration pour votre mini pc sont aussi limitées.

La garantie est différente pour chaque pièce, parfois il n’y a même pas de garantie. En cas de problème, c’est à nous d’assurer la maintenance.

Puis-je overclocker mon mini pc gamer ?

Oui il est possible d’overclocker votre mini pc gamer pour les amateurs de performance. Attention, tous les processeurs ne sont pas overclockable, mais tous ceux de la série Ryzen, les Intel se terminant par la lettre K et tous ceux de la série X sont overclockable. Il faut également un bon système de refroidissement car l’overclocking va produire beaucoup de chaleur ce qui va abîmer vos composants.  L’overclocking est une action chez les gamer afin de booster les performances de son pc. Qu’on overclocke son processeur, sa carte graphique ou sa RAM il est tout à fait possible de le faire sur un mini pc gamer. 

Dans le cas d’un processeur, l’overclocking consiste à augmenter la fréquence d’horloge qui s’exprime en GHz. Plus la fréquence est élevée, plus la charge de travail prise en compte par le processeur est élevée. Pour savoir si vous pouvez overclocker votre processeur, vérifiez qu’il possède un coefficient multiplicateur débloqué qui modifie la fréquence d’horloge.

Pour overclocker votre processeur il faut accéder au BIOS changer son coefficient multiplicateur en y allant lentement, augmentez le d’un point et faites des tests en vérifiant la température de votre processeur qui ne doit pas dépasser les 90°C.

Pour la carte graphique c’est le même principe que pour le processeur. La seule différence c’est qu’il faut également overclocker la mémoire de votre GPU. Attention à la température de votre GPU, dépasser les 90°C peut être un bon indicateur que vous en avez trop fait. L’overclocking de votre RAM suit également le même mode de fonctionnement. Quand vous overclockez votre RAM il faut augmenter sa fréquence et réduire autant que possible les échéances, c’est-à-dire le temps pour passer d’une action à une autre. 

L’overclocking peut annuler la garantie sur vos composants et produit beaucoup de chaleur. Cela peut ralentir votre ordinateur voir provoquer des écrans bleus et endommager vos composants. Dans ces cas-là il faut remettre les paramètres d’usines.

Où acheter un mini pc gamer ?

Vous pouvez retrouver vos mini pc gamer dans vos magasins habituels comme Auchan ou Leclerc au rayon high-tech. Il est aussi possible de les retrouver dans des magasins d’électroménager comme Boulanger ou Darty.

Des sites spécialisés comme LDLC ou Topachat les vendent également. Enfin on peut aussi les retrouver sur les sites de vente Amazon ou Cdiscount qui ont l’avantage d’être compétitif sur les prix .

Est-il possible de mettre à niveau les composants d’un mini PC gamer ?

Dans la plupart des cas, il est possible de mettre à niveau les composants d’un mini PC gamer, mais cela dépend du modèle spécifique et de sa conception. A savoir que plus le mini pc gamer est de taille réduite plus la difficulté pour « l’upgrade » est grande. Si vous voulez donc avoir une certaine marge, choisissez les mini pc gamers les plus grands et de marque reconnue. A savoir également que plus les composants sont petits, plus les prix sont élevés. Avoir un mini pc peut vite devenir très cher !

Quelles sont les marques réputées pour les mini PC gamer ?

Plusieurs marques sont réputées pour leurs mini PC gamer de qualité. Parmi les marques les plus connues et populaires, on trouve ASUS , MSI , Corsair , Alienware , HP Omen et Zotac . Ces marques sont appréciées pour leur engagement envers les performances de jeu élevées, la fiabilité des composants et les options de personnalisation. Elles offrent une large gamme de mini PC gamer avec différentes configurations matérielles pour répondre aux besoins et aux préférences des joueurs. Ces marques sont souvent choisies en raison de leur expérience établie dans le domaine des jeux vidéo et de leur réputation solide dans la communauté des joueurs. Il s’agit vraiment de marques tournées vers le gaming.

Quelle est l’importance de la carte graphique dans un mini PC gamer ?

La carte graphique joue un rôle crucial dans un mini PC gamer. Elle est responsable du rendu des graphismes et des performances visuelles lors de la lecture de jeux. Une carte graphique puissante permet des fréquences d’images élevées, des détails graphiques plus fins et des effets visuels avancés, offrant une expérience de jeu fluide et immersive. Une carte graphique performante est essentielle pour profiter pleinement des jeux modernes et gérer des tâches graphiques intensives. Il est donc recommandé de choisir une carte graphique adaptée à vos besoins en termes de résolution et de qualité d’image.

Comment choisir la meilleure résolution et fréquence de rafraîchissement pour le moniteur d’un mini PC gamer ?

Lors du choix de la résolution et de la fréquence de rafraîchissement d’un moniteur pour un mini PC gamer, il est important de considérer la puissance de votre matériel. Pour une expérience visuelle immersive, optez pour une résolution plus élevée comme le Full HD (1920 x 1080) ou le QHD (2560 x 1440). La fréquence de rafraîchissement idéale est de 144 Hz ou plus pour des mouvements fluides. Cependant, assurez-vous que votre mini PC gamer est suffisamment puissant pour prendre en charge ces résolutions et fréquences plus élevées.

Les produits sélectionnés l’année dernière (2023)

Apple mac mini m1 2020 – la polyvalence d’apple.

Apple Mac Mini M1 2020

Apple et gaming n’ont pas toujours fait bon ménage dans l’histoire du jeux vidéo sur ordinateur. La firme à la pomme croquée tente d’inverser la vapeur grâce à sa puce M1, qui intègre 8 cœurs CPU et 8 cœurs GPU. En effet, cette puce ARM maison va vous étonner par ses performances plus qu’honorables sur de nombreux récents. Vous pourrez jouer de façon fluide et confortable en 1080p à vos jeux préférés.

Cependant, il reste toujours une épine dans le pied d’Apple, ou plutôt un ver dans la pomme, c’est le catalogue de jeux. Bien qu’il tend à s’étoffer, les éditeurs de jeux vidéo ont toujours du mal à proposer des versions de leur jeux compatibles avec macOS et particulièrement avec la puce M1.

En effet, il faudra que le jeu soit explicitement compatible avec macOS et la puce M1. Si le nombre de jeux compatibles en natif est plutôt limité, il existe des solutions pour contourner ce problème. Vous pouvez passer par Rosetta 2 qui émule un l’architecture dans Mac fonctionnant avec un processeur Intel, vous pourrez donc étendre votre catalogue de jeux, cependant passer par Rosetta impactera les performances en jeu. Enfin, la solution actuelle la plus efficace est certainement de passer par un service de cloud gaming, comme le XBox Game Pass ou Nvidia GeForce Now.

Ce Mini Mac M1 possède également une RAM de 8 Go et un SSD de 512 Go, il existe aussi avec un SSD de 256 Go pour environ 200€ de moins. Sa connectique va à l’essentiel avec deux ports USB Type-A, deux ports USB Type-C Thunderbolt, un port HDMI, un port Ethernet RJ45 et une prise jack micro/casque. 

Si le gaming est une activité que ce modèle maitrise bien, la création sur ordinateur reste toujours son principal domaine d’excellence. Donc si vous êtes un créatif passionné de gaming ce modèle de mini PC gamer version Apple est fait pour vous. Pour conclure, il faut noter que le Mini Mac M1 à aussi comme principale point fort d’être très peu énergivore, de fait il chauffera peu et restera silencieux la plupart du temps.

• Fabrication et design Apple toujours soigné
• Performant et polyvalent
• Faible consommation
• Catalogue de jeux limité en natif
• Connectique limité

Intel NUC11BTMi9

Ce mini pc gamer n’a de mini que la taille. Si vous voulez un pc gamer qui prenne moins de place sans renoncer aux performances, ce mini pc est pour vous. En termes de puissance, il n’ a rien à envier aux pc classiques. Le processeur Intel Core i9-11900Kb de 11ème génération a une puissance de calcul de 3,3 GHz pour une fluidité plus que bienvenue dans une optique de gaming.

L’espace disque de 1 To offre de quoi télécharger bon nombre de jeux sans avoir à se soucier de leur taille. Pour faire tourner tous ses jeux, si vous choisissez l ’option la plus chère , vous pouvez doter ce mini pc gaming d’une carte graphique ASUS Dual NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti Mini assez puissante pour jouer à tous les jeux que vous voulez avec les graphismes les plus hauts. Ce modèle de mini pc gamer est l’ un des rares à pouvoir intégrer une carte graphique ce qui est énorme avantage pour le gaming puisque les cartes graphiques sont plus performantes que les puces graphiques.

Il existe également une version de ce mini pc gamer sans OS, disque dur et RAM. C’est à vous de vous procurer les composants que vous voulez pour le rendre plus ou moins puissant en fonction des jeux auxquels vous voulez jouer.

Un peu cher mais c’est le prix à payer pour avoir autant de puissance sur un mini pc gamer. Le fait qu’il soit un des rares modèles à prendre en compte une carte graphique dédiée et non intégrée en fait un très grand avantage par rapport à la plupart des modèles de mini pc gamer qui fonctionnent avec une carte graphique intégrée moins puissante. La possibilité de pouvoir changer les composants pour avoir les dernières pièces sorties est aussi intéressant mais forcément coûteux. Le boîtier est aussi plus gros que la plupart des mini pc gamer mais reste quand même il n’est pas aussi gros qu’un boîtier de pc gamer classique.

• Personnalisation

Dans notre sélection l’an passé (2020)

Le mini pc um250.

Minis forum UM250 AMD Ryzen

Sa petite taille de 12,8 x 12,7 x 4,6 cm le rend à peine plus grand que votre box internet et est donc facile à transporter et ne prend pas de place. Avec son processeur AMD V Series de 3,6 Ghz , le pc est assez rapide. La carte graphique AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics , ce mini pc gamer est totalement capable de faire tourner la plupart des jeux récents sans perte de FPS avec une résolution moyenne. Sa mémoire vive de 16 Go de RAM est plus que suffisante pour avoir un PC fluide et un démarrage rapide. Les 512 Go d’espace disque sont augmentables jusqu’à 2 To de mémoire . Cet ordinateur est un excellent rapport qualité prix.

Ces deux ports USB et son port USB-C ont pile poil de quoi brancher votre clavier, souris et téléphone. Il possède 2 ports Ethernet ce qui est parfait pour brancher son câble internet et profiter d’une bonne connexion en jeu. Sa connectique avec son port HDMI , display et USB-C permettent d’utiliser ce mini pc gamer sur 3 écrans différents.

Mini pc gamer abordable avec une performance moyenne, idéal donc pour jouer à de petits jeux. Le manque de ports USB n’est pas spécialement un problème. Avoir beaucoup de ports USB n’est qu’un confort en plus dont on peut se passer, mais c’est un confort appréciable. Cependant le mini pc UM250 a tout ce qu’il faut pour satisfaire les joueurs lambda en termes de performance de jeux, le tout dans un boîtier très discret et de petite taille.

• le prix abordable
•  possibilité augmentation espace disque
• petit et discret
• pas assez puissant

Beelink SEI8

Ce modèle est plutôt abordable avec d’assez bonnes performances. Le processeur Intel i5-8279U 4,1 Ghz vous permet de jouer à des jeux comme League of Legends ou CS:GO de manière fluide. Cependant, vous ne pourrez jouer aux jeux AAA en ultra , très gourmands en ressource, mais en baissant un peu les graphismes vous n’aurez pas de problèmes.

Niveau connectique, ce mini pc prend en compte l’ utilisation de deux écrans en même temps avec ces deux ports HDMI . Si vous avez l’écran qui va avec, l’ affichage en 4K HD est également possible. Vous pourrez observer la beauté réelle de vos jeux et avoir une meilleure expérience de jeux. Les deux ports USB 3.0 sont aussi très pratiques ainsi que la prise jack pour brancher votre casque. A noter quand même un manque de ports USB car en branchant votre clavier et votre souris vous n’avez plus de port disponible. Difficile donc si l’on veut brancher une manette en plus il faudra sacrifier son clavier ou sa souris. 

La marque Beelink a beau ne pas être connue, dans le monde des mini pc gamer elle rivalise avec les grosses marques. Ce modèle de mini pc gamer de milieu de gamme correspond aux joueurs “casuals” qui ne jouent pas forcément à de gros jeux tout en restant dans un prix équitable pour ce qu’il propose en termes de performance.

• manque de connectique

UM 700 AMD Ryzen

Minis Forum UM700 AMD Ryzen

Ce modèle de mini pc a un processeur rapide AMD Ryzen 7 avec une puissance de calcul de 4,0GHz et son disque dur SSD lui permet de se lancer en moins de 8 secondes. Il dispose de 16 Go RAM avec de barrettes en DDR4 ce qui est assez pour un bon PC aujourd’hui, vous n’aurez pas de problème de fluidité. 

Vous avez également la possibilité de rajouter de la RAM via des barrettes mémoire de 2,5 pouces uniquement. Ce mini pc fonctionne avec la technologie graphique Radeon RX Vega 10 , ce qui est bien pour des jeux moyens en termes de ressources mais ne permet pas de jouer à de gros jeux comme Star Citizen très demandant en ressources par exemple. Il possède un espace disque de 512 Go, suffisant pour télécharger une vingtaine de jeux de 20 Go, la moyenne pour la plupart des jeux que ce mini pc peut lancer.

En termes de connectique, le UM 700 comprend deux ports USB 3.2 à l’avant et d’autres ports USB à l’arrière. Vous pourrez utiliser ce mini pc sur 3 écrans différents mais en utilisant divers câbles ; A savoir un câble HDMI, USB-C et DisplayPort. Le WI-FI bande et le port Ethernet vous permettra de choisir votre manière de vous connecter à internet le tout dans la configuration de base. Il existe d’autres configurations avec plus de ports Ethernet.

Pour le jeu vidéo il est plus intéressant de se tourner vers une connexion via un câble Ethernet pour une connexion plus rapide et plus stable ce qui évitera des lags pendant vos parties en ligne.

C’est un bon mini pc gamer. Il est rapide au lancement, fluide et a un espace disque décent. Il convient à tous ceux qui utilisent leur pc pour jouer à des jeux pas très gourmands en ressources. Il est assez puissant pour jouer en résolution maximum sur des jeux comme Dead Cells, Celeste ou encore League of Legends.

• bon rapport qualité/prix
• affichage sur plusieurs écrans
• démarrage rapide
• ne convient pas aux gros jeux

Corebox Chuwi

Chuwi Corebox

Ce mini pc de milieu de gamme est parfait pour jouer à tous les jeux sans se ruiner. Son processeur i5-8259U 3.80 GHz de huitième génération est largement suffisant pour profiter d’une bonne expérience gaming. Sa puce graphique intégrée Intel Iris 6100 lance les derniers jeux et les 16 Go de RAM en font un mini pc gamer plus que correct. Avec ses 510 Go d’espace disque vous avez de quoi faire pour télécharger tous vos jeux. Avec ce modèle, pas besoin de dépenser des mille et des cents pour jouer aux jeux vidéos.

C’est un bon mini pc gamer d’entrée de gamme qui pour le prix qu’il propose ne limite pas tant que ça en terme de gaming. Il fait très bien l’affaire pour des joueurs du quotidien, mais si vous ne jurez que par la performance ce n’est pas le bon modèle pour vous.

• consommation
• performance

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How-To Geek

The best mini pcs of 2023.

From tiny single-board computers to compact gaming machines with room for a full-sized graphics card.

Read update

We've reviewed our recommendations, and these are still the best mini PCs you can buy.

Are you looking to save some space on your desk? If you don't have the room on your setup for a full-sized PC tower, or simply want to go for a more minimalistic look, you should consider a mini PC .

