Build Your Own Portable Gaming PC

This AMD Ryzen 5 3400G integrated graphics-based device, which costs roughly $550 ( without peripherals), is the best budget mini portable gaming PC.

AMD was first to market with integrated graphics, releasing their first APUs in 2011, and their progress is noticeable, with the Ryzen 5 3400G capable of exceeding 50fps on average in GTA V at 1080p on ‘high’ settings. To achieve great gaming performance with more contemporary games, you’ll need to reduce your resolution to 720p. However, if you’re only looking for an esports machine, it will surely fly with Overwatch, LoL, and Dota 2.

Because of the limited space in our compact PC chassis, the ultra-low-profile Noctua L9a is almost the only AM4 cooler we could have used for this computer. This InWin Chopin case was combined with the Gigabyte Aorus B450 I to produce the smallest of our gaming rigs. We chose the Chopin because it has a built-in 150W PSU that provides just enough juice to keep the Ryzen 5 3400G APU running, even when both the CPU and GPU components are overclocked.

We chose an NVMe SSD for system storage, mostly because they take up less space, but the speed is also a big bonus. The 1TB WD Blue NVMe SSD provides lightning-fast loading times in games and during boot-up. As we observed in our WD Blue SN550 review, it’s the greatest SSD on a budget. If you ever need more storage, the 2TB option is always a possibility. We used a single stick of Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB DDR4 RAM. Again, space is needed.

We chose a 13.3-inch small portable monitor there, mostly because a 4K screen with a UHD resolution of 3840 x 2160 can deliver great picture quality. It also has a 178° viewing angle, resulting in a true-to-life image with remarkable details and excellent sharpness. And this is one of the most affordable portable gaming monitors. We selected a Logitech wireless gaming keyboard and mouse combo.

Gaming Performance

We tested Dota 2 at 1080p and 720p resolutions with the ‘best-looking’ preset, and the Ryzen 5 3400G easily won with a smooth gaming experience. However, we experienced frequent hitching during our test sequence, whereas the Ryzen APUs delivered smooth gaming performance.

Most people wouldn’t expect to be able to play a newer title like Far Cry 5 on integrated graphics, but the Ryzen APUs performed admirably in the 720p round of tests, albeit with reduced settings. Our 1080p tests were less impressive, but the game was playable after overclocking. You can also go back to a lower quality preset to gain a few more frames per second.

The World of Tanks Encore benchmark also performs admirably on Ryzen APUs, with frame rates easily exceeding 60 fps during 1080p tests. Switching to the lighter presets revealed several hundred frames per second from the Ryzen processors.

The Thermaltake Core V1 mini-ITX cube-style case contains this $500 portable gaming PC build ( without peripherals ). The Core V1 is one of the cheapest mini-ITX form-factor cases on the market right now. However, with the proliferation of “mini” graphics cards on the market, the Core V1 is now capable of housing a high-end system. However, for this build, we focused on keeping costs low, thus we chose a cheap Intel Core i3-10100F & GTX 1050 Ti combination.

The quad-core Intel Core i3-10100F processor and GTX 1050 Ti graphics card are powerful enough to run almost any game on a budget-friendly 1080P monitor. This version is also powerful enough to run non-demanding games on higher settings (such as Rocket League, Minecraft, Fortnite, Valorant, League of Legends, and so on). We chose an Intel Core CPU over an AMD APU primarily due to availability and/or affordability.

The Ryzen 5 5600G, on the other hand, is a decent option to consider, especially if you’re primarily playing some of the less-demanding titles listed above or want a more seamless upgrade path to a high-end PC. An AMD 5600G mini-ITX build is shown here.

This setup also includes 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a 500W power supply, and a 240GB SSD. If you need more storage, you could replace the SSD with a 1TB hard drive for the same price, but because this is a compact form-factor build, we believed the smaller and speedier SSD would help save some room.

In any case, for about $500 ( without peripherals ), this small portable gaming PC can serve as a great option for non-demanding eSports games and will run whatever you throw at it on a 1080P monitor on low-to-medium settings.

