I think I want to look at a SFF for my work computer and no longer a laptop as I use a huge external monitor and I have another basic laptop for trips which is good enough. I'm not keen on a full size desktop as I don't have that much space. Looking around there seems to be f all sales on them compared to laptops. Is that a thing? Budget is around $2k and I just assumed I would get better bang for buck compared to buying another laptop or mini pc.
Do SFF Go on Sale The Same as Laptops?
Saul Goodman on 11/06/2026 - 19:27
Comments
i got a 13th-gen SFF from fbmp for like 300 bucks. its a HP something, ive connected it to the TV
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I did the same and installed Bazzite with Plex and a Youtube launcher, super fast compared any other smart tv system
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Wait for another refurb deal on optiplex micro like this:
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/959375- 1
$2k is a big budget but to the contrary you'll get better specs from a laptop for the same price (if both new) as the Small/Micro Form Factor doesn't go on sale often as they are usually purchased by corporations.
If you insist on new - https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/branded-systems/lenovo-d…
Either buy a high spec laptop new or refurbished brand name SFF/MFF. I'm still a bit iffy on the no-brand NUCs.
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Check out the GMKtec on sale for $559, just $4 short of ATL.
GMKtec Gaming Mini PC Ryzen 7 7730U (Upgraded 6800H), 16GB DDR4 512GB SSD Dual NIC LAN 2.5GbE Desktop Computers, Triple 4K Display, WiFi 6E, USB-C, BT 5.2, DP, HDMI 2.0 M5 Ultra. They have other variations currently on sale too.
No personal experience with exactly that unit, but I've got 3 similar products from Aoostar and Miniroute and am very happy with them for both home lab use and non-gaming desktops.
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What do you mean by SFF? Like a ex refurb micro PC or something? Or you talking SFF components, like ITX cases and mobos?
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Sorry I meant just like prebuilt slim desktops.
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A SFF would be ideal when you're limited to an 8×10 space. Compared to some deals, it's a bargain.
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You can get a OptiPlex 3000 Micro with Alder Lake CPU (e.g i5-12500) in the low $500 range on eBay (after coupons applied). Dell Optiplexes are business machines so they are robust and reliable.
That said Alder Lake is from 2022 and they are not exactly powerful in this day and age, and in the $800 range you can buy a Zen 4 + DDR5 equipped mini PC from chinese brands, from Aliexpress.
My KAMRUI AK1 PLUS (Intel N95) pc was cheap at $99, but the components are quite low tier (one of the USB ports is already faulty) and it came preloaded with malware (fixed by imaging with a fresh Windows 11 ISO).
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Better ask Saul
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IF you mean new systems - not as much. They're nowhere near as popular as laptops and their biggest clientelle is offices who purchases bulk at corporate rates.
If you mean refurbish deals - those come around relatively regularly just you'll be at least 4 gen back most of the time.