What is a small form factor PC case?
A small form factor (SFF) PC case is a compact enclosure that houses a complete computer in a footprint much smaller than a standard desktop tower. Small form factor systems are used where space is limited, where equipment must sit behind a display, on a wall or in a rack, or where power use and noise need to stay low. The Thinvent range below is built as mini PCs with compact chassis, and the choice of case size comes down to the processor, memory, storage and connectivity a project needs.
Key specifications
The Thinvent mini PC range covers Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and Core Ultra 5 processors, AMD Ryzen 5 processors, Intel Celeron and ARM Cortex A55 processors. Memory options include 4 GB, 8 GB and 16 GB, with DDR4 and DDR5 types. Storage options include 32 GB eMMC and SSDs of 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. Operating systems include Windows 11 Pro, Ubuntu Linux and Thinux embedded Linux. WiFi is available as dual band or dual antenna on some models, while other models have no WiFi. Some models include Dual LAN.
Comparison of processor classes
| Class | Example model | Cores | Max frequency | Cache | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Intel Celeron N5095A | 4 | 2.9 GHz | 4 MB | Basic kiosk and display tasks |
| Mid-range | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 10 MB | Office and general computing |
| Mid-range | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 6 | 4.3 GHz | 16 MB | Multitasking and business |
| Higher-performance | Intel Core i5-1335U | 10 | 4.6 GHz | 12 MB | Demanding business workloads |
| Higher-performance | Intel Core i7-1255U | 10 | 4.7 GHz | 12 MB | Heavier multitasking |
| Embedded | ARM Cortex A55 | 4 | 1.9 GHz | 1 MB | Embedded and industrial Linux |
Use cases
Small form factor systems suit digital signage, point of sale, kiosks, machine control, office desktops, and edge computing. Models with Dual LAN support separate networks. Models with an HDMI port drive a display directly. Linux options suit embedded and industrial deployments, while Windows 11 Pro suits business software.
Thinvent small form factor PCs
Thinvent has Aero, Treo and Micro 6 Pro mini PCs in these processor, memory, storage and connectivity configurations. Choose the model that matches the processor and operating system the application needs.