We chose a 13.3-inch small portable monitor there, mostly because a 4K screen with a UHD resolution of 3840 x 2160 can deliver great picture quality. It also has a 178° viewing angle, resulting in a true-to-life image with remarkable details and excellent sharpness. And this is one of the most affordable portable gaming monitors. We selected a Logitech wireless gaming keyboard and mouse combo.

Gaming Performance

This PC has been created to be the ideal entry point into Esports titles. Benchmark testing includes an optimization phase that employs the following demanding games:

For 1080p Full HD, Battlefield runs at 60 fps, Rise of the Tomb Raider runs at 75 fps, PUBG runs at 70 fps, and Fortnite performs at 77 fps. We were able to play Overwatch at 85 fps, and we kept frame rates hovering around 85 fps.

This AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti-based machine is the best mid-range small portable gaming PC.

You might be shocked at what you can fit in a case this small. Still, thanks to advancements in mini-ITX motherboards, high-capacity PSUs in a small box, and the use of intelligent partitioning and ribbon connections, you can fit a high-end gaming machine into a mini gaming PC this small. This is the best small gaming PC build for those of you who desire a discrete graphics card while keeping things cheap and pleasant in a small portable gaming PC.

We used Fractal Design’s Core 500 casing to accommodate a discrete graphics card while keeping the build as minimal as possible. This case is slightly larger than the InWin Chopin, but it can accommodate graphics cards up to 310mm in length and a standard-size ATX power supply. In terms of power supplies, we chose an EVGA 600 BR power supply, which will adequately power all of your components while producing less heat, improving thermals in a small PC case. In terms of storage, we’ve gone with Western Digital’s NVMe SSD once again. And for RAM, we’ve gone with 16GB of Corsair Vengeance LPX at 3200 MHz, which should be enough for regular productivity and gaming.

By selecting an AMD Ryzen 5 3600X CPU, one of the best gaming CPUs available, and an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, you have a very mainstream setup capable of playing all of the latest games in a small chassis with excellent value. The motherboard is the same as in the budget build, with the Gigabyte Aorus B450-I providing all of the necessary features. When these components are combined, the computer has 12 threads of computing power and some significant 1440p gaming capabilities. And, with a 1080p screen, you can play all of the current games at their maximum settings without blinking, and at a minimum of 60 frames per second.

There, we selected a 15.6″ 144 HZ Azropa Portable Gaming Monitor in 1080P, as well as a wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse combo. The Arzopa G1 portable monitor features a 1080p HD resolution and a 144Hz ultra-high refresh rate for improved motion clarity and smoother gaming visuals.

Gaming Performance

In Grand Theft Auto V, the Ryzen 5 3600X outperforms the GTX 1660 Ti by 88.7 fps at 1080p using ultra-high settings.

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Ryzen 5 3600X outperforms the GTX 1660 Ti by 74.4 fps at 1080p using ultra-quality settings. Higher-performance CPUs are preferable to the Ryzen 5 3600X for gaming, and some are even slightly less expensive.

The Ryzen 5 3600X can handle games with lower CPU requirements thanks to its 6 cores and 12 threads. In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, the Ryzen 5 3600X outperforms the GTX 1660 Ti by 77.1 fps at 1080p using ultra-quality settings. While Forza Horizon runs at 94.8 fps.

The Ryzen 5 3600X is capable of running games with lower CPU requirements. The Ryzen 5 3600X outperforms the GTX 1660 Ti by 98 fps at 1080p using ultra-quality settings in Apex Legends. I n Battlefield V, the Ryzen 5 3600X outperforms the GTX 1660 Ti by 98.7 frames per second at 1080p using ultra quality settings.

This mid-range, 1080P-killing, tiny form-factor portable gaming PC costs only a few hundred dollars more than the setup listed above. This system includes an AMD RX 6500 XT graphics card and an updated Intel Core i5-12400F processor.

This build’s graphics card upgrade allows you to max out any game on a 1080p monitor. This $700 gaming PC ( without peripherals ) also includes a stylish NZXT H210 chassis. A Ryzen 5 5600 processor and a B550 mini-ITX motherboard are also options. However, the price difference between a Ryzen 5 5600/B550 mini-ITX combo and a 12400F/H610 mini-ITX combo is currently noticeable.