UPDATE: 08/16/2023

Minisforum elitemini um690, apple mac mini m2 (2023), beelink u59 pro intel celeron n5105, intel nuc 13 extreme barebones kit (i9-13900k), raspberry pi 4 model b, buying a mini pc in 2023.

Mini PCs, as the name suggests, are compact versions of standard desktop PCs. Though that might sound like a simple definition, a huge variety of hardware is available within this category. These machines range from sub-$50 single-board hobby machines to desktop replacements that cost thousands of dollars.

Your intended usage and overall budget make a huge difference in picking the right mini PC. For small projects like tinkering with Linux, running a simple file or media server on your local network, or retro gaming, a cheap single-board machine may do the trick.

If you're hoping to replace a standard PC with a mini computer because you're short on space or would rather have a minimal desktop, you can spend a bit more and get something that will still fly through standard tasks like web browsing, responding to email, word processing, and other general office work.

At the pricier end of the spectrum are fully-fledged gaming PCs that can (just about) accommodate a full-sized graphics card. Not only are these expensive, but they may also run hotter than comparable full-sized PCs owing to their cramped innards and reduced airflow. You'll have to sacrifice space to fit a high-end GPU in your mini PC, which may mean stretching the definition of "mini" in this context.

Some mini PCs are available as a kit. If you go this route, you can buy a mini PC enclosure with a motherboard, CPU, and power supply and finish it yourself with your RAM, storage, and peripherals. Be aware that most mini PCs (even those sold as a kit) are not upgradeable in terms of motherboard or CPU, and most don't include the space or PCIe slots for a dedicated GPU.

If you're sticking with smaller form factors, you can do some neat things with your mini PC, such as hiding it from view completely. One solution is to mount the mini PC on the back of your monitor using an aftermarket VESA mount or even a DIY solution.

Despite being relatively budget-friendly, there are some hidden costs to consider when buying a mini PC. This includes the price of your peripherals (a mouse and keyboard), any monitors or TVs you want to use as a display, and any USB hubs you'll need to buy to add missing ports and functionality.

How-To Geek's product recommendations come from the same team of experts that have helped people fix their gadgets over one billion times. We only recommend the best products based on our research and expertise. We never accept payment to endorse or review a product. Read More »

Best Mini PC Overall: MINISFORUM EliteMini UM690

Looking for a Windows-powered mini PC that ticks almost all of the boxes? Consider the MINISFORUM EliteMini UM690 . Powered by a Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU (with eight cores and 16 threads), this small box of tricks fuses a capable CPU with AMD's integrated Radeon 680M graphics. That means it won't be completely embarrassed regarding occasional 3D applications like light gaming.

Inside the box is 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of NVMe storage, which makes for a surprisingly peppy desktop machine that should tear through standard desktop tasks like web browsing, office work, coding, and even some photo and video editing work.

The UM690 features support for three simultaneous monitors via its two HDMI outputs and a single USB 4 output (the latter of which can handle up to 8K at 60Hz). On top of this, there are five USB 3.2 gen 2 ports and a single 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port, plus support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Windows 11 Pro is preinstalled out of the box, but you could wipe it and install Linux if you like.

Don't expect the UM690 to fly in games but for desktop tasks, as a media or file server, for emulating older console games, or anywhere you need a PC but don't have a huge amount of space, the UM690 is a solid buy.

A powerful Ryzen 9 6900HX lies at the heart of the MINISFORUM EliteMini UM690, with 32GB of RAM, a 512GB NVMe drive, with fast and plentiful I/O to boot.

Best Mini Apple PC: Mac mini M2 (2022)

The 2022 M2 Mac mini is a shockingly good-value small computer. Equipped with the latest Apple Silicon system-on-chip, the Mac mini could easily be on our list, considering its fantastic value for money. While technically speaking the Mac mini isn't a mini PC, this ARM-based machine can do almost everything its PC rivals can do and even excels in some tasks.

Notably, the M2 chip is far more power efficient than the x86 architecture found in most PCs. In terms of performance to watt, the Apple model will wipe the floor with most competitors, which makes the Mac mini ideal if you value efficiency in terms of both power and thermals. It runs a complete version of macOS and can even handle Windows on ARM using virtualization software like Parallels Desktop .

Be aware that the Mac mini isn't upgradeable, so you're stuck with the RAM and storage capacity you select at checkout. On the back of the unit are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a gigabit Ethernet port, and a standard stereo jack. The machine also comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

The Mac mini is a particularly good buy if you don't own a Mac and simply want a budget-friendly entry point to Apple's ecosystem. Performance in video and photo editing is excellent, and the 10-core GPU flies in 3D applications optimized for Apple's Metal API.

With an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 8GB of unified RAM, a 256GB SSD, and Gigabit Ethernet on-board, the M2 Mac Mini is one of the best-value small computers you can buy.

Best Budget Mini PC: Beelink U59 Pro N5105

A solid mini PC with a surprisingly long list of features, the Beelink U59 Pro isn't going to knock your socks off, but it's one of the best-value mini PCs you can buy today. Beelink makes many different models, and this one is powered by an eleventh-generation Intel Celeron "Jasper Lake" N5105 processor with a modest four cores and four threads.

The chip is a few years old, but it should get you where you want to be if all you're doing is basic desktop computing like web browsing, responding to email, and word processing. Being a bit slow and old, the chip runs cool, which means it's virtually silent in operation. The U59 Pro also has 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 500GB solid-state drive.

Perhaps most impressive at this price point is the fact that Windows 11 Pro comes installed. Other noteworthy features include a display output of up to 4K at 60Hz, triple monitor support (with dual HDMI ports), dual gigabit Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, and a wall-mount bracket in the box.

The Beelink U59 Pro mini PC only has Intel HD graphics, which will struggle in all but the most basic graphical tasks, making it a poor choice for gaming (unless you're emulating retro consoles). If you need a bit more grunt, consider Beelink's other budget machines, like the Core i5-powered Beelink SEI11 .

With only 4 cores and 4 threads on its Intel Celeron N5105, the U59 Pro is a modest but highly affordable mini PC for general office and computing tasks. It comes with Windows 11 Pro installed, support for three montors, and is almost silent.

Best Mini PC for Gaming: Intel NUC 13 Extreme Kit

If you want a small gaming machine, the Intel NUC platform is an attractive prospect. The NUC 13 Extreme is the 2023 iteration of Intel's New Unit of Computing, available in both a barebones kit and "finished" forms. This particular model, the RNUC13RNGI90001 (which just rolls off the tongue) is a barebones kit, so you'll need to buy and install a few extra components yourself.

You get everything except RAM, storage, and a GPU. In the box, you'll find a 13th-generation Intel Core i9 13900K, an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 chip, and a 750W 80+ power supply. Everything comes installed on the included motherboard, which supports up to 64GB DDR5 5600MHz memory, three M.2 storage slots, 10Gb Ethernet, a Wi-Fi 6E wireless card, and a whole heap of USB 3.2 gen 2 and Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Perhaps most important is the Intel NUC 13 Extreme's support for full-sized, triple-slot GPUs that are up to 313mm long, 155mm high, and 63mm thick. This is essential if gaming is your primary use case since integrated graphics simply aren't going to cut it in the latest games.

NUC barebones kits allow you to finish your build to your own specification. You're paying a premium for the form factor and ease of installation, and if you're coming from another machine, you can recycle parts like storage drives, RAM, or even your GPU.

You don't have to worry whether everything will fit, fuss with cable management, or install components like a CPU or motherboard. You can even use the integrated graphics chip until you install your GPU.

This 2023 Intel NUC 13 Extreme kit comes with a Core i9-13900K chip, 750w power supply, and room for a full-sized three slot GPU. Simply add your own storage, RAM, and graphics card.

Best Mini Linux PC: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

Almost all of the mini PCs on this list (including our best overall pick ) could be Linux Mini PCs---you just need to install Linux on them. The main exception to this is the Mac mini, though Linux support for Apple's new chips is improving rapidly . With that said, we've gone for a "Mini Linux PC" here that doesn't ship with Windows preinstalled, which means you aren't spending anything on a Windows license (even a cheap OEM copy ).

With that in mind, we chose the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B as our Linux wildcard. It may be a few years old now, but it's absolutely tiny, available for less than $75, and its primary operating system---Raspberry Pi OS---is based on the Debian Linux distribution. The modest Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core ARM-based chip provides enough grunt for basic desktop tasks, and it's coupled with 8GB of DDR4 RAM.

That makes it ideal as a simple desktop computer for browsing the web and basic office tasks, as a means of powering your next retro emulator build , as a power-efficient server, or as a controller for some sort of whacky DIY project . You can use these machines as a networked Time Machine backup , as a proxy server , or simply as a desktop replacement with the 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS .

It's no wonder the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B got our top gong as the best overall Raspberry Pi kit you can buy .

This is peak Raspberry Pi, with all of the components and memory you need to for more advanced applications including use as a desktop replacement with Raspberry Pi OS.

We've reviewed our recommendations, and these are still the best xxxxxxx you can buy.

What are mini PCs?

Mini PCs are much smaller versions of standard desktop PCs. They can come with the same type of processors found in "standard" Windows laptops and desktops, or use ARM-based processors like the Apple M1 or similar. While some mini PCs can be powerful, many are underpowered compared to desktop and laptop alternatives on account of their thermal and power requirements. They are typically not user-upgradeable beyond a few basic components like RAM and storage.

Do mini PCs have graphics cards?

Most mini PCs don't have dedicated GPUs, instead opting for integrated graphics solutions like Intel UHD Graphics or AMD Radeon graphics. This saves on space, heat, and power requirements not to mention cost. That said, some mini PC format like Intel's NUC have enough room to house a full-sized graphics cards.

Are mini PCs good for gaming?

A mini PC with a full-sized graphics card and comparable specifications to a desktop of the same specification should be just as good for gaming, though it's important to understand how smaller enclosures affect heat dissipation. You may find your machine runs hotter or louder than a comparable full-sized gaming desktop, and you'll also need to make sure that the power supply can handle the total power draw with your GPU installed.

Are mini PCs upgradeable?

Mini PCs are rarely upgradeable in terms of CPU and motherboard but many models support RAM and storage upgrades. If your mini PC has room for a full-sized graphics card, this is also upgradeable. There are exceptions like the Mac mini which isn't at all upgradeable or single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi which can only receive storage upgrades via a new SD card.

Best mini PCs for gaming in 2024

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MINISFORUM Venus UM790 Pro Mini PC

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Beelink R7-5700U Mini PC

MINISFORUM NUCX I7 Mini Gaming PC

If you’re in the market for the best mini gaming PC then search no more. We’ve selected a range of top pint-sized picks, each in different categories so you can be sure there’ll be something for you here.

In the tech world, things have been shifting away from the bigger is better mentality, with an increased focus on compact design and portability. This has coincided with mini PC technology progressing fast, especially in relation to gaming. This means that a mini gaming PC can pack much of the power of full-sized desktops into a compact form factor. In turn, this frees up a tonne of desk real estate and even opens up the possibility of taking your gaming rig with you on the move, though, for that, you’ll want one of the best portable gaming monitors too.

The best mini gaming PC in 2024

As with all lists of the best gaming PCs, there is such a variety out there that it doesn’t make sense to limit our list to one outright winner. Instead, we have opted for a range of options, each of which excelled in a certain subcategory, including the best budget friendly pick. Let’s get into it.

1. MINISFORUM Venus UM790 Pro Mini PC – Best overall mini gaming PC

AMD Radeon 780M

• Good price for performance
• Superfast SSD storage
• No dedicated GPU

This mini gaming PC from Minisforum strikes a great balance between price and performance while maintaining that all-important small form factor. Minisforum packs an impressive amount of gaming power beneath this compact hood. You’ve got a Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU, boasting 8 cores and 16 threads and clock speeds of up to 5.2GHz. On top of that, there is a gigantic 32GB of RAM and a terabyte of compact SSD storage. 32GB is easily enough for modern gaming and also makes the compact PC suitable for other intensive activities like video editing.

The Venus uses AMD Radeon graphics which boast a 1900MHz clock speed. However, this lack of a dedicated GPU is a drawback, though not one that is uncommon in the mini PC market. This is largely due to cooling. You might notice that the best gaming PCs can be bulky, but if you actually look inside the case there is a load of empty space. This is all to facilitate cooling, as each component uses the space to reduce its temperature, without heating the things around it.

The Miniforum Venus mitigates against this with its intelligent “coldwave” 2.0 cooling design. This utilises liquid metal cooling, in combination with a large heatsink and quiet fan. This ensures that each component is able to run efficiently without overheating itself or passing that heat onto other key parts of the computer.

2. Beelink Mini PC – Best budget mini gaming PC

AMD Radeon graphics

Ryzen 7 5700U

• Very reasonable price
• High speed CPU
• Impressively compact

This compact computing device packs an impressive punch, especially considering its small stature and even smaller price tag.

At the centre of this Beelink PC is a Ryzen 7 5700U CPU. This is a formidable CPU from AMD and brings with it eight cores and 16 threads, which are capable of a 4.3GHz boosted clock speed. Again there is no dedicated GPU with the AMD Radeon graphics instead integrated into the CPU. While this is a limiting factor, the PC is still a capable 1080p gaming device.

The Beelink’s 1TB of SSD storage grants you not only the option to host a huge game library but also the ability to access it at speed. This is because an SSD is able to locate and record game data at much higher speeds than traditional HDDs. If you want to know more about the differences between SSD vs HDD drives, we’ve got you covered.

3. MINISFORUM NUCX I7 Mini Gaming PC – Best premium mini gaming PC

Intel Core i7 11800H

• Powerful RTX 3070 dedicated GPU
• Beautiful compact design
• Intel i7 CPU

The Minisforum NUCX I7 Mini PC is a true gaming beast. While maintaining its status as a mini PC it manages to pack in the kind of gaming hardware you’d expect from a full-size rig. This includes 32GB of DDR4, an Intel Core i7 11800H CPU and 1 terabyte of SSD storage. The CPU stands out especially, with a 24M cache and 4.6GHz turbo clock speed.

It is the GPU, however, which is the crowing achieving of this gaming PC. Not only is this the only mini PC on our list with a dedicated GPU, but it actually comes with one of the best GPUs for 1080p , the RTX 3070. This means DLSS 2, and advanced ray tracing abilities. Pair this up with one of the best gaming monitors , and you’ll be able to access decent speeds across even triple-A titles.

Its DDR4 RAM may not be as advanced as DDR5, but is still a compact and efficient source of memory, a whole 32GB of it in fact. And all of this in a compact form factor. The Miniforum NUCX I7 Mini Gaming PC is just 16.89 x 12.99 x 3.62 inches and its design is striking too, more resembling a games console than a traditional Gaming PC. Even with all these premium features and specs, it still managed to be one of the best gaming PCs under $1500 as well, offering great value for money.

Can a mini PC be good for gaming?

Yes, a mini PC with the right internal components can be great at gaming. All the picks on this list have suitable CPUs and RAM counts to be able to handle modern gaming’s intense requirements. That said, as a whole mini PCs tend to be less powerful than desktops and many are not able to handle games at the highest resolutions and frame rates.

Do mini gaming PCs overheat?

Mini gaming PCs can be at risk of overheating, thanks to how compact their components are. However, with a suitable cooling solution, this should not be an issue.

Can a mini gaming PC run Fortnite?

Yes, a mini PC that is geared towards gaming should be able to run Fortnite without any issues. Some of the picks on this list will even be able to access high frame rates which can help improve performance in the battle royal.

