| Small Form Factor |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT SMALL FORM FACTOR | |
| motherboard | |
| personal computers | |
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Small form factor ('''SFF''') is used in reference to Motherboard Form Factor s that are smaller than the ubiquitous ATX sized board, such as MicroATX and BTX as well as some proprietary designs. The form factor of a motherboard determines the specifications for its general shape and size and imposes some restrictions on the Case and Power Supply that can be supported, the placement of mounting holes, and the physical layout and organization of the board. FEATURES A typical SFF PC is similar to a shoebox in dimensions with a fairly square front profile. Expandability is very limited due to the small form factor, with most commercial offering only providing for a single harddrive and CDROM/DVDROM drive. With their relatively small size, there are technological challenges in keeping them quiet and cool with the main sources of heat being the graphics card and CPU . Clever case design along with large, slow rotating fans and passive heatsinks generally addresses these issues. Some motherboards also offer integrated graphics capability which sacrifices some graphics performance for lower heat output. Depending on the components used, SFF computers can run quieter and cooler than normal full-sized systems. Apple Computer 's Mac Mini computer, which has a size of 6.5" x 6.5" x 2" (16.5 cm x 16.5 cm x 5 cm) has no fans and is completely silent in operation. SFF systems usually ship as barebones units (chassis, motherboard, power supply) due to their proprietary rear backplane layout. Packing everything inside such a small space has led to extensive manufacturer customization of the motherboard and chassis. USES As a result of the smaller motherboard, SFF computers can be far smaller than typical computer cases and are often used where small footprint or integration into the surroundings is a key requirement. They are finding a niche as Home Theater PC s and are generally readily transportable, which has made them increasingly popular option among LAN Party enthusiasts. Suppliers are adding integrated displays on the front of some cases with a separate remote control, which makes them look and behave like a small profile HIFI system. SFF systems are also used in many industrial applications where there are size and space concerns. Typical customers for SFF systems can range from single man operations to Fortune 500 companies, military installations and governments worldwide. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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