Advantages of SFF?

[Ike0069]

Are there any advantages except for the smaller size? I actaully like having a midtower as it allows my hands room to move when I'm inside the case installing/removing hardware.

 

[dguy6789]

The only advantage is small size. The disadvantages are many.

 

[Gurck]

Small size is nice for transport and to keep in a HT setup, ie. someplace an ATX tower wouldn't fit. Otherwise, common disadvantages are lack of expandability, noise, and heat.

 

[GasX]

"SMALL" is the only advantage, but "SMALL" opens up all sorts of options with regard to where your computer resides and what i gets used for...

 

[Ike0069]

That's what I thought. I'll stick with the tower design.

I don't see why a smaller size would matter for a desktop. It's not like I'm trying to carry the damn thing on an airplane with me.

 

[MustISO]

A lot of people go to LAN parties and need to lug a machine around with them. A SFF is much easier to carry around.

 

[RaNDoMMAI]

The only real advantage is lan partys, i love taking my shuttle SN95G to them.

Noise is not that bad, and my shuttle zen is still the quietest computer i own.

but heat is a problem.

i also like shuttles barebones alot, everything is prewired and putting all the parts together is a snap.

~RaNDoM

 

[SUOrangeman]

No, no, no. You only go SFF if you have some specific purpose in mind. LAN parties, for example, have already been mentioned. Home theater activitesre another. These are situations that you really won't muck with after everything is running.

On the other hand, I fully expect to migrate my dual-CPU, 7x5.25" filled bays monster with an Iwil zMAXdp and two Opterons once everything is available for a reasonable price. I don't need all of those drives at the same time anyway!

-SUO

 

[scott0482]

i got an sff without a specific reason and i love it.. i really don't see the point of a full size pc anymore (that is until my mobo dies, then i will wish i didn't get a shuttle) but i have a shuttle sn41g2v2.. it overclocks great, the ice fan keeps the cpu cool.. the only complaint is it doesn't let me raise my vdimm, which is bad since i have bh-5 and have to run it at 2-3-3

 

[VTrider]

I also bought a SFF for no specific reason (Biostar IDEQ 200vb) and love the thing! Noise is definately not a disadvantage with this one seeing as it's the quietest computer i've ever owned. I started out building with gigantic server cases, moved to mid-towers - now these SFF units. I don't know if it's a phase, but they do look pretty sleek next to my Dell 1800FP LCD.

I do have to say that I wish they had a little bit more juice than the 200-250watt power supplies they normally come with. I have a feeling that my 9800Pro that I have in there is a little picky about it at times. It's only a matter of time until they start selling these things so you can tweak the BIOS a bit, not much tweaking in general IMO.

As for room to move around inside for installing, ect. - not much to fiddle with considering most have only 1 agp and a couple of PCI slots at most. I use to deck out all my machines with lights, heatsinks, ramsinks, windows, all kinds of mods you name it. I'm enjoying this SFF simplicity now, finally a system where I'm not removing side panels every other day - i'm actually working on the PC now.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: VTrider
I'm enjoying this SFF simplicity now, finally a system where I'm not removing side panels every other day - i'm actually working on the PC now.

Ahh, that's boring.

 

[dguy6789]

You all love it because it is so "cool" looking. But there are way better looking tower cases available. You wont think its too cool when you are forced to get a new harddrive, or some kind of pc card. Nor will you be happy when you learn your psu wont handle the latest and greatest cpu or video card for that matter....

So just to upgrade a cpu, you will need a new mainboard, case, psu? Thats REAL cool :laugh:

 

[gsellis]

Another reason is because it IS smaller. A laptop may not have the storage/power to perform a task and it is the next most portable option. Sort of like the old Compaq Luggable. The Shuttle SB81P has 3 3.5 bays and a 5.25 bay. I could create a killer mobile editor with a X800 card, 3 250GB drives, and a Pioneer 108 that would be capable of doing Standard or High-Def Video editing on site. With the 6 in 1 reader, I could even to 'Ken Burns' videos of folks pictures if I was doing stills. With a 15" flat panel monitor, I might fit it in an rolling case that would fit in the overhead bin. Dang. And, it would be cheaper than one of the super-duper laptops with more storage. I know, external firewire drives. But still....

Another consideration is millwork at customer service locations. Next time you are in an airport or B&M store, notice the space allowed for computing. Some places have custom millwork that may not do anything but SFF.

 

[Ike0069]

I agree totally. The upgradability seems very small and very expensive.
Maybe I'm just cranky, but those cases seem like a dumb idea to me if you EVER plan to upgrade.

 

[Sunner]

I considered an SFF PC once, but it didn't really make any sense, so I got myself a ChiefTek fulltower instead

Even the fulltower is dwarfed by the weight of my 21" CRT anyway, so carrying the PC itself around is the least of my worries

 

[VTrider]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
You all love it because it is so "cool" looking. But there are way better looking tower cases available. You wont think its too cool when you are forced to get a new harddrive, or some kind of pc card. Nor will you be happy when you learn your psu wont handle the latest and greatest cpu or video card for that matter....

So just to upgrade a cpu, you will need a new mainboard, case, psu? Thats REAL cool :laugh:

Why would you be forced to get a new hard drive? I thought having 1 PCI (most have 2 I think) would be limiting because like everybody else, i'm used to having 5 or 6. It's like when motherboards advertise 3 or 4 DIMM slots - up to 4 gigs of RAM! I don't know about others, but i've been building for over 8 years and never have need more than the 2 DIMM slots provided. The reality is usually by the time you need more RAM and/or CPU most enthusiasts here are replacing their motherboard anyway - so this whole 'upgradability' issue is overexaggerated.

SFF machines definately are here to stay, they are not going anywhere. They are just going to get more powerful, better sound, more features, ect. - there are way too many general computer users out there with cluttered desktops.

 

[batmanuel]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
You all love it because it is so "cool" looking. But there are way better looking tower cases available. You wont think its too cool when you are forced to get a new harddrive, or some kind of pc card. Nor will you be happy when you learn your psu wont handle the latest and greatest cpu or video card for that matter....

So just to upgrade a cpu, you will need a new mainboard, case, psu? Thats REAL cool :laugh:

Actually, you can upgrade the PS on the Shuttle XPCs if you have an old model that had a smaller PSU. It is only 250W, but it is of good enough quality that you can run some pretty power hungry graphics cards off of it (9800 XT at least, maybe a 6800GT). Sure, you're not going to power a 6800 Ultra off of it, but not many SFFs have room for a two-slot card anyway.

 

[thegimp03]

The only advantage is small size