Buying Guide
The Best Compact Gaming PCs
From the Trycoo 1TB to the NR2 Pro RTX 5080: five gaming PCs ranked on VRAM and memory, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Compact gaming PCs save desk space. Every pick is a mini or small form factor system, ordered by VRAM.
We sorted these picks by graphics card, VRAM and processor, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips VRAM, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Also Consider
Cooler Master NR2 Pro (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5070 Ti 16GB)
A Mini-ITX build with an RTX 5070 Ti.
Best for: Buyers who want Mini-ITX build with an RTX 5070 Ti.
Our take Check price for Cooler Master NR2 Pro (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5070 Ti 16GB) (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Cooler Master NR2 Pro (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5080 16GB)
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a Mini-ITX case with a 280mm AIO.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for Cooler Master NR2 Pro (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5080 16GB) (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 1TB)
A lower price than the UM690L Slim and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 1TB) (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
MINISFORUM UM690L Slim (Ryzen 9 6900HX, Radeon 680M)
A slim chassis with USB4.
Best for: Buyers who want slim chassis with USB4.
Our take Check price for MINISFORUM UM690L Slim (Ryzen 9 6900HX, Radeon 680M) (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
MINISFORUM UM880 Plus (Ryzen 7 8845HS, Radeon 780M)
An OCuLink port for an external graphics card.
Best for: Buyers who want OCuLink port for an external graphics card.
Our take Check price for MINISFORUM UM880 Plus (Ryzen 7 8845HS, Radeon 780M) (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
Cooler Master NR2 Pro (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5070 Ti 16GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti build pairs a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, an RTX 5070 Ti with 16GB of VRAM, 32GB of DDR5-6000 and a 2TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want Mini-ITX build with an RTX 5070 Ti.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Trycoo 1TB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
The power supply is rated at 850W (80 Plus Gold). On memory it ties with the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 and the UM880 Plus at 32GB. You get an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card here, which sets it apart from the UM880 Plus and its a radeon 780M (integrated) graphics card.
It shares a ryzen 7 9800X3D processor with the NR2 Pro RTX 5080; the Trycoo 1TB goes with a ryzen 5 7640HS processor. It shares a DDR5-6000 memory type with the NR2 Pro RTX 5080; the UM880 Plus goes with a DDR5 memory type. Check the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.
The 850W power supply is the stated figure; check its connectors before a later GPU upgrade. It was priced above the UM880 Plus and below the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5070 Ti
- VRAM: 16GB
- Processor: Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR5-6000
- SSD: 2TB
- Power supply: 850W
- PSU rating: 80 Plus Gold
Pros
- A RTX 5070 Ti graphics card
- 16GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- An Ryzen 7 9800X3D with 3D V-Cache
- 32GB of RAM
Cons
- Costs more than the Trycoo 1TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick2 of 5
Cooler Master NR2 Pro (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5080 16GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
NR2 Pro RTX 5080 pairs a Ryzen 7 9800X3D with an RTX 5080 with 16GB of VRAM, plus 32GB of DDR5-6000 and a 2TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Trycoo 1TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also comes with a Mini-ITX case with a 280mm AIO. The power supply is rated at 850W (80 Plus Gold). It matches the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti and the UM880 Plus on memory (32GB).
No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 5080 graphics card; compare the UM690L Slim, which has a radeon 680M (integrated) graphics card. Like the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti, it has a ryzen 7 9800X3D processor, while the UM880 Plus uses a ryzen 7 8845HS processor. Like the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti, it has a DDR5-6000 memory type, while the UM880 Plus uses a DDR5 memory type. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5080
- VRAM: 16GB
- Processor: Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR5-6000
- SSD: 2TB
- Power supply: 850W
- PSU rating: 80 Plus Gold
Pros
- A RTX 5080 graphics card
- 16GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- An Ryzen 7 9800X3D with 3D V-Cache
- 32GB of RAM
Cons
- Costs more than the Trycoo 1TB at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 5
Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 1TB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Trycoo 1TB build pairs a Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M integrated graphics, 16GB of DDR5-5600 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editin rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It also comes with a 1TB SSD with room to expand. There is no separate graphics card, so plan on lighter games and esports titles at modest settings. On memory it ties with the UM690L Slim at 16GB.