Best Compact Pre-Built Gaming PCs for 2024

Standard-sized gaming PCs require a good amount of space on the desk. With these compact pre-built gaming PCs, gamers can maximize the performance and

Standard-sized gaming PCs typically require a lot of space on the desk . Since a good gaming rig consists of a custom CPU cooler, discrete GPU , and even bigger motherboards and power supply units, there is hardly anything users can do to reduce the size of their computers. However, there is no need to worry anymore! Many manufacturers took this issue seriously and have worked on preparing compact pre-built gaming PCs that offer the potential of a large gaming rig while offering users sufficient space for their peripherals.

ASUS 2023 ROG G22CH DB776

Thermaltake reactor 380 liquid-cooled pc, minisforum venus series um773 lite mini pc, minisforum mini pc neptune hx99g, trigkey amd ryzen 7 mini pc, stgaubron gaming desktop pc, topgro mini gaming pc, the best small gaming desks for 2024.

Going smaller does require some major adjustments and hardware modifications, like designing custom cases and compact components. So, this is something users must keep in mind as the path to upgradeability for compact gaming systems might not be as flexible as for the standard pre-built gaming PCs. That said, the Game Rant's hardware team has filtered out the best compact pre-built gaming PCs from numerous options on the market that offer unparalleled functionality, the latest and balanced specifications, and the ease of access to start gaming right away.

Things to Consider When Buying a Compact Pre-Built Gaming PC

• Size: This is the primary feature users are looking for when getting a compact pre-built system. Depending on the space availability on the desk, users should decide the size of their gaming rigs.
• Upgrades: A pre-built system that allows easier swapping of standard-sized components like CPU coolers or GPUs will have a major advantage over those that can only fit low-profile hardware. The chassis should be easy to work with and shouldn't force the users to remove everything from the case. Also, fewer screws and tool-less access should be given priority.
• Ventilation: Many compact pre-built gaming PCs don't offer sufficient ventilation, which can lead to thermal throttle. Even if the case doesn't come with several pre-installed fans, it should at least have ventilated panels for easy heat dissipation.
• Hardware: Compact hardware doesn't enjoy the same level of availability as standard-sized ones. Therefore, the current market is filled with older generations of CPUs, graphics cards, and motherboards. It's best to choose the one that provides modern hardware for higher performance and better optimizations for games.

Game Rant's Picks for The Best Compact Pre-Built Gaming PCs

ASUS 2023 ROG G22CH DB776 is an excellent compact PC build powered by one of the latest high-end Core i7 chips and RTX 4070 GPU. The computer measures equivalent to a gaming console without compromising on the hardware and brings Windows 11 pre-installed. The gaming build is easily portable and features RGB LEDs on the front panel.

• Equivalent to modern consoles in size
• Excellent specs to max out games at 1440p resolution
• RGB lighting on the front panel
• Costs close to $2000
• No built-in WiFi

While the majority of compact PC builds compromise on the specifications, Asus G22CH stands out without being too big on the desk. The gaming rig is available in several variations, but this particular model is excellent for hitting that sweet spot performance. Ideal for 1440p gaming, the G22CH can max out any game with 60+ fps in most titles and much higher in esports games. Thanks to the combination of the RTX 4070 and the i7 13700F, users don't have to worry about the horsepower they need to push the frame rates higher.

The Best RTX 4070 SUPER GPUs To Get In 2024

The gaming PC comes with Windows 11 pre-installed, 1TB of fast NVMe storage, and 16GB DDR5 memory clocked at 4800MHz. While not the best in the industry, it is adequate for most gamers out there. The hardware is hosted inside a mini-tower that comes with a ventilated side panel for easier heat dissipation, which is crucial for high-end hardware, especially when the case is compact. The only thing absent from this PC is a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, which users can add separately if wireless internet connectivity is important.

Thermaltake Reactor 380 Liquid-Cooled PC brings one of the top-performing Zen 3-based CPUs that powers the RTX 3080 for superb 1440p gaming performance. The excellent mini-ITX Thermaltake chassis provides users with ample ventilation and helps the CPU cool down rapidly with the AIO cooler. It has sufficient memory, built-in WiFi, and Windows 10 pre-installed so that gamers can start their gaming journey right away.

• 8 Cores/16 Threads CPU with overclocking capabiilty
• High-end Ampere-based RTX 3080 GPU for 1440p gaming
• Ample space and ventilation inside the chassis
• Liquid cooled
• CPU and GPU from previous generations

Thermaltake provides users with an excellent choice that doesn't lack in either aesthetics or functionality. The Reactor 380 boasts a superb Tower 100 case that provides sufficient ventilation from all sides and tempered glass panels on multiple sides for a breathtaking view. The gaming PC is not the most compact one but will surely take up less space on the desk due to being vertical in design. Inside this pre-built PC, users will find one of the best AM4 processors, namely the Ryzen 5800X, which features 8 cores and 16 threads for awesome gaming performance and productivity.

As it is also overclockable, the Reactor 380 comes with a 120mm AIO cooling solution to take care of the thermals. For pushing the framerates beyond 60 fps even at 1440p, users will find the RTX 3080 installed inside, which can max out most AAA titles pretty easily. Moreover, this will even take care of Ray Tracing enthusiasts who don't want to compromise on eye candy. Surely, it's expensive but comes pre-assembled properly and has built-in Wi-Fi and Windows 10 Home pre-installed.

MINISFORUM Venus Series UM773 is a lightweight and compact pre-built system that provides one of the latest mobile Ryzen 7 7735HS chip for covering both productivity and gaming tasks. The system sits on a sturdy stand and brings adequate ventilation through the front panel. Users will get a good capacity RAM, storage, integrated graphics, and the essential ports for gaming and work.

• Lightweight and smaller than a console
• Highly power efficient
• Plenty of system RAM for productivity
• Not suitable for intensive gaming
• Processor not upgradeable

Pre-built gaming PCs under $500 are generally lackluster when it comes to GPUs. It's true that most budget gaming builds can't have a discrete GPU, but it doesn't mean that they cannot play games. With the latest APUs, it is now possible to have a decent gaming experience at 1080p resolution and the UM773 Lite Mini PC is an example of the same. This is a highly compact system based around a Ryzen mobile chip based on the Zen 3 architecture. The Ryzen 7 7735HS is a power-efficient CPU that brings the Radeon 680M GPU onboard, which is capable of playing games on low to medium settings.

The Most Popular CPUs For Gaming

Even though the processor is not upgradeable, it can easily carry out intensive operations through its 8-core/16-thread configuration. The clock speeds are also impressive and can reach up to 4.7GHz. For storage, users will get 1TB of NVMe SSD and a 2.5" slot for adding a SATA drive. RAM is also plentiful to make sure there is no bottlenecking from the memory side, which further establishes it as the best compact multi-purpose PC.

MINISFORUM Mini PC Neptune HX99G boasts a beautifully designed chassis that is compact and rests on a sturdy stand. The system brings ports right in the front panel for easy connectivity and has a Wi-Fi 6 adapter for wireless internet. The system is powered by a high-end mobile chip, Ryzen 9 6900HX, and Radeon RX 6650M GPU for exceptional gaming performance on a budget.

• High-end Ryzen mobile CPU with 8 cores/16 threads for productivity
• RX 6650M is an excellent 1080p gaming GPU
• Built-in WiFi 6E adapter
• Not upgrdeable
• Can be kept in one only position

Users who are looking to spend no more than 800 dollars can have this amazing pre-built system made by Minisforum. While Minisforum mostly makes compact PCs with entry-level specifications, this one brings a rather capable CPU for intensive operations. At its core, lies the Ryzen 9 6900HX mobile chip, which is a killer processor for CPU-intensive tasks and also brings Radeon 680M as an iGPU. However, the HX99G is equipped with a dedicated RX 6650M GPU , which is equivalent to the RTX 3060 laptop GPU but comes with 8GB VRAM to run modern titles easily.

The hardware is enclosed inside a compact chassis that has a stable and sturdy stand and has a few ports on the front panel for easier connectivity. Among them are USB Type A and Type C ports, where users can connect their standard peripherals or even USB-C mice , and on the back users will find three more USB Type-A ports and two blazing fast USB-4 ports that support up to 40Gbps of transfer speed. The system comes with a pre-installed Windows 11 OS and a fast WiFi 6E adapter for wireless internet connectivity.

Trigkey AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC is an ultimate compact pre-built computer for productivity/gaming that requires minimal space on the desk and is decently power efficient. With just 57W of max power consumption, it gets the job done through its power-efficient CPU that comes with an integrated graphics unit for gaming or GPU-intensive tasks, while its 8 cores/16 threads configuration has enough horsepower to perform CPU-oriented chores.

• Ultra compact and power-efficient
• Ryzen 5800H with 8 cores/16 threads for decent productivity
• Vega based iGPU with 8 cores
• WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2
• No room for upgrades
• Not ideal for intensive titles

This compact pre-built gaming PC is like a lunch box and can be taken anywhere with ease. The Trigkey AMD Ryzen 7 Mini PC comes with a Ryzen 5800H mobile CPU that offers 8 cores and 16 threads clocked at 3.2GHz base clock, which is significantly higher than Ryzen 5700U. As it can run on a higher TDP of 45W with a max power consumption of up to 57W, the Vega-based iGPU will perform much better.

It offers a built-in WiFi 6 adapter and Bluetooth for connecting to the internet or even to Bluetooth devices without any hassle. From the first impression, it might look like it doesn't offer a lot of connectivity ports, but in reality, it provides adequate ports for display and peripherals. Users will get 1x HDMI and 1x DP port for display output and for peripheral connectivity, there are 3x USB 3.2, 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB Type C, and 1x 3.5mm audio jack ports.

STGAubron Gaming Desktop PC brings a stylish and modern look with multiple pre-installed RGB fans and an HD display on the front panel. With a large side-tempered glass panel, users can admire their gaming rig anytime. It brings a powerful 8 cores/16 threads processor for finishing tasks quickly and an RTX 3060 GPU that can max out games at 1080p resolution.

• Highly upgradeable
• Multiple RGB fans and HD display at the front
• 8 core/16 thread i7 CPU with the RTX 3060 for intensive gaming
• Not the most compact pre-built system

With a beautiful micro-ATX case , the STGAubron gaming desktop PC provides pre-included RGB fans, a large tempered glass side panel, and an HD display at the front for displaying real-time hardware metrics. The PC brings great upgradeability to the desk with the standard desktop components which can be swapped anytime when required. However, even with the current specifications, it is one of the best compact pre-built gaming PCs on this list. With the Core i7 11700KF processor, productivity and multitasking will become less intensive, and with the RTX 3060 12GB GPU, maxing out games at 1080p resolution will be possible.

Moreover, users will also get a keyboard, mouse, and RGB mousepad combo which lets them get into the game right away. The PC is also equipped with WiFi, Bluetooth, and pre-installed Windows 11 Home, which makes it a fantastic gaming build for less than $1000 .

TOPGRO Mini Gaming PC stands out through its futuristic design that boasts a stable base and a vertical tower with RGB lighting at the front. The computer is narrower than most compact pre-built systems but still packs a punch. With the combination of one of the latest Raptor Lake i9 CPUs and the RTX 3050, this PC can fly high in productivity without having to compromise in gaming.

• 14 cores/20 threads Core i9 CPU with unmached productivity
• Geforce RTX 3050 for decent 1080p gaming performance
• Modern outlook with sturdy base and RGB lighting
• WiFi 6, 32GB RAM, and super fast PCI-E 4.0 SSD
• CPU or GPU can't be upgraded
• Costlier for its gaming potential

Featuring an excellent case design that allows continuous heat dissipation despite the narrow width of the case, the Topgro gaming PC will be perfect for gamers who own smaller desks. Its futuristic aesthetics, which include RGB lighting on the front and a beautifully crafted sturdy base, add more charm to the users' desks. But this isn't what it is all about! It features one of the latest mobile Intel CPUs, namely, the Core i9 13900H processor that provides a hybrid architecture for distributing the loads to appropriate cores.

The 32GB of system RAM is also more than sufficient for any gaming or productivity application and its 1TB of superfast PCI-E SSD will make sure users don't have to wait for too long for their applications to open. The only limitation is that it is equipped with the RTX 3050 GPU, which can't max out games at 1080p resolution. Despite costing a good $1500, this is something that can bother enthusiast gamers, particularly when its GPU can't be upgraded. However, it's perfectly fine for gamers who are more into eSports games like Valorant, CS2, and Dota. Besides that, this PC brings everything from top-notch hardware to various connectivity features to get started right away.

The Best Gaming Desks in 2024

Q: what is the best brand for compact pre-built gaming pc.

Lenovo, iBuypower, Skytech, Kamrui, and Acemagician are some of the best brands that produce excellent compact pre-built gaming PCs.

Q: Are mini PCs ok for gaming?

Yes, they are perfectly fine for gaming if the specifications include either a high-end APU or a discrete GPU that has enough horsepower to power the games.

• Electronics

The Best Mini Desktop PCs

If you’re looking for a simple, small desktop computer that doesn’t take up much space in your home or office, consider a mini PC. These computers are best for everyday tasks like working on documents and spreadsheets, browsing the web, taking video calls, or watching TV. However, our top picks are also powerful enough to do some light media editing, and our upgrade pick is fast enough even for professional photo and video editors.

Everything we recommend

HP Pro Mini 400 G9

The best windows mini pc.

This simple Windows PC is small, quiet, and powerful enough for daily work.

Buying Options

Apple Mac mini (M2, 2023)

The best mac mini pc.

The Mac mini offers excellent performance, and the system’s fan is whisper-quiet even when you’re editing photos or videos or compiling code.

Upgrade pick

Apple Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)

A tiny powerhouse.

The Mac mini with an M2 Pro and 32 GB of RAM can speed up most media-editing workflows, and it can connect up to three monitors.

For those who prefer Windows, the HP Pro Mini 400 G9 is the best choice, and macOS users should buy the Mac mini with Apple’s M2 processor . Both are capable little computers that you can stick under or behind a monitor, saving space on your desk. A more powerful upgrade is the Apple Mac mini with the M2 Pro processor , which competes with high-end desktops in photo and video editing capabilities.

The HP Pro Mini 400 G9 is a basic PC that’s perfect for home or office use. It runs on Intel’s latest generation of processors, which are energy-efficient and more than powerful enough for daily tasks. It has all the ports you need to hook up multiple monitors, and it offers the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. We love that the Pro Mini 400 is especially repairable; you can swap out and upgrade the storage drive, the RAM, and even the processor. And HP’s competitive pricing on this model means you can get more RAM and storage for $300 less than you’d pay for a similarly upgraded Apple Mac mini.

If you prefer macOS, get the Apple Mac mini with Apple’s M2 processor . This speedy little Mac desktop can integrate seamlessly with an iPhone or an iPad, as well as Apple services like FaceTime and iMessage. For everyday browsing and general use, an M2 Mac mini with 8 GB of memory is good enough, though if you plan to use yours for professional photo and video editing or app development, you should step up to 16 GB of memory. Keep in mind that you can’t upgrade the Mac mini’s memory or storage after you buy it, so you need to make that decision up front. Apple’s internal-storage upgrades are pricey enough that you should look at an external hard drive or a portable SSD if you need more space.

By upgrading the processor in Apple’s Mac mini to the M2 Pro, you get the same blistering processing speeds found in the new MacBook Pro for nearly half the cost. Compared with our previous upgrade pick, the Mac Studio with an M1 Max chip, the Apple Mac mini with an M2 Pro processor loses some convenient features, such as front USB-C ports and an SDXC card reader, but you pay substantially less—$700 less, to be exact—for a faster machine. It’s also whisper-quiet, even under a heavy processing load, so you can keep it on your desk and forget it’s even there.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked, how we tested, our pick: hp pro mini 400 g9, our pick: apple mac mini (m2, 2023), upgrade pick: apple mac mini with m2 pro, what about gaming mini pcs, what about other mini pcs not listed here, what to look forward to, the competition.

