I constructed a mini gaming PC to show you don’t want a console

Let’s get one factor straight, I don’t have something towards consoles. I grew up with them, spent numerous hours, and nonetheless suppose they’re nice for lots of people. But each time I think about shopping for a gaming console at present, I begin enthusiastic about the drawbacks. Consoles have restricted improve paths, overpriced video games and better prices for on-line providers, after which there may be the by no means ending tug-of-war between efficiency and constancy modes.

As somebody who writes about PCs for a dwelling, I do know that below the hood, consoles are mainly small gaming PCs, simply with out the liberty of what makes a PC, a PC.

Then there’s the private issue. I have already got a robust desktop rig for work and catching up on some aggressive gaming with associates. But after lengthy hours at my desk, I needed to chill on the sofa with a controller in hand and revel in single-player video games on my giant display TV.

The drawback? That meant both dragging my large desktop into the lounge or constructing one thing new.

A couch-friendly gaming dream

This wasn’t nearly comfort. It was about making one thing compact, private, and unapologetically mine. I’ve at all times beloved small kind issue builds, they’re a puzzle to resolve, a flex of effectivity, and, when accomplished proper, simply cool to have a look at. This was my probability to merge my love for tinkering with my want for a console-like front room setup, minus the precise console.

The plan was easy, salvage as many elements as I might from my {hardware} stash and purchase solely what I wanted. That meant beginning with the CPU, an Intel Core i7-11700K from my earlier construct paired to a Gigabyte Z590 mini-ITX motherboard, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200MT/s. Storage was coated too, a low-capacity Samsung NVMe SSD as well Windows, and a spacious 2TB Kingston SSD for my recreation library.

The case for the case

The one factor I needed to exchange was my previous mini-ITX case, the SSUPD Meshlicious. While I completely adore its aesthetics, the riser cable was giving me hassle, and I needed one thing simple to hold and journey with.

After a little bit of digging, I landed on the Deepcool CH160. It’s small, simple to work in, and one of the best half, it value me below $50 which is basically good worth for a case that really respects your sanity throughout cable administration. It even comes with a neat deal with on the prime. Notably, Deepcool is banned within the US, so good luck discovering one there, however the place I dwell it’s a hidden gem.

The GPU everybody likes to hate, however I purchased one anyway

When it got here to graphics, I wasn’t aiming for 4K extremely settings bragging rights. Plus in at present’s market, monitoring down a genuinely highly effective GPU at an affordable value appears like chasing a fantasy. I simply wanted one thing that might deal with 1080p and 1440p at 60FPS or extra, with the occasional DLSS push for the heavier hitters in my library.

That’s the place the Nvidia RTX 4060 got here in, particularly, a compact single-fan mannequin from Zotac. Now, I do know what you’re pondering: “The 4060? The one everyone roasted when it launched?” Yep, that one.

When it hit the cabinets, critics slammed it for its slender reminiscence bus, comparatively modest VRAM, and for providing what many noticed as solely a minor bump over the previous-gen 3060. In reality, even in our assessment we discovered the GPU to be fairly underwhelming.

What is necessary to know right here is that context issues. On paper, the RTX 4060 isn’t a record-breaker, however in a small kind issue construct the place effectivity, thermals, and dimension matter simply as a lot as uncooked efficiency, it makes plenty of sense.

It sips energy, runs cool and quiet, and in real-world gaming at 1080p or 1440p, it punches far above the web’s worst takes. Throw in DLSS body technology, and all of a sudden it’s dealing with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor much better than the memes would have you ever imagine. It’s no shock that the RTX 4060 can be the second hottest discrete GPU on Steam’s {hardware} survey.

The expertise thus far

Here’s the factor, my mini console PC has already confirmed itself. I’ve been lounging on the sofa enjoying video games from my Steam, Epic, and Xbox Game Pass libraries with out worrying about whether or not they’re obtainable on a selected platform. I can tweak settings to my liking, set up mods, emulate older consoles, and even stream content material with out juggling a number of containers or subscriptions.

Is it probably the most highly effective PC I’ve ever constructed? Absolutely not. But that’s not the purpose. This little field value me lower than a brand-new console and delivers much more versatility. And once I finally determine it’s time for a GPU improve, I don’t want to attend for the subsequent console technology, I can simply swap the cardboard.

Why I’m not going again to consoles

If you desire a plug-and-play gaming answer, consoles nonetheless make sense. But for me, the commerce offs are usually not price it anymore. Not solely do I get cheaper video games because of gross sales and reductions, but in addition the flexibleness of customizing my expertise, and understanding I can repair or improve my system each time I would like.

Building this mini gaming PC wasn’t only a enjoyable venture, it was proof which you can have the lounge console expertise with out giving up the flexibleness and freedom that make PC gaming so nice.

So no, I didn’t want a PlayStation or an Xbox to take pleasure in sofa gaming. All I wanted was some spare elements, a budget-friendly case, and just a little little bit of stubbornness. Honestly, I believe that’s a significantly better deal.