Cheap and good mini-PCs for gaming?
Cheap and good mini-PCs for gaming?
Hello, everybody! I want to have a little mini-PC for gaming that operates like a console. I don't want to have a big, clunky case in the back or front of the TV. Furthermore, I don't play many AAA titles from recent years, so the hardware doesn't need to be high-end. It would be nice if I could run Scarlet Nexus, Nier: Automata, and Horizon Zero Dawn at a stable 60 FPS. The graphics don't need to be extreme; I just want to enjoy the game.
Also recommend some great distro's for gaming.
Steam Deck is my recommendation. If you want to use it with your TV, grab a dock, and Bluetooth controller (Sony Dualsense works great). Bonus: Runs Linux out of the box. Double bonus: Actually remotely affordable, unlike a high-end gaming rig.
Cannot recommend steam deck enough. Full-on console experience with your entire steam library. Proper PS/Xbox controller support as well as M/K. Can boot into Linux directly for tweaks. They also just started selling refurbished devices with full warranty.
Fully recommend a Steam Deck as well. Only difference is that I can't recommend a Bluetooth controller since it can't wake it due to a Bluetooth limitation. If you use a USB dongle controller it can wake it. Unfortunately the Xbox wireless controller adapter is not officially supported, and you need to install the drivers manually (and after each update to the Steam Deck). I'm sure there are good options out there for USB dongle controllers, but I have just been doing the Xbox controller driver install, so I haven't looked for them.
it can't wake it due to a Bluetooth limitation.
That's a great point. I'll have to think about a good solution there (it's Linux, so, should be able to do it). It is probably an OS level think like a udev script. The only requirement SHOULD be that the controller acts in HID mode as that shouldn't need the whole stack, to my knowledge.
As others have suggested, the Steam Deck fits your need. Get the cheapest model, because it's cheaper to upgrade than it is to buy the top tier model. I did that, swapped out the SSD in like five minutes, and slapped on an etched glass screen protector.
As mentioned, Minisforum and Beelink make great APU-based Ryzen systems which are going to give a great bang-for-buck. Get them from Amazon vs their dedicated website as some folks have had shipping delqys with the OEM website. ETA Prime does great reviews on YouTube of these boxes and shows what the FPS is like on some current, a few years old, and retro games for each one.
If you want the smallest possible system, with room for one the smaller form factor discrete graphics cards I'd say the NUC 9 Extreme works very well. I have a GTX 1650 in it and it is perfectly fine.
Steam Deck with a usb c dock is also a great option.
I would recommend to get a Fujitsu esprimo small form factor pc or a lenovo sff with an i5 6500 cpu. They sell used for less that 100 euros. Get a half size gpu (gtx 1650 or 1050 ti or amd rx 6400). And you will have a perfect pc for gaining in 1080p in your living room on the cheap. Those pcs are a good compromise for speed and size, any smaller and they will get way too hot. Also these are well build office PCs, that will run very quiet.
I would recommend pop_os as a distro. Its made for gaining and I use it as my daily driver.
Choose two:
- Cheap
- Gaming PC
- Small form factor
Btw, mATX boards and cases aren't that large and usually cost the same or less than full ATX. Might be a good middle-ground.
You can check ETA Prime on YT, there are tests of some small gaming PCs
I do exactly this with a SteamDeck and USB-C docking station... with the added bonus that I can pull it out of the dock and take it with me to use as a hand-held when I travel.
I'd say a bee-link, a SER7 or GTR7, check their specs https://www.bee-link.com/catalog/product/index?id=485
I heard Minisforum does some cool stuff with mini PCs. Might be worth to look into
I have one and it's very nice.
I realize you don't want a "big clunky box" but you will make a variety of compromises for a mini-PC.
You can build a PC in a mini-ITX case (about the size of a shoe box) and get significantly better performance.
Otherwise, I have to agree with everyone else here, the SteamDeck is where it's at. It's just a ridiculously good value.
The new Lenovo Legion handheld looks promising also but it's far too new to recommend.
Nintendo switch or steam deck
https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/byte
https://system76.com/desktops/meerkat
Edit: rather than just downvote, reply and tell me why I'm "wrong"
NVidia Shield and a GeForce Now subscription. It is probably the smallest form factor you can get to play Nier and Horizon Zero Dawn at stable 60fps.
I have a Steam Deck and it can not play Horizon Zero Dawn at 60fps at least not at a graphics setting and resolution that looks decent. I have never hooked up my Deck to a TV but I can imagine that game would look horrible if I aim for 60fps.
Orange pi zero 3 is good enough for gaming if you lower your expectations and don't mind switching between retrogaming and cloud gaming 24/7.
t. got a 1GiB one and its excellent for my use case.