Dave Gershgorn has reviewed and covered technology since 2015 at publications such as Popular Science, Quartz, Medium, and now Wirecutter. As a senior staff writer, he covers all computer displays for Wirecutter and is a certified display calibrator through the Imaging Science Foundation. He has also built, repaired, and largely avoided frying his own computers since 2006.

Mini PCs are small computers that cram all the components of a desktop tower into a box the size of a paperback. There’s no attached display, mouse, or keyboard, so you have to buy your own. (Check out our guides to the best monitors for our recommendations on which one is best for you.) Despite these desktops’ small size, they’re more than powerful enough for browsing the web, handling basic photo and video editing, and working in documents or large spreadsheets.

Unlike ultrabooks or most all-in-one PCs, Windows mini PCs are easy to upgrade if you want to add more memory or storage, and they have all the ports you need to connect two or three monitors and your favorite keyboard, mouse, and webcam. The size of a mini PC prevents much expansion, but you can upgrade the storage and the memory on most Windows models, and some allow you to swap out the CPU, too. Instead of having a dedicated graphics card, you’re usually stuck with integrated graphics, so don’t expect a mini PC to have enough power to play many modern games; you can add an external graphics dock if your mini PC supports Thunderbolt 3 or higher, but such docks tend to be large and expensive .

Two of Apple’s flagship desktops fit into this mini PC category, and they’re a bit different from Windows mini PCs. They’re not upgradable and repairable—instead they contain desktop versions of the same powerful guts found in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Their chips are power-efficient, and they’re nearly silent, since they don’t require much cooling from fans to keep running smoothly; the Mac mini has one, but it’s almost unnoticeably quiet.

You can find mini PCs for less than $250, but Windows PCs in that price range have unusably slow processors and less memory and storage than most people need. We did not look at cheap, single-board computers, such as those from Raspberry Pi , nor would we include them in our definition of the term “mini PC.” Those ARM-based computers are slow, geared toward hobbyists, and designed to use custom Linux software.

Here’s what we look for in a good mini PC:

• Processor: A mini PC needs a processor powerful enough to handle basic web browsing, light photo editing, and any office programs you use. With the exception of our budget contenders and the Mac mini, all the mini PCs in our test group have a midrange 12th-generation Intel processor.
• Memory: We recommend at least 8 GB of RAM for browsing the web and handling basic productivity tasks. If you spend lots of time in heavy-duty apps such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or Premiere, or if you regularly edit several large spreadsheets or databases at a time, you may benefit from 16 GB; aside from the Mac mini, any of our picks allow you to upgrade the RAM if you decide that you need more.
• Storage: A spinning hard drive can bog down an otherwise speedy computer, so a solid-state drive is a requirement here. A 256 GB SSD should be available as a standard feature, and upgrading the storage or adding a second drive later should be easy. Budget picks usually come with less storage, but Chrome OS relies more on cloud storage than Windows and macOS do, so local storage isn’t as big a deal for a Chromebox.
• Wireless features: Every mini PC should come with support for Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless networking, as well as Bluetooth, so you don’t have to waste USB ports by adding dongles for Wi-Fi or your wireless keyboards and mice.
• Price: Mini PCs are smaller than desktop PCs, but their size doesn’t make them cheaper—on the contrary, cramming everything into a small box is an engineering feat that you pay a small premium for. Expect to pay between $600 and $800 for a mini PC capable enough to last you the next few years.
• Ports: A good mini PC comes with at least four USB ports. A great mini PC tosses in a USB Type-C and/or Thunderbolt port and an SD card reader. The ports should be split between the PC’s front and back so that you can access at least a couple of them without messing around at the back of the computer. A mini PC should have at least two ports for connecting to monitors—any combination of HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C is workable for most people.
• Preinstalled operating system: We focus on computers that have either Windows or macOS. Each of our picks comes with the operating system preinstalled.
• Size: A mini PC should be small enough to hide behind or under a monitor, taking up no additional space on a desk. Because mini PCs fit almost anywhere, many clever mounting options are available, and if a smaller mini PC model has a VESA mount (more on that below), you can tuck the PC behind a monitor or underneath a desk.
• Ease of upgrades: You should be able to upgrade the memory and storage on any mini PC without much technical know-how. (However, our Mac picks are not upgradable in this way.)
• Fan noise: Like laptops, mini PCs cram a lot of power into a small case. Although you don’t need to worry about burning your legs with a mini PC, you do need to make sure the case regulates temperature so that the computer doesn’t overheat. Due to the system’s size, you might hear the fan (if it has one) kick on more often than with other computers, so it’s important that the fan’s sound isn’t too annoying.
• Warranty: Most mini PCs come with at least a one-year warranty, but the best have a two- or three-year warranty. The policy should cover any defects as well as tech support over the phone, chat, or email.

We also consider the following features, but their presence has no effect on our recommendations:

• Lack of bloatware: Nobody wants useless, poorly designed, complicated software—bloatware—preinstalled on their PC, and it’s annoying for people who can’t figure out how to remove it. A mini PC free of manufacturer cruft is more desirable.
• Bundled keyboard and mouse: Some of the mini PCs we’ve looked at come packaged with keyboards and mice, while others don’t. This doesn’t affect our judgment one way or the other. The accessories that PC manufacturers bundle with their desktops are rarely very good—if you care about your keyboard and mouse, you’re likely to spend extra on a nice Bluetooth keyboard or mechanical keyboard and a good wireless mouse anyway.
• VESA mounting support: Mounting a mini PC to the back of a monitor is a good way to save a little space on your desk and get some of the benefits of an all-in-one without having to pay for one (or dealing with its lack of upgradability). VESA support on a mini PC is nice to have but not something everyone needs.
• Power consumption: Mini PCs use low-power desktop and laptop processors, so yours shouldn’t draw much power even when it’s working hard.

After we settled on the hardware criteria, we searched the websites of major PC manufacturers such as Acer , Apple , Asus , Dell , HP , Intel , and Lenovo —and poked around in the inventory of smaller manufacturers such as Gigabyte , MSI , Shuttle , and Zotac —to find models to test.

We started our tests by booting up each mini PC and then running all available updates to the operating system and hardware. We then ran the benchmarking program Geekbench 5 and ran the 10-minute single-core and multi-core benchmarks in Cinebench R23—this process gave us a good idea of how the computers would perform in general use and when running at full speed for an extended period of time.

We then connected each mini PC to a series of 24-inch, 27-inch, and 4K monitors to test its display outputs and used it for a few days of ordinary work. This process usually consisted of running a web browser with at least 15 tabs open at a time (Google Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Slack, and plenty more), streaming music through the Spotify desktop application, video chatting, and recording audio. The testing allowed us to get a feel for how each mini PC performed on a daily basis, and it also gave us time to discover any quirks related to bloatware or driver issues.

The HP Pro Mini 400 G9 is a simple and repairable computer that’s fast enough for everyday work and general use. It’s small enough to mount behind a monitor, which you can easily do with the computer case’s included VESA mounting holes, and its fans aren’t too noisy.

Inside the Pro Mini 400 is a 12th-generation Intel Core i5-12500T processor, which in our tests felt fast to use and didn’t get bogged down running a bunch of apps at once. The model we tested also had 16 GB of RAM, which was more than enough for us to have a wealth of tabs open, to stream video, and to run applications with abandon.

In this guide we’ve linked to a configuration of the Pro Mini 400 that in our opinion provides the best value and options, but you can configure the PC on HP’s site to put in more RAM, a better processor, or even a better Wi-Fi antenna, if you want. (We didn’t have any problems with the standard antenna.) One upgrade that might be worthwhile is using the Flexible Port option to add one more USB-C port to the rear of the PC, as HP says this port can serve to power the whole mini PC if you have a monitor capable of outputting 100 W of power over USB-C. This means you would need to have just one power cable running to your display and then have one USB-C cable connecting your display to your Pro Mini 400, supplying video and power. If you then mount the PC to the back of that monitor, your setup would be especially clean and space-efficient.

Keep in mind that if you are configuring your own PC, you should make sure to include a wireless card for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, because that option isn’t selected by default.

If you’re agnostic as to which operating system your computer uses, one advantage of the Pro Mini 400 over the Mac mini is its front-facing ports. The computer has two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a headphone jack on the front, making it easy for you to plug in flash drives and other peripherals you might not want plugged in all the time. The back of the computer has more ports, including three USB-A ports, two DisplayPort 1.4 connections, one HDMI 2.1 port, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. Also available is a single HP FlexPort, which you can change into an extra DisplayPort, HDMI, or USB-C port if you customize your PC.

The Pro Mini 400 is extremely easy to open and upgrade yourself. You’ll find just one screw on the back of the computer, which you can open with a flathead screwdriver. You can then push the entire top of the computer case forward and lift it off, revealing the internals of the PC. Unlike on any Apple computer, in this mini PC, removing three screws that secure the heat sink allows you to upgrade the processor, an excellent feature that helps to ensure the repairability and long-term lifespan of your computer. The SSD inside is also readily accessible if you want to upgrade that yourself, and it requires the removal of only one more screw. The RAM is equally accessible, hidden under the PC’s fan; you lift the fan up from over the RAM using a clever hinge built into the computer’s heatsink, which cools both the processor and the RAM. This kind of design also lets you clean dust from the heatsink and fans, making maintenance a breeze.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Our only issue with the HP Pro Mini 400 G9 is a strength in disguise, much like an answer that an over-coached applicant might give in a job interview. The Pro Mini 400 is almost too configurable, in a way that makes it confusing to buy. For instance, if you want to change HP’s Flexible Port to the USB-C option that allows you to power the whole device from a compatible monitor, you have to go through HP’s customization menu. This menu is not intuitive, and you can’t configure the machine to be the same price as one of HP’s preconfigured options. This is more of an issue with HP’s website and price structure than anything else, but it’s still an annoying aspect of the purchasing process.

If you prefer macOS to Windows, the Apple Mac mini with Apple’s M2 processor is the mini PC you should get. Apple’s M2 processor is about as fast as the speediest Intel processors available for our Windows pick, and thanks to its power efficiency, the Mac mini remains whisper-quiet even when the computer is working hard.

The 2023 Mac mini’s M2 processor makes it about as fast as an M2 MacBook Air, so it’s great for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document and spreadsheet work, and casual photo editing yet still usable in a pinch for professional tasks like app development and video editing. If you mainly plan to use it as a day-to-day computer, the basic $600 version with 8 GB of memory works just fine. If you want to run professional apps, getting 16 GB of memory is worth paying an extra $200, since you can’t upgrade the Mac mini yourself after buying it. Apple’s storage upgrades are similarly expensive, so we recommend buying an external hard drive or a portable SSD rather than paying Apple’s prices.

Despite its relatively larger size, the Mac mini actually comes with fewer ports than most of the Windows mini PCs we tested (and fewer than the old Intel-based Mac mini had). You get one Gigabit Ethernet port, a pair of USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, an HDMI 2.0 port, two Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and a headphone jack. You can use the Thunderbolt and HDMI ports in any combination to connect up to two external monitors, which is fewer than the three or four external monitors that Intel’s graphics support. But when you’re using a pair of high-resolution 4K-and-up monitors with the M2 Mac mini, macOS and its apps remain fluid and responsive, without any of the choppiness you could sometimes see if you were to hook the same pair of monitors to an Intel Mac mini.

The Mac mini is one of the larger mini PCs we’ve tested, at 7.7 by 7.7 inches and 1.4 inches high. It also lacks VESA-mounting options, so it needs room on a desk (unless you want to try a third-party mount ). But unlike the Windows PCs we’ve tested, the Mac mini doesn’t have an external power brick, so you don’t need to find room for one behind or under your desk.

One area where the Mac mini excels in contrast to our Windows pick is fan noise: The Apple M2 version of the Mac mini is barely audible even when you’re playing a game or encoding video files. Apple’s chips, originally designed to fit into small, fanless iPhones and iPads, are more efficient than Intel’s, so they generate less heat and use less power. In laptops like the MacBook Air, that manifests as a few extra hours of battery life. In a desktop computer like the Mac mini, it means that the system doesn’t need a loud fan, and your power bills will be a little lower. Most of the Intel-based systems in our tests consumed between 50 W and 60 W of power when encoding a video, a task that stresses all the cores on a processor at once. The M2 Mac mini, in contrast, used about 24 W of power to do the same task in a similar amount of time.

The Mac mini comes with Apple’s standard one-year warranty. Extending that coverage to three years with AppleCare+ costs $99; doing so also adds accidental-damage protection and three years of “priority access to tech support.”

Unfortunately, you cannot repair or upgrade the Mac mini yourself. This is in stark contrast to our Windows pick, which is one of the most repairable PCs that we recommend at Wirecutter.

Part of what makes Apple products compelling is the suite of great applications that sync across all its devices, such as iMessage and Photos. Unfortunately, the size of Apple’s default storage drives hasn’t grown as quickly as many people take photos and send them to their friends. And larger drives are extremely costly, adding hundreds of dollars over the typical market price to the cost of the Mac mini. Long-term Apple fans who have years’ worth of saved photos, videos, and messages who don’t want to pay for iCloud must now pay a premium to store all that data on their own drives.

This choice by Apple to make its devices non-upgradable means that if you run out of storage on your Mac mini, you won’t be able to swap out its storage drive to gain more space. Your only options are to buy an external hard drive (though some synced iCloud services like iMessage cannot be stored on external devices), buy Apple’s cloud storage for a monthly cost, or buy a new Mac mini.

For anybody who does processor-intensive work, the Apple Mac mini with an M2 Pro processor is a tiny powerhouse that can fit under a monitor. Its processor is wickedly fast for converting file types, rendering video, or working in 3D. Because the unified 16 GB of RAM works with either the central processing unit or the graphics processor, you can also more quickly handle enormous video files. The Mac mini with the M2 Pro also has two more USB-C ports than the standard model, so you can have peripherals aplenty.

The M2 Pro chip is the centerpiece of this upgrade pick, and in our tests it proved to be just as fast as the M2 Pro processor we recommend for the MacBook Pro line. The M2 Pro Mac mini exported our two-minute 4K test video in Adobe Premiere in just 2 minutes 8 seconds, and it resized and exported 330 high-resolution images in 5 minutes. That 4K-export time is a minute faster than what we got from the M1 Max–based Mac Studio, and 1 minute 20 seconds faster than the results from our M2-based top pick. These tests aren’t indicative of the performance you’re likely to get from every video- and photo-editing process, but they offer a good benchmark for how quickly you can expect the desktop to process similar media.

Apple has an even more powerful mini PC in the Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips. If you came here looking for a small desktop PC, we think these would be overkill. They’re intended for professional video and graphics editors, and those whose work includes processing gigabytes to terabytes of media.

The M2 Pro Mac mini’s 16 GB of RAM represents a notable difference from the configuration of every other Windows mini PC currently available. Apple calls this RAM “unified,” which means that it’s accessible to both the CPU and GPU cores on the M2 Pro chip. Traditionally, on Windows PCs, only the CPU accesses the RAM; this is why media editors and gamers typically buy dedicated graphics cards, or GPUs, which have their own processor for video as well as additional RAM. In the M2 Pro Mac mini, all of the RAM resides in one pool that the system can access for handling spreadsheets, managing Chrome tabs, and exporting video at the same time. This design also gives you a larger supply of RAM for graphics processing, which is generally a good thing when you’re working on larger projects consisting of many gigabytes of video files.

This processor and RAM configuration does have the downside of being completely soldered to one mainboard, which means that the system is essentially unrepairable.

