The best mini gaming PCs of 2025: Expert recommended
PCs have been through a number of evolutions in terms of size. They have transformed from hulking machines to something about the size of a hardback book that still packs enough power to handle demanding workloads. The same has happened with gaming PCs. With their increased power and cooling demand, it's amazing just how much can fit into such a small package.
If you don't have the space in your life for a huge gaming rig, a mini gaming PC can still deliver the power you need to get you immersed in your game.
Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers.
What is the best mini gaming PC right now?
I've researched the current mini gaming PC offerings on the market, examined specs, and read user reviews. My top pick is the TOPGRO T1-Pro. This is the closest to a full-sized gaming PC that you can get, but in mini form. If expansion is your top priority, then the Minisforum MS-A1 is worth looking at. It has a removable processor, four M.2 slots, and an OCuLink port for external GPUs.
Sort by AllThe best mini gaming PCs of 2025
Show less View now at AmazonWhy we like it: The Topgro T1-Pro mini gaming PC has it all. It features a 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor, a high-performance GeForce RTX 4060 mobile graphics card, 64GB of fast DDR5-5200 RAM, and 2TB of M.2 NVMe storage. There's also Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet.
There's ample room for expansion with the system taking up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. All this hardware needs space to breathe, and the system is equipped with whisper-quiet fans when workload is low to full-on maximum cooling when needed.
Who it's for: Someone who wants a small, stylish, and powerful mini gaming system need look no further than this.
Who should look elsewhere: At a shade under $2,000, this is a serious system. Those with more realistic budgets definitely need to look elsewhere.
Topgro T1-Pro tech specs: 13th Gen Core i9-13900H | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 mobile | 64GB DDR5-5200 RAM | 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe4.0 SSD | 4 x USB 3.0 and 2 x USB2.0 | Windows 11 Pro
Pros
- Powerful
- Easily expandable
- Excellent reviews
- Expensive
Why we like it: The Topgro T1-Pro mini gaming PC has it all. It features a 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor, a high-performance GeForce RTX 4060 mobile graphics card, 64GB of fast DDR5-5200 RAM, and 2TB of M.2 NVMe storage. There's also Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet.
There's ample room for expansion with the system taking up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. All this hardware needs space to breathe, and the system is equipped with whisper-quiet fans when workload is low to full-on maximum cooling when needed.
Who it's for: Someone who wants a small, stylish, and powerful mini gaming system need look no further than this.
Who should look elsewhere: At a shade under $2,000, this is a serious system. Those with more realistic budgets definitely need to look elsewhere.
Topgro T1-Pro tech specs: 13th Gen Core i9-13900H | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 mobile | 64GB DDR5-5200 RAM | 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe4.0 SSD | 4 x USB 3.0 and 2 x USB2.0 | Windows 11 Pro
Why we like it: The Minisforum MS-A1 mini PC is proof that performance can be packed into a tiny package. This mini gaming PC is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X processor, AMD Radeon GPU, 64GB of RAM, and a 2TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD. In short, this is a system built on performance.
There are a few things that make this system stand out from the crowd. It features four M.2 slots for storage, so there's the ability to boost this with terabytes of storage capacity. There's also an OCuLink port to allow for an external GPU. Even the CPU is removable, so the system supports other AM5 chips.
Who it's for: This is the mini PC for those who want a system that offers a lot of expansion possibilities for storage and even another processor and external GPU.
Who should look elsewhere: You're paying for the expandability of this system, so if you don't need it, this is not the system for you.
Minisforum MS-A2 tech specs: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X processor | AMD Radeon | 64GB RAM | 2TB M.2 2280 storage | USB-A and USB-C, 2.5 Ethernet and mic/headphone ports
Pros
- Powerful
- Lots of expansion possibilities
- Triple display support
- No bigger than a book
- Cooling can be on the weak side
Why we like it: The Minisforum MS-A1 mini PC is proof that performance can be packed into a tiny package. This mini gaming PC is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X processor, AMD Radeon GPU, 64GB of RAM, and a 2TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD. In short, this is a system built on performance.
There are a few things that make this system stand out from the crowd. It features four M.2 slots for storage, so there's the ability to boost this with terabytes of storage capacity. There's also an OCuLink port to allow for an external GPU. Even the CPU is removable, so the system supports other AM5 chips.
Who it's for: This is the mini PC for those who want a system that offers a lot of expansion possibilities for storage and even another processor and external GPU.
Who should look elsewhere: You're paying for the expandability of this system, so if you don't need it, this is not the system for you.
Minisforum MS-A2 tech specs: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X processor | AMD Radeon | 64GB RAM | 2TB M.2 2280 storage | USB-A and USB-C, 2.5 Ethernet and mic/headphone ports
Post Comment