This mini PC is more like a console than a computer — here’s why I love it

The AtomMan G7 PT is a larger but more powerful mini PC that packs in a top-of-the-line Ryzen CPU and a mobile GPU from AMD. At 6 x 2.4 x 11.2-inches with a rectangular shape, it leaves a larger footprint than Minisforum’s other mini PCs. But thanks to the included stand, it can  up less space on your desk when placed in a vertical orientation.

Along with its larger size, the AtomMan G7 PT is the first AMD Advantage certified mini PC thanks to the combination of a Ryzen processor and Radeon graphics. While it can’t quite handle gaming in 4K, 1080p gameplay is where this mini PC really shines (though you can push to 1440p in certain titles). Available in either a cheaper barebones configuration or with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and Windows 11 pre-installed, the AtomMan G7 PT also has an extra M.2 SSD slot to expand its storage.

Although its design is geared more towards gamers with black and red spider webs on one side and RGB backlit panels on the other, this mini PC also doubles as a powerful work computer thanks to its Zen 4-powered Ryzen 9 7945HX processor with 16 cores and 32 threads. The AtomMan G7 PT is easily one of the best mini PCs we’ve seen yet but its larger size and gamer aesthetic might not be for everyone.

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A powerful mini PC with a larger footprint designed with gamers in mind.
• Who is it for? People that want to use a mini PC as a desktop replacement without skimping on specs or for those looking for a powerful media center PC.
• What does it cost? The AtomMan G7 PT starts at $1,249 in a barebones configuration or you can get it with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and Windows 11 included for $1,500.
• What do we like? It’s quiet, has plenty of ports, looks great in a vertical orientation and handles 1080p gaming extremely well, though you can bump some games up to 1440p with decent performance.
• What don’t we like? The placement of the power port makes using this mini PC horizontally a bit awkward and the anime tie-in for the dual RGB backlighting panels is an odd choice.

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT: Specs

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT: The ups

The AtomMan G7 PT does an excellent job of straddling the line between mini PC and small form factor gaming PC with its powerful Ryzen processor, dedicated mobile GPU and enough ports for all of your peripherals. It also has a physical fan button for when you don’t want to hear its fans going while working, or want to crank up the power when playing more demanding games.

Pint-sized powerhouse

The black and red spiderweb motif on one side of the AtomMan G7 PT makes this mini PC look more like a Spiderman-themed PlayStation, but it’s actually closer in size to the Xbox Series S with its magnetic stand attached. Gaming performance is about on par with Microsoft’s smaller Xbox too, though we ran our benchmarks at 1080p and 4k but not at 1440p. 

In titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Metro Exodus, we saw well over 60 FPS at 1080p and around 30 FPS at 4K. More demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 were playable at 1080p but you’ll likely need to turn frame generation on as we hit just 21 FPS without it enabled.

Still though, in my testing, Cyberpunk 2077 ran well when I paired the AtomMan G7 PT with one of the best gaming monitors equipped with variable refresh rate support and turned some settings down. Older, less demanding titles like Rocket league played superbly, even with settings turned all the way up. The AtomMan G7 PT might not replace your PS5 or Xbox but it’s a great choice for a living room gaming PC that won’t take up too much space in your entertainment center.

No shortage of ports

Minisforum didn’t hold back with the AtomMan G7 PT when it comes to ports and you have a nice selection on the front with even more in the back. On the front of this mini PC, you’ll find all the essential ports you could need, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, a USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port and a 3.5mm combo jack for one of the best gaming headsets. However, there are also two built-in microphones right on the front panel.

Around back, there’s an even wider selection of ports including DisplayPort 2.0, HDMI 2.1 and USB-C with alt data and DisplayPort for video and three USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports for peripherals or extra storage. You also get a 2.5G Ethernet port for wired connections along with Wi-Fi 7 built-in. You’ll also find an additional headphone jack and microphone port too.

Physical fan control

One thing that surprised me about the AtomMan G7 PT is that the power button is located on the top of this mini PC instead of on the front panel. However, this could be great for those like myself with toddlers that love to push buttons so that they don’t accidentally turn off your PC.

Where you’d expect the power button to be, there’s actually a dedicated performance mode button right above the front ports. When the AtomMan G7 PT is in its default Balanced mode, the CPU has a total power draw (TDP) of 65 W and a blue LED shines above the button. Giving it a quick tap changes the LED light to red and ups the CPU’s TDP to 85 W. This is quite useful when you need a quick performance boost for intense games or workloads.

Although it’s a small thing, I found this performance mode button to be a godsend when testing the AtomMan G7 PT. I recently reviewed the AceMagic F2A mini PC and one of my biggest gripes with it was that there was no way to turn down its fans when browsing the web or doing lighter work. With this button, extra power and better cooling is just a press away.

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT: The downs

The AtomMan G7 PT has quite a lot going for it, but there are a few downsides you need to be aware of. Mainly, its power port is positioned in such a way that using this mini PC horizontally is less than ideal and the backlit RGB panels on the one side really stand out for all the wrong reasons. 

Awkward power placement

The AtomMan G7 PT uses a barrel-style power plug that connects to the mini PC’s massive, 300W external power supply. However, instead of the power port being on the back with the rest of its rear ports, it’s actually on the side or the bottom of the device depending on which orientation you’re using it in.

When stood upright, this power connector doesn’t get in the way at all, as Minisforum has made a cutout for it on the back of the AtomMan G7 PT’s magnetic stand. If you want to use this mini PC on its side — maybe under your monitor or in an entertainment center — then its positioning is a bit awkward. By no means is this a deal breaker but it is something to be aware of if you’re considering this larger, gaming-focused mini PC over the similarly designed but more expensive Asus ROG NUC 970.

Obscure RGB backlighting

Normally when PC cases or mini PCs have a bit of extra RGB flair, they might have a few lines that light up or maybe even a company logo. With the AtomMan G7 PT though, Minisforum has decided to pay homage to the Taiwanese professor Liu, Ming Kun who created the series “The Legend of Asaku” back in 1989. 

Besides that red and black spiderweb motif on one side of this mini PC, on the other you’ll find the logos for the series and they light up in red, blue and green. While you can’t manually control these lights or the patterns they make, you can disable them in AtomMan G7 PT’s bios. 

If you open up the AtomMan G7 PT to add another M.2 SSD or to swap out the RAM, you’ll see that the plastic film with these designs on the magnetic side cover is also removable. Theoretically, you could get another piece of this film and add your own logo or design.

Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT: Verdict

The AtomMan G7 PT is a unique mini PC in terms of its design but Minisforum made sure to equip the device with powerful internals and a wide array of ports. It stays cool and quiet when in use, and the dedicated performance mode button provides an easy way to switch between light tasks and more demanding ones such as gaming. The included magnetic stand is another nice touch. Though the RGB backlighting most likely won’t be for everyone, fortunately, you can disable it in settings.

With a barebones and a fully equipped version of this mini PC available for sale, Minisforum is giving you the option to bring some of your own hardware from an existing build like a spare M.2 SSD. The case is a little cramped to work in though, so less experienced users will be better off going with the other version of the AtomMan G7 PT. If you’re after a smaller gaming PC and are content playing games in 1080p or 1440p, then this mini PC more than delivers with a unique look to boot.