Upgrading to the M2 Pro chip also upgrades the number of ports you get. The M2 Pro version of the Mac mini has two more USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports than the standard version, for a total of four, and the computer can support three monitors instead of two. It also has two USB-A ports, an SD Card reader, an HDMI port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. Thanks to this collection of ports, you should be able to connect just about any accessory, peripheral, storage drive, or monitor with little issue.

Measuring 7.7 inches wide, 7.7 inches long, and 1.4 inches tall, the Mac mini system is extremely quiet even under heavy load, and the noise is almost unnoticeable even when the computer is on a desk.

Gaming mini PCs promise full gaming capabilities in a package smaller than most game consoles, but they don’t make sense for most people. Gaming mini PCs are considerably pricier than the models in this guide, and buying one is usually much more expensive than building a larger PC yourself. They run hot, which can lead to a shorter lifetime for the components. The components are slower than what you get in a midrange gaming PC, and you’re usually limited in the kinds of CPU and GPU upgrades you can perform when you need more speed. In most instances, you should still stick to a gaming PC in a Mini-ITX case if you’re looking for something small, because such a PC will have better cooling, cost less to build, and be easier to upgrade later on. If you’re more concerned about portability, a gaming laptop is a better option.

You can also find a slew of mini PCs sold with more limited Intel Celeron and Pentium processors, which might be fine for emulating games from older consoles but don’t meet the processing-power threshold that we set for daily use. If you’re looking for a mini PC to emulate retro games, the reviews posted by the YouTube channel ETA Prime are thorough and widely sample the category.

A handful of other powerful barebones gaming mini PCs exist, but most of them come from smaller companies like ASRock and Zotac and have shorter warranties and worse support. They’re also harder to find and to buy, and their makers haven’t always updated them to use the newest processors and GPUs.

If you’re looking for a mini PC we haven’t mentioned for daily use or to replace a desktop tower, consider the recommendations we outline in the How we picked section as you shop for one. The configuration should include a 13th-generation Intel processor, at least 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of SSD storage.

Mini PCs have other uses, however, like acting as small servers to host websites or the Plex media-management app. For these specialized situations, you could relax our stated requirements for the latest processors and go down to 4 GB of RAM, and wind up saving quite a bit of money on an older mini PC. We don’t recommend going older than the 10th generation of Intel processors, however, since at that point you’ll start to miss out on critical security updates in just a few years. We also don’t recommend Celeron or Pentium processors, which are unlikely to be powerful enough to handle anything but the simplest computing tasks.

If you’re watching any company building mini PCs right now, watch Asus. Last year, it became the first company to license Intel’s Next Unit of Computing (NUC), and at CES 2024, Asus released its first line of the new mini PCs.

Asus has launched three mini PCs under the NUC name: the NUC 14 Pro, NUC 14 Pro+, and the gaming-focused ROG NUC. All three are powered by Intel’s new Core Ultra processors, and the ROG NUC can be configured with an Nvidia RTX 4060 or 4070 for gaming. We’re especially interested in these, as they seem more consumer-focused compared to Asus’s enterprise-focused ExpertCenter mini PC line. Asus hasn’t released pricing for these NUCs yet, but they’re shipping in February, and we’re looking forward to putting them through their paces in a new round of testing for this guide.

Windows PCs

We tested the HP Z2 Mini G9 , a Windows mini PC built for creative work and any jobs that might require a bit more horsepower than the HP Pro Mini 400 G9 offers. You can outfit it with any of several 12th-generation Intel processors, a wealth of RAM, and large storage options. If you’re specifically looking for a more powerful Windows mini PC, this is a good choice. However, it had some drawbacks that prevented us from making it a pick. In our tests, our upgrade pick, the Apple Mac mini with an M2 Pro processor, proved to be more than 30% faster at certain tasks, especially multi-core tasks such as media editing. The Mac mini was also whisper-quiet, even under heavy load, whereas the Intel processor in the Z2 Mini required a fan, which audibly kicked on while it was handling that same workload. Although the Z2 Mini has a lot of DisplayPort connections, the model we tested didn’t have an HDMI display output or USB-C ports capable of video output by default. (You can add these by configuring the Flexible Port on HP’s site, however.) We don’t want to discount the Z2 Mini G9 entirely, though, as it could be a great machine for some people since its shortcomings are similar to those of many other Windows PCs. It’s worth checking out if you’re not in the Mac ecosystem.

We tested the Dell OptiPlex 3000 Micro and found it very similar to the HP Pro Mini 400 G9. The two computers are available with similar processors, RAM, and storage configurations, but the HP model is less expensive and more flexible in terms of configuration. Most important, the Pro Mini 400 also has a USB-C port. If the HP model is out of stock or wildly more expensive than $800, or if you don’t care about USB-C, this Dell model is a comparable purchase.

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Tiny , M80q Tiny , and M90q Tiny are virtually indistinguishable, as they provide most of the same ports and processor options. Compared with the HP Pro Mini 400 G9, however, they cost more for less RAM, storage, and processing power, and Lenovo systems have had fluctuating pricing and availability this year, likely due to supply-chain issues.

As a general rule for any mini PC, you can skip models that use older 9th- or 10th-generation Intel processors, as those processors are aging and will receive support for a shorter amount of time.

Chromeboxes

We used to recommend Chromeboxes as a low-cost alternative to mini PCs for people who need only to surf the web and check email, and who mainly rely on Google services. However, new Chromeboxes with modern processors aren’t released as often as Chromebooks, and generally Chromebooks offer a better value for those people who don’t need a full PC.

For more details, read our guide to the best Chromebooks .

Apple’s new Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors is geared toward media professionals rather than the average person. While the Mac Studio was previously an upgrade pick here, we now think the M2 Pro Mac mini offers most of the performance for nearly half the price.

If you want to learn more about the Mac Studio and how it compares to the Mac mini, check out our full guide to Mac desktops .

The latest version of this article was edited by Arthur Gies and Caitlin McGarry.

Chris Hoffman, How to Install Windows 10 on Your PC , How-To Geek , November 1, 2017

Meet your guide

Dave Gershgorn

Dave Gershgorn is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He’s been covering consumer and enterprise technology since 2015, and he just can’t stop buying computers. If this weren’t his job, it would likely be a problem.

Further reading

How to Shop for a Used Laptop or Desktop PC

by Kimber Streams and Andrew Cunningham

Major stores and manufacturers sell refurbished, refreshed, and used laptops and desktops that sometimes perform as well as new ones, but for much lower prices.

How to Buy a Mac Desktop

by Dave Gershgorn

Apple makes fantastic laptops, but its desktops are also great options for many people. We’re here to help you figure out which one is right for you.

The Best Laptops for Video and Photo Editing

Photographers and video editors on the go need a powerful laptop with good battery life, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro is almost always the best tool for the job.

The Best Laptops

by Kimber Streams and Dave Gershgorn

From budget-friendly options to thin-and-light ultrabooks to powerful gaming laptops, we’ve spent hundreds of hours finding the best laptops for most people.

• Informatique
• Mini-PC & Raspberry Pi

Quels sont les meilleurs mini-PC ? Comparatif 2024

Les progrès des puces « APU », portés par AMD, ouvrent de nouvelles voies aux mini-PC, mais ne rendent pas le choix de la meilleure machine plus simple pour autant. Des PC aussi compacts que polyvalents ont vu le jour sans que cela fasse disparaître les modèles d’entrée de gamme. Un secteur plus en forme que jamais.

Geekom MiniAir 11

Le petit prix

• Compact, discret, fonctionnel
• DisplayPort et HDMI à la fois
• Pas mal d'USB, Type-C en façade

Apple Mac mini M2

Le moins cher des Mac

• Les performances de la puce M2, excellentes
• Maîtrise énergétique du tonnerre (chauffe très réduite, consommation limitée)
• Connectique complète

Zotac Magnus One ERP74070W

Le plus esthétique

• Volume d'à peine 8 litres
• Design et conception réussis
• Composants très accessibles

Des mini-PC plus séduisants que jamais

Apple mac mini m2 : les charmes d'une pomme plus à croquer que jamais, geekom miniair 11 : quand le prix est encore plus mini que le pc, beelink eq12 n100 : un excellent rapport qualité/prix, msi cubi 5 10m : sécurité de la grande marque, polyvalence du core i5, inwin chopin max : le charme d'un mini-pc monté de toutes pièces, zotac magnus one erp74070w: beau et puissant, mais pas seulement…., choisir son mini-pc : les critères à observer.

L'idée de concevoir des ordinateurs tout à fait capables, mais bien plus compacts que nos grosses tours, n'a rien de novateur. Un fabricant comme Shuttle en proposait dès le début des années et n'était déjà pas le premier.

Aujourd'hui, nous profitons donc de ces APU signées AMD pour davantage de performances et une polyvalence de bon aloi. Pour autant, notre sélection ne se limite pas à des machines dotées d’APU. Nous avons à cœur de montrer l’étendue de ce secteur en plein renouveau.

Certes, Intel a décidé d'arrêter la production de ces NUC, mais les petites machines ont été reprises par ASUS et qu'il s’agisse de petits fabricants chinois (Geekom, Xulu) ou de grosses sociétés bien implantées (MSI, Zotac), il y en a pour tous les goûts. Sans oublier l’inévitable Apple.

Pourquoi se tourner vers un mini-PC ?

Avant de détailler nos critères de sélection/notation, il est important de se poser la question « pourquoi un mini-PC » ? D'emblée, on peut très bien voir le mini-PC comme un complément à une machine plus standard, souvent plus puissante, même si ce rôle est souvent dévolu à un PC portable.

Forcément, le mini-PC a pour lui une taille réduite. Il est plus simple à poser sur un coin de bureau ou à côté du pied de l’écran qu'un ordinateur en grande tour. Il ne gêne pas, ne prend que peu de place et n’est pas difficile à déplacer… même pour un bête coup de plumeau. Le plus souvent, on peut le fixer derrière l'écran via le système de montage norme VESA.

Par ailleurs, un mini-PC a l'avantage de la discrétion. Attention, de plus en plus d'ordinateurs – petit format, mais bien équipées – sont de vraies turbines. Le plus souvent, le mini-PC reste moins puissant qu'un ordinateur standard, il est moins calorifère et génère des nuisances réduites tout en consommant moins d'énergie. Autant de points pour faire pencher la balance.

• Design toujours aussi sobre et compact
• Le rapport équipement / prix du modèle de base
• L’accès parfois pénible aux connectiques et au bouton de démarrage (à l’arrière)
• L’évolutivité inexistante (RAM et SSD soudés)
• Le prix de certaines options, comme souvent chez Apple
• Le SSD raplapla du modèle 256 Go

Performances de haut niveau, consommation énergétique contenue, chauffe restreinte, nuisance sonore inexistante et compacité extrême… difficile de ne pas l’aimer ce nouveau Mac mini M2. L’appareil marque aussi les esprits par son placement tarifaire agressif : une caractéristique presque troublante chez Apple. Avec un prix de départ de 699 euros, le nouvel ordinateur de bureau miniature du géant de Cupertino est à la fois l’un des meilleurs et l’un des plus abordables du marché à l’heure actuelle.

Les seuls reproches que nous avons à lui faire concernent son design. Ce dernier n’a pas bougé depuis des années. Il conserve donc son inattaquable sobriété, mais aussi l’inconvénient de connectiques uniquement regroupées à l’arrière (et donc pas toujours faciles d’accès). Par rapport aux versions Intel et aux modèles plus anciens, le Mac mini M2 souffre par ailleurs d’une évolutivité inexistante, puisque la mémoire vive et le SSD sont soudés à sa carte mère — et donc impossibles à remplacer. Il est loin de temps où Apple prônait l’accès facile aux composants et les mises à niveau matérielles aisées par l'utilisateur lui-même.

• Plutôt extensible (RAM, SSD)
• Chauffe limitée, faible conso
• Puissance logiquement limitée
• SSD de seulement 256 Go
• Pas un seul USB 4 à l'horizon

Petite machine, complète, mais facturée moins de 200 euros, voire moins de 180 euros, le MiniAir 11 n'est pas conçu pour atteindre des sommets de performances, Intel Celeron oblige. Pour autant, même à ce niveau de prix, il faut que la machine reste exploitable. C'est le cas du MiniAir 11, mais il ne faut pas être exigeant.

Windows 11 tourne correctement, mais l'on sent que chaque sollicitation monopolise d'importantes ressources pour le petit Celeron N5095 d'Intel. On apprécie l'idée de pouvoir passer sa RAM à 16 Go à l'aide d'une seconde barrette pour profiter, en plus, du double canal. Cela dit, il ne sera de toute façon pas question de faire du montage ou d'appliquer de lourds filtres photo sur ce mini-PC.

Geekom nous livre ici une machine certes modeste, mais qui « fait le job », se permet de rester extrêmement discrète et dispose d'un chouette rapport qualité-prix.

• Compact, réactif, fonctionnel
• RAM et stockage extensibles
• Jusqu'à 4 moniteurs gérés
• 2x RJ45 dont un en 2,5 GbE
• Puissance graphique limitée
• Un seul port RAM SODIMM
• Pas d'USB4, de lecteur SD

La mode des mini-PC semble partie pour durer et Beelink entend bien se placer parmi ses concurrents chinois comme Geekom ou NiPoGi. S’il ne se démarque pas outre mesure des nombreuses machines de ce type, l’EQ12 N100 reste un candidat sérieux dès lors que l’on veut s’offrir une machine compacte pour la maison.

Le volume très réduit de l’EQ12 N100 est évidemment son atout premier, mais on conserve une réserve de puissance suffisante pour de nombreuses tâches du quotidien. La bureautique ne lui pose aucun problème, pas plus que de modestes travaux de retouche photographique. La lecture vidéo 4K ne pose aucun problème et l'on salue le décodage AV1 matériel.

Pour le jeu vidéo, c’est nettement plus compliqué et en dehors du rétrogaming ou de jeux modestes, il faut davantage s’attendre à des diaporamas qu’à des séquences action. Enfin, n’oublions pas la possibilité de le transformer en petit NAS ou d’en faire un routeur pourvu que l’on accepte de mettre les mains dans le cambouis. Cet EQ12 N100 est donc une machine qui a du potentiel et que l’on trouve plutôt bien positionnée.

• Mini-PC vraiment mini
• Très silencieux
• Ne chauffe pas
• Intel Core i5 bien exploité
• Connectique fournie
• Intel Core de 10e génération

Sur le principe, ce mini-PC est quasiment irréprochable et vient cocher les cases taille, silence, connectivité. La puissance est logiquement plus limitée, mais l'Intel Core i5-10210U fait le job, parfaitement secondé par 8 Go de DDR4-2666 et un SSD de 256 Go.

Il reste possible d'opter pour plutôt costaud avec un Core i7 ou, au contraire, plus silencieux avec un Core i3, tous signés Intel et de 10e génération. C'est d'ailleurs un peu le regret : on aurait aimé que le processeur soit plus moderne, plus proche des ordinateurs de bureau. C'est le seul véritable défaut d'une machine, sinon, rudement bien pensée.

• Tout petit, tout mimi
• Bloc Gold 200 Watts intégré
• 3 x USB (façade), 2 x SATA (interne)
• Éléments toujours accessibles
• Un tout petit peu cher
• Pas de port PCI Express

Pièce maîtresse de notre « configuration mini-ITX », le Chopin MAX nous a donné envie de monter ce petit dossier sans prétention. L’idée était de montrer qu’il reste possible de se monter un ordinateur gaming certes modeste, mais de très petite taille et, finalement, pas très onéreux. Au-delà des seuls jeux PC, notre solution est d’ailleurs tout à fait à son aise sur l’émulation.

Le Chopin MAX est un produit assez remarquable dont on regrette simplement que le tarif ne soit encore un peu plus attractif. In Win ne se moque cependant pas du monde avec un boîtier en aluminium doté d’excellentes finitions et ne faisant pas l’impasse sur l’USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2. Pour ne rien gâcher, le montage est simple et les composants restent accessibles. Du beau travail !

