I'm considering to build a powerful, small/semi-portable mini-ITX PC. Just small box you can easily travel with, kinda like a laptop but a lot cheaper and without a screen, keyboard and battery - I can't really work on laptops anyway (ergonomics!). Stuffed with something like a 4400G when Renoir (mainstream Zen2) comes out, so lots of processing power. Add 32GB+ RAM and one or two SSDs.

I'd say the reason is that I might work from abroad (remotely) next year, but honestly, it just gives me an excuse to break my piggy bank!

What do you think?

Why not go for something like a NUC ?

@hjk101 too easy!
But for real, I wouldn't mind something like a Q958.

It's more daydreaming right now instead of actually deciding for the best option. The restriction in size makes this process quite challenging and interesting, compared to a normal mid-tower build.

You have to consider the following:
0.Form factor
Maximum size?
1.The processing power
What cpu, gpu, psu, mobo?
2.Cooling capacity
What coolers?
3.Additional features
What additional IO, rgb, stuffs?

For traveling I'd really consider a NUC, although you'd be stuck with an Intel CPU.

Mini-ITX is small, but still too bulky to throw in a backpack. Mini-ITX can be great if you want to include a spinning harddisk and/or dedicated graphics — but that also makes it too fragile for regular travel.

@bittersweet The inwin Chopin case has 3.3 liters (244mm x 84mm x 217mm / 9.6" x 3.3" x 8.6"), which should easily fit in a backpack. I don't want a HDD or dedicated GPU.

I am also looking for a tiny mini itx pc.
I just need to fit a mini itx mobo, ryzen 7 3800X, psu and a decent and silent cooling solution in a very small case.
My problem is that i haven't been able to find a suiting case...

I guess, I have to build my own case...

@git-fuckyou Have a look at this: https://egpu.io/forums/builds/...
(though I probably wouldn't go for the eGPU but have a secondary PC for gaming)

If you really want to travel with it I'd rather use a good-ish laptop with an external GPU... A mini-itx pc might be smaller but it still requires a whole setup to use

@12bitfloat That's more or less what I've come to realize - that a laptop is probably a better package, at least if you want to use it on the go at least once in a while.

However: I won't work without a proper screen and keyboard anyway (I won't change places), so it doesn't add much value. Cooling is more of an issue in a laptop, so it's probably more noisy and it's more difficult to get the same performance. It also takes up much more space on the desk and ports can be an issue (both amount and location). Also, it will be cheaper.

But then to at least have the option to use it solo is not bad at all neither, though I probably would only use it that way a few times per year.

oh and another issue with laptops is that it is very difficult to find a good one (partly due to the abovementioned). You might find good specs, but then the keyboard and/or touchpad is shitty. Or it doesn't have enough (or the right) ports (I need at least 2, better 3 external monitors). Glossy screen. etc pp.

@bittersweet yeah that was exactly what I was thinking. Portable tower...

@saucyatom you can always add a shoulder straps and make a backpack out of it

@hjk101 not with my broken back!