Let’s not pretend that there haven’t been some whacky PCs built over the years, but this toaster gaming PC build (yes, you read that right) might be one of the most incredible. I found this unusual mini gaming PC on Reddit, and it immediately caught my attention. Not only is the DIY case, well, toaster-y, but it also has some incredibly powerful specs hidden inside.
On paper, “The Toaster” (as this unique PC build is named) easily rivals some of the best gaming PCs you can buy. It combines the best that Intel and Nvidia have to offer, mixing together an Intel Core i9 14900K – the chip maker’s last-gen flagship – while also packing a full-size Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 inside.
A quick point before you worry about the thermals: this PC disappointingly can’t make toast, but on the plus side it doesn’t get too toasty, either. Combining an RTX 4090 GPU and i9 14900K gaming CPU together inside a 13-liter case might be a recipe for disaster, but thankfully, Billet Labs (the UK-based DIY builders behind this PC) have integrated an ingenious water cooling solution. It uses custom-made loops and piping and a specially-made water block, to help keep both the CPU and GPU cool.
This water-cooled design has given this mini gaming PC a huge thermal advantage. During Billet Labs’ testing, the processor temperatures under load stayed at around 161°F (72°C), with only minor fluctuations. The water-cooled RTX 4090, however, stayed at an incredibly low 132°F (56°C) under load, with the hot spot only reaching 158°F (70°C). Those CPU temps are amazing, but the GPU temperatures are closer to a miracle.
Everything about this PC is simply a joy to behold, though it was probably less of a joy to build, given how compact and complex it is. Billet Labs has documented the whole build process, and watching it come together, you really come to appreciate the meticulous efforts the builders have taken to bring this PC to life. The build quality is just incredible, and with the final product heading to a Billet Labs’ customer thanks to this (very expensive) custom PC sale, we’re sure that they’ll be very happy with the end result – I know I would be.
According to the original Reddit post, it took around 150 hours to build (excluding filming time), and cost around $6,300 / £5,000. You can watch the whole build process, from start to finish, across several videos on the Billet Labs YouTube channel to see just how it all came together. Spoiler: it wasn’t easy!
Want a handsome little PC for yourself, but lack the space for a big build? Check out our best mini gaming PC guide to see some of our favorite small form factor PCs that you could pick up today.