Mini PC
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Mini PC.
Latest coverage
I got this mini PC running Cyberpunk at 85fps (technically), but it wants to do a whole lot more than that
The Geekom A9 Max is a mini PC featuring an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor and Radeon 890M integrated graphics, capable of running demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 at playable framerates with FSR upscaling. While primarily a productivity machine with strong AI capabilities and upgradeable components, its $1,599 price point makes it less competitive for pure gaming compared to dedicated gaming laptops.
What are the downsides of a mini PC?
Mini PCs can suffer from reduced sustained power due to less effective cooling caused by their small form factor. This limitation impacts their ability to maintain peak performance over extended periods.
Asus ROG NUC vs gaming laptops, how does the mini PC top dog fare against portable powerhouses?
This article compares the Asus ROG NUC mini PC against various gaming laptops, focusing on performance, ease of use, portability, and value. While the ROG NUC offers comparable or slightly better performance than some gaming laptops and boasts superior port selection, it falls short in portability and overall value for money. Gaming laptops generally provide a better balance of performance, portability, and cost, making them the preferred choice for most users.
Hardware Reviews
The ECS LIVA One PRO600 Mini-PC has been reviewed by MADSHRIMPS. This review focuses on the performance and features of the compact computer.
The Asus ROG NUC is a Steam Machine for the big kids, with their big wallets
The Asus ROG NUC is reviewed as a powerful mini PC alternative to the Steam Machine, offering strong performance from mobile components but at a significantly higher price point. While it excels in compact form factor and port selection, its component value struggles to compete with traditional gaming PCs and laptops, making it a niche product for users prioritizing space-saving over cost-effectiveness.
No, you can't build your own Steam Machine, but you can cry trying
This article clarifies that users cannot build their own Steam Machine due to custom components and size constraints, contrasting it with traditional DIY PCs and modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. It highlights Valve's unique engineering approach for the compact Steam Machine, which uses semi-custom AMD chips for performance comparable to current-gen consoles.
If you wanted to see how much single channel RAM affects your iGPU this Geekom mini PC delivers
The Geekom A9 Max Mini PC features a powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 CPU and Radeon 890M integrated graphics, but its single-channel 32GB DDR5 RAM configuration severely hampers real-world performance, especially in gaming. Despite its impressive design, connectivity, and AI capabilities, the high price and memory bottleneck make it lag behind competitors that cost half as much.
The Steam Machine could land this month, but I'm tempted to build a modern Shuttle XPC that looks like my compact…
Valve's Steam Machine is rumored to be releasing this month, potentially before June 29th, according to FCC filings. The author is considering building a compact Shuttle XPC as an alternative, inspired by a vintage model, due to potential high pricing for the Steam Machine, possibly exceeding that of a PlayStation 5 Pro.
If the Steam Machine's 4K60 promises feel limited, Zotac is putting an RTX 5080 in its latest mini PC
Zotac has unveiled its updated Magnus One Ultra mini PC, featuring a desktop-class RTX 5080 graphics card, offering significant 4K gaming performance in a compact form factor. This machine aims to surpass the performance limitations of the Steam Machine, providing greater flexibility and upgradeability for PC gamers.
Valve allegedly had higher Steam Machine prices in mind before the Steam Deck hike, but I need you not to assume the…
Recent leaks suggest Valve's upcoming Steam Machine may have been planned with higher prices than the current Steam Deck OLED models. While exact figures are speculative, insider information indicates potential pricing exceeding $800, with the author advising caution due to ongoing hardware cost fluctuations.
Hardware Reviews
Reviews for gaming hardware include the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI Gaming Laptop by Nikk Tech and the MSI Raider 16 Max HX by Tom's Hardware, highlighting elite gaming performance. A review of the MINISFORUM AtomMan G7 mini PC is also mentioned.
If gaming laptops are just too bulky for you and you're desperate to burn an enormous hole in your wallet, the new Asus ROG NUC is surely a vision of your dreams
The new Asus ROG NUC 16 continues the mini PC concept with Intel Arrow Lake HX processors and GeForce RTX 50-series mobile GPUs, but its high price point, potentially around $4,400, is criticized as unreasonable for a gaming device. While offering up to 128 GB of RAM, its suitability for AI tasks is questioned, and it's presented as a niche product for consumers prioritizing the ROG brand and high-end specs over value.
Evening Tech Bits
Unified memory technology is increasingly replacing traditional SO-DIMM modules, particularly in the mini PC market. This shift indicates a significant trend in how memory is integrated into compact computing devices.
This AMD-powered, Linux-running mini PC looks like a Steam Machine disguised as a vinyl record player, without the fancy…
The Playnix Console is a new mini PC running a custom Arch Linux distro with a Steam Gaming Mode, designed as an alternative to the Steam Machine. It features an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 processor, an RX 9060 XT 16 GB GPU, and a 512 GB SSD, with upgradeable hardware and a design resembling a vinyl record player. Early tests show it can run Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with FSR upscaling.
Looks like a PS5, games like a PC
The Minisforum Atomman G1 Pro is a compact mini PC that offers solid gaming performance at 1440p and can serve as a console replacement. While it boasts impressive portability and build quality, it suffers from mixed cooling performance, with the CPU running hot, and limited I/O requiring a USB hub. Despite these drawbacks, it provides good value for its size and capabilities.
