Everything You Need to Know About SFF PCs: The Skinny on Going Small Form Factor

[QuantumPhysics]

A laptop uses low-power components, and does not allow you to freely choose those components. It also comes with a screen and a clamshell, which in certain situations is undesirable.

Finally, SFF is about more than portability; I haven't moved my SFF since it was originally built.

Why would a screen and clamshell be undesireable?

I have a gaming laptop and I can leave the screen closed, connect a keyboard, mouse and my AW988 headset on Bluetooth and play wirelessly while it's connected to a larger TV or display.

This especially comes in handy when I go on international vacations. A Laptop is a hell of a lot easier to deal with.

#1 You can use it at the airport easily.
#2 You can use it on the plane easily.
#3 It's small and thin so it easily fits in regular bags.
#4 Even the low power components are still powerful enough to run demanding games: Core i7 with a 2070 and 64GB DDR4 - and you don't sacrifice having the power of an actual desktop.


A Core i7 with 2060 and 16GB of DDR4 and 1TB SSD is roughly $1100 ($1000 on sale).

That's a pretty damn good amount of power in a convenient size. The HP OMEN for example is a killer deal with those specs.

There's nothing but upsides in my opinion.

A full sized SSF PC may save space on the CPU, the Cooler, the SSD, and the RAM, but a desktop PSU and GPU are gonna make it absolutely larger than it needs to be.

My GPU and my PSU alone are larger and heavier than my laptop.

 

[EdmondRC]

I built a mini-ITX small form factor a few years back. It's hard to find a case that allows adequate cooling. The cases are either nearly as big as mATX cases or have no room for fans. But honestly, look at home much tech Sony and MS put into making consoles stay cool and they still can't have turbo features on their CPUs because the thermal design can't handle it. The only mini-ITX that work well are the open air ones. I really like the one pictured with the wooden open design. But my kids would stick their fingers in it.

 

[Mike E]

I've built a couple of mini-PCs, and it's all about making some compromises. I gave one to a college student, who uses it to browse the Web and write papers and is perfect for that use. It has a 120GB SSD for Windows and a 500GB traditional drive for file storage.

The other is a pre-built mini-PC that is used for streaming to TV. It is 6" x 6" x 1". It uses laptop RAM, but accepts a 2.5-inch SSD. It as an AMD APU with a low but wide heat sink that is attached to a laptop-style blower fan.

I added a 230GB SSD and run Manjaro Linux without any hassles. Love it. I probably could instead use a 120GB SSD, because I don't plan to install any other programs on it.

I love the small PC form factor, but be aware that you will need to make some compromises.

 

[Endymio]

Why would a screen and clamshell be undesireable?

For a media server, a home automation server, a NAS box, or a dozen other uses, they're the last thing you want. A SFF build is not simply a "small gaming desktop".

A Core i7 with 2060 and 16GB of DDR4 and 1TB SSD is roughly $1100 ($1000 on sale).... The HP OMEN for example is a killer deal with those specs.

That price seemed a bit low, so I checked it against the HP store. That configuration comes out to $1749, so not sure where you're seeing it on sale for $1000.

 

[SixTymes]

Good article. I have been using SFF's for a decade now, ill never go back to full size. I did not say great article because a two or three of the imagines you used, those fantastic ssf cases are no longer produced. I may be wrong, but I do not think so.

 

[smartroad]

Shame you didn't take a moment to list some of the cases you can get. Given they are often only sold by the company producing them (small companies and short runs) you often won't find them on bigger retailers.

 

[smartroad]

They look great in stylish photos, such cool modern urban living and all that but at the end of the day they're more trouble than they're worth, from sourcing compatible components to having to deal with being on waiting lists for months because all the best SFF cases are from low volume, uber expensive kickstarter type projects.

Mini ITX SFF builds are really just style over substance.

Some people live in very small accommodations so small builds may make more sense. But if someone wants the looks then why not? If looks were not important we wouldn't have glass side panels or RGB LEDs coming out the wazzoo.

Others might enjoy the process of finding parts that fit Often it is the process of building the machine that is more fun then using it for some people.

 

[Ludak021]

That's called HTPC, I should now, I've built many...

 

[Questors]

They look great in stylish photos, such cool modern urban living and all that but at the end of the day they're more trouble than they're worth, from sourcing compatible components to having to deal with being on waiting lists for months because all the best SFF cases are from low volume, uber expensive kickstarter type projects.

Mini ITX SFF builds are really just style over substance.

Unless your metric of measure is the unused volume of air filled space inside larger computer chassis, I must disagree with your opinion that SFF builds are style over substance.