On SSD capacity it ties with the UM880 Plus at 1TB. You get a radeon 760M (integrated) graphics card here, which sets it apart from the UM880 Plus and its a radeon 780M (integrated) graphics card. You get a ryzen 5 7640HS processor here, which sets it apart from the UM880 Plus and its a ryzen 7 8845HS processor.
A DDR5-5600 memory type is unique to it among these picks, while the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 uses a DDR5-6000 memory type. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the UM690L Slim the next step up. There is no published VRAM figure, whereas the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: Radeon 760M (integrated)
- Processor: Ryzen 5 7640HS
- Memory: 16GB
- Memory type: DDR5-5600
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A Radeon 760M (integrated) graphics card
- 1TB SSD with room to expand
- 16GB of DDR5-5600 memory
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the UM690L Slim
Cons
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- Memory of 16GB, behind the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti (32GB)
Strong Alternative4 of 5
MINISFORUM UM690L Slim (Ryzen 9 6900HX, Radeon 680M) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The UM690L Slim build pairs a Ryzen 9 6900HX, Radeon 680M integrated graphics, 16GB of LPDDR5 and a 512GB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want slim chassis with USB4.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editin rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It also comes with a slim chassis with USB4. There is no separate graphics card, so plan on lighter games and esports titles at modest settings. It matches the Trycoo 1TB on memory (16GB).
Its 512GB SSD capacity is the smallest in this group; the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti leads at 2TB. It is the only pick here with a radeon 680M (integrated) graphics card; the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti has an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card instead. It is the only pick here with a ryzen 9 6900HX processor; the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti has a ryzen 7 9800X3D processor instead.
Its price falls between the Trycoo 1TB and the UM880 Plus, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed VRAM should compare it with the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti, which offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: Radeon 680M (integrated)
- Processor: Ryzen 9 6900HX
- Memory: 16GB
- Memory type: LPDDR5
- SSD: 512GB
Pros
- A Radeon 680M (integrated) graphics card
- Slim chassis with USB4
- 16GB of LPDDR5 memory
- Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, the only one here
Cons
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- A 512GB SSD fills quickly with modern games
- Memory trails the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti (32GB)
Worth a Look5 of 5
MINISFORUM UM880 Plus (Ryzen 7 8845HS, Radeon 780M) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
UM880 Plus pairs a Ryzen 7 8845HS with Radeon 780M integrated graphics, plus 32GB of DDR5 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want OCuLink port for an external graphics card.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Trycoo 1TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also comes with an OCuLink port for an external graphics card. There is no separate graphics card, so plan on lighter games and esports titles at modest settings. On memory it ties with the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti and the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 at 32GB.
On SSD capacity it ties with the Trycoo 1TB at 1TB. You get a radeon 780M (integrated) graphics card here, which sets it apart from the UM690L Slim and its a radeon 680M (integrated) graphics card. You get a ryzen 7 8845HS processor here, which sets it apart from the UM690L Slim and its a ryzen 9 6900HX processor.
It was priced above the UM690L Slim and below the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti at the time of writing. There is no published VRAM figure, whereas the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: Radeon 780M (integrated)
- Processor: Ryzen 7 8845HS
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR5
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A Radeon 780M (integrated) graphics card
- 32GB of RAM
- OCuLink port for an external graphics card
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the UM690L Slim
Cons
- Costs more than the Trycoo 1TB at the time of writing
How We Chose These Compact Gaming PCs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared five prebuilt PCs on graphics card, VRAM, processor and memory as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti to the UM880 Plus, state graphics card, processor and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Trycoo 1TB, the UM690L Slim and the UM880 Plus give no VRAM; the Trycoo 1TB, the UM690L Slim and the UM880 Plus give no power supply wattage.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Trycoo 1TB ($250 to $500) to the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 (over $1500).
