With this build, assembly is guaranteed to succeed
Probably the biggest hurdle when buying a new gaming PC is the subsequent assembly. However, the process is not nearly as complicated as most people might think. GIGA has therefore configured a gaming computer including the latest hardware from Intel and Nvidia, which should be easy to assemble even for newcomers.
With a price of just under 2,000 euros, this gaming PC is definitely in the high-end range in terms of price. The aim of this configuration was to get the maximum performance from the smallest possible space. Our mini gaming PC is therefore an extremely compact computer that, despite its size, can easily handle current AAA games or other computing-intensive applications.
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If necessary, individual components can also be replaced with others – depending on what priorities you want to set for your computer. We refer here primarily to our own experiences and have attached particular importance to selecting high-quality hardware that is also as future-proof as possible. Also note that our selection specially matched in terms of compatibility was, which does not necessarily have to be the case with other components.
Contents
Mini gaming PC: The hardware at a glance
| component | offer |
|---|---|
| processor |
 |
| cooler | An AIO water cooler (140 mm) is included with the case. |
| motherboard |
 |
| random access memory |
 |
| graphic card |
 |
| Storage |
 |
| power adapter | A power pack with a total of 750 watts of power is already pre-installed in the housing. |
| Housing |
 |
processor and graphics card
For the processor, the choice fell on the Intel Core i5 12600K. This is the current mid-range of the current Alder Lake CPUs. A special feature is the subdivision into so-called performance and efficiency cores. Six of the ten cores work in performance mode and the remaining four are used for less computing-intensive tasks. In addition, the works Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming OC in our calculator. Again, this is a current mid-range model, which in our opinion makes the card the ideal compromise between price and performance.
Would you prefer a different graphics card? We present a selection of current models:
memory and hard drive
As far as RAM goes, we opted for a 32GB kit Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM decided. Although the new memory standard is still relatively expensive in contrast to DDR4, it is clearly future-proof. You also benefit from increased clock rates, which can provide a small performance boost depending on the application. In order to keep the assembly of the computer as simple as possible, there is only one mass storage device Samsung 980 Pro NVMe SSD with a capacity of 1 TB – it can be installed in just a few simple steps and no additional cables are required.
Housing, mainboard and Co.
The true highlight of our mini gaming PCs is clearly that NZXT H1 V2, which has several surprises in store. That would be the proud price of almost 400 euros, but there is a good reason for it. The scope of delivery of the case also includes an in-house power supply unit with a total of 750 watts of power and an AIO water cooler with a 140 mm radiator. In addition, all the cables have already been pre-routed, which makes the assembly process much easier – which should be of particular benefit to beginners in PC building.
In addition to the graphics card, you only have to install the mainboard and plug in the cables in the right place. By the way, here we are for that Asus ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WiFi decided. First of all because it is a board in Mini-ITX format, which is an absolute must for this configuration. But the board also leaves nothing to be desired in other respects: integrated WiFi and Bluetooth, DDR5 support and two M.2 slots with the current PCIe 4.0 standard.
We also assembled a mini gaming PC in the GIGA editorial team. You can watch the process step by step in the video below:
What performance can I expect?
The minimalist casing makes this computer an absolute eye-catcher. With a volume of just 15.6 liters and the vertical design, it hardly takes up any space on the desk. For comparison: A conventional housing often has three to four times the volume. In addition to the aesthetics, the performance is particularly important. That’s why high-performance components were chosen, with which you can easily use all Enjoy AAA games at maximum settings or in 4K resolution can.
The only disadvantage is that you are very limited overall in the choice of components. So if you want to upgrade the graphics card later, for example, you have to make sure beforehand that the GPU also fits into the case. It would also be advisable not to install too “hot” components, since the cooling capacity in the NZXT H1 V2 is not nearly as powerful as with regular housings due to the space-saving design.
Do you prefer a classic gaming PC with more space for your components? Take a look at our matching buying guide:
The motto for this gaming PC was primarily to achieve maximum performance in a minimum of space. At the same time, the PC should be easy to assemble even for newcomers. This is where the NZXT H1 V2 comes into play, whose predecessor I have been using for a long time. Although I had already assembled several gaming PCs to date and thus gained sufficient experience, the concept still completely convinced me. So far, none of my builds have been so uncomplicated. The new version has improved again in every respect, which is why the case is also the heart of this gaming PC. With the remaining components, in addition to compatibility with the housing and each other, special attention was paid to ensuring that you are equally prepared for the future. Hence the decision for DDR5 RAM, which is slowly but surely establishing itself as the new standard.
Your entire budget went on the new computer and now you have no more money left over for games? Check out the most popular gaming plans:
This is how we selected the components
We conduct intensive research for every article of this type so that we can then pass on the knowledge we have gained to our readers in a compact and, above all, understandable way. Likewise, all listed products are always selected with care and different applications and price segments are taken into account.
I myself have been enthusiastic about video games and the necessary hardware since my childhood. I assembled my first own gaming computer in 2012 and since then numerous others have followed. So over the years I have acquired all the knowledge related to games and (PC) hardware myself – often to the delight of my family or friends. There I am usually the first point of contact when it comes to repairing something or advising you on the purchase of new equipment.
How we test at GIGA and why you trust our judgement we have explained here:
Gaming PCs require all the more care because there are countless possible combinations of the respective hardware. Such a diverse selection is one of the biggest advantages of this platform, but it can also quickly lead to overwhelm. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that all components precisely matched to each other have to be. For this reason, care was taken in each system to ensure that all components such as the processor, the mainboard or the housing fit together perfectly.
For more information on assembling your own gaming PC, check out our related article:
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