What Is a Small Form Factor PC?
A small form factor (SFF) PC is a computer built in a case much smaller than a standard desktop tower. The term describes compact designs that save desk space and fit where a full-size tower does not. Small form factor PCs use smaller boards, low-power processors and compact power supplies. Many buyers on community forums look for SFF systems that are quiet, sleek and easy to carry between a home office and a work setup.
Mini PCs are a common type of small form factor PC. They use a compact case and a board sized for the purpose, and they are usually sold complete with a processor, memory, storage and an operating system. Buyers choose a mini PC when they want a small, ready-to-use computer for office work, kiosks, digital signage, light productivity or always-on tasks.
Key Specifications to Compare
The Thinvent range spans Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, Intel Celeron N5095A, AMD Ryzen 5 7430U and ARM Cortex A55. Core count, maximum frequency, cache and memory differ across the models.
| Model | Processor | Cores | Max Frequency | Cache | Memory | Storage | Wireless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 10 MB | 8 GB DDR4 | 256 GB SSD | No WiFi |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core 5 120U | 10 | 5.0 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB DDR4 | 512 GB SSD | Dual Band WiFi |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i5-1335U | 10 | 4.6 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB DDR4 | 512 GB SSD | No WiFi |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i7-1255U | 10 | 4.7 GHz | 12 MB | 16 GB DDR4 | 256 GB SSD | No WiFi |
| Treo Mini PC | Intel N5095A | 4 | 2.9 GHz | 4 MB | 4 GB DDR4 | 128 GB SSD | No WiFi |
| Treo Mini PC | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 6 | 4.3 GHz | 16 MB | 16 GB DDR4 | 512 GB SSD | Dual Band WiFi |
| Treo Mini PC | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 6 | 4.3 GHz | 16 MB | 8 GB DDR4 | 256 GB SSD | Dual Band WiFi |
| Micro 6 Pro Mini PC | ARM Cortex A55 | 4 | 1.9 GHz | 1 MB | 4 GB onboard | 32 GB eMMC | Dual Antenna WiFi |
The Aero models use 12V 7A adapters. The Treo models use 12V 5A or 19V 3A adapters. The Micro 6 Pro uses a 5V 2A adapter and has one HDMI port. Operating systems include Windows 11 Pro, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux Embedded Linux, and a model without an OS.
Choosing a Model
Choose a higher core count and more memory for multitasking and office workloads. The Aero Mini PC with Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores, 16 GB memory and Dual Band WiFi. The Treo Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 5 7430U has 6 cores and 16 MB cache. The Micro 6 Pro suits low-power embedded tasks that run Thinux Embedded Linux.
The Thinvent range does not include a discrete graphics card option. Buyers who need a PC with a dedicated graphics card installed inside the case should look at a larger SFF build outside this range.
Thinvent Mini PCs Featuring These Processors
Thinvent has Aero, Treo and Micro 6 Pro mini PCs with Intel Core i3, i5 and i7, Intel Celeron N5095A, AMD Ryzen 5 7430U and ARM Cortex A55 processors. Each model is listed with its processor, memory, storage and operating system so buyers can match a configuration to their task.
