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The Best Gaming Mini PC with video

Best Gaming Mini PC
Best Gaming Mini PC

Gaming Mini PC 2023 Technical Specifications

MODELCPUGPURAMTDPSTORAGEDISPLAYWHERE TO BUY
BEELINK GTR6AMD Ryzen 9 6900HXAMD Radeon 680MUp to 64GB DDR545WUp to 4TB4x HDMIBUY HERE
BEELINK SEI12Intel Core i5-1235UIntel Iris XEUp to 64GB DDR415WUp to 2TB2xHDMI + 1 TYPE-CBUY HERE
BEELINK SEI12 PRO (I5)Intel Core i5-1260PIntel Iris XEUp to 64GB DDR528WUp to 4TB2xHDMI + 1 TYPE-CBUY HERE
BEELINK SEI12 PRO (I7)Intel Core i7-1240PIntel Iris XEUp to 64GB DDR528WUp to 4TB2xHDMI + 1 TYPE-CBUY HERE
BEELINK SER6AMD Ryzen 5 6600HAMD Radeon 660MUp to 64GB DDR545WUp to 2TB2xHDMI + 1 TYPE-CBUY HERE
BEELINK SER6 PROAMD Ryzen 7 6800HAMD Radeon 680MUp to 64GB DDR545WUp to 4TB2xHDMI + 1 TYPE-CBUY HERE
GMKTEC NUCBOX7Intel Silver N6005Intel UHD16GB DDR410WUp to 1TB3x HDMIBUY HERE
MINISFORUM NUCXI5Intel Core i5-11400HNvidia GeForce 3060Up to 64GB DDR445WUp to 2TB1x HDMI + 1 TYPE-CBUY HERE
MINISFORUM NUCXI7Intel Core i7-11800HNvidia GeForce 3070Up to 64GB DDR445WUp to 2TB1x HDMI + 1 TYPE-CBUY HERE
MINISFORUM UM690AMD Ryzen 9 6900HXAMD Radeon 680MUp to 64GB DDR545WUp to 2TB2x HDMI + 1 TYPE-CBUY HERE
MINISFORUM HX99GAMD Ryzen 9 6900HXAMD Radeon 680M + AMD Radeon RX 6600M Up to 64GB DDR5 RAM45WUp to 2TB2x HDMI + 2x USB 4 TYPE-CBUY HERE
MINISFORUM HX80GAMD Ryzen 7 5800HAMD Radeon RX 6600MUp to 64GB DDR4 RAM35-54WUp to 2TB2x HDMI + 2x Display PortBUY HERE
Gaming Mini PC Technical Specifications

Gaming Mini PC 2023 System Benchmark Comparison

Here are the results from the system benchmarks we performed on each gaming mini PC.

MODELPASSMARK3DMARK
(TIME SPY)
3DMARK
(NIGHT RAID)
3DMARK
(FIRE STRIKE)
PCMARK10CINEBENCH
(MULTI-CORE)
BEELINK GTR66,636.4258621,9196,2346,84811,321
BEELINK SEI124,144.6127511,6003,4984,9276,806
BEELINK SEI12 PRO (I5)3,407.81,47014,2924,0414,7329,177
BEELINK SEI12 PRO (I7)4,849.11,87917,9754,9975,9899,359
BEELINK SER65,826.91,70616,4074,4196,3219,319
BEELINK SER6 PRO6,392.42,66924,8046,3707,18910,859
GMKTEC NUCBOX71,916.34183,7991,0852,6961,927
MINISFORUM NUCXI56,889.58,39446,45318,3396,4209,417
MINISFORUM NUCXI77,551.21,021855,10521,2986,66011,022
MINISFORUM UM6906,578.92,76025,6266,3587,23212,802
MINISFORUM HX99G7,1238,13150,23020,5937,7439,417
Gaming Mini PC System Benchmark Results

Gaming benchmarks are shown in each gaming mini PC overview.

Best Gaming Mini PC Video


#1. MinisForum NUCXi7 with Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming Mini PC

Reasons to buy!

  • Desktop-like gaming performance with Intel i7 and GeForce 3070 GPU
  • Vertical case design takes up little space on a desk
  • Enjoy AAA Windows games without having to squeeze every FPS with graphics settings.