• Évolutif : CPU, RAM, SSD
• Alim 500W 80+ Platinum
• Tarification élevée
• Seulement deux USB en façade
• Rapidement bien bruyant
• Carte mère non standard

Sur un plan esthétique, le Magnus One ERP74070W est une superbe réussite. Rares sont les mini-PC ou les barebones à être aussi élégants. Il est agréable à l’œil et aucune honte à le laisser trôner, bien en évidence, sur le bureau. De plus, l’ouverture et la conception interne de la machine sont des modèles du genre avec un accès très simple à tous les composants essentiels : RAM, SSD et même carte graphique ou processeur.

La fiche technique du Magnus One inspire confiance et force est de constater que cela nous donne une belle machine pour du jeu vidéo en 1 440p. Grâce au DLSS, même un jeu comme Cyberpunk 2077 est parfaitement jouable avec les options de ray tracing activées. Pour des tâches sollicitant davantage le Core i7-13700 d’Intel, le bilan est plus contrasté. Certes, le CPU a du coffre, mais son refroidissement est mal assuré.

De fait, il a souvent tendance à réduire sa fréquence pour faire baisser la chauffe. Non seulement cela a un impact négatif sur les performances, mais cela n’empêche pas le ventilateur de faire pas mal de bruit. À chacun son seuil de tolérance, mais cela nous a semblé suffisamment gênant pour que l’on sanctionne Zotac. Au-delà de la délicate question du prix, pour que le Magnus One soit plus directement recommandable, il serait bon de lui trouver un meilleur ventirad.

Comment testons-nous les mini-PC du comparatif ?

Tous les mini-PC de ce comparatif ont été testés en toute indépendance pas notre expert mini-PC, Nerces. Ce protocole est le même pour toutes les marques et modèles. Chaque critère est évalué sur 10, et une note générale de 0 à 10 est attribuée.

• Évaluation du design : conception, assemblage et qualité des matériaux.
• Évaluation des performances : sous-système mémoire, puisance de calcul du CPU, performances graphiques, rapidité du SSD. Nous utilisons des outils comme AIDA64, 3DMark, PCMark, CrystalDiskMark, en plus de l'usage réel.
• Évaluation du logiciel : version de l'OS, nouvelles fonctionnalités, logiciels offerts, bloatwares (les logiciels sponsorisés non désirables).
• Évaluation de l'évolutivité : mise à jour CPU/GPU, changement de la mémoire, amélioration des capacités de stockage.

Le format : volume global et surface monopolisée

Il est souvent question de « mini-PC » sur Clubic. Pourtant, au même titre qu’il existe des PC « standards » de forme et taille très différentes, les mini-PC ne constituent pas un tout uniforme. Avant de se poser la question de quel mini-PC choisir, il convient donc de se pencher sur le format de la machine.

On peut opter pour quelque chose de relativement « étendu », mais très plat, à la manière des Mac Mini. D’autres fabricants optent plutôt pour un boîtier très ramassé, presque cubique, c’est le cas chez Xulu par exemple. Il existe aussi des châssis en forme de tour, mais évidemment bien plus compact que les tours PC. Et, au milieu de tout ça, on trouve des modèles intermédiaires à toutes ces catégories.

Nous ne vous dirons pas que tel format est le meilleur : ils ont tous leurs avantages et leurs défauts. La question à se poser, c’est celle du devenir de la machine : un mini-PC tout fin sera évidemment plus pratique à glisser dans une étagère alors que le mini-PC format mini-tour trônera fièrement à côté du moniteur. Enfin, si vous envisagez l’intégration VESA à l’arrière du moniteur, il faut prendre en compte le (léger) surcroît de profondeur que cela induit.

Le CPU ou processeur central : nombre de cœurs et fréquence en GHz

En optant pour un mini-PC, on fait forcément une croix sur le « maximum de puissance ». Jamais une toute petite machine ne sera en mesure de rivaliser avec un PC grande tour correctement équipé. En revanche, il ne faut pas croire qu’un mini-PC implique de se contenter d’une configuration lente et peu confortable. Ces dernières années, les progrès ont été assez remarquables.

On trouve des machines à base de processeurs Intel i5, i7 voire i9. AMD est de la partie avec des Ryzen 5, 7 ou 9 basse consommation. Enfin, si Apple n’emploie pas son plus puissant M2 sur les plus récents des Mac mini, la puce embarquée a beaucoup d’arguments à faire valoir.

En dehors de tâches particulièrement lourdes, il ne faut pas s’inquiéter de la puissance possible dans un mini-PC. La vraie question est plutôt celle de la puissance nécessaire : qui dit composants puissants dit aussi consommation, chauffe et nuisances sonores en hausse. Le juste équilibre – déjà important sur un PC tour – l’est encore plus sur un mini-PC.

Le GPU ou processeur graphique : solution intégrée au CPU

Au-delà de la seule puissance de calcul du CPU ou processeur central de la machine, il faut se préoccuper de la question de l'affichage. Dans certains (rares) cas, il est possible d'insérer une carte graphique au mini-PC. Vous aurez alors un large choix de cartes pour le meilleur rapport qualité/prix.

Bien souvent toutefois, il faut se contenter de ce qu'on appelle l'iGPU ou solution graphique intégrée au CPU. L'iGPU a fait d'énormes progrès et, chez Intel, l'UHD Graphics a été troqué pour le Xe Graphics : le jeu vidéo devient envisageable. Des progrès qui impliquent de se focaliser sur les dernières générations de mini-PC.

Notons qu'ici, AMD dispose d'atout supplémentaire : les APU. Ce sont des processeurs comme les autres à ceci près que leur iGPU est bien plus musclée. Ces APU servent d'ailleurs de base à la plupart des consoles/PC portables comme le Steam Deck, preuve que le jeu vidéo est possible.

La mémoire vive : exprimée en gigaoctets (Go)

La machine a beau être petite, elle doit réaliser des tâches sensiblement similaire à celles d'un ordinateur « normal ». Il ne faut donc pas négliger les aspects aussi basiques que la quantité de mémoire vive embarquée. Nous vous suggérons ici un strict minimum de 8 Go.

En réalité, en 2023, il est sans doute préférable de viser 16 Go, même si cela dépend tout de même pas mal de l'usage qui sera fait. Nous y reviendrons, mais la mémoire vive adopte le plus souvent un format différent – et plus onéreux – que sur les machines de bureau. De plus, la DDR5 arrive tout juste.

La capacité de stockage : exprimée en teraoctets

Au même titre que la mémoire doit être très similaire à ce que l'on utilise sur un PC standard, les mini-PC ont besoin d'un stockage du même acabit. Il ne faut négliger ni la capacité de stockage de la machine ni la technologie employée pour éviter une belle déception.

Forcément, une unité SSD doit être de la partie, les disques durs à plateaux ont inévitablement disparu des mini-PC. Il est aussi préférable que le SSD soit en NVMe, un protocole plus rapide et plus réactif : bien souvent les premiers prix de PC sont en SATA.

Enfin, la question de la capacité est importante, surtout que – nous allons le voir – les mini-PC sont généralement peu évolutifs : il nous semble intéressant de viser au moins 512 Go d'espace. Ici, le plus n'est pas l'ennemi du bien.

Les possibilités d'évolution : pour voir l'avenir sereinement

Un format réduit vient logiquement limiter les possibilités d'évolution et les mini-PC sont largement handicapés à ce niveau. Certains (rares) modèles disposent d'un vrai connecteur PCI Express, mais ils sont généralement à la limite haute du volume d'un mini-PC.

Dans l'immense (la totalité ?) des cas, le processeur Apple, Intel ou AMD est soudé à la carte mère. Impossible donc de le remplacer pour quelque chose de plus moderne. Même chose donc pour la partie graphique qui est le plus souvent un iGPU comme nous l'avons expliqué.

En revanche, il y a eu des progrès de faits sur la question de la mémoire vive et du stockage. Pour la RAM, tous les mini-PC n'ont pas leurs puces soudées sur la carte mère : privilégier ceux reposant sur des barrettes de SO-DIMM, le format employé sur ordinateur portable. Deux ports est un minimum.

Pour le stockage, de rares machines sont dotées de deux ports M.2 pour des SSD. Le second est souvent en SATA. On peut aussi compter sur la présence d'un emplacement 2,5 pouces : là, ce sera forcément du SATA plutôt pour un SSD, mais un « vieux » disque dur peut y trouver une seconde vie.

La connectique : pour un maximum d'ouverture

Puisque nous venons de voir que l'évolutivité des mini-PC n'est pas leur force première, il est important de compenser avec une connectique fournie. Les fabricants l'ont bien compris et ces petites machines sont souvent très bien équipées, très modernes.

Dans de rarissimes cas, il est possible de connecter ce que l'on appelle une carte graphique externe. Celle-ci étant au sein d'un second boîtier, le volume total du mini-PC est largement augmenté. Mais, qui sommes-nous pour juger ce que finalement, vous considérez être un mini-PC ?

Plus sérieusement, les machines s'appuient sur le duo USB/Thunderbolt pour offrir un large panel d'options. Pour être le plus tranquille possible, il convient donc d'allier un maximum de ports USB à la technologie la plus moderne : un ou deux ports USB4/Thunderbolt 4 est très intéressant.

Attention, dans le cas de l'USB3, il existe de nombreuses variantes : de l'USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 sera le garant des meilleurs débits. Il n'y a toutefois pas que l'USB et un mini-PC a besoin de ports DisplayPort et/ou HMDI pour l'affichage. L'USB-C peut d'ailleurs passer la vidéo. Enfin, des ports Ethernet 2,5 GbE voire 5 GbE ou un lecteur de cartes SD peut vent compléter l'offre.

Le système d'exploitation : Windows ou macOS, surtout

Quand nous parlons mini-PC, nous parlons bien d’une configuration complète à laquelle il manque un écran et des périphériques d’entrée (clavier/souris), mais équipée d’un système d’exploitation (OS). Bien sûr, il convient d’être sûr que le logiciel est fourni correspond à vos besoins.

On retrouve le plus souvent des machines sous Windows ou macOS, parfois sans aucun OS et, dans des cas plus rares, qui tournent sur une distribution Linux. Il est généralement envisageable de changer d’OS, mais cela complique forcément un peu la mise en œuvre de la machine alors qu’un mini-PC est souvent acheté pour être « prêt à l’emploi ».

De plus, il est possible que certains OS – de vieux Windows par exemple – n’aient pas les pilotes pour faire tourner tel ou tel composant. C’est aussi vrai dans le cas de Linux, pas toujours bien considéré par les fabricants. Enfin, beaucoup de fabricants ont tendance à livrer des logiciels en plus de l’OS.

Il s’agit parfois d’applications bien utiles pour, par exemple, réaliser une sauvegarde de la machine ou assurer sa protection sur le Net. Il y a aussi pas mal de bloatwares – en plus de ceux de Windows, oui ! – des logiciels dont on se moque éperdument et qui ne font qu’encombrer le système.

La marque : qualité du suivi et service après-vente

Le plus connu des mini-PC est sans doute le Mac Mini signé Apple. Dans ce cas, il s'agit clairement d'une grande marque vers laquelle il est simple de se tourner en cas de panne ou, plus simplement, pour un conseil.

Dans le monde Windows, des constructeurs comme Dell ou HP ont aussi leurs gammes de mini-PC. On trouve également des marques ayant pignons sur rue même si elles sont moins connues (ACER, Corsair, Zotac). En revanche, on trouve de plus en plus de petits fabricants chinois ou taïwanais.

Nous ne vous déconseillons pas ces machines, au contraire même, mais il est important de garder à l'esprit que leur service après-vente n'est logiquement pas aussi développé. Cela peut avoir son importance lorsqu'il faut faire jouer la garantie par exemple.

Spécialiste Hardware et Gaming

Tombé dans le jeu vidéo à une époque où il fallait une belle imagination pour voir ici un match de foot, là un combat de tanks dans ces quelques barres représentées à l'écran, j'ai suivi toutes les év...

Tombé dans le jeu vidéo à une époque où il fallait une belle imagination pour voir ici un match de foot, là un combat de tanks dans ces quelques barres représentées à l'écran, j'ai suivi toutes les évolutions depuis quarante ans. Fidèle du PC, mais adepte de tous les genres, je n'ai du mal qu'avec les JRPG. Sinon, de la stratégie tour par tour la plus aride au FPS le plus spectaculaire en passant par les simulations sportives ou les jeux musicaux, je me fais à tout... avec une préférence pour la gestion et les jeux combinant plusieurs styles. Mon panthéon du jeu vidéo se composerait de trois séries : Elite, Civilization et Max Payne.

• settings Un PC largement paramétrable
• tune Un service de gravure personnalisée
• gamepad D'excellentes performances sur les jeux exigeants
• Indépendance
• Transparence

L'équipe Clubic sélectionne et teste des centaines de produits qui répondent aux usages les plus courants, avec le meilleur rapport qualité / prix possible.

Les derniers guides d'achat

Comparatif mini PC gamer : Les meilleurs mini ordinateurs gaming

Le parfait compromis entre le pc portable et l’ordinateur fixe

par Jackie Chun 14 mars 2024, 5h32

Aujourd’hui, le mini pc fait véritablement fureur que cela soit chez les entreprises ou chez les particuliers. Sa portabilité associée à ses performances et à son prix en fait le nouveau matériel gamer de référence à coté du PC gamer dit classique. Voici pourquoi, je vous propose de découvrir la sélection de gameover.fr concernant les meilleurs mini PC gamer du moment selon les avis des joueurs eux-mêmes.

Les meilleurs mini PC gamer en mars 2024

Voici donc la sélection sous forme de comparatif/classement des meilleurs mini PC gamer selon les gamers eux-mêmes après avoir vérifié leurs avis.

Dernière mise à jour le 2024-03-14 / Lien rémunéré par Amazon / Images de l'API Amazon Partenaires

À quoi ça sert ? Comment ça marche ?

Ces appareils servent principalement à jouer à des jeux vidéo de manière intensive, tout en occupant moins d’espace qu’un PC de bureau traditionnel. Ils fonctionnent avec des composants de haute performance similaires à ceux des PC de bureau, mais dans un format plus compact.

Les différents modèles existants

Il existe divers modèles de mini PC gamer, des options d’entrée de gamme aux configurations haut de gamme. Certains sont prédéfinis par des fabricants renommés, tandis que d’autres peuvent être personnalisés en fonction des préférences de l’utilisateur.

Dernière mise à jour le 2024-03-11 / Lien rémunéré par Amazon / Images de l'API Amazon Partenaires

Pourquoi en acheter un ? Quelle utilisation ?

Acheter un mini PC gamer est idéal pour ceux qui ont un espace limité ou qui ont besoin de portabilité. Ils sont parfaits pour les jeux en réseau, les compétitions e-sport, ou pour une utilisation domestique dans des espaces restreints.

PC classique versus mini ordinateur

Le PC gamer en tour demeure être une machine avec de grandes dimensions, sa tour en métal peut prendre un espace important dans la pièce surtout si l’on prend en compte l’écran et le clavier pour un PC gamer complet. De nos jours, qui dit boitier imposant, dit ordinateur puissant. Toutefois en matière technologique ce n’est pas vraiment ce qui fait la différence aujourd’hui. Si la place manque on peut bien évidemment investir dans un PC portable , mais la machine reste encore volumineuse par rapport au mini pc et l’ergonomie n’est pas son fort en matière de confort de travail ou de jeu. Le mini pc qui a souvent été appelé « barebone » est une unité centrale de petite dimension qui intègre tous les éléments essentiels d’un ordinateur dit « classique ».

