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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Simozene - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
I am currently in the market for a small NAS box and was debating on whether to buy a 2 drive model or build my own FreeNAS system. I think it would be useful if you guys did a similar guide for building a low power FreeNAS system that supports 2 to 4 hard drives as it becomes very difficult to figure out what parts to select in such a system.chrone - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
yeah need a guide too, especially when using ubuntu as the NAS OS.obsidian009 - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
Save yourself some time and headaches -- pickup an inexpensive Synology NAS like a DS211j, a couple hard drives and be done with it! I agonized over the details of building my own NAS for months -- ended up doing the Synology and have never looked back!dcollins - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
Just want to second the Synology NAS recommendation. I used two of their boxes at work and absolutely love them. Excellent web GUI and 90% of a full linux system if you ssh to the box. If you want to be able to install new software, try to get one of their Intel Atom based boxes because there is more software available in the repository. For me, that meant being able to install python for scripting.Great boxes with excellent online documentation through their wiki.
Simozene - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
Thanks for the suggestion. The DS211j seems to be exactly what I need for a small home NAS. I doubt I could build a small and power efficient system for under $200 anyways so it is probably not worth the effort to go with FreeNAS. I would still like to see a NAS building guide on Anandtech though; as another reader pointed out a FreeNAS box that supports more than 2 hard drive is often a fraction of the price of the retail counterpart.StormyParis - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
I'd go with an element Q case, replacing the PSU if silence is paramount. These fit up to 3x3.5" HDDs (on in the 5.25" slot), then any Atom MB, preferably a very simple one without ION, single core is enough if you do neither RAID nor encryption. I just built one such, except it doubles as an HTPC, so I went the Windows route, with an AMD E-350 whch is both overkill and a pain (FreeNAS ?) for a pure NAS. I got one internal 3TB drive for it, and an external one for backups. I'd rather start off with a single large drive and be able to add another one later on.iahawkeye - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
I completely agree and am in the same boat. I've been planning on building a small NAS box based on FreeNAS or some flavor of Linux for a while now, but I have little to no experience in selecting parts for such a PC. I'm also completely new to Linux and have been wanting to branch out, so a walk through or guide on this topic would be awesome.'nar - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
I went with a HP MediaSmart, mostly because I couldn't find a box that took 4 hard drives and was so small and easy to swap drives with, FreeNAS not-with-standing. I'd love a guide as well, but that is predicated on there being any suitable devices that actually exist.Mediasmart has been discontinued now, and I really need a simple workgroup backup/storage device.
sullrosh - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - link
http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_deta...kepstin - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
I have one of those; It's a nice case, but the included fans are quite noisy. I keep mine in the basement, so it's not a real issue for me...