I have a CaseLabs Merlin ST10 with two pedestals filled with radiators. It's almost as large as my refrigerator. I also have a Louqe Ghost S1 MK II utilizing large top hats top and bottom for a dual radiator custom water cooling loop. The Merlin chassis build has two, 480mm radiators and three, 360mm radiators cooling an OCed 5930K Intel CPU and two EVGA Kingpin GTX 980 GPUs. Overkill to a small extreme really.

The Louqe Ghost has a 3900X that only OCs to normal boost clocks at the moment and also sports a GTX 980 Kingpin OCed to the maximum. With the newer, more capable 3900X and wringing out the GTX 980, I get the same temps/cooling in Ghost as the Merlin. In other words, heat removal is every bit as efficient as the massive tower next to it. The Ghost will soon have a 5900X and a 6900XT (using the word "soon" loosely since availability appears...low-ish, uh, well, there is none), both will be water cooled with a custom loop. The small system is not at it's threshold of cooling capacity.

It could be argued the Ghost with dual top hats is not stylish and true SFF fans balk at the size of this custom case with the additions. I have experienced these responses to it.

Your commentary about SFF chassis availability being limited to, "all the best SFF cases are from low volume, uber expensive kickstarter type projects," is simply untrue. Newegg alone has a large offering of affordable and capable SFF chassis. Then there are brands Newegg doesn't carry. Streacom makes some nice SFF chassis for example.

 

[Questors]

Why would a screen and clamshell be undesireable?

I have a gaming laptop and I can leave the screen closed, connect a keyboard, mouse and my AW988 headset on Bluetooth and play wirelessly while it's connected to a larger TV or display.

This especially comes in handy when I go on international vacations. A Laptop is a hell of a lot easier to deal with.

#1 You can use it at the airport easily.
#2 You can use it on the plane easily.
#3 It's small and thin so it easily fits in regular bags.
#4 Even the low power components are still powerful enough to run demanding games: Core i7 with a 2070 and 64GB DDR4 - and you don't sacrifice having the power of an actual desktop.


A Core i7 with 2060 and 16GB of DDR4 and 1TB SSD is roughly $1100 ($1000 on sale).

That's a pretty damn good amount of power in a convenient size. The HP OMEN for example is a killer deal with those specs.

There's nothing but upsides in my opinion.

A full sized SSF PC may save space on the CPU, the Cooler, the SSD, and the RAM, but a desktop PSU and GPU are gonna make it absolutely larger than it needs to be.

My GPU and my PSU alone are larger and heavier than my laptop.

It's a matter of personal preference. I have a capable gaming laptop and I have ridiculously capable PC with 27" 165Hz IPS screen. There is a full sized mechanical keyboard and a generous sized mouse pad with a nice lightweight mouse. With the audio and subwoofer enhanced speakers, a laptop has no chance of even the thought of competing. Gaming is more immersive and exciting. The neighbors enjoy playing along too! I know this because one of them threw a brick through my window to hear better.

For me the laptop usage exactly what it was designed for, on the go and emergency use.

 

[Questors]

I've built a couple of mini-PCs, and it's all about making some compromises. I gave one to a college student, who uses it to browse the Web and write papers and is perfect for that use. It has a 120GB SSD for Windows and a 500GB traditional drive for file storage.

The other is a pre-built mini-PC that is used for streaming to TV. It is 6" x 6" x 1". It uses laptop RAM, but accepts a 2.5-inch SSD. It as an AMD APU with a low but wide heat sink that is attached to a laptop-style blower fan.

I added a 230GB SSD and run Manjaro Linux without any hassles. Love it. I probably could instead use a 120GB SSD, because I don't plan to install any other programs on it.

I love the small PC form factor, but be aware that you will need to make some compromises.

Ha! Compromise? Never! Louqe Ghost with two radiator custom water cooling loop. Coming soon (soon-ish? sooner? when actually available?): 5900X and a 6900XT. Size doesn't matter. Wait, what are we talking about again? Anyway, SFF/ITX has come a long way recently and I am not seeing this compromise many talk about. The skies the limit. Or maybe not since SFF is below a certain number of liters. These sayings we use. Do they mean what we think they mean?

 

[punctualturn]

Yeah, closer to 8-10 years maybe?!

Try 20...

Shuttle created the XPC line and they were true pioneers on the SFF market.

Sudhian was the forum to be for all news, mods, etc back in 2001.

A shame that Shuttle started releasing cr@p systems.

One of my favorites XPC from them: