I'm actually coming around to realizing that I _do_ expect a desktop PC to be sm...

drnick1 · 2026-08-26T18:29:31

> Maybe it's just me, but I think ATX full and mid towers are going the way of the dinosaur.

Even standard ATX cases are kind of small if you want to build a full custom loop and need space for radiators, pumps, reservoirs, tubes, etc. My O11 XL is admittedly enormous, but it is under my desk and does not occupy any space that wouldn't otherwise remain unused.

As for storage, I categorically refuse to store things in the cloud. My files belong at home on my hardware, not on someone else's computer in the "cloud."

comex · 2026-08-25T19:58:40

Personally I'd love to have a smaller PC for gaming, but I've been scared off by Mini-ITX supposedly being harder to work with and tending to have worse cooling and therefore worse noise. I wish PCs were less fiddly to put together.

toast0 · 2026-08-25T21:05:31

Mini-ITX is harder to work with and usually does have worse cooling.

There's just less space, so it's harder to get things in and out. And you have a smaller cooler because there's less space, at least for air cooling.

I haven't used itx with video cards, but that's hugely constrained...

indemnity · 2026-08-28T10:18:48

I have a 9950X3D and an RTX 4090 in a 10L case (FormD T1).

Water cooled but it does get a bit loud when I play games, silent for regular usage.

nomel · 2026-08-26T00:05:33

But then how will you fit your action figures and extra displays that go in your case?

They were obsolete a decade ago, but priced out by artificially expensive "SFF PC" cases, fans, and power supplies. PC building completely transitioned to fashionable cargo cult in the late 2010's, with the rise of twitch.