When we picture gaming PCs, we often picture a huge desk with three monitors, an abundance of light-up accessories, and a massive PC underneath that rivals computers in the 1960s. And sometimes all we want is a small PC to fit on a lowkey desk with some of our favorite decorations so we can play some chill games. Luckily there are options for that! We put together a list of the best small gaming PC options available.
Benefits of Having a Small Gaming PC
We hear so much about these big, bulking PCs that sometimes we doubt if it’s a good idea to have a small gaming PC. Will it have enough power? Will it support the programs I use for work? There are actually a lot of benefits of having a smaller gaming PC. The three P’s are among them:
- Portability
- Power
- Parties
Portability
Being able to move around your PC with ease is actually quite beneficial. If you want to rearrange your room, move somewhere else, bring your PC to work, etc. it’s much easier to have a smaller gaming PC.
Power
While small in size, many small PCs are big in power, allowing you to play just about any game you want. A larger PC will have flashier specs under its bulkiness, of course, but many small PCs come with the right hardware to support the same games and programs as any other computer.
LAN Parties
Wanna get together with friends to enjoy some CSGO, Apex Legends, or Dead By Daylight? LAN parties are still a popular way to game with friends. Having a smaller gaming PC makes it much easier to bring your setup to a friend’s house and fit it on a desk that’s already crammed with other people’s computers.
The Best Small Gaming PC For You
MSI MEG Trident X
This is a compact PC that provides plenty of power. It has an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11700K processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU so you can play just about any game with ease. With an abundance of other small features, this is a small PC that can do it all.
CLX Scarab Gaming PC
If you’re looking for top-notch performance, look no further than this small gaming PC. Stunning and small in stature, this is one of the most powerful small PCs out there. This is a PC made specifically for incredible gameplay experiences, with a choice between Intel Core i9 12900KS or AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, up to 128 GP 5200Mhz memory, and a NIVDIA GeForce RTX 3090Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6950XT as the graphics card. The stylish PC also has a CLX Quench for liquid cooling.
Intel NUC 11 Enthusiast
With an RTX 2060 6GB GPU and an Intel Core i7-11655G7 CPU, this is a powerhouse in a tiny, tiny body. It may not be the most powerful option for gamers, but it’s most definitely compact and easy to use at LAN parties.
HP Pavilion Tg01-1020
This is a cost effective option for beginners that want a smaller PC. It has entry-level hardware that gets the job done for a lower cost, making it a great first computer especially if you have less room to work with.
Valve Steam Deck
Here’s a good bonus! This is a handheld Nintendo Switch-like device that can run PC games on your TV or through its own monitor while you’re on the go. It’s not technically a PC but it does run the same games without taking up any room, making it a great option for gamers on the go.
