This Nintendo GameCube Actually Runs PC games

The Nintendo GameCube is a classic home console from the sixth generation. Known for its compact design, the console turns twenty years old this year, and as one Reddit user demonstrates, it can make a handy PC.

Reddit user Cityle shared pics of his new gaming rig, which contains an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, 16GB of HyperX DDR4 RAM, and a 2TB Samsung 860 QVO SSD. Due to the size of the GameCube, Cityle circumvented the issue of the motherboard and processor by purchasing an Asus PN50 Mini PC and taking out the computer’s motherboard, which also contains a Ryzen 5 4500U processor. He also spray-painted the case, changing the exterior color from jet black to a shade of peach.

Cityle shared his build log on the Level1Techs forums, and reading his notes proved that building the computer was no cakewalk. He had to make several modifications to the old console, including swapping out the original shell and making a custom mount for the motherboard with the graphics card placed on top. The disc drive opens up, allowing the graphics card to receive some outside air.

Despite space being limited for the parts, Cityle notes that the computer has no issue with the computer running hot — the GPU and CPU hit around 80°C and 60°C when running a benchmark test on Time Spy.

This wasn’t the only impressive PC build Cityle made using an old game console — he also made a gaming PC with a Dreamcast as the shell. Still, given the dimensions of the Nintendo GameCube, it is quite impressive that Cityle managed to put a gaming PC inside the tiny console.


Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.