ZDNET Key Takeaways

• THE AtomMan G7 Ti Mini PC is available now, starting at $1,439.
• It’s a thin and light mini PC with premium hardware found in much more expensive gaming laptops.
• The simple setup isn’t for everyone and it can get hot.

Mini PCs are growing in popularity with gamers and creators who want to use their own monitors and don’t want to build a desktop computer from scratch. Apple Mac Mini with the new M4 chip It might be the hottest mini of the season, but some lesser-known brands also make cool devices.

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I recently got my hands dirty Minisforum latest gaming device, the AtomMan G7 Ti Mini PCand I can see what all the hype is about. Minisforum knows a thing or two about mini PCs: that’s what they do. One of the reasons minis are so attractive is that they can be stacked with high-end hardware, but because they don’t have a screen, battery, and keyboard, they remain relatively low priced.

This is the case with the AtomMan G7, which has an Intel Core i9 “Raptor Lake” processor, 32 GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 for around $1,400. This is the laptop variant of the RTX 4070 GPU, with 8GB of VRAM that boosts up to 140W.

The AtomMan G7 is built with all the components of a high-end gaming laptop: it’s similar to the Alienware m18 R2for example: both have an Intel Core i9 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card and 32 GB of RAM, but the Alienware – with its screen, RBG effects and keyboard – costs almost double of the price.

Yes, the Alienware m18 R2 is a complete package for this price, but not everyone needs it. Many gamers and creatives already own a monitor they love or have an expensive multi-monitor setup that they’re connected to from an existing machine. The same goes for mechanical keyboards, which even the best gaming laptops can’t match.

The result is a minimalist setup that allows you plenty of customizations. In fact, this was immediately evident in my testing, which has a simple version of Windows that feels extremely refreshing. This PC comes with virtually no bloatware: no antivirus notifications and no manufacturer advertising.

Big device makers should take note. Being bombarded with ads and constant prompts to pull out your credit card is a negative experience for the consumer, and there’s something satisfying about starting from scratch with a new device running a clean operating system.

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The device has its own “Control Center” app that offers at-a-glance temperature readings, configuration settings for LED lights, and the ability to switch to gaming mode, which prioritizes GPU performance and turns up the fan.

Yet it’s minimal and discreet. Switching from “Desktop Mode” to “Gaming Mode” can be done in the aforementioned Control Center app, but it’s also as simple as clicking the button on the device itself.

Port selection is another area where this device feels more like a laptop than a desktop. On the back, there is an HDMI port, a USB-C port, a USB-A port and an RJ45 LAN port, as well as a DC 19V input. On the front, you’ll find two more USB-A ports, an SD card slot, and an audio jack.

As for performance, I experienced a few hiccups when trying to jump into some games out of the box, but that had more to do with Windows driver updates, not necessarily the device. After a series of updates, things went much smoother.

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I ran a few different games with varying requirements, and performance was good across the board, roughly on par with a mid-to-high-end gaming laptop. Frame rates in Baldur’s Gate 3 were around 77fps on average, with slight drops in congested areas, which is normal. Red Dead Redemption 2 looked great on my gaming monitor with graphics set to maximum.

Eve onlinea 20 year old game (but a personal favorite), worked flawlessly, with settings maxed out on crowded battlefronts, although I had some issues switching audio inputs from Discord to my mic to speakers , requiring a reboot at one point. This was probably also a driver issue.

This is where I have to mention the heat generation (and fans). Although this device is equipped with a sophisticated dual-fan cooling system and “Cold Wave Pro”, I experienced higher than expected temperatures during extended gaming sessions (reaching up to 89°C).

Although I didn’t feel any limitations, I would be concerned about prolonged sessions at this temperature. Granted, this is after pushing the CPU to its limits, but I suspect there could also be Windows/driver inefficiencies at play here. Regardless, fans of this thing can get pretty loud when they get going. This probably isn’t a problem for some, but it could be a barrier for others.

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All of these experiences suggest that this is a device that benefits from settings optimization in different games/scenarios and requires some user input to get the most out of the hardware. That said, this is a powerful mini PC that delivers on its performance promises with a super-thin, vertical form factor that can slide onto any desk.

ZDNET’s purchasing advice

Even if the AtomMan G7 Ti Mini PC is cheaper than laptops with comparable hardware to begin with, you’ll need to factor in your own monitor(s), keyboard, and peripherals. I would recommend this PC to gamers or creators who already have the intended hardware or are considering filling out a new setup.

You should only consider the mini PC form factor if you have limited space, want to install a secondary machine into an existing setup, or need a powerful, portable workstation. With optimized settings in mind, the AtomMan G7 Ti Mini is a powerful PC for gamers or creatives that offers next-level flexibility.