A gaming PC that belongs beside the TV.

Yes, provided the software and physical setup are designed around the television rather than a desk. Windows 11 remains the operating system, but Steam Big Picture can provide a controller-led interface for launching games from the sofa. When you need the full desktop, it is still there.

This approach keeps access to Steam, Game Pass, mods, emulators and third-party launchers rather than limiting the machine to one closed ecosystem.

The important difference is that it is still a PC. Some games or launchers occasionally need keyboard-and-mouse input, Windows updates still exist, and troubleshooting is more PC-like than on a conventional console.

For people who accept that trade-off, a compact PC can combine console-style day-to-day use with much broader software and hardware flexibility.

Ridge

Console Forge Ridge is the dedicated-GPU model. It is designed for strong 1080p and 1440p gaming, ray tracing and higher visual settings in modern titles. It is the better fit when the TV is the main gaming display and performance matters more than achieving the absolute smallest footprint.

In our finished-system testing, Cyberpunk 2077 has run at around 55–60 FPS at 1440p with Ray Tracing Ultra and quality upscaling enabled.

Mini

Console Forge Mini is much smaller and uses Ryzen 7 5700G integrated graphics. It is aimed at esports, indie games, emulation and lighter titles where a discrete graphics card is not essential.

It is particularly useful when the PC must almost disappear into the room. For demanding AAA games, resolution and quality settings need to be reduced.

• Set Windows and the TV to the correct refresh rate rather than assuming it is automatic.
• Use a suitable HDMI connection and select the TV's low-latency or game mode where appropriate.
• Keep the PC's intake and exhaust vents clear, especially inside furniture.
• Leave enough room to access USB ports and the power button.
• Keep a compact wireless keyboard or touchpad available for the occasions when Windows needs it.

A compact chassis does not remove the need for airflow. Avoid pushing the PC against a wall or sealing it into a cabinet simply because it looks tidy. Console Forge systems are tested in their finished enclosures, but the room and installation still need to let them breathe.

For even tighter installations, such as vehicles, see our campervan and motorhome gaming PC guide.

A conventional gaming tower is often designed around expansion space and airflow rather than the room it will live in. In a living room, that can mean a large black box beside the television or a separate desk setup purely to accommodate the computer.

A small-form-factor system removes much of that unused volume while retaining desktop hardware. The compromise is that component dimensions, thermals and upgrade choices have to be considered more carefully.

Console Forge builds are assembled around those constraints rather than treating compactness as an afterthought. Cooling, fan behaviour and stability are checked on the finished machine, and the systems remain standard Windows PCs.

Compare both current systems on our compact gaming PCs UK page.

A compact living-room PC is most useful for someone who wants the software freedom of a PC but prefers to play from a sofa with a controller. You can use it like a console most of the time without losing normal Windows applications, web browsing or desktop functionality.

If portability is more important than a permanent TV setup, a gaming laptop may make more sense. Our compact gaming PC vs gaming laptop guide explains the difference.