Small Form Factor Buyers’ Guide
by Zach Throckmorton on May 25, 2011 10:30 AM ESTClosing Thoughts
Our last buyers’ guide focused on nettops with small footprints, low power consumption, and relatively impotent computing capabilities. This guide conveys a fuller range of SFF system abilities, from inexpensive general computers to high-powered, higher-priced gaming rigs. There really are a wealth of options for smaller computers if you’re willing to give them a shot.
I’ve been a long time SFF enthusiast, and the evolution of this niche market has been intriguing. When I started building computers a decade ago, the SFF system didn’t really even exist, aside from homebrewed rigs that required extensive user modification. There was an SFF fad in around 2004 where Shuttle and other companies started making proprietary designs with custom cases, motherboards, and power supplies, but reliability proved suspect (just ask Jarred about his SFF experiences). Today, system builders now have a large selection of SFF cases, mini-ITX motherboards, low-power CPUs, and 2.5” HDDs/SSDs that really open the door to anyone interested in a smaller system.
Of course, you don’t have to go that small if you don’t want to. The micro-ATX form factor is one step up from mini-ITX and offers quite a bit more in the way of expansion options. The cases and motherboards are larger, but with the added size come fewer restrictions on components and cooling, and mATX cases can be easier to work with if you’re willing to increase your system’s footprint.
If you’re interested in other ideas or help, be sure to check out our SFF sub-forum, where there’s plenty of discussion on mini-ITX components. If you have any questions or comments, our comments section is available as always. What experiences—good and bad—have you had with mini-ITX? Do you feel mini-ITX is preferable, or is the added flexibility of micro-ATX better? Perhaps you feel both are too limiting and that mid-towers are still the best overall choice for long-term reliability. Let us know what type of system size you prefer and why, and we’ll look to address those markets with future buyers’ guides.
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fujii13 - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
Thanks. This is the first time I've seen the PC-Q08. Might be exactly what I'm looking for for a SFF All in one HTPC and NAS with 4+ drives. I only wish they'd nix the 5.25 drives and make it a little smaller.Forrest319 - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
I built a Zacate based HTPC yesterday. Using the same antec case they used for the intl HTPC in this article. I'm happy so far.vnangia - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
Hi Zach, thanks for the write up, but I've got to say, your choice in cases for the SFF HTPC leaves something to be desired. I'm not sure whether you're going for a certain budget (don't see any such considerations in your text), so perhaps consider some alternative cases, especially in place of the Lian Li.Some inexpensive suggestions:
-Thermaltake's Element Q - $80 and nicely takes the stock AMD cooler and the full-wattage Core i stock cooler as well. The smaller T/S 2011 Core i cooler leaves even more space.
-Compucase's ITX200A - a $50 case that leaves $30 to spend on a Big Shuriken or a Kozuti.
If money is no object, then there's the Luxa case and a couple of others as well. I agree there aren't nearly enough good ITX cases, but the Lian-Li seems the worst of all worlds - there's no way you're going to be putting that in a media cabinet.
ganjha - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
One more case I'd like to suggest., the In-Win BK6**. I built hundreds of budget computers in those cases (BK623) and it's a decent option when you factor in it's size and that it can accommodate a µATX motherboard and includes a 300W SFX powersupply that is pretty quiet. Not a particularly reliable PSU in the long run, but does it's job.I see it's available at Newegg for $60.
Gigantopithecus - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
The BK6s are nice cases - but their PSUs are in my experience unreliable, and I'm personally willing to make less money if it means I'm less likely to hear about a problem with a customer's computer!vnangia - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
I think if you're going up to the mATX size cases, the Silverstone ML03B works really well - relatively compact for a mATX case, and a ITX or DTX fits in there with much less difficulty.Gigantopithecus - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
Perhaps not in a traditional, horizontally-oriented media cabinet, but many of my customers do not have traditional media cabinets (if they have cabinets at all!), and the Lian Li I suggested works well for them. I should have made that clearer in the article, though, so your criticism is certainly understandable!I've used the Element Q before and found it very plasticky with an underwhelming PSU. However, I agree that it is spacious and a good budget choice. I wanted the case selections in the article for the HTPCs to be a marked contrast.
I have not used the Compucase ITX200A, and will be ordering one of those soon, as that looks an intriguing piece of hardware - thanks!
vol7ron - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
Forgive me for saying, but isn't the Home Theatre portion of HTPC missing in this review?I would think that streaming/decoding digital TV via cablecard would be one of the basis of my HTPC. I'm looking at the mobos and the features and there isn't any incentive in getting the HTPC vs getting the gaming, or other alternative.
Am I wrong?
Gigantopithecus - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
No. The article should have explicitly described that since most mini-ITX boards do not have a PCI nor PCIe x1 slot, you are limited to USB interface TV tuner cards if you will be using one with an HTPC. Forwarded to Jarred...As for incentive vs the gaming systems, HTPCs need less CPU power and at this point, they generally don't need discrete GPUs.
dagamer34 - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
And any PCI-Express board fully in spec should be able to let you stick a PCI-Express x1 card into a PCI-Express x16 slot and have it work fine.