Mini ITX PC question

[Mossy Snake]

I'm thinking of switching the PC I'm going to build from a Mid Tower to a Mini ITX tower. As a first-time builder, I want to know if going to a mITX build would lower the power of the PC. I know that smaller size = less airflow, but does smaller size = weaker system? (I'm doing this because of a desk space issue)

Here are the parts I may use:
CPU - Intel i7-7700k/Ryzen of similar performance
Mobo - Haven't decided. Preferably Asus, Gigabyte, or MSI
RAM - Something 16GB (2x8)
CPU Cooler -Cryorig C7, H7, or Hyper 212
GPU - Some form of GTX 1070/Vega of similar performance
Case - Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX
PSU - Haven't decided. Probably will get a 500w-650w if I decide to OC in the future
Monitor: Something 1080p. 1440p if there is a really good sale.

I'll be using it for gaming and for learning how to use the Unity game engine (Want to learn game design and programming)

[Andrius227]

Form factor doesnt affect performance, only airflow. But the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX is very large for an ITX case so there should not be any problems. There are ITX cases 2x smaller than that.

[Sticky Honeybuns]

It won't necessarily mean a less powerful system but it will mean fewer options and more expensive. You will be limited to what products you can use. For example your GPU may have to be a smaller form factor like Zotac makes for it to fit. You will also have no OC room most likely so no reason to get a k processor.

You can usually build the mid tower much cheaper but if you are ok with a higher price and limited options then go for it.

[Mossy Snake]

Publicado originalmente por Sticky Honeybuns:

It won't necessarily mean a less powerful system but it will mean fewer options and more expensive. You will be limited to what products you can use. For example your GPU may have to be a smaller form factor like Zotac makes for it to fit. You will also have no OC room most likely so no reason to get a k processor.

You can usually build the mid tower much cheaper but if you are ok with a higher price and limited options then go for it.

When I compare the ITX build and the Mid Tower build, the ITX one is cheaper. It's probably because the case I want (Enthoo Evolv ATX. It's the ONLY PC case besides the Inwin 303 that I don't find horrible to look at) is a rather expensive case.

[Chompman]

Publicado originalmente por MossyRathalos:

Publicado originalmente por Sticky Honeybuns:

It won't necessarily mean a less powerful system but it will mean fewer options and more expensive. You will be limited to what products you can use. For example your GPU may have to be a smaller form factor like Zotac makes for it to fit. You will also have no OC room most likely so no reason to get a k processor.

You can usually build the mid tower much cheaper but if you are ok with a higher price and limited options then go for it.

When I compare the ITX build and the Mid Tower build, the ITX one is cheaper. It's probably because the case I want (Enthoo Evolv ATX. It's the ONLY PC case besides the Inwin 303 that I don't find horrible to look at) is a rather expensive case.

It's usually cheaper as the motherboards are cheaper for them however they limit your options plus you need to remember that you probably will not be able to fit normal sized cpu coolers and gpu cards because of limited space and this comes with either in increase in cost of specialized parts or a decrease in their performance.

[Mossy Snake]

Publicado originalmente por Chompman:

Publicado originalmente por MossyRathalos:

When I compare the ITX build and the Mid Tower build, the ITX one is cheaper. It's probably because the case I want (Enthoo Evolv ATX. It's the ONLY PC case besides the Inwin 303 that I don't find horrible to look at) is a rather expensive case.

It's usually cheaper as the motherboards are cheaper for them however they limit your options plus you need to remember that you probably will not be able to fit normal sized cpu coolers and gpu cards because of limited space and this comes with either in increase in cost of specialized parts or a decrease in their performance.

I guess that makes sense. Part of the issue is that I have a tiny desk and I don't have the ability to get a bigger one just yet.

[Andrius227]

Don't worry about space with a case like Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX. I would not even call it an ITX case at all. It's really a micro atx case (in terms of size) that only takes ITX motherboard. It has plenty of space for the largest gpus and probably the largest cpu coolers as well.

[Sticky Honeybuns]

Publicado originalmente por Andrius227:

Don't worry about space with a case like Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX. I would not even call it an ITX case at all. It's really a micro atx case (in terms of size) that only takes ITX motherboard. It has plenty of space for the largest gpus and probably the largest cpu coolers as well.

This is good news for you OP, maybe your options wont be so limited with this case. You could also do a micro atx build. If what others say is true, there may not be much difference in case sizes between the case you are looking at and a micro atx build.

[retro_Ed]

Fractal Design Node 304 is very small ITX case but basically no compromises when choosing parts.

Silverstone & Corsair has good SFX PSU;s - full modulars, less unwanted cables.
M.2 ssd is also cable free solution when not using masses of storage.

Small case size is not limiting factor for powerful gaming pc.

[Mossy Snake]

Publicado originalmente por retro_Ed:

Fractal Design Node 304 is very small ITX case but basically no compromises when choosing parts.

Silverstone & Corsair has good SFX PSU;s - full modulars, less unwanted cables.
M.2 ssd is also cable free solution when not using masses of storage.

Small case size is not limiting factor for powerful gaming pc.

Already settled on the case IF I go mITX. I love the Evolv styling. No other case can compare with it.

[retro_Ed]

Publicado originalmente por MossyRathalos:

Publicado originalmente por retro_Ed:

Fractal Design Node 304 is very small ITX case but basically no compromises when choosing parts.

Silverstone & Corsair has good SFX PSU;s - full modulars, less unwanted cables.
M.2 ssd is also cable free solution when not using masses of storage.

Small case size is not limiting factor for powerful gaming pc.

Already settled on the case IF I go mITX. I love the Evolv styling. No other case can compare with it.

It is a good choice.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

The thing with ITX is you need to understand your limitations; such as for example; if you need WiFi. You would either buy an ITX motherboard that has WiFi or be forced to use a USB WiFi Adapter (unless the Motherboard has a slot for wifi addon card) as you would not have an extra PCIE expansion slots for such an addon should you need it.

But overall, ITX can be just as powerful, if you buy say Z170 ITX form-factor board.

[Mossy Snake]

Publicado originalmente por Bad-Motha:

The thing with ITX is you need to understand your limitations; such as for example; if you need WiFi. You would either buy an ITX motherboard that has WiFi or be forced to use a USB WiFi Adapter (unless the Motherboard has a slot for wifi addon card) as you would not have an extra PCIE expansion slots for such an addon should you need it.

But overall, ITX can be just as powerful, if you buy say Z170 ITX form-factor board.

I'm actually just going to go with an ATX Mid-Tower build (Using the non-TG Evolv ATX. I love that case so much), as I found that I could make room for it on my desk if I try hard enough.

I'll probably get Kaby-Lake or wait for Ryzen rather than go Skylake, as I've heard that Skylake mobos are going out of production.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Z170/Z270; whatever. Z170 support KabyLake if the BIOS has an update; so either way it really doesn't matter.

But yea you can make a really small PC still with MicroATX and smaller cube style cases.

[Mossy Snake]

Publicado originalmente por Bad-Motha:

Z170/Z270; whatever. Z170 support KabyLake if the BIOS has an update; so either way it really doesn't matter.

But the Krait Gaming Z270 is arguably the aesthetically nicest looking mobo out there for it's price range, and I want to be using the latest hardware for the sake of performance (I need this PC to last me for 5-7 years. I'm not going to use outdated hardware)

[Bad 💀 Motha]

LOL, it's MSI, how good can it be. Seriously I would just avoid MSI motherboards.
Some of the cheaper ones were good, like B150M Mortar, but I sure would not go anything MSI for Z170/Z270 for anything HighEnd, OC'ing, etc.