Reasons to avoid!

  • It lacks USB ports, only 3 in total.

The NUCXi7 gaming mini PC comes with the high-performance Intel i7-11800H processor with 8 Cores & 16 Threads and runs up to 4.6GHz. It also has the Nvidia GeForce 3070 with 8GB DDR6 RAM for high-performance video gaming graphics. The NUCXi7 is available in RAM configurations up to 64GB DDR4 and storage options up to 2TB m.2 NVMEe SSD.

There are a total of three USB 3.2 ports as well as a USB Type-C port. It is Thunderbolt 4 compatible to connect an external graphics card. Not that it needs it with a 3070 GPU, but you could always connect a 4000 series in the future. It has a SD Card reader which is a good addition not found in other models very often. 

NUCXi5 gaming mini PC
NUCXi5 gaming mini PC

The MinisForum NUCXi7 has just the single HDMI port but you can also use the Type-C port for an additional monitor which supports up to 8K 60Hz. There is Wifi 6, Bluetooth and 2.5 gigabit ethernet for communications.

In our tests, while running the Cinebench benchmark on a loop, we got the highest temperature of 64°C, and the highest fan noise of 51 dB. And for peak power usage we got 181.2W. The dual fan cooling is a bit noisier but it does keep everything very cool while gaming on a mini PC.

NUCXi7 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
NUCXi7 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

In our full NUCXi7 review, we benchmarked and tested games to see just how powerful this gaming mini PC was. Capable of playing the latest AAA Windows games at high resolution and graphics settings, you can simply load a game and enjoy it without having to tweak settings to squeeze a few extra FPS out because it runs slow. Below are some examples of games running at different resolutions, read the review for full details.

NUCX i7 (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 5157 / 153 / 101 FPS
TOMB RAIDER154 / 156 /102 FPS
CYBERPUNK 2077127.49 / 111.98 /41.49 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2191 / 146 / 65 FPS
NUCXi7 Game Benchmark results (updated February 2023)

The MinisForum NUCXi7 can run pretty much any emulator you wish to. On RyuJinx we see overall smoother gameplay with full frames per second on more games both old and new.

For the more work-in-progress emulators we do also see great performance. For example, with the Xbox 360 emulator Xenia, we can run some compatible games such as Vanquish at mostly full frames per second. This does vary between games but it gives us the level of emulation it is capable of.

NUCXi7 Xenia Xbox 360 emulator
NUCXi7 running the Xenia Xbox 360 emulator

The NUCXi7 is the best gaming mini PC you can buy. With its desktop PC-like performance, plenty of RAM and fast SSD storage this won’t let you down in the heat of the moment while gaming.

You can buy the NUCXi7 here, and read our full review: NUCXi5 & NUCXi7 Review – Gaming Mini PC with GeForce 30 series GPUs.


#2. MinisForum HX99G


The MinisForum HX99G gaming Mini PC with AMD Ryzen processor is a compact yet powerful computing solution designed for gaming, content creation, and productivity tasks. It features the mighty AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, delivering unparalleled performance and seamless multitasking. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M GPU with 8GB of dedicated memory ensures smooth gameplay and stunning visuals for an immersive gaming experience. With support for up to 64GB of DDR5 dual-channel RAM and a 2TB M.2 2280 PCIe4.0 SSD, the HX99G Mini PC offers exceptional memory and storage capabilities for lightning-fast data access and ample space for your digital library.

Connectivity is seamless with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, and the Mini PC provides an array of ports, including HDMI and USB4, for versatile connectivity options. It supports multiple displays with 4K resolution and delivers immersive audio output through HDMI ports and a dedicated headphone jack. The HX99G powerful mini PC for gaming is also designed with productivity in mind, featuring efficient ports for enhanced connectivity and a compact, stylish design that fits seamlessly into any environment. Measuring just 8.07 x 7.99 x 2.72 inches  (20.5 x 20.3 x 6.93 cm) and weighing only 1.4kg, it is highly portable and easy to set up anywhere.

