How to choose a mini PC for gaming
Start with the games you play and the resolution of your monitor. Those two choices matter more than a long specification sheet.
A gaming label is not a frame-rate result. The useful question is whether a specific configuration has been measured in the games and settings you care about.
Define the games and the target
Write down two or three games, your monitor resolution, and the graphics preset you would actually use. A 1080p low-settings result cannot answer how the same machine handles a demanding title at 1440p high. Keep upscaling and frame generation settings visible when comparing published tests.
Compare the complete test configuration
Match the processor, graphics hardware, installed memory, memory layout, and power profile. Integrated graphics share system memory, so an empty barebone kit and a tested, populated PC are not interchangeable evidence. The CPU name alone is not a reliable FPS estimate.
Look beyond a short benchmark
A short peak score may hide changes during a longer session. Prefer reviews that report sustained frame rates, temperatures and the operating mode used. Note fan noise only when the reviewer actually measured or described it; thermal behavior cannot be inferred from the chassis size.
Check the exact model's connections
Verify the display connectors, supported output modes, network options and storage capacity on the exact model or SKU. A familiar port shape does not prove your desired resolution and refresh rate. A barebone kit also needs compatible memory, storage and an operating system before you can play.
Compare the price you would actually pay
Keep RAM, SSD and condition identical across store offers. Add missing components, shipping and tax before judging a kit against a complete system. MiniPC.guru shows store observations and their check times; an unavailable or unverified listing should not be treated as a current purchasable deal.