Best Small Form Factor PCs

With a price tag of just under $500, one would expect the Gateway SX2800-01 to be lacking in performance and features but this system is a bit surprising. It is one of the least expensive systems to feature an Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor that combined with its 4GB of memory can handle multitasking and video work quite well. The system also comes with a wide range of peripheral connectors including FireWire, eSATA and even HDMI. This allows it to be used with high speed external storage and digital monitors and HDTVs. The half-height slots of the slim desktop design do limit expanding the video card as does the small power supply. A good alternative for roughly the same cost is the Acer Aspire AX1700.

Dell's Studio Hybrid excels as a mini PC thanks to its wide range of available features. It is available in configurations as low as $450 suitable for basic computing all the way up to over $1000 with items like a Blu-ray drive and leather or bamboo covering. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for those looking to purchase a small computer that can be used in a small space or with a home theater system. It does use laptop based components in order to fit into such a small case which limits the hard drive space and processors. The biggest disadvantage though is the graphics that are only available with an integrated Intel X3100 processor. That makes the Studio Hybrid not suited for gaming but that is true for most mini PCs.

HP's Pavilion Slimline s5160f is a feature packed slim desktop that offers a wide range of media capabilities that makes it a great option for those looking for a home theater PC on a budget. The system comes equipped with an internal ATSC digital HDTV tuner and a Blu-ray combo drive for watching HDTV or playing back the latest HD Blu-ray movie. The wireless peripherals including 802.11n networking, keyboard, mouse, remote and even an IR blaster help keep cable clutter to a minimum and home theater integration easy. The biggest problem is that the system has a limited number of peripheral ports after use with the wireless adapters. Price is just $850. A good alternative for those not needing media functions is the Dell Studio Slim.

The big trend in small form factor desktops was lead by PC gamers who were looking for high performance computers in smaller cases that could be transported. This market still exists and among the systems designed for this purpose, the Falcon Northwest FragBox 920 has an undeniable level of performance. It uses the latest Core i7 quad processors and 6GB of triple core DDR3 memory for unparalleled performance in a small package. Since gaming is its key feature, it also comes equipped with a GeForce 9800 GTX+ graphics card with 512MB of memory. It would be nicer to see some of the latest generation of graphics cards but their size makes using them in a small case near impossible. It is priced around $2000.

Businesses tend to like using smaller form factor desktops because they tend to be more energy and space efficient than full sized desktops. Of course, most corporations tend to use laptops now but the cost is very high. Small form factor PCs offer an alternative that has more performance at a lower price. The ThinkCentre M58e SFF is their small version of their full sized desktop that offers a high level of performance and a longer three year warranty. It uses Core 2 Duo desktop processors with newer DDR3 memory to give it strong performance. Some versions are even available with ATI Radeon HD 3470 graphics cards. Prices are a bit more expensive ranging from $870 to around $1000.