HX99G (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 5200 / 198 / 94 FPS
TOMB RAIDER159 / 160 / 83 FPS
CYBERPUNK 2077145.98 / 103.92 / 32.42 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2186 / 137 / 48 FPS
HX99G Game Benchmark results

Whether you’re a gamer, creative professional, or productivity enthusiast, the MinisForum HX99G gaming Mini PC offers the power, versatility, and performance to meet your specific needs. For 1080P gaming and below it performs faster than the NUCX i7, but at 4K it is a little slower and it is why it is second on our best gaming mini PC list. It redefines your computing experience and provides endless possibilities for creativity, immersive gaming, and unparalleled productivity.

Best Gaming Mini PC
MinisForum HX99G playing Hogwarts Legacy

You can buy the MinisForum HX99G here, and read our in-depth review: MinisForum HX99G Review – Amazing AAA gaming mini PC


#3. MinisForum NUCXi5 with Nvidia GeForce 3060 Gaming Mini PC

Reasons to buy!

  • Desktop-like gaming performance with Intel i5 and GeForce 3060 GPU
  • Lower cost than the NUCXi7 mini PC for gaming
  • Vertical case design takes up little space on desktop
  • You can still enjoy many AAA Windows games at high resolution and settings.

Reasons to avoid!

  • Understandably slower than the NUCXi7 gaming mini PC
  • It lacks USB ports, only 3 in total.

The MinisForum NUCXi5 is the lower-cost version of the higher-performing NUCXi7 which takes our number one spot of best gaming mini PC. The NUCXi5 features the Intel i5-11400H processor with 6 Cores & 12 Threads running up to 4.5GHz. For the graphics, it has the Nvidia GeForce 3060 with 6GB DDR6 RAM.

NUCXi5 gaming mini PC
NUCXi5 gaming mini PC

In our full NUCXi5 review, we understandably state that while it is not as fast as the NUCXi7 it is lower cost and is still great as a gaming mini PC. With the NUCXi5 you can enjoy the latest Windows games at 1080P or 1440P at good graphics settings. Here are some examples at different resolutions below.

NUCX i5 (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 5135 / 132 / 89 FPS
TOMB RAIDER121 / 123 / 90 FPS
CYBERPUNK 207795.76 / 95.55 / 36.54 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2143 / 120 / 47 FPS
NUCXi5 Game Benchmark results

If you have a lower budget for a gaming mini PC then the MinisForum NUCXi5 is a great option. With it you can still play the latest games, it takes up minimal space on your desktop and is very portable.

NUCXi5 Ryujinx Emulator
NUCXi5 running the Ryujinx emulator

You can learn more and buy the NUCXi5 here. Read our full review: NUCXi5 & NUCXi7 Review – Gaming Mini PC with GeForce 30 series GPUs.


#4. MinisForum HX80G

MinisForum HX80G Front View
MinisForum HX80G Front View

The MinisForum HX80G gaming mini PC offers powerful hardware with its Ryzen 7 5800H processor and AMD Radeon RX 6600M graphics card. The processor’s 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with a clock speed of up to 4.4GHz, provide fast and efficient performance for demanding games and applications. The Radeon graphics card ensures stunning visuals and smooth gameplay.

Despite its small size, the HX80G is packed with features, including support for up to 64GB of DDR4 memory and up to 2TB of storage. It offers various connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and multiple USB ports for easy connection to peripherals.

The gaming mini PC’s compact design, measuring just 8.07 x 7.99 x 2.73 inches and weighing 1.21 kg, makes it highly portable and suitable for travel or limited living spaces. Its powerful performance and portability make it an excellent choice for gamers on the go.

MinisForum HX80G Back View
MinisForum HX80G Back View

Gaming mini PCs like the HX80G offer advantages over traditional desktop PCs, including portability and space-saving features. The compact size of the HX80G makes it ideal for gamers who frequently travel or have limited space. Additionally, mini PCs are often more energy-efficient, helping to reduce electricity costs. The HX80G delivers impressive gaming performance, smoothly running popular games such as Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Fortnite, and Overwatch 2. Despite its small form factor, this mini PC provides a powerful and portable gaming experience.

In conclusion, the MinisForum HX80G gaming mini PC is a compact yet powerful gaming machine. It’s not quite as powerful as the HX99G or NUCX series but for its price, it represents excellent value. Its Ryzen processor, Windows 11 operating system, and AMD Radeon graphics card ensure exceptional visuals and performance. With its compact size and portability, the HX80G is an excellent choice for gamers who need a powerful gaming solution that can easily be taken on the go.

