Desktop PCs have a reputation for bulk. These monolithic desk towers tend to hog all the space and the spotlight in a work or gaming station. However, they don’t have to be big. Some manufacturers have made small prebuilt gaming PC builds without sacrificing too much in terms of cooling or performance.
We do live in a good era of computer technology where small things contain huge surprises. So why not extend that tech philosophy to desktop computers?
RELATED: 7 Cheap Ways to Customize Your Gaming PC
Besides, the small prebuilt gaming PC models are a good way to surprise people this Christmas. You can wrap up the package and the recipient won’t be able to guess that it’s a gaming computer due to the size.
So save up some desk real estate and practice some minimalism this season with these small prebuilt gaming PC selections.
Zotac ZBox Magnus One ECM53060C Mini PC
PROS
- Minimalistic style
- Great 1080p gaming PC
- Plenty of storage space
- Ample ventilation
- Affordable
CONS
- CPU is outdated
- Uses HDD
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i5-10400
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM / Memory: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB SSD / 1TB HDD
- Dimensions: 7.48 x 13.78 x 17.72 inches
Zotac made quite a marvel with this one. It’s a mid-range PC with a rather outdated CPU but it will certainly handle most of the latest games on a combination of high or ultra settings with ease. That’s assuming the monitor is 1080p.
The Magnus One is no bigger than most ITX PCs commonly found in offices, meaning it won’t intrude on or obscure the workstation too much. It also comes preinstalled with a Windows 10 OS and has everything you need for a gaming setup.
Zotac ZBox Magnus One ECM53060C Mini PC
MSI Creator P50 (SFF)
PROS
- Can be set upright or horizontally
- Beautiful case
- Great 1080p gaming PC
- Minimalistic style
- Reasonably-priced
CONS
- Needs more cooling or ventilation
- Storage could be better
- CPU is starting to beccome outdated
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i5-11400
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM / Memory: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Dimensions: 9.2 x 13.6 x 2.8 inches
If you don’t mind spending considerably more for a more aesthetically-pleasing machine, then the MSI Creator P50 is a good option as well. At first glance, you might even mistake it for a new PlayStation model due to its upright design and white motif.
The case is quite gorgeous here and will instantly turn heads. Under the hood, it’s more than capable of 1080p ultra-high gaming with an RTX 3060 and an 11th Gen Intel CPU. Cooling might be less optimal due to the lack of big vents or meshes, but that’s the price you pay for aesthetics.
MSI Creator P50 (SFF)
MSI Trident 3 (SFF)
PROS
- Can be set upright or horizontally
- Great 1080p gaming PC
- Reasonably-priced
- Smooth black case
CONS
- Aggressive gamer aesthetics might not be for everyone
- Storage could be better
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i5-12400F
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM / Memory: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Dimensions: 17.32 x 6.38 x 12.13 inches
If you don’t mind something a bit taller than the white MSI Creator, then the Trident 3 is a better choice. In contrast to the Creator’s angelic style, the MSI Trident 3 sports aggressive black and red gamer aesthetics.
The CPU is also better this time since it’s a 12th Gen Intel mid-range processor which also holds the best value in its generation of CPUs. Everything else is more or less the same as the Creator, including the price and the storage space.
MSI Trident 3 (SFF)
TRIGKEY Desktop Computer
PROS
- Impressive for its size
- Good processing power
- 16GB of RAM in this price point and form factor
- Radeon Vega integrated GPU
- Portable, small, and light
- Looks kinda cute tbh
CONS
- Fans can get a bit loud
- Limited I/O and USB ports
- CPU / Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5560U(6 Cores, 12 Threads)
- GPU / Graphics Card: Integrated Radeon Vega GPU
- RAM / Memory: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 500GB M.2 NVMe (Max 2200MB/S)
- Dimensions: Unspecified, but it’s the same size as most hands
You usually shouldn’t expect much in the sub-$450 “gaming” PC category, but this offering from TRIGKEY is quite astonishing as far as mini-PCs go. It comes equipped with a Ryzen 5 5560U and a good Radeon Vega integrated GPU, making it somewhat decent for gaming.
And the best part is that you can carry it with one hand– even throw it around in a game of fetch with your dog (we don’t recommend that). Point is, it’s one of the most portable prebuilt gaming PC models you can have and the price is reasonable for its size and performance.
They’ve gone ahead and innovated for the near future here, especially in the nanotechnology department.
TRIGKEY Desktop Computer
What are You Sacrificing with a Mini-PC?
You might think that going ITX or micro, or mini for your desktop computer is the next step toward the future, but it comes with its own crippling caveats. For one, performance is lower for these kinds of computers since most powerful gaming or productivity hardware needs larger PCBs and bigger heatsinks to cool themselves.
That also brings us to the question of its cooling. Since space is limited with smaller computers, you can’t have big fans and heatsinks. Usually, they can only employ laptop cooling solutions for this kind of form factor and that kind of cooling for desktop hardware is not conducive.
Still, you get the undeniable advantage of portability and space conservation, which is important depending on your work or preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Are small prebuilt PC models more expensive?
No. They seem to be more affordable, actually. Less metal and plastic parts are taken into account, resulting in lower manufacturing costs. -
Why aren't small prebuilt PC models more common?
Because they usually lack the adequate cooling or performance needed for heavy gaming and heavy productivity tasks. Nanotechnology hasn't gone that far yet unless it's for smartphones.