All these advantages result in a much better experience and due to advancements in the designs, it is now possible to put high-end components in these cases too, which eliminates the common misconception that one cannot make a high-end PC using a Mini ITX case. We will be looking at the smallest among the Mini ITX cases which would still allow you to build your dream PC. If you want to build inside a compact case, but you don’t want to go down the mini ITX route, check out our picks for the best micro ATX cases as well, which will provide similar functionality at a cheaper price.
The Smallest Mini ITX Cases – 5 Great Options
Smallest Mini ITX cases are all the rage nowadays due to their excellent space-to-performance ratio. People nowadays are moving away from typical large-sized full tower PC cases and even mid-tower cases, and are now preferring something compact. Mini ITX cases might not be the best airflow PC cases out there, but they serve a specialized function that other cases cannot. This is why we have curated a selection of the smallest mini ITX cases on the market that will be perfect for a small-sized PC build with desktop components. Moreover, these mini ITX cases will also be great for something portable, if that is the route you want to pursue. Thermaltake is a well-known brand for PC casings, peripherals, and other computer hardware. Thermaltake Core V1 Snow Edition is one of the most widely used Mini ITX casings due to its cheap price and good features. The overall design of the case is quite beautiful with the curvy ends and holed vents. The casing provides a modular design with the upper chamber providing efficient cooling while the lower chamber provides space for the PSU and cable management. Speaking of the PSU, you might want to take a look at our picks for the best SFX PSUs for your compact build.
The snow edition stirs the things with its white color as most of the cases are only available in black. This is also the smallest white mini ITX case in this shape on the market. The I/O panel is placed on the side of the case to provide ease of use. It comes with interchangeable side panels which provide easy customization and there are removable dust filters for the PSU to prevent the dust from getting inside the case. For more options, take a look at our picks for the white PC cases as well. The included 200mm fan provided great airflow for intake during the testing and we felt no need for any other intake fan. Meanwhile, with two 80mm rear fans, the system was giving a high-pitch noise which is why we think that unless you are using a high-end graphics card, you should use only one fan. We think this case could have used top mounting to improve the airflow but still, it provides a sweet experience and should be your top priority when looking out for a cheap Mini ITX case. Cooler Master Elite 130 is an old case but it provides such great features that we could not just resist putting it on this list, however, the design of the case is rather boring. It provides ample space for the graphics card and the power supply but you must use a low-profile CPU cooler because the power supply is quite close to the motherboard. The side panels of the case include big rectangle-shaped holes, which is good for airflow but there is no dust filter there, resulting in the dust getting inside the case easily. The front of the case, however, uses the dust filter which is used along with a 120mm fan for intake. On a related note, you might also want to take a look at our Cooler Master MB511 case review if you want to check out more products from Cooler Master.
This case can use very long graphics cards as nothing is obstructing the path. A blower-style graphics card would also be very efficient, which takes the air inside from the side of the graphics cards and the hot air is ejected directly out of the case. The air cooling mechanisms inside this case are effective which is why we consider this case as the ideal smallest mini ITX case for air cooling on our list. If a long graphics card isn’t your thing, then you can take a pick from our best low-profile graphics card selection as well. There is also space for an optional 80mm side fan which would directly blow the air onto the motherboard and the processor. The I/O panel is divided into two parts, where the right side provides a power button and a USB 2.0 port while the left side provides two USB 3.0 ports and audio jacks. There is almost no cable management in this case which would upset many users and unless you are not disturbed by the visible fat cables, this case should interest you a lot. BitFenix Prodigy is a case that balances things very well and its rich design provides so many features that a normal user is stunned. First of all, the case provides two big handles for easy transportation while a similar design also exists at the bottom for leaving some space between the desk surface and the case. This also allows the user to invert the case and completely change the orientation of the components which is a unique feature among PC cases.