You can learn more and buy the MinisForum HX80G here.


Reasons to buy!

  • Fast AMD Ryzen 7 6800H with Radeon 680M graphics
  • Supports triple monitor display
  • Thunderbolt 3 support for eGPU
  • Space inside for 2.5″ HDD/SSD

Reasons to avoid!

  • Only Thunderbolt 3 so you may want to go for Thunderbolt 4 if planning to use an eGPU

Like the SER6, the SER6 PRO gaming mini PC has a fabric cloth top but with this model, you also get an extra red coloured top which you can use. It measures 4.9 x 4.4 x 1.6 in (12.6 x 11.3 x 4.2 cm) and weighs 649g.

Beelink SER6 Pro Gaming Mini PC
Beelink SER6 Pro Gaming Mini PC with fabric top

The Beelink SER6 Pro gaming mini PC features the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H with 8 cores & 16 threads running up to 4.7GHz. For the graphics, it has an AMD Radeon 680M running up to 2200 MHz.

The SER6 Pro supports up to 64GB DDR5 RAM along with up to 2TB m.2 2280 NVMe SSD. There is space for an internal 2.5″ HDD/SSD. 

BEELINK SER6 PRO (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 5126 / 86 / 33 FPS
TOMB RAIDER99 / 69 / 25 FPS
CYBERPUNK 207775.82 / 52.02 / 25.81 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2100 / 55 / 21 FPS
SER6 Pro Game Benchmark results

The gaming mini PC has three USB 3 ports, one USB 2 and a USB Type-C port. There are two HDMI ports which can be used with the Type-C port for up to triple monitor display. It also supports Thunderbolt 3 so you can connect an eGPU for more graphics performance. There is WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.5 gigabit ethernet. 

In our tests, we got the highest temperature of 42°C, the highest fan noise of 54dB and peak power usage of 68.7W while running the Cinebench benchmark on a loop.

PS2 runs perfectly on the SER6 PRO as we would expect at this level of gaming mini PC. For PlayStation 3 we overall see great performance, WipeOut HD initially started a little slow due to shader caching, but after that, we got a mostly solid 60 frames per second. Not all games will run as well as this though!

SER6 PRO RPCS3 PS3 Wipeout HD
SER6 PRO running RPCS3 PS3 emulator and Wipeout HD

For the Ryujinx emulator, we do see mixed performance with games. With the Vulkan graphics, we get full speed on a fair number of third-party games as well as some earlier first-party games. Others you may see speeds of around 50%.

The Beelink SER6 PRO is a great mid-range gaming mini PC at a lower price than others. However, if you do plan to connect an eGPU you may want to go with the UM690 just below as it supports Thunderbolt 4 instead of 3 on this model.

You can learn more and buy the Beelink SER6 PRO here.


#6. MinisForum UM690 Gaming Mini PC

Reasons to buy!

  • Plenty of USB ports
  • Up to triple monitor support
  • Thunderbolt 4 support
  • Dual front-facing USB Type-C
  • Space inside for 2.5″ HDD/SSD

Reasons to avoid!

  • None
UM690 running Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

You can find an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor with 8 cores and 16 threads running up to 4.9GHz at 45W TDP inside the MinisForum UM690. For the graphics, you have the AMD Radeon 680M with 12 cores running up to 2,400Mhz. Together they combine for a great performing gaming mini PC!

Minisforum UM690 Gaming Mini PC
MinisForum UM690 Gaming Mini PC

The MinisForum UM690 is a sleek-looking gaming mini PC that while small packs a punch rivalling desktop PCs. It supports up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB PCIe 4 SSD. You can further expand the storage with a 2.5” SSD or HDD.

There is support for up to three monitors via the two HDMI with 4K 60Hz, and a USB 4 Type-C port supporting up to 8K 60Hz. You can also connect an eGPU via the Type-C Thunderbolt 3 for even faster gaming performance!

Minisforum UM690 Microsoft Flight Simulator
MinisForum UM690 running Microsoft Flight Simulator

With the UM690 you can expect games to run very respectable display resolutions and graphics settings, around the same level as the Beelink GTR6 gaming mini PC.

