I turned my PC into a microwave
My computer is small, but we can absolutely go smaller. Join me as I test the limits of my capabilities with a Mini-ITX PC build!
2026-01-17
I've mentioned on a few other posts before that I absolutely love small computers. The fact that you can fit such powerful technology into such a small form factor has been something that deeply interests me, ever since I wanted to build a custom PC.But yet I never went the full mile, not until now.
For those who are unaware, there are three main sizing standards for PCs that are used when determining how big the motherboard should be -
ATX
A standard for those who can't make any compromise when it comes to having the biggest, beefiest computers. Often used by people who need that additional space for the most cooling possible, who need a shit-ton of ports on their motherboard for every extension possible, or by pre-built PC selling companies who sell to a demographic that believe bigger = better. Point being, you'll often see the most powerful parts in these builds, cooled by the most cutting edge technology with plenty of headroom for upgrades.
This PC was found on PCPartPicker - check out the build here
Micro-ATX
Smaller than ATX, but equally as capable. For the average person, this size is just enough. These cases will usually grant you enough space for just the average build - a single graphics card, a simple cooling solution, and little demand to use all of those expansion slots that come with an ATX motherboard. Ideal for people who want to just build a PC for a simple job, and call it a day. This is also the current size of my PC build.
This PC was my first build - check out that blog post here
Mini-ITX
Why does it go from "micro" to "mini" if it's smaller, and why is it called "ITX"? Beats me. But regardless, Mini-ITX is comparable to playing Minecraft on Hard mode. Painfully small form-factor, with the least amount of leg room. These PCs often need to consider the most - is my GPU small enough? Will I have enough expansion slots for my needs? Can my PC be effectively cooled with everything installed? Safe to say, these PCs don't leave much room for error, and every choice made has to be deliberate and accurate.
This PC was found on PCPartPicker - check out the build here
As you might be able to guess, I'm going for the Mini-ITX build.
Things to consider
If you have a look at the build I linked for Mini-ITX, you'll see a major compromise that had to be made with the power supply cables - they had to be rewired and shortened to fit in the case. Something I've noticed with Mini-ITX builds is that any unique combination of parts may introduce a new problem, so it's worth looking out for parts that are commonly matched together to ensure that, even if I do run into an issue, I'll know what to do about it.There's also a likely chance that I'll be struggling with the amount of space given to me. The cases for these things are TINY. As long as I ensure I have everything I'll need on me, and that I'm aware of all of my parts' dimensions, I should manage to fit everything into whichever case I choose.
Speaking of, let's get into the parts.
Choosing my parts
My plan with this build is to take the existing good stuff out of my current PC build (the one linked under the Micro-ATX section) and replace whichever parts are necessary to fit it into a Mini-ITX case. I'm willing to replace any parts minus the GPU (its price has substantially increased since I've bought it - the cheapest I can find on PCPartPicker is £700!) and after some thorough investigation, I now know exactly what I need to get.- Motherboard
- Case (obviously)
- Power supply
It's possible for me to get a Mini-ITX case that supports my size of power supply, but this greatly shortens my choices for the case and I need a better power supply anyway, because my GPU is currently being bottlenecked by the 550W one I currently have.
Case
Everything is determined by the case when it comes to downscaling. I had a look on PCPartPicker for a while and - after much narrowing down - found what I believe is actually quite a thematically fitting model. I introduce to you all, the inspiration for the title of this journal post, the Fractal Design Node 304.
Motherboard
I wanted to go for a cheap-ish option with two RAM slots, a PCI expansion slot and for AM4 processors. I landed on the Gigabyte A520I AC, which meets my requirements, although I might need to complete a BIOS update to make it work with my CPU. Luckily, this motherboard has Q-Flash Plus integrated, which allows you to perform updates without having a CPU installed. I have the most fears with this one being compatible with everything, but I believe I've done the right research.
Power Supply
Since this part counts as a direct upgrade, I wanted to give myself a bit more headroom for the future, rather than just sticking with what'll barely do for me. I want a 750W power supply that'll fit with the rest of my form factor, and lucky for me, they make smaller PSU's under the "SFX" name for this reason! I've landed on the CORSAIR SF750.
On top of these options, I'll also make sure to have the stock cooler that came with my CPU handy, in case the current one I have doesn't fit in the case (which I'm expecting). I've ordered these parts and at the time of writing they've all arrived, and I'll give an update once I'm back in Sheffield with my PC and I'm ready to start building.
Actually, before that...
Let's talk about the case
...there's actually not much to talk about, I just wanted to share a picture of it. It looks super nice, super clean and I'm very looking forward to having it be the container of my computer. And it absolutely suits the vibe of a microwave.Which is great, because, you know... fridge... kitchen...
Whatever. Here's a picture.
Building the PC
16th Jan 2026
I don't have much to say now that its built, it's very cool to have such a small PC (and I love how small the motherboard is!). Everything works well. In the future, I'll consider adding a better cooler, but for now stock will do the job decently enough hopefully.
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