Small Form Factor PC build

I'm swapping out my old desktop and could use some help.

The main issue is space—I've got zero to spare. An All-in-One PC seems like the move, but I've been reading reviews from people who actually know their stuff, and they aren't exactly fans. Now, I know there are small form factor desktops, or even ones you can mount right onto the back of a monitor. Honestly, though, I don't know the first thing about any of this.

What I really need is a decent setup for home use. I need plenty of storage and at least a 21.5" screen. Most of my time is spent browsing, office work, movies, and music.

Can anyone help me put together a configuration for a desktop that takes up as little room as possible? Thanks.

Dell OptiPlex + HDD + Dell 22 Monitor = $1100 including shipping. You can mount it right on the back of the screen—super clean setup—and honestly, the performance is going to be totally fine for just basic home use, especially with a decent enough CPU, 4GB of RAM, and an SSD.

1 x Spire PoweCube 210 case, 300W power supply, mini ITX, dimensions: 34.5 x 13.5 x 22cm, 3 kg, black
1 x ASRock AM1B-ITX motherboard, sAM1
1 x Intel Core i3-4130 processor (2MB Cache, 2.05 GHz), sAM1
1 x Dell 22 Monitor, VA LED panel, Resolution: 1920x1080
1 x SanDisk X300 256GB SSD, 2.5” 7mm, SATA 6 Gbit/s, Read/Write: 520 MB/s / 470 MB/s, Random Read/Write IOPS 91K/57K, warranty: 60 months
1 x 1TB Seagate Barracuda HDD, 3.5", 7200RPM, 64MB Cache, SATA3, ST1000DM003
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) PC3-12800 1600MHz CL11 Kingston Value, KVR16N11/8

~$$1050(assembly and shipping are free) - Micro Center

If you run out of space, I guess you could just stack the monitor on top of the case—kind of like how we used to do in our high school library if the desks were big enough... 😬

Thanks for the replies. Do you guys have any monitors in stock that come with a built-in camera and mic?

My suggestion costs a little more, but it’ll definitely outpace those first two options. 🙂

You can actually mount an Apple Mac Mini right onto the back of the screen.

Apple Mac Mini with an i3 5010 u Dell 21.5
Dell 22 Monitor
1TB HDD
4GB RAM

Total: $1374 including free shipping

You could also just go with an All-in-One PC to keep things simple. There’s a huge variety out there in terms of power and specs, and plenty of them come with speakers and a webcam built right into the monitor housing (though, let's be real, those built-in speakers aren't exactly great for listening to music 😬) :

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/All-in-One-PCs/ci/2357
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/computers/all-in-one-computers/pcmcat7062_pcmcat7062

http://www.newegg.com/p/All-in-One-PCs

For a standard home computer where you aren't gaming, you can get away with a cheaper option using integrated graphics. Prices start around $250. The only exception is if you actually plan on gaming; then you'll need a decent dedicated graphics card, which bumps the price up to $700 or more.

As for size, you've got options ranging from 21.5" up to 27". You can find high-quality IPS panels or even touchscreens, so pick whatever suits you. Keyboards and mice can be wired or wireless, and like I mentioned, some models include built-in speakers and webcams...

Let me know what kind of graphics-heavy tasks you're doing (specifically what games you play, if any) and what your budget looks like, and we can help you pick something specific...

And if you actually care about audio quality, just grab a soundbar to sit under the monitor...

Right now, my heaviest workload is photo editing—just a hobby, really. No gaming at the moment, though that might change down the road once the kid is old enough. I’m the type of person who keeps a PC for about a decade; this old rig I’m replacing is pushing nine years. Basically, if something breaks, I don't want to be forced to drop a fortune just to fix it. Budget? Maybe up to $5,000. Audio doesn't need to be studio-grade, but I definitely want a setup that's built to last for years to come. 🙂

- touchscreen, integrated graphics:
http://www.bhphoto.com/shop/index.php...ducts_id=13340

- 23" IPS screen:
http://www.bhphoto.com/shop/index.php...ducts_id=13316

- 21.5" like the previous one, just faster and more powerful, but lacks the IPS screen:
http://www.bhphoto.com/shop/index.php...ducts_id=13349

- 23" IPS screen:
http://www.bestbuy.com/product.asp?produc...&code=82249ADM

- 21.5" with integrated graphics, cheaper option:
http://www.bestbuy.com/product.asp?produc...&code=82185ADM

- you could actually play some basic games on this one:
http://www.bhphoto.com/shop/index.php...ducts_id=13348

- but if you want to actually game, you’re gonna need to shell out a bit more money:
http://www.bhphoto.com/shop/index.php...ducts_id=13345

Thanks, everyone. Appreciate the solid input. Now I know exactly what to look for and where to find it.