MINISFORUM UM690 (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 5125 / 87 / 31 FPS
TOMB RAIDER96 / 70 / 25 FPS
CYBERPUNK 207776.78 / 50.41 / 25.57 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 299 / 56 / 20 FPS
MinisForum UM690 Game Benchmark results

Forza Horizon 5 can be run at 1080P Medium graphics settings comfortably and Modern Warfare 2 at 1080P Balanced graphics and Balanced FSR. Having Thunderbolt 3 means faster transfer speed on devices such as an eGPU.

You can learn more and buy the MinisForum UM690 here.


Reasons to buy!

  • Small form factor, less than 5 inches in size
  • High-performance AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and AMD 680M graphics
  • Supports up to quad display & 8K display

Reasons to avoid!

  • None

The Beelink GTR6 gaming mini PC features the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor with 8 cores and 16 threads running up to 4.9GHz at 45W TDP. For the graphics, it has the excellent AMD 680M with 12 cores running up to 2400Mhz.

Beelink GTR6 Gaming Mini PC
Beelink GTR6 Gaming Mini PC

It also supports up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 4TB of NVMe SSD. Despite it being a slightly larger mini PC it does not have space inside for an HDD or SSD.

There are a total of three USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, with a USB Type-C on the front. There is very generous support for up to four displays with the quad HDMI ports supporting up to 8K 60Hz. There is WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 and Ethernet for communications.

In our tests, we got the highest temperature of 42 °C, the highest fan noise of 56dB and peak power usage of 75.2W while running the Cinebench benchmark on a loop.

The Beelink GTR6 gaming mini PC is very capable of playing Windows games with high resolutions and graphics settings. For example Doom Eternal at 1080P on Medium graphics settings, Witcher 3 on 1080P Low graphics and Modern Warfare 2 at 1080P on Balanced graphics and Balanced FSR.

BEELINK GTR6 (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 5125 / 85 / 32 FPS
TOMB RAIDER94 / 67 / 25 FPS
CYBERPUNK 207774.97 / 51.19 / 24.65 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 298 / 57 / 21 FPS
Beelink GTR6 Game Benchmark results

You can learn more and buy the Beelink GTR6 here.


Reasons to buy!

  • Great entry-level gaming mini PC
  • Fast AMD Ryzen 5 6600H with Radeon 660M graphics
  • Low price
  • Thunderbolt support for eGPU

Reasons to avoid!

  • None

The Beelink SER6 gaming mini PC features the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H with 6 cores & 12 threads running up to 4.5GHz. For the graphics, it has the AMD Radeon 660M.

It supports up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and up to 2TB of m.2 PCIe 4 SSD. There is space inside for a 2.5” HDD or SSD.

Beelink SER6 Gaming Mini PC
Beelink SER6 Gaming Mini PC

The SER6 measures around 4.9 x 4.4 x 1.6 in (12.6 x 11.3 x 4.2 cm) and weighs 649g. In a change from the usual plastic or metal casing, the gaming mini PC features plastic sides and bottom with a fabric cover for the top. It will help keep dust and fingerprints off the top when compared to other materials.

There are a total of three USB 3.2 ports, one USB 2 and one USB 4 Type-C for connecting peripherals. There are two HDMI ports and can be used with the Type-C for triple monitor support. There is Wifi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.5 Gigabit ethernet for communications.

Beelink SER6 Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Beelink SER6 Shadow of the Tomb Raider

In our tests, we got the highest temperature of 41 °C, the highest fan noise of 55dB and peak power usage of 64.5W while running the Cinebench benchmark on a loop.

BEELINK SER6 (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 596 / 64 / 21 FPS
TOMB RAIDER82 / 50 / 16 FPS
CYBERPUNK 207759.39 / 37.99 / 18.35 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 263 / 36 / 14 FPS
Beelink SER6 Game Benchmark results

If you want to play games, then the bare minimum would be this very well-priced Beelink SER6. It is lower in cost than the SEI12 PRO i7 and outperforms it in all the gaming tests. It is a great entry-level gaming mini PC!

You can learn more and buy the Beelink SER6 here.


Reasons to buy!