This configuration includes a 480GB SSD for storage. There is also a 600W 80 PLUS Gold-rated power supply included.

There, we selected a 15.6″ 144 HZ Azropa Portable Gaming Monitor in 1080P, as well as a wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse combo. The Arzopa G1 portable monitor features a 1080p HD resolution and a 144Hz ultra-high refresh rate for improved motion clarity and smoother gaming visuals.

Overall, for the money, this is a really solid micro-portable gaming PC build.

Gaming Performance

The Radeon RX 6500 XT, unlike most GPUs released in the last year, is specifically built for 1080p medium to high gaming. Older games and lighter esports fare can, of course, run at higher settings and resolutions while still breaking 60 fps, but maxed-out 1080p settings will frequently be too much for the card with our demanding updated test suite. That’s fine because even games at 1080p and medium settings look great, and the card should deliver smooth performance at that resolution. We’ll be playing Borderlands 3, Far Cry 6, Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 5, Horizon Zero Dawn, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Watch Dogs Legion in the coming year.

This AMD Ryzen 9 3900X- and Nvidia RTX 2080 Super-based system is the best high-end small portable gaming PC.

If you’re not trying to fit a mini portable gaming PC into a shoebox and don’t mind a little heft without the full ATX tower appearance, the elegant design of the NZXT H210i case – complete with an excellent cable management system and USB-C connectivity on the front panel – is ideal for a little tower portable PC build.

We’re using an ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming motherboard for the motherboard, which is one of the greatest gaming motherboards available, allowing us to upgrade to an X570 chipset and a 24-thread Ryzen 9 3900X processor. When combined with one of the top graphics cards available, the Nvidia RTX 2080 Super, you have one of the most space efficient systems. We would have chosen the latest RTX 3080, but with Nvidia’s Ampere card stock troubles persisting for at least a few months, you’ll only find an RTX 2080 Super for the time being – and, given how large the 30 series cards are, you’ll be hard pressed to fit everything in.

This should allow you to play any 1440p game with ease, as well as a huge number of 4K titles.

We were able to incorporate a 120mm liquid CPU cooler from Cooler Master with RGB lighting due to the significantly wider case design here. We’ve gone with a 1TB Western Digital NVMe SSD for storage once more. However, if you wish to expand on this for your vast library of games, the NZXT chassis has accessible spare 3.5-inch hard drive slots.

With this powerful portable gaming PC build, we pair the ViewSonic VX1755 17-inch 1080p portable IPS gaming monitor with 144Hz, as well as a Trueque rechargeable and RGB wireless gaming keyboard and mouse. Full HD 1080p (1920×1080) resolution and an amazing 144 Hz refresh rate give you the edge in all your gaming quests. Connect your gaming PC to play games anywhere.

Gaming Performance

The Ryzen 9 3900X can handle games with lower CPU requirements thanks to its 12 cores and 24 threads. In Grand Theft Auto V, the Ryzen 9 3900X outperforms the RTX 2080 by 129.7 fps at 1080p using ultra-quality settings.

On 1080p Full HD using ultra-quality settings, for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Ryzen 9 3900X bottlenecks the RTX 2080 by 116.4 fps. In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, it runs at 110.9 fps.

For ultra-quality settings at 1080p Full HD, The Ryzen 9 3900X bottlenecks the RTX 2080 by 136.2 fps in Forza Horizon 4. In Apex Legends, it runs at 150.2 fps.

In Battlefield V, the Ryzen 9 3900X bottlenecks the RTX 2080 by 144.8 fps at 1080p using ultra-quality settings.

 Build a powerful $1,000 portable gaming PC (without peripherals).  If you have a higher budget and are seeking a high-end portable gaming PC, the system below may be for you. It is powered by an Intel Core i5-12400F processor and a Radeon RX 6600 XT graphics card.

Because of the RX 6600 XT graphics card, this design can easily max out any game on a 1080p display, most games on higher settings on a monitor, and will even work well for entry-level 4K gaming.

