This ultra-thin Windows PC I tested competes with gaming laptops twice its price

1 week ago 13

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Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

ZDNET's key takeaways

The AtomMan G7 Ti Mini PC is available now, starting at $1,439.It's a slim and lightweight mini PC that comes with high-end hardware found in much more expensive gaming laptops.The bare-bones setup isn't for everyone, and it can run hot.

Mini PCs are gaining popularity with gamers and creators who want to use their own monitors and don't want to build a desktop from scratch. Apple's Mac Mini with the new M4 chip might be the most headline-grabbing mini of the season, but there are some lesser-known brands making some cool devices, as well.

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I recently went hands-on with Minisforum's latest gaming device, the AtomMan G7 Ti Mini PC, and I can see what all the hype is about. Minisforum knows a thing or two about mini PCs: it's what they do. One of the reason minis are so attractive is that they can be stacked with high-end hardware, but because they lack a display, a battery, and a keyboard, they stay comparatively low-priced.

Such is the case with the AtomMan G7, which has an Intel Core i9 "Raptor Lake" processor, 32GB 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 R2, for example: both have an Intel Core i9 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, and 32GB of RAM, but the Alienware -- with its display, RBG effects, and keyboard -- costs nearly double the price.

	Cinebench 24 SC	Cinebench 24 MC	Geekbench 6.2.2 SC	Geekbench 6.2.2 MC
AtomMan G7 Ti Mini	132	1,472	2,839	16,855
Alienware m18 R2	128	1,614	2,830	16,619

Yes, the Alienware m18 R2 is a complete package for that price, but not everyone needs that. There are plenty of gamers and creatives who already have a monitor they love, or have an expensive multi-display setup they're attached 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 customization. In fact, this was immediately evident during my testing, which has a bare-bones version of Windows that feels extremely refreshing. This PC comes with essentially zero bloatware: no antivirus notifications and no ads from the manufacturer.

Larger device manufacturers should take note. Being bombarded with ads and constant prompts to whip out your credit card is a negative consumer experience, and there's something satisfying about starting fresh with a new device running a clean operating system.

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The device has its own "Control Center" app that features at-a-glance temperature readings, configuration settings for the LED lights, and the ability to switch into Game Mode, which prioritizes the GPU performance and cranks up the fan.

Still, it's minimal and unobtrusive. Switching from "Office mode" to "Game mode" can be done in the aforementioned control center app, but it's also as simple as clicking the button on the device itself.

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

The port selection is another area where this device resembles a laptop more than a desktop. On the back, there's an HDMI port, a USB-C port, a USB-A port, and an RJ45 LAN port, along with 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 the performance, I experienced some hiccups while trying to jump into some gaming right out of the box, but this had more to do with Windows drivers updates, not necessarily the device. After a round of updates, things moved a lot smoother.

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I fired up a few different games with varying requirements, and performance was good across the board, about 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 to be expected. Red Dead Redemption 2 looked great on my gaming monitor with graphics set to the max.

Eve Online, a 20-year-old game (but a personal favorite), performed flawlessly, with settings maxed out in crowded battlefronts, although I did have some issues switching the audio inputs from Discord to my mic back to the speakers, requiring a restart at one point. This was also likely an issue with drivers.

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Here is where I need to mention the heat generation (and the fans). Although this device comes with a sophisticated dual-fan and "Cold Wave Pro" cooling system, I saw some higher-than-expected temperature readings during extended gaming sessions (reaching as high as 89°C).

Although I didn't experience any throttling, I would be concerned about prolonged sessions at this temperature. Granted, this is after pushing the CPU to its limit, but I suspect there also might be some Windows/drivers inefficiencies at play here. At any rate, the fans on this thing can get quite loud when they're cranking. This is likely not an issue for some, but could be a dealbreaker 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 input from the user to get the most out of the hardware. That said, it's a powerful mini PC that lives up to its performance promises with an ultrathin, vertical form factor that can slide into place on any desk.

ZDNET's buying advice

Even though the AtomMan G7 Ti Mini PC is cheaper than laptops with comparable hardware upfront, you'll have to factor in your own monitor(s), keyboard, and peripherals. I would this recommend this PC to gamers or creators who already have the gear lined up or are planning on filling out a new setup.

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

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