Lenovo IdeaCentre Y710 Cube Review: Big Gaming Performance In A Small Package

Performance summary: Packing high-end hardware into a compact system results in some thermal challenges, which can lead to performance problems if things get too toasty. But Lenovo appears to have done a good job with the system's cooling, both by shrouding the CPU cooler and by venting nearly ever surface of the IdeaCentre Y710 Cube. As a result, the system is able to crank things up during gaming, just like a full-sized system. While the Y710 Cube can’t keep up with PCs sporting more powerful hardware, and perhaps multiple GPUs, it still handled itself well in our benchmarks overall. The highest (4K) resolutions challenged the GeForce GTX 1070 in our rest rig, but it clearly has the chops for hours of gaming with graphics options turned up.


For many gamers, buying an SFF system means sacrificing too much in the way of expandability and performance. You’re usually limited to just one GPU (and that’s the case with the Y710 Cube) and nearly any upgrade has to be carefully planned, thanks to the lack of space. The focus on portability (and a small footprint) often make compact PCs less-than-ideal systems for DIY types as well.

But the Y710 Cube actually manages to give users a reasonable amount of expandability, and it may be enough to convince some hardcore gamers who are sick of lugging their full-sized systems around to LAN events to consider a smaller rig. The Cube offers better access to its memory, hard drives, and GPU than we expected it to, given the system’s diminutive size. If you need more room than the Cube provides, you’re probably better off with a bigger PC, but as SFF PCs go, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y710 Cube requires minimal sacrifice.

Portability is one of the Y710 Cube’s biggest promises, and it delivers. The handle is no gimmick, providing a good, solid grip on the system. As we mentioned earlier, the Cube’s width means that carrying it at your side might be a little awkward at times, but even then, we’d prefer it to lugging around a traditional gaming PC in our arms any day.


When it comes to gaming PCs, performance may be king, but looks certainly matter too – and the Y710 Cube is a stone cold killer in this department. The blood-red LED lights, and the sharp angles and planes of its front, top, and side panels gives it the personality of a futuristic, lethal robot, and we dig it.

All of these features make for an excellent little gaming PC. If you’re looking for a system that balances portability and performance, the Y710 Cube should be on your short list.