What Is a Small Size PC?
A "small size PC" (also written as small form factor, SFF, compact PC, or mini PC) is a complete computer built into a chassis that occupies a fraction of the space of a traditional tower desktop. Instead of a large ATX case with internal expansion cards and a full-size power supply, a small size PC uses a compact motherboard, laptop-class or low-power desktop processors, and an external 12V DC adapter. Typical units measure roughly 10–20 cm on a side, weigh under 2 kg, and can be mounted behind a monitor with a VESA bracket, screwed to a wall, or slotted inside a control cabinet.
The main engineering trade-off is straightforward: you give up internal expansion slots in exchange for a smaller footprint, lower power draw, quieter operation, and easier installation in places where a tower simply will not fit. For most modern workloads — office productivity, point-of-sale, digital signage, kiosks, thin client sessions, and machine control — the performance of a compact system with an Intel® N-series or Core™ processor is more than sufficient.
Key Specifications of Compact PCs
| Feature | Typical Range on a Small Size PC |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel® Celeron®, Intel® Processor N95 / N100 / N150, Core™ i3 / i5 (10th–14th gen) |
| Cores | 4 to 12 |
| Memory | 4 GB to 64 GB DDR4 / DDR5, often dual-channel SODIMM |
| Storage |
