The BIGGEST Mini Gaming PC - Bolt X
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Description
Is Digital Storm's Bolt X the king of "mini" gaming PCs? Ting sponsor link: Head over to linus.ting.com to receive an additional $25 credit today! Cooler Master sponsor link:
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The Bolt X is Digital Storm’s answer to compact gaming PCs that aim to punch above their size, featuring an aggressive water cooling loop and a clean, minimal exterior. The video frames the Bolt X as a modern evolution of earlier mini builds, showing a redesigned chassis with improved air intake clearance at the bottom and a side-mounted power/IO arrangement that keeps the front free of clutter. Inside, the system sports a hardline water loop with red coolant, a premium ASUS motherboard, an Intel Core i7-7700K CPU, 32 GB of DDR4-3000 memory, and a water-cooled GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, all powered by a 750 W 80 Plus Platinum supply. The reviewers discuss the potential for easy upgrades via a partial hardline approach, noting that full loop access could require dismantling components, but that CPU-only hardline or soft tubing options offer a balance between aesthetics and future-proofing. Thermal performance is highlighted as the Bolt X excels even under synthetic multi-threaded loads, maintaining turbo performance without throttling, thanks in large part to Digital Storm’s HydraLuxe cooling solution. In terms of value, the hosts acknowledge that pricing isn’t finalized yet, but preliminary figures place the Bolt X at a premium tier above the Bolt 3, suggesting a price well into the mid to high thousands for the configured unit. Overall, the Bolt X is presented as a high-end, performant, water-cooled mini PC that targets enthusiasts who want serious gaming power in a compact form, with the caveat that the final price and true value will hinge on public availability and configuration options.
Topics · hardware reviews · computer hardware · gaming PCs · compact PCs
Questions answered
- What components power the Bolt X and what cooling solution does it use?
- The Bolt X uses an Intel Core i7-7700K, 32 GB of DDR4-3000 RAM, a water-cooled GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, and a HydraLuxe liquid cooling loop for the CPU and GPU.
- Is the Bolt X readily upgradable, and what are the trade-offs of its cooling design?
- Upgradability can be limited by the hardline cooling; CPU-only hardline is easier to upgrade, while full hardline access requires dismantling the loop. Soft tubing offers easier future upgrades but may be less visually striking.