C’est pendant les années 2010 que la marque Shuttle propose au grand public un barebone pour les gamers qui leur permettait de transporter leur matériel informatique pour aller jouer en réseau. Le succès incroyable de la marque à très vite motivé d’autres fabricants à mettre sur le marché des barbebones toujours plus efficaces et performants que l’on appelle aujourd’hui un « mini pc ». Ces machines comprennent de bien entendu une mémoire vive, un disque dur et un disque dur SSD, il ne faut rajouter que le moniteur, la souris et le clavier. Bien évidemment, la connectique permet de connecter une imprimante sans aucun soucis et les autres accessoires informatiques.

Pourquoi choisir un mini pc ?

Nos modes de vie actuels sont aujourd’hui associé au nomadisme, que ce soit pour le loisir ou pour le travail il est de plus en plus évident que l’on doit être mobile et permettre à nos métiers de nous accompagner. Le mini pc offre la possibilité de se déplacer aisément avec son ordinateur. En prenant en compte le fait que vous pouvez le brancher sur n’importe quel type d’écran en HDMI et à un clavier aisément, il suffit de prendre le mini pc dans son sac.

Pour les gamers même combat, devoir transporter un pc gamer peut être très fastidieux. Le mini pc vient compenser cela de par sa grande mobilité.

L’invention du mini PC a été rendue possible de par la miniaturisation des composants informatiques, notamment :

• Une carte mère intégrant carte graphique , carte son et une carte réseau. (Les formats ITX micro, nano et pico étant les plus appropriés).
• Un disque dur compact de faible consommation ou SSD.
• Une carte SD externe.
• Un microprocesseur pour PC portable.

Les avantages du mini PC

Le mini PC a des caractéristiques intéressante pour les entreprises et pour les particuliers qui peuvent notamment l’utiliser comme PC de salon. Un support VESA permet de le fixer au dos d’un téléviseur, ce qui a l’avantage de dissimuler les câbles. Ce PC est également muni d’une connectivité sans fil (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) idéal pour vous épargner les branchements.

• Sa portabilité.
• L’absence de bruit.
• Sa basse consommation électrique.
• Sa connectique complète.
• Sa taille et son faible encombrement.
• Son prix beaucoup moins élevé que celui des ordinateurs de bureau.
• Son design.

Pour info : « Barebone »  veut dire os nu et désignait à la base un mini PC vendu avec les composants essentiels mais sans certains éléments clés comme le processeur, la RAM, et le disque dur, permettant à l’acheteur de les personnaliser.

Après cet instant culture, j’espère que vous aurez trouvé dans ce classement le mini ordinateur gamer qui saura vous satisfaire. Si vous connaissez d’autres références performantes, je vous invite à nous les faire découvrir dans les commentaires.

Quels sont les avantages d'un mini PC gamer par rapport à un PC gamer classique ?

Les mini PC gamer sont plus portables, moins bruyants, consomment moins d'énergie, ont une connectique complète, sont moins encombrants et généralement moins chers, tout en offrant des performances adéquates pour le gaming.

Comment un mini PC gamer fonctionne-t-il ?

Il fonctionne avec des composants haute performance similaires à ceux des PC de bureau, mais dans un format compact, incluant une carte mère intégrée, un disque dur SSD, et un microprocesseur pour PC portable

Peut-on utiliser un mini PC gamer pour des jeux vidéo gourmands ?

Oui, les mini PC gamer sont conçus pour gérer des jeux vidéo intensifs dans un espace réduit, idéaux pour le gaming en réseau et les compétitions e-sport.

Quelle est la différence entre un mini PC et un PC portable en termes de gaming ?

Les mini PC offrent une meilleure ergonomie pour le gaming par rapport aux PC portables, et sont plus faciles à connecter à différents écrans et périphériques.

Quels sont les composants typiques d'un mini PC gamer ?

Un mini PC gamer inclut généralement une carte mère avec carte graphique intégrée, un disque dur compact ou SSD, une carte SD externe, et un microprocesseur adapté.

Le mini PC gamer est-il facile à transporter ?

Oui, sa petite taille et son faible poids le rendent facilement transportable, le rendant idéal pour le nomadisme et les déplacements fréquents.

Les mini PC gamer sont-ils adaptés pour une utilisation en entreprise ?

Oui, ils sont utiles pour les entreprises en raison de leur portabilité, de leur faible consommation électrique, et de leur encombrement réduit.

Jackie Chun

Joueur depuis toujours, je partage avec vous articles et autres contenus web sur le gaming.

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Jeux Vidéo, PC, Consoles, eSport et Mobile

Tour PC Gamer : comment bien la choisir ? Guide

Pour constituer votre pc Windows gamer, il est essentiel de sélectionner certains éléments, à savoir : RAM, SSD, disque dur, processeur Intel core, carte mère, carte graphique rtx… De plus, vous avez besoin d’un boîtier pour pc gamer pour contenir tous ces éléments afin de les utiliser à votre fin. Toutefois, il existe de nombreuses tours sur le marché ; ce qui pourrait rendre confus un gamer débutant. Pour cela, découvrez ici tout ce qu’il faut faire pour choisir votre tour pc gamer .

La taille de sa tour pc gamer

Pour choisir votre tour pc gamer Windows Intel Core, la taille de cet élément doit être prise en compte. Certains boîtiers sont par exemple trop petits pour contenir une carte graphique Nvidia GeForce rtx 3090. En effet, plus votre tour pc gamer rtx est grande, plus elle pourra contenir :

• Une carte graphique Nvidia GeForce rtx
• Un ou plusieurs SSD
• Un windows processeur Intel à core élevé
• Une mémoire disque

De plus, il existe des outils en ligne pour choisir un boîtier (tour) plus adapté à votre ordinateur windows gamer en tenant compte de ces aspects (RAM, disque, SSD, processeur Intel, disque, ddr, carte rtx, core).

Ainsi, vous avez accès à la bonne offre et vous pouvez commander en ligne. Ensuite, patientez pour bénéficier d’une livraison gratuite de votre boîtier pc Windows gaming .

Enfin, rapprochez-vous également d’un influenceur de jeux pour avoir son avis sur un boîtier gamer rtx Windows en particulier. Il peut même vous donner des conseils sur les SSD à employer pour votre configuration.

Le refroidissement du boîtier du pc gamer

Un gamer a besoin d’un ordinateur avec une bonne RAM, assez d’emplacements SSD et un excellent disque dur. Il faut aussi un pc Windows avec un processeur Intel à core élevé et une carte graphique Nvidia GeForce rtx puissante. 

Toutefois, si votre boîtier pc ne dispose pas d’une bonne ventilatio n, vous ne pourrez pas utiliser votre machine de façon optimale. En effet, en plus du core de processeur Intel, le refroidissement est un élément essentiel pour bien faire du gaming.

La ventilation démultiplie l’efficacité de votre matériel de gamer . Privilégiez donc les tours ayant au moins deux ventilateurs avec un bon design. À cet effet, un excellent boîtier gamer doit permettre l’ajout de système de ventilation en fonction des éléments suivants :

• Carte graphique rtx Nvidia GeForce
• Mémoire RAM
• Processeur Intel core

En d’autres termes, configurez votre ordinateur windows gamer avec un processeur Intel core i9 et une carte graphique Nvidia GeForce rtx 3080 adaptée. Néanmoins, dans ce cas, n’hésitez pas à employer un système de refroidissement plus important que celui d’un boitier disposant d’une RAM de 16 gb avec un disque dur ssd. Surtout si la configuration du processeur de votre machine est Intel Core i5 et possède une carte graphique.

L’intérieur du boîtier pour pc gamer

Un gamer a besoin d’assez de place pour la pose d’une carte graphique rtx GeForce Nvidia dans sa tour gamer PC windows . Elle doit aussi comporter la carte mère avec un processeur Intel à bon Core. 

En ce qui concerne le disque dur, la RAM et les SSD, vous pourrez être à court d’espace de stockage à l’avenir. Ainsi, il vaut mieux anticiper ce souci en choisissant un boîtier pc gamer rtx qui a une grande ouverture pour ces éléments.

Par ailleurs, vérifiez si votre boîtier pc gamer rtx peut accueillir un grand nombre d’USB ou de mémoire jack donné. Le meilleur boîtier pc Windows gamer doit également vous aider à bien gérer les câbles. Ainsi, vous pouvez acheter un écran avec une bonne résolution, une souris, un clavier, un ddr, une carte SSD et une RAM de qualité pour compléter vos matériels de gamer.

De plus, appréciez le design et le poids du boîtier « gamer pc windows rtx » qui doit contenir votre : SSD, disque, mémoire RAM, carte graphique rtx GeForce Nvidia et processeur Intel core. Vous pouvez aussi prendre des avis à propos de la tour gamer rtx windows de votre choix sur les forums de jeux. 

Les meilleures tours pc gamer rtx : top 2

Un gamer doit avoir un wifi, un écran, une souris, un clavier, une carte graphique GeForce Nvidia rtx, un disque dur, un SSD et une RAM. En plus, il doit détenir une tour pc windows gamer adaptée pour contenir sa carte mère et les autres composants de son ordinateur gaming. Pour cela, voici la meilleure offre de boîtier gamer disponible sur le marché. 

Fractal design define 7 compact

Fractal design est une marque de boîtier d’ordinateur windows rtx pour gamer très connue. Sa gamme « define 7 » est un modèle silencieux qui prend relativement peu de place. Son prix est de 140 euros environ ; ce qui lui donne un bon rapport qualité/prix. Cette tour gamer intègre un ventilateur, mais vous pouvez en ajouter deux autres, si votre configuration possède une RAM, un processeur Intel qui ont des core élevés.

Par ailleurs, une carte graphique gamer Nvidia GeForce rtx (trop grande) avec un excellent processeur Intel, peut prendre beaucoup de place dans ce boîtier gamer. Aussi, vous devez vous assurer que les possibilités que define 7 offre en termes de SSD , disque et ddr, s’accordent à vos besoins de gamer. Si tel est le cas, n’hésitez pas à commander en ligne et patientez pour bénéficier d’une livraison gratuite.

LIAN LI PC O11 Dynamic

Lian Li PC O11 Dynamic est un boîtier pc windows gamer rtx en aluminium avec un bon design. Il dispose d’un module pour un processeur et un disque dur amovible, mais peut contenir une carte graphique rtx longue avec un processeur Intel à core évolué. Vous avez aussi assez de possibilités pour la pose de vos SSD, mais aussi pour avoir une RAM adaptée à votre statut de gamer.

De plus, ce boîtier pour pc gamer rtx windows est équipé d’un emplacement de disque dur 3,5 et 2,5 pouces à l’arrière de l’emplacement de la carte mère. Toutefois, la tour gamer Lian Li PC O11 Dynamic n’est pas vendue avec la ventilation. 

Si vous avez les moyens de vous offrir un système de ventilation pour pc gamer rtx , commandez en ligne pour profiter de la livraison gratuite. Enfin, cette tour gamer peut coûter environ 160 euros, ce qui lui confère un bon rapport qualité/prix.

Quelques notes importantes

Servez-vous d’internet pour vous renseigner sur le matériel de gamer adapté à vos besoins de : SSD, disque dur, mémoire RAM, processeur Intel core, carte graphique rtx GeForce Nvidia, carte mère, version windows et ddr. 

Il suffit de lancer une recherche sur Google pour avoir une offre de qualité à un bon prix . Rendez-vous également sur les blogs de gaming afin d’avoir une recommandation gratuite de boîtier pc gamer windows.

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Hurry! Take $150 off this compact Geekom mini PC

A compact workhorse for just $399

Geekom makes some of the best mini PCs we've tested. Compact and user upgradable, they're an excellent option if you're tight on space or cash. 

For a limited time, you can get the Geekom Mini IT12 for just $399 at Geekom via coupon code "EA50". That's a total of $150 off and one of the best prices we've seen for this mini PC. If you're not familiar with Geekom, we named its predecessor, the Geekom Mini IT11 , an Editor's Choice mini PC. 

Geekom Mini IT12: <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=92X1584493&xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekompc.com%2Fgeekom-mini-it12-mini-pc%2F&sref" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - geekompc.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> was $549 now $399 @ GeekOM The Geekom Mini IT12 is a compact mini PC that comes with a Core i5-12450H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It features two USB4 ports, two HDMI ports, and support for both Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E. Use coupon code "EA50" at checkout to drop its price to $399.

The new Mini IT12 packs a Core i5-12450H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It also features two USB4 ports, two HDMI ports, 2.5GB LAN ports, and support for both Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E. 

Although we didn't review this model, this tiny workhorse should be more than sufficient for most office and home use cases. It features plenty of flexibility with user-upgradeable RAM and storage. You can even install Linux on it, but it comes equipped with Windows 11 Pro. Just remember to use coupon code "EA50" at checkout to drop its price to $399.

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As deals editor at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets. With over 10 years of deals-hunting experience, Louis price checks against multiple retailers and searches high and low for the best deals to bring readers. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.

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This nifty utility compacts your games without a performance hit

Squeeze more games onto your solid state drive.

Windows 10 includes tools to help you use less drive space, one of which is a compression utility called Compact . Normally you would access this through the command line. Now there is an open-source graphical interface available called Compact GUI that makes the built-in utility much easier to use, and less daunting to inexperienced users.

CompactGUI is available on Github. Several users on Reddit claim it is working wonders on their game libraries, essentially working as advertised.

"I saw this a few hours ago and saved 8GB on Total War Warhammer 2 with zero performance loss that I can tell," one user wrote.

"Saved over 15GB on my Origin folder, which had Battlefield 1 and Battlefield 4 in it," another user wrote.

The compression that takes place is different from archival programs like WinZip, 7-Zip, and WinRAR. When using the Compact tool, compressed files and programs still show up in Explorer as normal, and are decompressed in real-time—you don't need to unpack the files or anything of that nature.

Typically there is a performance penalty when trying to access compressed files on the fly. However, users are reporting no slowdowns or other ill effects. It's even claimed that CompactGUI can improve game load times in some situations.

"For most modern computers there will be no (or very little) performance loss. Those with older HDDs may even see a decent performance gain in the form of reduced loading times as the smaller files means it takes less time to read programs and games into RAM," CompactGUI's release notes state.

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We tested it out ourselves on Lawbreakers, shrinking the install folder size from 40GB to 13GB with the default compression method. That's quite a big difference, and there was no obvious performance loss in-game that we could tell.

CompactGUI does not work with individual files, but is able to compress entire folders and sub-folders, including game install folders. How much space is saved depends on the game. A directory of compression results lists dozens of games with varying degrees of compression—Call of Duty: Modern Warfare showed only a 168MB difference, reducing the game's footprint from 7.1GB to 6.9GB, while Team Fortress 2 showed an 8.4GB reduction, going from 19.4GB down to 11GB. Guild Wars 2 showed the best results so far, going from 26.2GB all the way down to 4.1GB.

If you want to give it a go, you can find CompactGUI here .

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Moscow’s best free city tour

I love Moscow – this charming metropolis, its people, its history and its unique cityscape. I would like to share my passion for this city with you. It is my job to show you the most exciting corners of this fascinating metropolis. That’s why, as a travel specialist and your private tour guide Moscow in Russia, I organize a guided free city tour Moscow – so that everyone, regardless of their budget, would be able to enjoy the insider’s view of Moscow.

You get to see what only Moscow residents know and what other tourist guides keep from you. I am a licensed travel specialist in Russia and would like you to enjoy all facets of the capital of the largest country in the world, without demanding any money from you. I’ll show you the city on my free Moscow walking tour for 1.5-hours on foot.

