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A small form factor PC build packs the power of a full desktop into a box the size of a shoebox — and it is the best choice when your desk is small, your living room is the gaming room, or you just do not want a tower taking up space. A small PC is not a weak PC; it is a PC where every part was chosen to fit.
What is a small form factor PC?
A small form factor PC, or SFF PC, is a desktop built in a compact case, usually with a Mini-ITX motherboard. The parts are the same as a full-size PC — the same CPU, the same graphics card, the same memory — but the case is a fraction of the size. Our best PC build for gaming guide shows the full-size builds; this guide shows how to shrink one down. Our how to build a PC guide walks you through the build itself, step by step.
The case: the part that sets the rules
Pick the case first, because the case decides everything else: how tall the cooler can be, how long the graphics card can be and how big the power supply can be. Measure the parts against the case’s limits before you buy anything — a graphics card that is 5 mm too long is a graphics card you cannot use. Our how to check CPU compatibility guide helps you verify the parts fit together, and our best CPU and motherboard combos guide lists pairs that work, including the small Mini-ITX boards you need here.
The CPU: efficient chips win
In a small case, an efficient CPU is worth more than a powerful one. The Core Ultra 5 225F is a great small-case chip because it sips power and stays cool, and the Ryzen 7 9700X is another efficient pick with plenty of speed. For gaming, the Ryzen 5 9600X is a strong choice — see our best CPU for 1080p gaming guide and our best CPU for 1440p gaming guide for the chip choice. Avoid the hottest flagship chips in a small case; our why is my CPU overheating guide shows what happens when the heat has nowhere to go.
Cooling in a small box
Cooling is the hard part of a small build. A low-profile air cooler or a small liquid cooler is usually the answer — the big air towers that work in a full-size case simply do not fit. Our CPU cooling basics guide and our air cooler vs liquid cooler guide cover the choice, and our best CPU cooler for gaming guide lists the best options. Keep the cables tidy, because in a small case a messy cable blocks the airflow — see our how to improve PC airflow guide — and check the temperature after the build with our how to monitor CPU temperature guide and our CPU temperature guide.
The power supply and the graphics card
Small cases usually need a small SFX power supply, not the standard ATX size. Buy a good one — a cheap power supply in a small case is a bad idea, because there is no room for the heat it wastes. The graphics card needs to fit the case’s length limit, and it needs room to breathe, so a shorter card with a good cooler is better than a long card that chokes. Our CPU bottleneck guide helps you match the CPU and the card so neither holds the other back.
The bottom line
A small form factor PC build is a full-size PC in a small box: pick the case first, choose an efficient CPU, keep the cooling simple and check that every part fits. Build it with our how to build a PC guide, and browse our PC build guides for more builds.
