Full size desk top vs. smaller form factor

Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size smaller
(SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are there
very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc have everything
one could want. Unless they invent something new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but won't
any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?

In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Sat, 08 Aug 2020 20:05:24 -0400, micky
wrote:

Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size smaller
(SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are there
very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc have everything
one could want. Unless they invent something new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but won't
any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?

Can I assume that any full-size, standard shape PC will allow me to
install an HDD, to supplement the SSD, but that a SFF might not have
room OR won't have room.

I do want an HDD, don't I?

micky wrote:

Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size
smaller (SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are
there very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc
have everything one could want. Unless they invent something
new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but
won't any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?

Unless you need portable, go with a big box. And keep spare parts for
troubleshooting.

micky wrote:

Can I assume that any full-size, standard shape PC will allow me to
install an HDD, to supplement the SSD, but that a SFF might not have
room OR won't have room.

I do want an HDD, don't I?

You want NVMe.
Two of them. One for your OS and programs. The other for copying to it.
IBM called it "throughput". Main storage is boring, but it's EVERYTHING
over time. There is no greater enhancement to computing in recent
history than the NVMe drive.

micky wrote:
In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Sat, 08 Aug 2020 20:05:24 -0400, micky
wrote:

Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size smaller
(SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are there
very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc have everything
one could want. Unless they invent something new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but won't
any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?

Can I assume that any full-size, standard shape PC will allow me to
install an HDD, to supplement the SSD, but that a SFF might not have
room OR won't have room.

I do want an HDD, don't I?

You keep expansion capability, to plan for an uncertain future.

A full sized PC uses a full sized power supply, and a drive
to the nearest computer store can get you a PSU in the evening,
to repair a sick computer.

The supply in a SFF, may require a shopping trip to China.

When I got my Optiplex refurb, it was the full sized one.

If someone makes a Thunderbolt card, maybe it will
only fit in the x16 slot. You'll be saying "but I want to go
fast like the other kids", and expansion slots is how
you keep up with the other kids.

Paul

And if I'm not mistaken... Having both NVMe drives on the motherboard
(instead of using an add-in (adapter) card for one of them like I do)
allows for lightning fast restorations of Macrium Reflect copies of
Windows from outside of Windows (from the boot media).

When I buy another motherboard, it will have two NVMe slots.
But it's not that big of a deal since Macrium Reflect restorations
happen infrequently. File transfers between different format NVMe drives
are still lightning fast when in Windows even if both drives are not on
the motherboard (at least that's the way it is here).

In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Sat, 08 Aug 2020 20:59:13 -0400, Paul
wrote:


You keep expansion capability, to plan for an uncertain future.

A full sized PC uses a full sized power supply, and a drive
to the nearest computer store can get you a PSU in the evening,
to repair a sick computer.

The supply in a SFF, may require a shopping trip to China.

I've never been to China. I'm sure it's interesting.

When I got my Optiplex refurb, it was the full sized one.

If someone makes a Thunderbolt card, maybe it will
only fit in the x16 slot. You'll be saying "but I want to go
fast like the other kids", and expansion slots is how
you keep up with the other kids.

So you think the full size case is good. Good.

Paul

On Sat, 08 Aug 2020 22:37:19 -0400, micky wrote:

In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Sat, 08 Aug 2020 20:59:13 -0400, Paul
wrote:


You keep expansion capability, to plan for an uncertain future.

A full sized PC uses a full sized power supply, and a drive
to the nearest computer store can get you a PSU in the evening,
to repair a sick computer.

The supply in a SFF, may require a shopping trip to China.

I've never been to China. I'm sure it's interesting.

If you go, be sure to stop in Chinette for a visit. It's not to be missed.

In article , NONONOmisc07
@bigfoot.com says...

Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size smaller
(SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are there
very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc have everything
one could want. Unless they invent something new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but won't
any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?

I have a mix of 14 pc's both full size aand small form factor. I wish
ALL were full size as cannot easily use many cards in small form factor,
video cards in particuler. Lack of room for 2nd hd etc. also often a
concern.

micky wrote:
In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Sat, 08 Aug 2020 20:05:24 -0400, micky
wrote:

Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size smaller
(SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

I prefer smaller boxes for space considerations. I used to think that I
would be regularly upgrading bits and tinkering inside of my PCs, but that
never happens. The extra space under my desk is more important to me.

Buy the spec you need plus a little headroom and you're good for the next
5+ years.

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are there
very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc have everything
one could want. Unless they invent something new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but won't
any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?

Only you know the answers to those questions.


Can I assume that any full-size, standard shape PC will allow me to
install an HDD, to supplement the SSD, but that a SFF might not have
room OR won't have room.

