Micro ATX/Small Form Factor PCs

I remember the time I bought my first ever computer. It was way back in 1998. The price was still relatively prohibitive then (I got a midlevel specced PC for a price that would get me a top of the line Conroe PC now) but cost be damned, I was excited over my first ever PC! The store I bought the PC from delivered the computer to my house and when I removed the CPU from the box I realized how small the case was. This was a time when Micro ATX cases were de rigeur and almost all computers sported the same size.Fast forward to about three or four years after and PC enthusiasts were espousing the benefits of the tower case (either the full tower or the mid tower). The reasons cited the most often were the more efficient airflow (bigger cases were cooler inside) and the flexibility for additions to the PC like hard drives, CD-ROMs and other cards for the PCI slot. The only problem though was that full tower casings were hard to carry because of their relatively heavy weight and it is pretty hard going to a computer shop for repairs while lugging around a full tower case.

Now, the pendulum has swung to the other side again as there is an increased interest in micro atx boards as well as other small form factor cases. Many many forums discuss small form factor cases and the boards that are available for them and how the efficiency with power and heat is now making small form factor cases a more viable option now. I myself have been convinced with the argument and will now buy a small form factor case when I upgrade my PC next year.