  • Choice of Intel i5 or i7 processors
  • Supports up to 64GB DDR5 RAM
  • Thunderbolt 4 USB port for eGPU

Reasons to avoid!

  • Not as high-performing as the AMD-based gaming mini PC in this price range

The Beelink SEI12 PRO has two models with different processors. Both gaming mini PCs measure 4.9 x 4.4 x 1.6 in (12.6 x 11.3 x 4.2 cm) and weigh 649g.

Beelink SEi12 Pro i5 and i7 Gaming Mini PC
Beelink SEi12 Pro i5 and i7 Gaming Mini PC

The first model has the Intel Core i5-1240P with 12 cores & 16 threads up to 4.4GHz. For the graphics it has the Intel Iris XE running up to 1.30GHz.

The second Beelink SEi12 Pro has the higher performance Intel Core i7-1260P with 12 cores & 16 threads up to 4.7GHz. The graphics is an Intel Iris XE running up to 1.40GHz.

Both gaming mini PCs support up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 4TB NVMe SSD. There is also space for an internal 2.5″ HDD/SSD.

There are two USB 3 and two USB 2 ports as well as a USB Type-C port that is Thunderbolt 4. With this, you can connect an external graphics card for even higher performance when using the mini PC for gaming. There are two HDMI ports which can be used with the Type-C port for up to triple monitor display. There is WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.5 gigabit ethernet for communications.

BEELINK SEI12 Pro i5 (800P / 1080P / 4K)BEELINK SEI12 Pro i7 (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 546 / 33 13 FPS57 / 44 / 19 FPS
TOMB RAIDER49 / 36 / 13 FPS59 / 44 / 16 FPS
CYBERPUNK 207729.96 / 19.87 / 10.11 FPS38.23 / 24.77 / 14.39 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 231 / 21 / 9 FPS42 / 28 / 13 FPS
Beelink SEi12 Pro i5 and i7 Game Benchmark results

In our tests, we got the highest temperature of 41°C for both models, the highest fan noise of 50dB and 52dB, and a peak power usage of 85.8W and 86.2W while running the Cinebench benchmark on a loop.

You can learn more and buy the Beelink SEi12 Pro here.


Reasons to buy!

  • Four USB 3 ports and one Type-C port
  • WiFi 6 & Bluetooth 5.2

Reasons to avoid!

  • There are lower-priced but higher-performing alternative

The Beelink SEi12 measures 4.9 x 4.4 x 1.6 in (12.6 x 11.3 x 4.2 cm) and weighs 649g. 

It features the Intel Core i5-1235U with 10 cores & 12 threads running up to 4.4GHz at 15W TDP. For the graphics we have the Intel Iris Xe running up to 1.20GHz.

Beelink SEi12 Gaming Mini PC
Beelink SEi12 Gaming Mini PC

The SEi12 supports up to 64GB DDR4 RAM and up to 2TB of NVMe SSD. There is space inside for a 2.5” HDD or SSD.

There are a total of 4 USB 3 ports and a USB Type-C port on the Beelink SEi12 gaming mini PC. The two HDMI ports can be used with the Type-C port for up to triple monitor display. There is WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and ethernet for communications.

BEELINK SEI12 i5 (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 540 / 28 / 11 FPS
TOMB RAIDER48 / 32 / 11 FPS
CYBERPUNK 207728.09 / 18.14 / 9.42 FPS
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 228 / 16 / 9 FPS
Beelink SEi12 Game Benchmark results

In our tests, we got the highest temperature of 42 °C, the highest fan noise of 50 dB and peak power usage of 54W while running the Cinebench benchmark on a loop.

You can learn more about and buy the Beelink SEi12 here.


#11. GMKTEC NUCBOX7 Gaming Mini PC

Reasons to buy!

  • Extremely small and portable
  • Very low power requirement at 18.9W peak
  • Full of user ports despite its small form factor
  • Excellent for game streaming
  • Low price

Reasons to avoid!

  • Can only run older games or less demanding games unless streaming

The NUCBOX7 by GMKTEC is the smallest of our gaming mini PC’s at only 3.4 x 3.4 x 1.5 inches (8.7 x 8.7 x 3.9 cm) and weighs 214. It’s small enough to fit on the palm of your hand.

