When it comes to building a Mini-ITX computer, what's your ideal setup?

1. Storage:
a. Minimal - 1x 2.5" SSD/HDD
b. Moderate - 2x 2.5" SSD/HDD
c. Full - 1-2x 2.5" SSD/HDD, 1x 3.5" HDD
d. Other

2. Expansion:
a. Minimal - no expansion slot, external optical drive to use once in awhile
b. Moderate - expansion slot, external optical drive
c. Moderate - expansion slot, internal optical drive
d (was c). Full - exansion slot for graphics card, internal optical drive
e. Other

3. CPU cooler compatibility:
a. Minimal - approx 38-40 mm (NH-L9i, etc.)
b. Moderate - approx 58-66 mm (Big Shuriken 2, NH-L12, etc.)
c. Full - 80+ mm
d. Other

4. Other!

I'm finding all I need is a minimal setup, but then again this isn't my family computer.

My choices:

1. a
2. a, b
3. a, b (I bought a Big Shurken 2, but I don't like that it covers the expansion slot!)

My ideal ITX system is the following:

1) a. Minimal, just an SSD or an HDD, but just one internally.

2) c. Full, I need an internal optical drive, bluray read/write is best.

3) b. Moderate, enough to keep the noise to a minimum, but also provide more than adequate cooling.

4) I really am starting to require thunderbolt for average use. I haven't seen any ITX boards include it yet. mATX only so far, and very limited (in terms of smaller form factors). USB3.0, integrated wifi, bluetooth, Firewire (TI based), dual ethernet, and HD audio. As far as integrated display outs, dual Mini Displayport (separate from the Thunderbolt).

I'll probably never see it happen, but that's what I would want. Xeon support, etc etc. That's all I'm looking for.

hmmm

I would go with option 1a any time

2c if this is in term of a slim dvdrw drive and one non-riser low profile pcie slot

3a for sure

as for option 4....I would have to say I would want onboard firewire and displayport. other than that I don't really have much else to add here

FTR- I loathe large mITX cases with lots of drive bays and large PSU's. (id also love to see some real minimal sized mATX cases. like a larger mATX version of m350) come to think of it I cant stand any of the huge cases, period.

1. storage. less than minimal is enough. i have a half height ssd thats much smaller than a 2.5" and only slightly bigger than an mPCIe drive.
2. expansion. one slot is nice, but with on board graphics getting so good now, its not really needed. having one or more mPCIe slots would be great. usb 3.0 and esata are mandatory.
3. cooler clearance. moderate to full. though i would love to see a minimal case with heat-sinks that protrude from the case. ie an m350 with large tower heat sink sticking out the top.

4. P.S. an on board PSU is super sweet.

right now i run a lian li q07 with a slot load DVD, SSD, 2.5" HDD (just cause theres room. i dont really need the HDD in there) passive video card, pico psu and xigmatek tower cooler with a single 140mm fan for the whole system.

mITX is great, but i would love to switch to the NUC if/when heat issues are fixed and they add usb 3.0 and esata.

1 SSD,
no expansion slot or optical drive,
160mm Tower CPU cooler(with no fan attached).
1 case fan set at rear exhaust.
To be used with Trinity or Haswell as primary computer.
DVI or Displayport and USB 2/3 used as interfaces.

What am I building this ITX system for? I ask because I have several. Obviously the requirements are different depending on what you're building.

Main PC/games system (Q08): 1x2.5" SSD + 1x2.5" HDD, expansion slot for a 2.5-slot graphics card (would prefer 3 slot), optical drive (would prefer slim slot loading), large heatsink (AXP-140), full PSU

Main PC for office/internet (ISK310): 1x2.5"SSD + 1.2.5"HDD, no expansion slot, slot-loading optical drive

Main PC for the kids (ISK100): as above but without optical drive

NAS (Q08) - 1x2.5"SSD + 6x3.5"HDD (would prefer , single expansion slot for RAID card, moderate HSF, optical drive not required, full PSU

HTPC-under-TV (dunno yet): 1x2.5"SSD, compact heatsink, small PSU (eg. pico-PSU), slim slot-loading optical drive

General HTPC (ISK100/ISK110/M350) - as above with without optical drive, VESA mountable

For the HTPCs on-board PSU and mSATA SSD would be nice but the motherboards I've found that support these aren't the cheapest.

Thanks for the responses!