A mini-PC can be transformed into a compact gaming computer with the help of a drill and a little extra money. Cost: around 475 euros.
What was modified? YouTuber Eta Prime uses a Lenovo ThinkCentre M920Q as a base and transforms it into a decent gaming PC that fits almost anywhere with some adjustments. The device, measuring only about 18 by 18 centimeters, is originally designed for use as a simple PC for office work and some browsing. For example, it doesn’t have a real graphics card and only features a slow chip in the processor.
However, after the modification, it handles many current titles at medium or low details with 60 frames per second. And all of this for less than 450 euros.
A mini-PC as a base with additions
How was the device modified? The YouTuber drills a hole the size of the GPU fan in the top of the case using a standard drill and a milling attachment. This ensures airflow for the graphics card’s fan. An RX 6400 Low Profile is used, which is perfectly fitted into the case with an expansion card. Additionally, a more powerful power supply than the one included, providing 60 watts, is added.
The project costs based purely on the hardware used:
- Lenovo ThinkCentre M920Q (used, good condition), around 290 euros (via afbshop)
- XFX AMD RX 6400 (new), about 140 euros (via Amazon)
- PCI-Express expansion card (new), about 30 euros (via Amazon)
- Power supply (new), for about 25 euros (via Amazon)
For the base system, there are still savings to be made. The M920Q can also be found new with a slightly weaker CPU for about 230 euros (via Amazon). The more powerful variant is now rarely available as a new item. However, the price would also be significantly above 300 euros then.
As the operating system, Eta Prime installs the free OS Bazzite. This is a version of Linux that can be compared to the SteamOS on Valve’s Steam decks. The hardware overview looks like this after the installation is completed:
What can the system achieve after the modification? The YouTuber tests his work with several games, including: Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher 3, Warframe, Hades 2, Street Fighter 6, Fallout 4, Doom Eternal, and Spiderman: Miles Morales. The result: with medium or low details and at 1080p, each of the titles can be enjoyed more than adequately with around 60 frames per second. Sometimes, the artificial frame generation from AMD as part of FSR3 also contributed a considerable number of extra frames.
It is not a high-end PC, but it is hardly larger than a Nintendo Wii and fits into almost any shelf.
The system is mainly held back by the low VRAM. 4 gigabytes are quickly insufficient nowadays. However, if AMD releases a successor to the Low Profile RX 6400 in the near or medium future, the presented DIY project would become even more interesting.
Beyond hardware, there is often a significant amount of performance buried in the depths of system settings. In another article, we present how YouTuber JayzTwoCents scores a PC bargain on the second-hand market and remarkably speeds it up with two simple adjustments. Maybe the options used here are also lying untouched in your UEFI.
