Mini PCs Revolutionise Gaming in Small Form Factors

Big gaming power no longer requires a big, bulky tower. For many South African gamers, especially those in apartments, dorm rooms, or just looking for a cleaner setup, finding space for a traditional rig is a real challenge. We look at how one local gamer reclaimed his desk and upgraded his entire experience by embracing the small form factor revolution. 🚀

LG UltraGear™ 45" Curved Gaming Monitor / OLED (3440 x 1440) / 240Hz Refresh Rate / 0.03ms (GtG) Response Time / AMD FreeSync Premium Pro / Nvidia G-Sync Compatible / 45GS95QE

R36999.00In Stock

Dahua 24 inch FullHD IPS panel 165Hz 1ms fast response time Ultra-thin bezel Monitor with DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, Height Adjustable Stand / DHI-LM24-E231A

R2899.00In Stock

AOC 20E1H 19.5" HD (1600 x 900) 60Hz Desktop Monitor - 5ms response time - WLED-Backlit - HDMI, VGA Inputs - Cable Management - Stand Offers Tilting / 20E1H

R1499.00In Stock

ViewSonic VX2476 23.8" IPS Monitor / Frameless bezel and stylish stand / 75Hz Refresh Rate / Blue Light Filter & Flicker-Free / VX2476-SH

R2799.00In Stock

Dell Pro 27 Plus P2725QE USB-C Hub Monitor - 27-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) 100Hz Display, 5ms Response Time (Fast Mode), USB-C/DisplayPort/HDMI/USB-A Connectivity, Color Depth: 1.07 Billion Colors – Black

R10399.00In Stock

ViewSonic 27” VX2779-HD-PRO 180Hz Gaming Monitor / 180Hz Refresh rate / SuperClear® IPS panel / 1ms MPRT / AMD FreeSync™ / HDMI / VX2779-HD-PRO

R2699.00In Stock

A Gamer's Space Dilemma

The Persona & Challenge

Meet Jabu, a competitive Apex Legends player from Cape Town. Living in a modern apartment, his desk space was tight, dominated by an old, noisy desktop tower that kicked out serious heat during summer. His goal was simple: get a powerful, quiet, and compact setup that could handle 1440p gaming at high refresh rates without taking over his whole room or sounding like a jet engine.

The Solution

After some research, Jabu decided the answer wasn't a smaller tower, but a completely different class of machine: a high-performance Mini PC. These compact powerhouses offer incredible performance in a chassis that can often fit in the palm of your hand.

He paired a Minisforum unit, known for its potent AMD processors and excellent cooling, with a new monitor to make the most of the performance jump. The choice of a modern gaming display was critical to unlock the full potential of the new rig.

MINISFORUM NAB9 Plus Mini PC with Intel Core i9 12900HK(14C/20T, up to 5.0GHz),Mini Computer Intel lris Xe Graphics 1TB PCIe4.0 SSD 32GB DDR4,OCuLink,Triple Display with HDMI+DP+USB4, 4xUSB Port,2.5G / NAB9-Plus

R10999.00In Stock

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT Mini PC AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, 16C/32T,8 GB GDDR6 AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT, 32GB DDR5 RAM 1TB PCIe4.0 SSD Mini Gaming PC, HDMI2.1/DP2.0/USB-C,WiFi7,BT5.4,2.5G LAN,2xPCIe4.0&PCIe5.0 SSD Slots / G7-Pt

R21999.00In Stock

Minisforum UN1245 Intel i5-12450H(4.40GHz) Mini PC Win 11 Pro, 16GB DDR4 512GB SSD, 6 Cores 12 Threads, WiFi6 BT5.2 USB3.0 ×4, USB-C ×1, HDMI x1, DisplayPort x1, DMIC ×1, 3.5mm Combo Jack ×1, RJ45 x1 / UN1245

R6999.00In Stock

Minisforum Mini PC AI X1 Pro AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370 (12 Cores/24 Threads, up to 5.1GHz) & AMD Radeon 890M Mini Gaming Computer,32GB DDR5 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, 8K Quad Display,Dual 2.5 LAN/WiFi 7/BT5.4/Oculink / AI-X1-Pro-370

R17499.00In Stock

The Implementation

The setup was incredibly straightforward:

1. PC Placement: Jabu used a VESA mount to attach the Mini PC directly to the back of his new monitor, completely clearing it from his desktop.
2. Monitor Upgrade: He chose a 27-inch QHD (1440p) display with a 165Hz refresh rate, connecting it via DisplayPort to ensure the highest refresh rate was active.
3. Cable Management: With the PC hidden and only a few cables to run for power and peripherals, he used simple cable ties to achieve an ultra-clean, minimalist look.

The Results: A Total Transformation

The move to a Mini PC didn't just save space; it was an upgrade across the board. The new setup is quieter, more power-efficient, and delivers a smoother gaming experience. With the clutter gone, Jabu has more room for his mouse and keyboard, leading to more comfortable and competitive gaming sessions.

The numbers speak for themselves. This compact solution delivered a massive performance uplift while dramatically improving his quality of life. Jabu explored various PC monitors before settling on his final choice, considering top brands like HP, Samsung, and AOC to find the perfect balance of features and price.

Minisforum UN1245 Intel i5-12450H(4.40GHz) Mini PC Win 11 Pro, 16GB DDR4 512GB SSD, 6 Cores 12 Threads, WiFi6 BT5.2 USB3.0 ×4, USB-C ×1, HDMI x1, DisplayPort x1, DMIC ×1, 3.5mm Combo Jack ×1, RJ45 x1 / UN1245

R6999.00In Stock

Minisforum Mini PC AI X1 Pro AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370 (12 Cores/24 Threads, up to 5.1GHz) & AMD Radeon 890M Mini Gaming Computer,32GB DDR5 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, 8K Quad Display,Dual 2.5 LAN/WiFi 7/BT5.4/Oculink / AI-X1-Pro-370

R17499.00In Stock

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT Mini PC AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, 16C/32T,8 GB GDDR6 AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT, 32GB DDR5 RAM 1TB PCIe4.0 SSD Mini Gaming PC, HDMI2.1/DP2.0/USB-C,WiFi7,BT5.4,2.5G LAN,2xPCIe4.0&PCIe5.0 SSD Slots / G7-Pt

R21999.00In Stock

MINISFORUM NAB9 Plus Mini PC with Intel Core i9 12900HK(14C/20T, up to 5.0GHz),Mini Computer Intel lris Xe Graphics 1TB PCIe4.0 SSD 32GB DDR4,OCuLink,Triple Display with HDMI+DP+USB4, 4xUSB Port,2.5G / NAB9-Plus

R10999.00In Stock

“I honestly can’t believe this much power comes out of a box smaller than my lunchbox. My desk has never been this clean, and the game has never felt this smooth. It’s a total upgrade, no compromises.” – Jabu