It has the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 processor with 4 cores and 4 threads running up to 3.3GHz. For the graphics, we have the Intel UHD graphics running up to 900MHz. There is 16GB DDR4 which can not be upgraded. You can however upgrade the m.2 2242 SSD up to 1TB.

Despite its small size the GMKTEC NUCBOX7 is packed full of ports. There are three HDMI 2.0 ports for up to triple monitor display. There are dual gigabit ethernet ports and three USB ports. You also have WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless communications.

GMKTEC NUCBOX7 Gaming Mini PC
GMKTEC NUCBOX7 Gaming Mini PC

In our tests, we got the highest temperature of 43°C, the highest fan noise of 46dB and peak power usage of 18.9W while running the Cinebench benchmark on a loop.

We love the small form factor of this gaming mini PC. But the price and processor are on the lower end of the scale, you can read our full NUCBOX7 review here.

GMKTEC NUCBOX7 Duckstation Gran Turismo 2
GMKTEC NUCBOX7 running Duckstation emulator at 4K upscaling with Gran Turismo 2

The NUCBOX7 is good as a retro gaming mini PC. it can run all of the classic 8 and 16-bit systems with no issues at all. This extends to PlayStation 1, Dreamcast and PSP. With PS1 for example you can run DuckStation with many graphics tweaks for improved visuals while running at 4K. For emulators such as Dolphin, we saw good performance with many games running at full speed though some may have some lower frame rates. The PlayStation 2 era is where we see lower performance with games running at around 50% speed. 

GMKTEC NUCBOX7 (800P / 1080P / 4K)
FORZA HORIZON 5Did not load
TOMB RAIDER13 / 10 / 3 FPS
CYBERPUNK 2077Did not load
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2Did not load
Beelink SEi12 Game Benchmark results

The GMKTec NUCBOX7 is overall the lowest performing gaming mini PC in our tests, it may not be worth considering for some as it is unable to run games such as Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty etc. It is capable of running lower-demanding games as well as older ones.

GMKTEC NUCBOX game streaming Forza Horizon 5
GMKTEC NUCBOX game streaming Forza Horizon 5

But there is one saving grace, It is excellent for game streaming! With streaming apps such as Xbox Game Pass you can enjoy the latest available games at full frame rates and quality graphics. If you are on a budget then the NUCBOX7 is an excellent solution, save a bunch of cash and get a game pass subscription for example. This way you can enjoy many of the games that the higher-performing gaming mini PCs can play.

You can learn more and buy the GMKTEC NUCBOX7 here.


#12. MinisForum Neptune HX90G Gaming Mini PC

Reasons to buy!

  • Vertical standing so it takes up minimal desktop space.
  • High-performance Ryzen 9 with Radeon RX graphics
  • Up to quad monitor support 4K 60Hz
  • WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 support

Reasons to avoid!

  • None

The MinisForum HX90G is a high-powered AMD gaming mini PC that rivals larger desktop builds. It features the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX with 8 Cores and 16 Threads running up to 4.6GHz at 45W TDP. For the graphics, it has the dedicated AMD Radeon RX 6600M running up to 2177MHz and 8GB GDDR6 RAM.

MinisForum Neptune HX90G Gaming Mini PC
MinisForum Neptune HX90G Gaming Mini PC

With the MinisForum Neptune HX90G, you can enjoy all the latest Windows games at good resolution and graphics settings with this gaming mini PC. Some examples include Forza Horizon 5 running at 1440P at High graphics settings. Spiderman at 1440P Very High Graphics with FSR Quality settings, and Cyberpunk 2077 1440P High graphics with FSR Quality.

You can learn more and buy the MinisForum Neptune HX90G here.


Conclusion

Very often, a gamer will rather orient his choice on a fixed PC or a laptop PC. The difficult choice will therefore generally be between power and the possibility of easily adding components to a stationary PC or the possibility of using a mobile portable PC anywhere and anytime to play video games on a PC.

Another alternative exists with the Gaming Mini PC. While not perfect, a gaming mini PC is a much more portable solution than a fixed PC without the restrictions of a laptop (forced keyboard, display, etc.).

Should you like to see more Mini PC buying guides, we have created the ultimate rundown on the very Best Mini PC 2021, have a look, and if you have any questions, we are always happy to help.

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