I do want an HDD, don't I?

No. You don't. Unless you need 2TB flash storage is the way to go and is
only going to get cheaper.

On 8/8/2020 5:05 PM, micky wrote:
Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size smaller
(SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are there
very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc have everything
one could want. Unless they invent something new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but won't
any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?



It's your choice, of course, but as far as I'm concerned, the bigger the
box the better. Not only does a bigger box permit some cards that won't
fit in a smaller box, but a bigger box lets you get your hands,
screwdrivers, or other tools inside it much more easily. The bigger the
box, the easier it is to do any needed repairs or upgrades. Moreover a
bigger box provides more room for bigger motherboards as well as any
additional components you may want to install.

I see no advantage to a smaller box, unless you are extremely short of
space.


--
Ken

On 2020-08-09 9:28 a.m., Ken Blake wrote:
On 8/8/2020 5:05 PM, micky wrote:
Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size smaller
(SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are there
very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc have everything
one could want.Â*Â* Unless they invent something new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but won't
any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?



It's your choice, of course, but as far as I'm concerned, the bigger the
box the better. Not only does a bigger box permit some cards that won't
fit in a smaller box, but a bigger box lets you get your hands,
screwdrivers, or other tools inside it much more easily. The bigger the
box, the easier it is to do any needed repairs or upgrades. Moreover a
bigger box provides more room for bigger motherboards as well as any
additional components you may want to install.

I see no advantage to a smaller box, unless you are extremely short of
space.



Everything that Ken said plus better cooling, and yes easy to work on.
My Coolermaster CM 630 is 19 inches high, 20 inches deep and 8 1/2
inches wide, it has 4 external 5 1/4 inch bays, 6 internal 3 1/2 bays
and acres of room inside to accommodate good CPU coolers and anything
else I want to install, I wouldn't trade it for any number of SFF boxes.
:-)

Rene

On 8/9/2020 7:50 AM, Rene Lamontagne wrote:
On 2020-08-09 9:28 a.m., Ken Blake wrote:
On 8/8/2020 5:05 PM, micky wrote:
Can't make up my mind between full-size desktop and one size smaller
(SFF?)

Which do you guys prefer?

The biggest one WOULD ALLOW to install any recent card, but are there
very many now, since the OS and the computer itself iiuc have everything
one could want.Â*Â* Unless they invent something new.

I have a USB3 card that will fit only in a full-size computer, but won't
any computer I but at a store now have USB3

What other card could I want?

What else would I want a bigger box for?



It's your choice, of course, but as far as I'm concerned, the bigger the
box the better. Not only does a bigger box permit some cards that won't
fit in a smaller box, but a bigger box lets you get your hands,
screwdrivers, or other tools inside it much more easily. The bigger the
box, the easier it is to do any needed repairs or upgrades. Moreover a
bigger box provides more room for bigger motherboards as well as any
additional components you may want to install.

I see no advantage to a smaller box, unless you are extremely short of
space.



Everything that Ken said plus better cooling,


Yes, good point, thanks. I should have added that.


and yes easy to work on.
My Coolermaster CM 630 is 19 inches high, 20 inches deep and 8 1/2
inches wide, it has 4 external 5 1/4 inch bays, 6 internal 3 1/2 bays
and acres of room inside to accommodate good CPU coolers and anything
else I want to install, I wouldn't trade it for any number of SFF boxes.
:-)

Rene



--
Ken

On 8/8/20 7:52 PM, John Doe wrote:

[snip]

Unless you need portable, go with a big box. And keep spare parts for
troubleshooting.

I have fixed a computer in the middle of the night, when the power
supply failed. That's often what it is, and I try to keep an extra PS or
two as well as other stuff.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"If there is a God, atheism must strike Him as less of an insult than
religion." [Edmond and Jules de Goncourt]

On 8/9/20 9:50 AM, Rene Lamontagne wrote:

[snip]

Everything that Ken said plus better cooling, and yes easy to work on.
My Coolermaster CM 630 is 19 inches high, 20 inches deep and 8 1/2
inches wide, it has 4 external 5 1/4 inch bays, 6 internalÂ* 3 1/2 bays
and acres of room inside to accommodate good CPU coolers and anything
else I want to install, I wouldn't trade it for any number of SFF boxes.
Â* :-)

Rene

I have one computer that needs a big CPU cooler. Because of the space
this takes, replacing the power supply requires removing a case fan to
get to the ATX12V connector, and then its still hard to work in that
restricted space.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"If there is a God, atheism must strike Him as less of an insult than
religion." [Edmond and Jules de Goncourt]