What are the disadvantages to itx builds?

[Johnsmith45]

I currently have a fractal design r5 with the corsair h100i installed. The problem is the case is too heavy and big so I ended up leaving it on the wooden floor. I have been thinking of going itx for some time so I was wondering how hot and noisy does an itx build get and any other disadvantages to it. I am more than happy to sacrifice my liquid cooler. Thanks

[Jurrunio]

ITX doesnt necessarily mean hot, though it's the bigger ITX cases that cools better on average. ITX also has more variation, there are cases like the NZXT H210 which is just an ATX tower with some PCIe slots removed and the case overall not as tall, others like the Thermaltake Core V1 which lays the motherboard flat and stack other things on top and below the board, or Silverstone RVZ03 with the motherboard on one side, PSU the other, graphics card in its on compartment connected to the board with a PCIe riser. The former two types still holds big CPU air coolers, but not thick graphics cards. Second type also sacrifices radiator support. The last type can only use low profile coolers which makes them run the hottest.

[Gamer Schnitzel]

I just built a NZXT 200i iTX build. It's essentially as big as computers used to be back then when they were small grey boxes and fits perfectly on any small desk.

The disadvantages of iTX is heat and the VRAM on the motherboard does not cool as well as it does on ATX but that's only something you have to consider if you're gonna be overclocking.

If you just wanna game on a good computer then there is nothing wrong with iTX at all. Mine has a 2080 Super and a Ryzen 3700X. You don't have to sacrifice your AIO either as the case I mentioned allows a front 240 radiator.

[AndrewB121]

For the really small builds there is a definite heat disadvantage, but for the medium sized itx builds it won't be too bad. Also you have to accept that cases, motherboards and PSUs will probably be slightly more expensive than their atx counterparts. 

[Bitter]

It greatly depends on the case choice, I have two ITX systems here. One is in a Core V1 and the other is in a CM Elite 130. The Core V1 has a lot of airflow and runs fairly cool even with an RX 580 in it and an i5 Haswell with a meh air cooler. The Elite 130 is running a GTX 960, Z87 board, and a funky i7 setup with some overclock. I could NOT air cool that CPU with a 90-95W TDP in that case for sustained 100% use, I HAD to install a small 120mm water cooler to get the CPU heat out of the case to keep CPU, GPU, and board temps down. I also had to add some active air flow on the VRM to ensure no issues there. Overall the Elite 130 is the quieter system which is why I use it for my HTPC, the most noise comes from the GTX 960 cooling fans and that's a pretty tame noise. I WOULD NOT run something like an RX 580 in a case like the Elite 130 or any high TDP CPU's either, around 100W would be the max CPU heat output with a single 120 water cooler that would work out in that case. The Core V1 has much more room inside for fans and cooling options and would handle a more power and heat intensive build much better.

[maxwellius]

ITX parts especially the super duper small stuff gets expensive fast,  and mini itx mobos usually if not always have one PCIe slot (I think) so if you plan on doing anything with wifi card, capture card, etc its not great for that. Thermals are also an issue for some smaller form factor builds.

[trevb0t]

Each case has their advantages and disadvantages. 

I'm currently looking at ITX myself, and find myself looking at the Fractal Design Node 202

 

There are several different kinds of ITX cases. They will obviously all require an ITX motherboard, but almost every other factor varies.