Backstory
Last year, my Razer laptop died on me. I used this for taking to friend’s houses for game night. I had a hard time justifying a gaming laptop with the specs I want, especially when I just built a new desktop.
Why not just take my desktop? Well, when I built my desktop it was nearing the end of quarantine and pc cases were few and far between. I ended up settling for this case:
It is a beautiful case, but it is ENORMOUS. At least 3x bigger than anything I could reasonably carry around with me for traveling.
I wanted all the performance of a desktop with the portability of a laptop. That is when I stumbled across this subreddit: Small Form Factor PC (reddit.com).
The World of Small Form Factor PCs: A Compact Revolution
As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, we’re seeing a shift in the way people approach computing. One of the trends making waves in the tech industry is the Small Form Factor (SFF) PC. These compact and space-saving computers offer a minimalist and sleek alternative to traditional, bulky desktop systems without compromising on performance.
A Small Form Factor PC is designed to pack all the essential components of a typical desktop computer into a much smaller, more manageable size. This is achieved through the use of compact motherboards, reduced-size cases, and often, integrated components that minimize the need for additional hardware. The primary focus of SFF PCs is to provide users with the same functionality and power as a full-sized desktop, while significantly reducing the footprint.
SFF PCs are incredibly versatile and cater to a wide range of users. From gamers who want a portable gaming rig, to professionals looking to declutter their workspace, or even interior design enthusiasts wanting to maintain a clean, modern aesthetic in their home or office – SFF PCs provide a viable solution. Moreover, they are perfect for those living in smaller spaces, such as apartments or dorm rooms, where every inch of space is valuable.
Performance-wise, these compact machines can be quite impressive. With the right components, an SFF PC can rival or even outperform some larger desktop systems. They often utilize powerful processors, high-capacity solid-state drives, and efficient cooling solutions to ensure optimal performance. Furthermore, with advancements in graphics card technology, many SFF PCs are now capable of delivering an immersive gaming experience or handling demanding professional tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.
In conclusion, Small Form Factor PCs are revolutionizing the way we think about desktop computing. Their compact design, versatility, and performance make them an appealing choice for a wide variety of users. If you’re seeking a powerful, space-saving solution for your computing needs, an SFF PC might just be the perfect fit for your lifestyle.
Back to me
My initial requirements were just to take everything I had in my desktop and cram it into a tiny SFF case.
Along with that, I needed a new mini-ITX form factor motherboard to fit the case.
and a SFX power supply:
Everything worked great, except… my video card didn’t fully fit inside the case. I was able to make it work by leaving one case wall off of the case, which had the unexpected benefit of improved heat dissipation.
What is next?
Overall, I’m very satisfied with my SFF PC. There are a few things I want to do differently next time, but it is spiraling into a much bigger project. I want to run an rtx4090 , but to fit that in my existing case, I would need to find a very specific and hard to find graphics card that is currently going on ebay for about a 40% markup. No thank you. Additionally, I would need to upgrade the power supply to push the graphics card. Those factors, along with the fact that I believe my current set up to be pushing the limits in terms of heat generation, I am thinking that I’ll keep this computer as is, and let Conor use it, and I will start a whole new build with much more careful consideration going forward. Stay tuned for part 2.