If you’re a competitive gamer, pairing this machine with a low-cost FreeSync monitor with a higher refresh rate can give you a tremendously smooth in-game experience.

This $1,000 portable gaming PC ( without peripherals ) also includes 16GB of RAM, a 480GB SSD, and a 650W semi-modular power supply to help with wire management.

We used NZXT’s H210 mini-ITX chassis for the case. It’s a nice-looking tiny form-factor box with tempered glass side panels, a PSU shroud, and plenty of room for this system.

Finally, if you require a highly powerful portable gaming PC, this setup will suit your needs today and for a long time to come. If you want to see prebuilt options under $1000, then check out our guide to the 1000$ Portable Gaming PC.

With this powerful portable gaming PC build, we pair the ViewSonic VX1755 17-inch 1080p portable IPS gaming monitor with 144Hz, as well as a Trueque rechargeable and RGB wireless gaming keyboard and mouse. Full HD 1080p (1920×1080) resolution and an amazing 144 Hz refresh rate give you the edge in all your gaming quests. Connect your gaming PC to play games anywhere.

Gaming Performance

It will be capable of displaying a resolution of 1440p. In games, it can also perform Ray Tracing. Aside from that, the AMD Radeon RX6600 XT is a 1080p powerhouse capable of running all of the latest games at maximum settings.

If you experience popular games such as GTA V, Cyberpunk, God of War, Forza, and so on… You may not get 144 fps on ultra or high settings, but you will definitely get 144 fps on medium or low… Other popular games, such as FIFA, Valor, Apex, and NBA, will undoubtedly deliver 144 fps even on high-end settings.

Things To Consider

There are more possibilities than ever before for a small portable gaming PC setup, thanks to motherboard manufacturers supporting the mini-ITX PC factor and processor makers, such as AMD and Intel, taking compact graphics power seriously.

The most important thing is to be sure that the case you buy will fit the components you intend to put inside. Compare your graphics card dimensions to the length of the case, as well as the distance from the PCIe slot to the backplate and front of the case. Choose smaller components whenever possible, such as an M.2 NVMe SSD over a SATA-connected SSD or HDD.

The size of your setup is important, start with a case and motherboard that meet your needs and then add components from there. If the components are secondary, choose the smallest AIB model of the graphics card you want, followed by the smallest good case and motherboard that will fit it.

And that’s how simple it is to build a compact portable gaming PC, whether you’re on a tight budget or looking to build a monster system with a tiny footprint. The only thing that stands in your way is your imagination and gaming requirements. That, and your bank balance.

How to Build a Strong Portable Gaming Desktop PC

There are a lot of big new titles coming out, and you want to be able to play them. If you want to take your game on the go. We’ll show you how to build a portable gaming desktop PC that will allow you to do so.

League of Legends, GTA V, Fortnite, and Warzone. (Well, perhaps.) These are just a few titles that are currently available or will be available in stores and on e-shelves in the coming months. You’ll need a PC with excellent hardware if you want to play these games in their full glory—or something close to it. However, if you intend on traveling this summer, or just don’t have a lot of room for a big-time PC. You might not believe a hot gaming setup will work for you.

That does not have to be the case. If you want to build a desktop that doesn’t sacrifice performance yet saves space, you can do so effortlessly. What follows is our approach, which includes components easily purchased on Amazon or other retail sites without sacrificing floor space or frame rates in your favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) FPS.

Our goal was to create an easy-to-transport game box that was also futuristic.

The Components

We usually begin designing a gaming system by selecting a video card, but because space was limited, we wanted the casing to come first. We’ve had positive experiences with Thermaltake and NXZT cases, and they’re intelligently structured on the inside, which is something we always consider when developing a computer. For a smaller budget we chose fractal design and Inwin Chopin case.

While discussing cases, our thoughts turned to the issue of power supply. We knew we didn’t want a flimsy power supply because we were planning to add some substantial hardware. But we also realized that a tangle of cables would be difficult to contain in the case. We chose a 650-watt, a high-quality modular power supply from Thermaltake, and EVGA’s Power Supply. That way, we would only have to deal with the wires we needed, when we needed them.

