There have even beenhintsthat Valve are resurrecting theirSteam Machinemini PC concept, years after a flopping first attempt.

To find out, Ive dedicated really very little of my desk space to two modern mini PCs.

Both of these are perfectly tolerable to live with, a general usability sense.

Two mini PCs, the Acer Revo Box and the Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN374070C, on a table.

To a wall, even, if you want to get all hammer-drilly about it.

Also: theyre cute.

Whole computers, in dimensions akin to that of the box that Dominos send their cookies in.

An Acer Revo Box mini PC stacked on top of a Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN374070C.

Granted, therearecompromises elsewhere.

Mini PCs arent as modular or upgradable as, for instance, a mini ITX-based desktop.

But the CPU, GPU, motherboard, and case are all more of a package deal.

A rear view of the Acer Revo Box, showing the majority of its connection ports.

1440p included:

Sadly, mini PCs with integrated graphics are going to be more of a lucky dip.

Or, inCyberpunk 2077s case, replacing the visuals with a blinding mass of bugged-out lights.

All ran perfectly fine.

The internals of a Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN374070C mini PC, showing its RAM slots and SSD.

And on a machine thats whisper-quiet and costs less than aZotac Zone.

If PC gaming is a broad church, theres more than enough room on the pews for these littleuns.

A bar graph showing how the Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN374070C performs in various gaming benchmarks.

A closeup of a Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN374070C mini PC next to an Acer Revo Box.