What to Look for in a Compact Gaming PC
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much memory you need
Here memory runs from 16GB on the UM690L Slim to 32GB on the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti. The NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti is the pick for memory.
SSD capacity across these picks
Here SSD capacity runs from 512GB on the UM690L Slim to 2TB on the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti. Start with the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti if SSD capacity decides it.
Processor
The NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti and the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 list Ryzen 7 9800X3D; the Trycoo 1TB lists Ryzen 5 7640HS; the UM690L Slim lists Ryzen 9 6900HX; the UM880 Plus lists Ryzen 7 8845HS.
Memory type
The NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti and the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 list DDR5-6000; the Trycoo 1TB lists DDR5-5600; the UM690L Slim lists LPDDR5; the UM880 Plus lists DDR5. Rule out the mismatches before looking at price.
Fit and compatibility
Check the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.
Check memory and storage
16GB of RAM runs games; 32GB leaves room for streaming, browsers and editing. A 1TB SSD holds a handful of large games, so plan for a second drive if you keep a big library.
How to Choose a Compact Gaming PC
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want Mini-ITX build with an RTX 5070 Ti | NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti | A Mini-ITX build with an RTX 5070 Ti |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | NR2 Pro RTX 5080 | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a Mini-ITX case with a 280mm AIO |
| Spending as little as possible | Trycoo 1TB | A lower price than the UM690L Slim and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want slim chassis with USB4 | UM690L Slim | A slim chassis with USB4 |
| Buyers who want OCuLink port for an external graphics card | UM880 Plus | An OCuLink port for an external graphics card |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti leads on memory at 32GB, ahead of the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 at 32GB. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Prebuilt PC | Graphics card | VRAM | Processor | Memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti | RTX 5070 Ti | 16GB | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | 32GB |
| NR2 Pro RTX 5080 | RTX 5080 | 16GB | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | 32GB |
| Trycoo 1TB | Radeon 760M (integrated) | Not listed | Ryzen 5 7640HS | 16GB |
| UM690L Slim | Radeon 680M (integrated) | Not listed | Ryzen 9 6900HX | 16GB |
| UM880 Plus | Radeon 780M (integrated) | Not listed | Ryzen 7 8845HS | 32GB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Trycoo 1TB was the lowest-priced pick and the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Prebuilt PCs |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | Trycoo 1TB, UM690L Slim |
| About $500 to $1000 | UM880 Plus |
| Over $1500 | NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti, NR2 Pro RTX 5080 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 worth paying more than the Trycoo 1TB?
On paper it adds memory (32GB against 16GB) and SSD capacity (2TB against 1TB). The Trycoo 1TB was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
What makes the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 the Premium Pick?
It earns the label for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a Mini-ITX case with a 280mm AIO. It suits anyone who wants the most complete package.
Do the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti and the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 differ on graphics card?
The NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti uses RTX 5070 Ti; the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 uses RTX 5080; the Trycoo 1TB uses Radeon 760M (integrated); the UM690L Slim uses Radeon 680M (integrated); the UM880 Plus uses Radeon 780M (integrated).
What should I check before buying the UM880 Plus?
Check the UM880 Plus's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. The UM880 Plus's PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before planning a GPU upgrade. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5.
Beyond the specs, what sets the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti and the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 apart?
The NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti: a Mini-ITX build with an RTX 5070 Ti. The NR2 Pro RTX 5080: a Mini-ITX case with a 280mm AIO. The Trycoo 1TB: a 1TB SSD with room to expand.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the NR2 Pro RTX 5070 Ti, chosen for a Mini-ITX build with an RTX 5070 Ti. Look at the NR2 Pro RTX 5080 for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a Mini-ITX case with a 280mm AIO, the Trycoo 1TB for a lower price than the UM690L Slim and the rest when we checked and the UM690L Slim for a slim chassis with USB4 if those matter more to you.
Small cases run warmer; keep vents clear.