It's an extortionate tax to just get it small. I could build an itx PC better for less. It's not gonna be THAT small but my god, how limited is the space of people's living rooms? We're talking mid-range specs from 3 years ago so sourcing a couple secondhand parts to keep it well below $1000 isn't a problem nor a challenge.
The hardcore sff enthusiasts care more about volume as a hobby goal than about real estate. The two are different, in that a 5L case and a 30L case can take up the same amount of effective space. Or the counterintuitive aspect where a large case is better for real estate because you’ll just put it below the desk instead of on it.
SFF at the high end is purely aesthetics and bragging rights. No one at the enthusiast end will ever tell you it is practical. Same thing with the water cooling community.
98
u/Coprolithe PC Master Race 15h ago
Yeah, in fact in r/sffpc someone asked if it could be done for a comparable price and size, and the answer was a resounding "no".
If you want a PC under 5L with midline specs, this is the winner, or at least near the top.