More PC Cases: Best Budget PC Cases The fan mounting capability of this case is also very good with a total of five fans supported in the case, however, the side panel of the case has small holes which is why there is very little room for the graphics card to breathe, leading to a bit higher temperatures. The amount of expansion bays is also unbelievable and it is very impressive to have fifteen internal bays for such a compact case. The I/O panel of the case is located at the side, providing ease of use, and consists of two USB 3.0 ports, a power button, a reset button, and audio jacks. This case might also be ideal for HTPCs due to its size. On a related note, you can find our picks for the best HTPC cases as well. Surprisingly, the price of this case is not as high as its features and can be considered by even the mid-range budget customers. There are not many cases that rival the qualities and features of this case and if you can afford this case, you will not regret your purchase. This is also one of the smallest tower mini ITX case options you can find on the market, which is a niche design segment. InWin casings are getting popular very much recently due to their unique designs. Their casings provide unimaginable designs and are priced very high due to this reason. InWin A1 is no exception and the casing provides RGB lighting along with a stylish stand that is transparent in color. The changing RGB lighting and the transparent stand create an illusion that the case is floating in the air, which looks spectacular. This design also makes it the best smallest RGB mini ITX case on our list.
The casing has no top and front fan mounting but you should not get the wrong idea here. There is space for two 120mm fans at the bottom and also a 120mm fan at the side. The bottom fans help the graphics card breathe easily as it is very close to the bottom while the side fan blows cool air inside. There is also space for a 120mm fan at the rear which can be used for the exhaustion of the hot air out of the case. With all these fans, we experienced cool temperatures and there was no thermal throttling among any of the PC components. Related Roundup: Dual PC Cases The I/O panel is located at the top of the case and provides two USB 3.0 ports, a power button, and audio jacks. An exceptional feature of this case is that it provides a Qi wireless charger so that you can charge your smartphone by just placing them on the top of the case. The case also includes a 600-watt gold-rated power supply which is not of very high quality but should suffice the needs of most of the users. All these features make this case quite expensive for an average user and that is why it is only targeted at high-end users, to whom it provides a profoundly sweet experience. Cougar is a German brand that manufactures gaming products and Cougar QBX is one of its two Mini ITX casings. Despite that, the quality of this case is quite impressive. The casing provides a brushed-aluminum look like the famous Corsair Obsidian series, although the actual material of this case is plastic, which is sturdy enough to withstand bumps and presses. As this casing is targeted towards gamers, the cooling capability of this casing is eminently overwhelming as it supports a total of seven fans, which is why it can be coupled with high-end PC components without affecting the performance.
More PC Cases: Open-Air PC Cases The top fans are the major factors in exhausting the hot air while there is space for two 120mm fans at the bottom for the efficient cooling of the graphics card. The fan along the side panel can be used to throw air directly on the motherboard which greatly extends the life of the motherboard, although there is no dust filter on the side panel. This case would work best with an AiO liquid cooler or even a liquid-cooled hybrid graphics card. This functionality makes it the best smallest mini ITX case for water cooling on our list. If you’re interested in more cases like this, check out our selection of the best cases for water cooling as well. We observed no issues during the testing as all the components were cooled very efficiently, however, make sure that your power supply is not long enough that it blocks the path of the graphics card, and if it does then choose a graphics card with a short length. This is the only issue with this casing and if you plan to use a small power supply, this casing will take care of all of your needs at a minimal price.
Things To Know When Buying a Mini ITX Case
Choosing a PC case can be a bit of a tricky decision. Unlike most of your components, the PC case is not exactly functional in terms of performance, but choosing the wrong one can still indirectly affect the performance of other components. Airflow is the paramount factor that you should consider while picking a PC case, and in the smallest mini ITX cases unfortunately the airflow suffers a bit. Still, you should be mindful of these factors when picking the best case for you. The first order of business should be to decide the size of the case that you want. There are basically 4 types of computer cases out there on the basis of size. Firstly, there is the ATX form factor, which can be labeled as the standard mid-tower configuration. Smaller cases in the micro-ATX form factor also exist, and so do extremely compact cases using the mini ITX form factor, which is the focus of our roundup. Take a look at our guide for mini ITX vs. micro ATX cases if you’re confused about the two compact form factors. Secondly, you should turn your attention to compatibility. A PC case should, first and foremost, be able to hold and support each and every one of your PC components. Think about the motherboard size, the radiator size, the number of fans, the number of SSDs and HDDs, the size of your CPU cooler, and the size of your graphics card. You should also think about cable management and aesthetics, since the computer case is a showpiece for your particular build, so it should definitely look nice. Moreover, airflow becomes a strong consideration here since that is the part that may directly impact your performance. Using these tips, you should be able to land on the perfect case for your build. If you want a more in-depth walkthrough, be sure to check out our detailed PC case buying guide for this purpose. Using the steps mentioned in the guide and our selection of the best smallest mini ITX cases, you should have your compact PC build ready in no time.
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