Zotac MEK1 Black (i7-7700, GTX 1070Ti) Mini Gaming PC Review

1. Introduction2. Thermals and Noise3. Storage and CPU Performance4. 3DMark & Gaming Performance5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

The Zotac MEK1, with its compact form factor, is a great option for users who want high end gaming performance in a PC not much larger than a console.

Pre-built PCs often come at a premium but we think the £1,399 asking price is reasonable for the specification of the MEK1. You do pay a bit extra for the small form factor and unique looks, but the mark-up is reasonable.

Elsewhere, the plastic body with its large fins is not the most attractive but the customisable lighting is a nice touch. It's still a nice and compact rig, though, so this will easily fit on your desk.

In terms of cooling performance, the thermal results are overall pretty good, but the MEK1 can be a little loud when idle, though this could easily be adjusted with a fan profile change.

The gaming performance is great as expected thanks to the GTX 1070 Ti, but we're not sure why Zotac opted to use the outdated i7-7700 processor in 2018. It certainly puts the MEK1 at a disadvantage compared to other compact PCs coming out this year featuring the new 8th Gen processors.

All in all the Zotac MEK1 is a good option for high end gaming performance in a smaller form factor. It's easy to set up and live with but its looks may prove divisive.

The Zotac MEK1 can be found for £1439.99 HERE.

Pros: 

• Fairly priced.
• Powerful gaming performance.
• Stays reasonably cool and quiet under load.
• Easy to set up.
• Customisable RGB lighting with good software.

Cons:

• Not the prettiest to look at.
• Outdated 7th gen processor.
• Could be quieter when idle.
• Coil whine was occasionally noticeable.

KitGuru says: The Zotac MEK1 does a good job of offering impressive gaming performance in a compact form factor.

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