Everything you need to know:

• My tours take place daily by arrangement, I am the only English-speaking licensed tourist guide Moscow, who offers a free city tour.
• My 1.5-hour free tours Moscow do not cost you a cent, I also offer other great paid tours as well.
• I am an experienced local, I make the tours informative, but at the same time relaxed and not off the plane.

Free Tours Moscow – Daily

My free tours Moscow city starts on Slavonic Square (Kitay-Gorod Metro Station), passes the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral, which was built by Ivan the Terrible on the south side of Red Square in the 16th century and where the tsars were once crowned. Then it goes across the Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the luxury department store GUM and with a view of the Kremlin towards the historical museum. Of course, you will also learn more about the stories that once happened behind the thick walls of the Kremlin – from the Tsars and Napoleon to Stalin. Then we continue through the idyllic Alexander Garden.

An advance booking is required!

Practical information:

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price: Free Language: English

«First acquaintance with Moscow» – a 2.5-hour city tour in the center of Moscow

This Moscow city tour starts on the Theater Square, past Lubyanka Square and the KGB-building, then through Kitay Gorod district and Varvarka Street, past the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then it goes across Zarjadje Park, over Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the GUM-department store and towards the Historical Museum. We walk through the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2.5 hours Price: 17 $ Students and children: 6 $ Language: English

A 3.5-hour car/bus tour of Moscow.

This is the best tour of Moscow city as all the important sights are visited. I am your Moscow city guide who will walk you through the city explaining the charming history of the city. This tour begins with picking you up from the hotel. 3 breaks are offered for photographing.

First, we will visit the most famous riverside streets and bridges in the center of the city with the most beautiful views of the Kremlin and the Moskva River (e.g. the Kremlin embankment and the Great Stone Bridge).

The first photo break is made at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We then pass by the district with numerous museums, Prechistinka Street and the district with numerous medical areas.

We again stop at the Novodevichy Convent, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the other bank of the Moskva River to click pictures.

Then we visit “Sparrow Hills” where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city of Moscow from the observation deck. Then there are the skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Kutuzov avenue, the New Arbat, Tverskaya Street, the world-famous Bolshoi Theater, the KGB building and Varvarka Street. Here there are ample spots to click pictures.

We then drive past the Kremlin again and finally reach Red Square. We take a short tour of Red Square and say goodbye in the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 3.5 hours Price for a group: 170-200 $ (depending on the number of travelers) Language: English

Metro tour – daily

Palaces for ordinary people – that was what Stalin promised to the people when the construction of the Moscow Metro began between the World Wars. The communist dictator hadn’t promised too much. No other underground system in the world can boast such spectacular architecture – chandeliers, decorations, stucco, paintings on the walls – each station is individually designed. No wonder that Moscow residents love their metro. I will guide you through the bustle of one of the busiest subways in the world and show you the most beautiful stations Moscow city has.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: Metro tickets / the guided tour

Tour of Communist Moscow – every day

After the Communist October Revolution in 1918, Moscow became the capital of the Soviet Empire and was the center of socialist orbit for more than 70 years. This left its mark on Moscow, even if the USSR disintegrated more than a quarter of a century ago. The city streets are full of remnants of the communist regime and the Cold War. This is a walking tour where I will show you the most exciting places in Soviet Moscow: from the notorious KGB headquarters, also known as Lubyanka to the Karl Marx Monument to small hidden remains from the time of hammer and sickle. You will also learn about Stalin’s Great Terror political campaign and the system of the GULAG and how the USSR, the communist Russian republic, became modern Russia.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour

Alternative Moscow Tour – daily

Explore the unseen Moscow with your Moscow private guide and discover a range of sights during this alternative walking tour.  Away from the main tourist spots (in the central district of Kitay-Gorod), just a short walk from Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, you suddenly find yourself in one of the trendiest districts of Moscow. This place not only has trendy cafes and green squares, but here you can see the most beautiful spray works (according to Albrecht Dürer), hangout-places of the youth and hipsters, as well as learn what Moscow looked like in the 19th century. Here you will also learn exciting and even bloody stories about famous gangsters, eccentric business people and legends like the wandering preacher Rasputin, who is known in Russia either as the “holy devil” or the mad monk. To learn a little more about Moscow’s culture, this is the tour for you. On my alternative tour, you will get to know Moscow away from the tourist hotspots. This tour is of 2 hours duration and you will experience the following on the tour:

• St. John’s Hill, a quiet oasis right in the center, where time has stopped as it did in pre-Communist times
• Khokhlovka Art Center, where Russian hipsters and street artists hang out
• Samoskvorechye District where you can see beautiful streets and hear stories from old Moscow

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour / tram ticket

Kremlin tour – daily (closed on Thursday)

With its 20 towers and high walls, the Kremlin rises imposingly over Red Square. This world-famous fortress with its area of ​​28 hectares is home to over 800 years of Russian history. Described as the eighth wonder of the world, this historic fortress complex is the principal symbol of Russia that sits on the banks of the Moscow River. Today the Kremlin still harbors numerous secrets and has palaces and cathedrals, surrounded by Kremlin Wall. The current wall was constructed between the 15 th  and 16 th  centuries, but the original wall was made of wood around the year 1147. The Kremlin Wall became an important symbol of Moscow’s importance in the Russian Empire. This top tourist destination attracts millions of people every year and there are various sights to see. With my Kremlin tour, you will see the oldest square in the city in the heart of the Kremlin, the once largest cannon in the world and the scene of numerous dramas – from Ivan the Terrible and Napoleon to Stalin. You cannot miss this unique experience.

An advance booking and prepayment for tickets are required.

Time: by arrangement, daily (closed on Thursday) Duration: 2 hours Price on request Students and children: on request Language: English Included in the price: Kremlin tickets / the guided tour

Moscow pub crawl – Friday / Saturday

Experience the real nightlife of Moscow with my Moscow Pub Crawl and enjoy 4 pubs/bars plus 4 welcome shot drinks. Move from one bar to another and get to know travelers from around the world as well as the locals. Play fun adventure games and contests in addition to getting perks in the bars. Between the bars, move from one place to another on foot. The routes are organized as such that you will walk no more than 10 minutes between the bars. Visit the most exciting events, parties, concerts, and dance in the bars. Moscow Pub Crawl is a tour that you will never forget.

This tour runs every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 PM and you need to bring along your passport or an ID card, comfortable shoes, and wear smart casual clothes.

An advance booking and a small prepayment are required!

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 4 hours Price on request Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour, 4 shot drinks

1.5-hour boat trip on the Moskva River.

Taking a boat tour in Moscow on the Moskva River is a very pleasant experience. It allows you to know the city from a totally different perspective and admire the beautiful bridges. In this 1.5-hour river trip, you will sail past many beautiful sites in Moscow, so you can take the best photos to commemorate this day. The ship makes several stops on the way. The trip starts from the Ustinskiy Bridge near Sarjadje Park and ends at the Kiev train station.

On this Boat Trip, you can see sights such as: the former Imperial Education House, Sarjadje Park, the “flowing”, “floating” bridge, the most beautiful view of the Kremlin, the Great Stone Bridge, the legendary House on the Quay, the Christ the Savior Cathedral , the monument to Peter the Great on the ship, the central sports arena Luzhniki, the Sparrow Hills, 240 meters high Lomonosov University, the numerous architecturally spectacular skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Novodevichy Convent, the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price on request Language: English

A military tour – riding on tanks in Stupino (Moscow region)

Russian Military is one of the largest military forces in the world formed in 1992. With my Military Tour experience what it likes to be in the Russian military, shooting guns, ride the Tank T-34 and various models of German tanks from the Second World War, as well as armored personnel carriers and vehicles. You will also shoot from the AK-47 and another combat weapon.

The tour will begin with your private tour guide Moscow in a Soviet army van accompanied with some tasty snacks and tea for a tasty start. Upon arriving, you will have to put on the army safety clothing and climb the Russian armored vehicles. The tour will take you on the noisy, smoky tank, driving through mud roads. All participants will get the chance to drive the tank which is coordinated by the Russian military.

Time: by arrangement, daily Price on request Language: English

Alexander Popov

Welcome to Russia! My name is Alexander, I was born in Moscow and I'm a passionate tour guide. I want to share my passion for Russia and my hometown with you. On my website you will find useful information to make your individual trip to Russia as interesting as possible.

Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills: Green Lungs, place to relax and meet

The travel voucher for the russia visa, you will also like, everything you need to know about russia: included..., traveling‌ ‌in‌ ‌russia‌ ‌–‌ ‌how‌ ‌safe‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌..., choosing the best guide for a free and..., how do i exchange money in moscow, eating out in moscow, the best time to travel to russia, how do i get from moscow airports to..., the best taxi services in moscow, moscow’s top 13 – the main attractions of..., with sim card purchase in russia: use whatsapp,..., leave a comment cancel reply.

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17 Best Moscow Tours

Are you planning a visit to the capital of Russia and looking for the best Moscow tours? From Red Square to the Kremlin and from world-class art to fairytale buildings, Moscow is an enchanting city that offers plenty of excitement and elegance. Its history dates back more than 800 years, and there is culture in abundance for visitors to immerse themselves in.

Make the most of your visit with 17 of the best Moscow tours that let you see everything the city and its surroundings have to offer.

1 – Guided Tour of the Moscow Metro

Moscow’s metro is world-famous, thanks to the architectural delights on offer underground stations around the capital. This guided tour of the Moscow stations, otherwise known as “the palace of the people” lasts for 1.5 hours and includes an English-speaking guide who will tell you how the Russian metro became one of the most beautiful in the world. Highlights include Mayakovskaya station with its aviation-themed mosaics.

• Moscow metro tours

2 – Cosmonautics Museum Space Tour

Discover Cosmonautics Museum with this space tour. Dive into one of the greatest battles between the Soviet Union and the United States – the space race. Hear about the space programs of the USSR and learn about how the USSR shaped space travel and technology.

• Cosmonautics Museum tours

3 – Guided Tour of the Kremlin

A Kremlin is actually a citadel in Russian towns, and Moscow’s version is, without doubt, the most famous. The Kremlin is the heartbeat of the city, and this guided tour takes you to the most important points of interest. See Cathedral Square with its orthodox temples; Tzar Cannon with its 890mm calibre, which is the largest in the world; and the exterior of the all-important government buildings that are located within the Kremlin’s walls.

Click here to learn how to book Kremlin tickets .

• Kremlin tours

4 – Moscow City Walking Tour

One of the best Moscow tours for seeing everything the city has to offer, this small-group walking tour lasts for 2 hours and includes an expert guide. Make the most of the capital and see the cobbled spaces of Red Square, take pictures of St Basil’s Cathedral, visit the elegant Bolshoi Theatre, and enjoy the ornamental Alexandrovsky Garden.

• Moscow walking tours

5 – Night Tour of Moscow

When the sun sets, the fun begins – and it all starts with a night tour of Russia’s most famous city. The beauty of Moscow comes into full effect after hours, as iconic buildings like St Basil’s Cathedral illuminate against the night sky. Other locations on this tour include the Moscow River and the Ukraine Hotel, which is a landmark skyscraper that was constructed during the era of Stalin.

6 – Sergiev Posad Day Trip

One of the best Moscow tours that take you outside of the city, the Sergiev Posad day trip provides the opportunity to see The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. It’s made up of a number of different buildings that include the blue domes of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Church of St. Sergius and the Bell Tower.

• Sergiev Posad day trips from Moscow

7 – City Sightseeing Moscow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

If your time in Moscow is limited, this hop-on, hop-off bus tour is ideal – and it even features an optional cruise on the river. Choose between a 2 and 3-day ticket and see famous landmarks like Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre from an open-top panoramic bus with informative audio commentary. Take your experience to the next level by upgrading to a boat tour.

• Moscow hop on hop off bus tours

8 – Guided Tour of the Tretyakov Gallery

As one of the world’s most important galleries, the Tretyakov Gallery is a must-see for any art lovers and is one of the best Moscow tours for culture vultures. Learn about the masterworks of Pablo Tretyakov with a guided tour and discover the secrets behind the paintings. Other noticeable artists on view include Fedotov, Vasnetsov, Rokotov and Kiprenski, who is the author of the famous “Portrait of Alexander Pushkin”.

• Tretyakov Gallery tours

9 – Alternative Moscow: 2-Hour Walking Tour

See a different side of Moscow with this 2-hour alternative tour. An expert guide will take you around quirky streets, suburbs and squares while as your veer away from the traditional tourist hotspots. Highlights include a ride on the famous “Annushka” tram and a visit to the neighbourhood of Khitrovka, which was once known as the criminal district of the city.

10 – St.Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square: Private Tour and Ticket

Combine two of Moscow’s biggest attractions with a visit to Red Square and St.Basil’s Cathedral. Admire the beautiful architecture of St.Basil’s Cathedral from inside and out, before wandering Red Square and learn about the soldiers, farmers and revolutionaries that all called this famous square their home. Round things off with the changing of the guard at Alexander Garden.

• Red Square tours

11 – Bunker-42 Cold War Museum Guided Tour

Moscow is notorious for the Cold War, which lasted for about 45 years between 1945 and 1990. Head to the world-famous Bunker-42, located 65 meters below ground level, and learn about the storied past. Visit rooms and passages that were set up to shelter 3,000 people in case of nuclear attack and discover other sections, such as the equipment room and the war-proof telecommunications system.

• Bunker-42 Cold War Museum tours

12 – Architecture Tour of Moscow’s Metro and Kolomenskoye Estate

Combine the beauty of the metro stations with the Kolomenskoye Estate and see some of Moscow’s grandest sights. After visiting the elegant metro stations, it’s time to go to the Kolomenskoye Estate, which is filled with UNESCO-listed sites that are dedicated to Tsar Peter the Great.

• Kolomenskoye tours

13 – Tour of Soviet Moscow

Unpick the history of the USSR with one of the best Moscow tours for discovering Soviet Moscow. Starting at Monument to the Conquerors of Space, a tribute to the success of the Soviet space programme, the tour includes historical landmarks and interesting tidbits about Soviet Russia. There is also a visit to the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (VDNKh), a site that was constructed under the aegis of the USSR in tribute to state achievements.

14 – Moscow: 2.5-Hour Luxury River Cruise with Dining Option

Sail down the Moscow River on this 2.5 hour tour that provides a different perspective of the city and includes landmark sights. The boat features two decks and has panoramic views as well as free Wi-Fi access. Attractions along the route include Ukraine hotel, Sparrow Hills, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Crimean Bridge, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Zaryadye Park and more.

• Moscow boat tours

15 – Izmailovo Market and Vodka Museum Tour

Visit the museum of Vodka and gain insight into one of Russia’s most famous exports and head to the Izmailovo antique and handicraft market to find a gem or two. The tour starts with Izmailovo market, which features the iconic matryoshka dolls, fur hats and amber jewellery. Next up is a trip to the Museum of Vodka, where you will discover a distillery that dates back to the 15th century.

• Izmailovo market tours

16 – Súzdal and Vladímir Day Tour

Discover Russia’s famous “Golden Ring” on this tour of two medieval cities outside of Moscow. The historic city of Vladimir is first up with its Golden Gate, which is an ancient city-fortress that dates back to the 13th century. Next up is the neighbouring town of Suzdal, which features historic architecture and the Kremlin, where you can see its striking white walls topped with blue domes.

• Suzdal & Vladimir tours from Moscow

17- Moscow Food Tasting & Walking Tour

Sample the unique flavours of Moscow with this food tour that lasts for 3 hours and features more than 15 different food and drink tastings. Weave in and out of small alleys in the city centre while enjoying the best food spots in town. See Moscow like a local while trying classic dishes from local breakfast haunts, bustling markets, the oldest monastery in Moscow, and dumpling cafes where you can taste authentic dumplings and enjoy local coffee.

• Moscow food tours