1) Open the Case

Find a good flat surface to work on while the case is open. To free up the various components of the case, you must first remove a large number of thumbscrews from the back of the case—11 in total (ten for the motherboard tray and lid, one to release the expansion slots). Place all of the screws somewhere secure while you build the system, then push the top cover off from the front.

2) Remove the Motherboard Tray

Because the Case is going to be a bit tight, it’s advisable to remove everything that’s removable. Fortunately, that’s a lot. Let’s start with one of the case best features: the motherboard tray. It’s not something you see very often these days, but it’s a huge convenience, especially in a case of this size. Remove it and set it away.

3) Remove the Optical Drive Cage

The optical drive cage at the front of the case comes next. It is held in place with two thumbscrews. Remove these, then pull the cage out of the case and push up to remove it.

4) Remove the Drive Cage

A single screw secures the drive cage to the floor right below the optical drive cage. Take it out. (You could use your fingers—large it’s enough—but we required our trusty Phillips screwdriver to get there.)

5) Install the Power Supply

That concludes our preparation work; now comes the installation. The power supply is the first issue to address. This Thermaltake PSU, unlike most others, has rounded sides, which can cause issues in classic cases. Fortunately, it includes two corner adhesive corner pieces: Simply peel off their plastic covering and press them on the PSU’s corners to create usable screw holes for attaching the power supply in the case’s back bay.

Insert the power supply so that the fan points upward, allowing the heat to be swept away by the ceiling fan. (You can remove the entire power supply bracket if you wish, but it’s kept in place by six tiny screws, and working around it is usually not too difficult.) We don’t have a tonne of cables strewn about because we used a modular power supply; simply drape the few stragglers over the side of the case until you’re ready for them.

6) Install the I/O Plate

Returning to the motherboard. Locate the I/O plate that came with the system and insert it firmly into the opening at the back of the motherboard tray, aligning it with the ports on the motherboard.

7) Mount the Motherboard

Another advantage of the motherboard tray is that it includes all of the necessary standoffs. Look for a post protruding from the tray in the lower-right centre of the board, with the back panel facing away from you. Place the motherboard carefully, pushing its ports through the appropriate holes in the I/O plate so that the associated screw hole is over this post. Once the motherboard is properly positioned, secure it to the tray by screwing into all of the other motherboard holes. (The standoffs can be seen if you look through the holes.)

8) Install the Processor

After that, we can install the processor. Locate the curved metal bar on the processor socket’s edge. Pull it out and up to open the socket by pushing it down toward the motherboard. Lift up on the exposed tab to remove the black plastic guard in the socket. Align the arrow on one corner of the processor with the arrow on one corner of the metal socket cover, and then carefully slide the processor into place. If you use too much effort, you risk bending the pins inside the socket. Return the metal bar to its original position to secure the CPU in the socket.

9) Connect the CPU Cooler

We’re just using a basic Intel cooler here, so it’s nothing spectacular. We don’t even need to add thermal grease because the cooler is brand new. Align the poles on the cooler’s four corners with the holes around the socket on the motherboard. Then, press down on opposing corners until both click; repeat with the other two corners.

10) Place the RAM

It is now time to install the RAM. Pull the white tabs on each side of the white memory bays open. (We know to use the white bays because we checked the motherboard manual, and we need those sockets to take advantage of dual-channel memory design.) If you’re using a different motherboard, double-check before installing—having your RAM in the correct bays improves performance noticeably.) Align the notch in the memory’s “golden connections” with the post in the RAM bays. Firmly press down on the memory until the white tabs on both sides snap back into place. Repeat with the second memory stick.

11) Open the Expansion Slots

We’ve finished practically everything else on the motherboard, so it’s time to tackle the video card. We ended up detaching the restraining bracket that “locks” the expansion slots. When we removed the screws from the back of the case. What we didn’t do was open the slots—they’re still covered and fastened in place. Pull out the covers by opening the two slots closest to the PCI Express (PCIe) x16 slot with a Phillips screwdriver. (Because of its huge heat sink and fan assembly, the GPU requires two slots.)

