Prior to moving to Mexico, I realized the need for a compact workstation. I wanted a capable machine - a machine with lots of storage, a powerful processor, that ran both Linux and Windows, operated nearly silently - and fit in a carry-on bag. After reviewing the landscape, I chose Sliger's SM560. This is a really cool piece of hardware. Sliger is an American company that fulfills a niche in the market for small desktop computer cases built to the highest quality. They are very expensive cases, but I really appreciate the product. The case is compatible with a wide array of parts, beautiful, and quiet. Perhaps the thing I appreciate most is Sliger's customer service- they are a remarkably responsive and available business.

I've built many computers, both professionally and privately, but building a high-performance machine in a sub-10 liter enclosure is a huge challenge. The parts list requires forethought and plannning to ensure that each part is compatible with each other and with the system as a whole. After the computer is built, thermal management is an additional challenge-without proper cooling, the machine will thermally throttle. Consider undervolting, setting fan curves, and aftermarket heat sinks to mitigate thermal problems.

If you are considering a build like this for yourself, Reddit's small form factor PC community is an excellent resource, along with SFF.Network.

Here's a changelog of the system components.