ITX motherboards
are amazing, when you think about it. There’s a similarity between them and that age-old technology adage: things get smaller, and more powerful as they do so. It’s that Moore’s Law-esque belief that holds precedent in the very idea of ITX. From cellphones to laptops to supercomputers and more, there’s a similar vein that runs through it. That’s arguably why the ITX and small form-factor fan base is as passionate as they are.
ITX breaks the trend. It’s different; the very idea that you can take super-small systems, build a PC in a suitcase, or have a chassis the size of a toaster, and effectively cram it with the same top-tier hardware you’d find in a gargantuan full-tower and have it remain portable, while also being well-cooled, is awesome. It’s a sleeper build in disguise.
It comes with its own challenges, of course; ITX builds are difficult to work with, build in, and often have major drawbacks in terms of connectivity and I/O (you can read our build feature this month to find us experiencing exactly that). And yet, there’s a charm to it all.