12) Insert the Video Card

Align the GPU connectors with the slot, then carefully slide the card’s I/O bracket into the new openings. You should be able to hear the card snap into place. After that, secure it with two screws and replace the slot bracket and thumbscrew that held it in place.

13) Insert the Hard Drive

Install the hard drive in the cage, with the SATA ports facing the same way you removed the screw. Check that the screw holes in the drives line up with the cage grommets. (The grommets help to reduce vibration, which can interfere with data access.) Install the hard drive in the cage using the appropriate length screws. The cage and thumbscrew should then be replaced. (Normally, we wait until the end to finish all the cabling, but since the room is limited. Now is a good time to connect the SATA data and power cables to the drive and the PSU. The cables are black; simply connect both ends. We’ll take care of the other power lines later.)

14) Open the Drive Bay

The optical drive is next. Choose a bay (we used the highest one) and carefully push the plastic tabs at each end of the plastic bay cover outward. This will allow you to push the drive cover in far enough to pop it out.

15) Set up the Optical Drive

Place the optical drive carefully in the area of the bigger cage that corresponds to the bay you just unlocked. Remember to provide enough room on the outside so the drive can clear the front of the case. Screws are used to secure the drive to the cage. (The same rules apply to cables as they do to hard drives. Connect the SATA data and power connectors to the DVD burner and power supply now.) Leaving the drive cage out of the case for the time being is probably a smart decision to speed up the rest of the build.

16) Join All of the Wires

Connect as many wires and cables to the motherboard as you can while the motherboard is still outside the casing. You won’t be able to obtain everything—some cables and wires are simply too short. But the USB port headers, front-panel lights and switches, and front-panel eSATA ports are all viable alternatives right now. At this point, connect the SATA data cables to the drives as well. Also, remember to connect the CPU fan to the motherboard. We’ll get to everything else later. Connect the power supply’s 24-pin and eight-pin power wires to the motherboard now as well.

17) Plug in the Power Cables

We won’t need to add many extra cords to the power supply. We don’t have many extra components in our construction. But we’ll need a few. Locate the eight-pineight- and six-pin cables that came with the power supply. Connect one end to the proper red ports on the back of the power supply, and the other end to the video card’s eight- or six-pin connector. You’ll also need the black cable for the four-pin Molex connector, which will power your fans. Connect them to the appropriate jacks on the power supply. Then connect all the fans. This can create a big tangle, so do it last. (We also strongly advise using the cable ties that came with the case. They can be lifesavers in instances like this.)

18) Case Closure

That’s it—you’re finished on the inside. All that is left is to seal it up. Slide the motherboard into the case, taking care to keep it under the rails on either side of the case’s bottom. Otherwise, you won’t be able to close the case properly. Because of all the cables and wires, you may encounter some resistance. If this occurs, gently raise up the cables and wires. The optical drive cage and its thumbscrews must be replaced. If you removed the power supply bracket, replace it as well. The top panel should then be replaced. Replace all of the thumbscrews removed in step 1.

Even if the motherboard tray appears to be fully inserted. There may be a little gap between the threaded screw holes on the chassis and the openings in the tray. If it’s severe (a quarter-inch or so), open the case again to make sure the tray isn’t hitting anything. If the spacing is even shorter, the pressure from the thumbscrews should struggle to keep the tray closed.

19) Finishing Up

The final step is to connect the USB 3.0 passthrough connection on the front panel. This ensures that you’ll have full USB 3.0 speed up front, where you’re most likely to need it. You’re finished now. Now it’s time to do Windows and all those games you wanted to play in the first place. Have a lot of fun!

Closing Thoughts!!

You can see that building your own portable gaming PC is a satisfying yet challenging task. However, it’s definitely worthwhile, especially if you’re a hardcore gamer. Not only will you save a tonne of money by forgoing the purchase of a pre-built portable gaming PC. But you’ll also have more freedom to customize and play hours of top-notch gaming.

Even though it’s a pain, it’s a terrific way to pass the afternoon. Depending on how many unexpected difficulties you encounter, a few days. You can utilize your new portable gaming PC to help you use all those extra indoor hours constructively. Because the pandemic hasn’t entirely subsided…

Thanks For Reading!!