Mini PCs are becoming increasingly popular due to their compact design and versatility. From handling everyday tasks to serving as multimedia hubs or even light gaming machines, they offer an excellent balance of power and portability. However, if you want more performance from your mini PC, you’re in luck. Despite their small size, many mini PCs allow for significant upgrades that can vastly improve their performance.

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In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through essential upgrades—covering external storage, internal SSDs, RAM, cooling solutions, and even Wi-Fi and GPU options. With the right tweaks, you can turn your humble mini PC into a powerful machine capable of tackling more demanding tasks.

Why Upgrade Your Mini PC?

Upgrading a mini PC offers several benefits. First, you can improve performance by expanding storage or upgrading to faster memory. Second, gaming enthusiasts can enhance graphics performance with an external GPU, transforming the mini PC into a more capable gaming system. Lastly, upgrading is a cost-effective way to future-proof your device without needing to invest in a new PC.

Mini PCs are definitely the future… Maybe? ^-^

Whether you’re seeking better multitasking capabilities, faster loading times, or smoother gameplay, the upgrades detailed below will give your mini PC the performance boost it needs.

Upgrading Storage: The Power of External SSDs and Internal NVMe Drives

Afro P10 External SSD

One of the simplest ways to expand storage is by using an external SSD like the Afro P10. This compact SSD, roughly the size of a hockey puck, is designed with MacSafe technology for iPhone users but works with various devices—including mini PCs. The P10 offers speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s, making it a great solution for external game storage or quick file transfers.

Though MacSafe wasn’t compatible with our Android device during testing, the SSD performed flawlessly as an external drive for a mini PC. It comes with two USB-C cables, but if your mini PC lacks a USB-C port, you’ll need an additional adapter.

Internal SSD: KingSpec PCIe Gen 3×4 SSD

If you want the fastest possible speeds, upgrading the internal storage is a more effective approach. Mini PCs often come with smaller SSDs, but many support NVMe SSDs, which offer significantly faster read and write speeds than traditional SATA SSDs. In our review, we tested the KingSpec SSD, which fits perfectly in the available 2230 M.2 slot.

KingSpec are on the better side of the AliExpress SSD train

For those with mini PCs that support PCIe Gen 4, even faster SSDs are available, but it’s important to remember that PCIe slots are backward compatible. This means that even if you install a Gen 4 SSD in a Gen 3 slot, it will still work—just at Gen 3 speeds. If you have an SSD that’s shorter than the slot (e.g., 2230 vs. 2242), you can easily find spacers to bridge the gap.

For optimal performance, we recommend PCIe Gen 3×4 or Gen 4 SSDs for internal storage. These offer better speed and reliability, especially for handling larger files or improving loading times for games.

Memory (RAM) Upgrades: More RAM Equals Better Performance

Crucial, Team Group, and Silicon Power Memory Sticks

If you’re looking for one upgrade that will drastically improve your mini PC’s performance, look no further than a memory (RAM) upgrade. The more RAM your system has, the better it will handle multitasking, gaming, or memory-intensive applications. Some mini PCs come with soldered RAM, like the GMK Tech G5 and Chuwi Lbox X 2023, making upgrades difficult or impossible. However, many others come with replaceable RAM sticks.

For mini PCs with replaceable RAM, we recommend upgrading to at least 16GB if your system currently has 8GB. This upgrade will provide noticeable improvements in both system performance and game frame rates. In our tests, we found that memory from Crucial, Team Group, and Silicon Power (SP) performed well and remained reliable. Be sure to check whether your system supports DDR4 or DDR5 memory, as the latter offers superior speed and efficiency.

Night and day, well not really. It’s night and night. But the difference is HUGE. Like my elbow

If your mini PC has dual RAM slots, consider filling both with identical memory sticks. This enables dual-channel memory mode, effectively doubling memory bandwidth and leading to smoother performance—particularly in gaming and graphics-heavy applications.

Cooling and Thermal Upgrades: Keep Your Mini PC Running Cool

Reatan Alloy 9 Cooling System

While it’s essential to have fast RAM and storage, keeping these components cool is just as important. High-performance components can overheat during intense use, leading to thermal throttling—where your mini PC slows down to prevent damage. To combat this, proper airflow and cooling solutions are crucial.

Where the heck did Reatan get these Heatsinks from? And WHY can’t we buy them!?

In our review, we found the Reatan Alloy 9 cooling system particularly impressive. It uses a fan that directly blows air onto the RAM and other components, keeping everything cool under pressure. Although this specific cooling system may be hard to find, similar systems are available online and are worth the investment for those pushing their mini PCs to the limit.

Additionally, you can add a heatsink to your NVMe SSD or other internal components to manage heat effectively. While many mini PCs come with adequate cooling out of the box, high-performance systems—especially those used for gaming or heavy multitasking—can benefit from extra thermal management.

Upgrading Wi-Fi Modules: Faster Connections for Better Streaming and Gaming

Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 Module

Upgrading the Wi-Fi module is another simple way to improve the connectivity of your mini PC, especially if you’re dealing with weak signals or slow speeds. Many mini PCs come with outdated Wi-Fi chips, but you can easily swap these out for a more modern solution.

We tested the Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 module, which brought a significant improvement in both speed and connection stability. Installing the module is straightforward: simply slot it into place, secure it with a screw, and connect the antennas. After updating drivers, the Intel module doubled our connection speed compared to the stock Wi-Fi chip, making it ideal for online gaming and 4K streaming.

Fish and chips, or chips and chips. My wifi’s chips… With ketchup

For those who need better signal strength, upgrading the antenna can also help, though it’s a more involved process. Alternatively, you can opt for a plug-and-play Wi-Fi dongle if you’re not comfortable opening up your mini PC.

External GPU (eGPU) Solutions: Unlock High-End Gaming Performance

OneXGPU eGPU and Oculink Solutions

If gaming or intensive graphic design is your priority, you may find the built-in GPU of your mini PC lacking. Fortunately, there are external GPU (eGPU) solutions that allow you to connect a full-sized desktop graphics card to your mini PC, dramatically improving gaming and graphical performance.

Instant GAMER Pc right here. In that guys right hand. I have something else in my right hand. A keyboard

One of the best options is the OneXGPU Dock, an all-in-one solution that includes the dock, power supply, and support for a wide range of graphics cards. If your mini PC supports Oculink, this is a pricier but more elegant solution. Both options will give you the ability to play AAA games or perform GPU-heavy tasks without needing to replace your entire system.

Conclusion: Unleash the Full Potential of Your Mini PC

Upgrading your mini PC doesn’t have to be difficult or intimidating. With the right components, you can significantly improve storage capacity, processing speeds, connectivity, and gaming performance. Whether you’re adding an external SSD like the Afro P10, upgrading your RAM with Crucial or Team Group memory sticks, or going all-out with an eGPU dock like the OneXGPU, the possibilities for supercharging your mini PC are nearly endless.

By carefully selecting compatible upgrades and following a few simple installation steps, you can turn your compact mini PC into a powerful, future-proofed device capable of handling the latest software, games, and multitasking demands. So why settle for less when your mini PC has the potential to do so much more?

Feel free to explore the options mentioned above, and if you’re unsure where to start, be sure to check the specs of your mini PC to find out which upgrades will benefit you the most. With a bit of tweaking, your mini PC can be as capable as much larger systems—without the extra bulk.