It is very hard to believe how fast times have changed, and that today you can get gaming PCs that are compact and still top-grade in performance. Saying that it would change this fast a few years ago, would just be daydreaming because those that attempted to come compact in size really had nothing to show in real-world performance. Today, however, with the best mini ITX case, there is hardly a thing that an enthusiast gamer cannot achieve within such a small computer case.
Currently, the problem has changed from if mini ITX can deliver, to how to get a great one. There are factors you need to consider before settling for the best mini ITX case apart from the size which is also important. The motherboard you are going to use is very important to consider, as well as the GPU.
The cooling features, quality of build, the drive provisions, expansion slots, ease of setting up and use are some of the things you need to get correctly.
Once you are able to get the very right case, you will be surprised the kind of PC you will get to build which is the reason we have carefully considered all these important factors before picking out these as our top recommendations.
Best Mini ITX Case
NZXT Manta Mini ITX Computer Case
The first thing you need to know about this is that it is not the smallest when looking at mini ITX cases. That means there is enough space to help the cooling and air circulation as well as to have whatever you want in there.
With the design, it is a beauty that would run over many others for someone whose eyes are set on looks, with its rather nice LED lighting. It has curved sides and exhausts on both sides for air intake and enhanced cooling.
Designed for two 2.5-inch drives and two 3.5-inch drives, the case has a height of 16.77”, a width of 9.65”, and a depth of 17.71”, as it weighs 15.9 pounds.
It will take two 280mm radiators for liquid cooling support and coolers with a height of 160mm. In the front where you get the radiator, you can decide to have two 140mm fans which come with the case. At the rear, you get another 140mm fan which also comes along.
This mini tower case comes with 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 3.5 mm audio jacks for headphones and microphones, and spaces for a single GPU and 2 Solid State or Hard Disk Drives.
One important thing you will find with this is that it is both easy to build, unlike many other mini ITX cases, and it is easy to clean.
Pros
- Excellent aesthetics
- Designed for maximum cooling performance.
- Solid case
- It is not noisy.
- Has cable management system
Cons
- Not a very compact Mini ITX case.
- More expensive than many others
- Space for 280mm radiator should have been more.
Verdict
Although this is not the smallest min ITX cases you would get, it fully compensates for the size with all that it comes with as well as the ease you get with it. Therefore this is the best case for someone who needs a compact case without losing out in performance.
Corsair Obsidian 250D Mini ITX Case
The Corsair Obsidian 250D is a mini ITX case that you will either find beautiful or ugly. It comes with a very sturdy build and it is very heavy, which is designed to take a 180mm PSU. It also gets to take two 3.5″ HDDs and 2.5″ SSDs as well as a 5.25″ Optical drive.
The chassis has a removable front which reveals the 140mm fan it comes with behind the fan filter. The front can also have a liquid cooling system with 120mm or 140mm radiator.
If you want a 200mm fan in the front, you are also welcome to replace the 140mm fan in the front. At the side, you can have two 120mm fans, while the rear takes two 80mms.
The 250D also allows you to mount a dual 120mm radiator instead of the 120mm fans. It has glass area, the window, where you get to see your CPU and graphics card from the top.
Again, this is not the smallest in the market, but it is easy to set up, clean, and use easily.
Pros
- Easy to clean thanks to the fan filter.
- Designed for good cooling performance.
- Very sturdy build.
- Good aesthetics and cable management.
Cons
- Not exactly the smallest mini ITX case.
Verdict
With good design and cooling system, the Corsair Obsidian 250D comes as a very good choice for someone looking for functionality and a piece that will take in most things that you will want to throw at it. It may not be the smallest chassis in the market, but it compensates in many ways.
Thermaltake Core P1 Tempered Glass Edition Mini ITX Case
The Core P1 Tempered Glass Edition from Thermaltake is arguably a great mini ITX case if you are looking for the most beautiful out there.
There is one fear that many people may have with the glass edition and that is as regards the fragility of the case. Interestingly though, the case is very sturdy and well-built with a 5mm thick tempered glass.
It features 2 120mm internal fans and a radiator of 240mm on the left side. It also provides for a water cooling solution, and that makes it also exceptional when you look at its cooling performance.
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The Core P1 TG Mini ITX also has up to 5 expansion slots and two 2.5″ drive bays outside the chassis or you can have either one 3.5” or 2.5” inside the case. You also have a PCi extension that should serve once you don’t get it always bending.
Finally, apart from the beauty it comes with, this tower case allows you to mount it on the wall, place it horizontally, or vertically.
Pros
- Arguably the best in aesthetics.
- Excellent cooling performance.
- Flexibility in arrangement and use.
- Considerably good cable management.
Cons
- Not the easiest to maintain.
- Dust easily finds its way in.
Verdict
This is the case for a gamer who wants to show off his sweet work and at the same time not lose out on good cooling and good performance.
Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX PC Case
Cooler Master has got the Elite line by the throat as very excellent cases. It began with the Elite 120, before the 110, and finally the 130. While both the 120 and 110 came good, the 130 came with better ingredients and as an updated piece.
The Elite 130 comes much smaller than its elder siblings, but apart from the size, it comes better. It measures 240 x 207 x 398mm and it is well ventilated on both sides of the panel, and it has a dust filter at the front
A strong and beautiful enthusiast gaming piece, the case features a power bracket at the back, which you will find very useful when you want to use longer PSUs.
You get a 120mm front fan which you can change for a more stronger one, while on the side is an 80 mm fan.
For the storage, it comes with a bracket that takes 2.5 and 3.5 drives, and an SSD drive mount at the bottom of the optical drive slot, just as it provides for drive placement at the front. What this means is that you don’t have any problem with drive placement with this compact and sturdily built chassis.
Pros
- Good drive placement option.
- Strongly built.
- Good GPU compatibility.
- Excellent value.
Cons
- It doesn’t have the best color scheme.
- It may take too much dust considering the sides and the openings of the dust filter.
Verdict
If you have used and loved the Elite 120 or 110, the Cooler Master Elite 130 will definitely be your best mini ITX. In fact, there are hardly any others that would beat this piece in both build and performance.
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Corsair Carbide Series Air 240 Mini ITX Case
Corsair is one of the biggest when it comes to PC hardware. The company has come up with very intelligent stuff that are extremely performing and versatile. That summarizes the Corsair Carbide Series Air 240.
This dual chamber designed case is one that takes both Mini-ITX and MicroATX motherboards and delivers a very fantastic cooling performance, like the first in the Air series.
A 397x260x320mm cuboid case, the Carbide Series Air 240 has an amazing design to ensure that there is easy airflow and that it handles a wider variety of components than you would get with many others.
It has three 120mm fans, with two located in the front and one at the top. There are also air filters for good ventilation behind and side of the case.
You also get to find an easily accessible 3 SSD slots at the top of the case, as well as a provision for another 120mm fan apart from the one it comes with.
As earlier said, it has dual chambers, with one having the power supply unit as well as a compartment for your 3 storage drives, while the other which is the main chamber, has 4 PCI slots and 2 80mm stands.
Pros
- Excellent construction.
- Generous airflow.
- Good orientation as you can keep it either standing or lying with the glass window at the top.
- Mostly complete mini ITX case.
Cons
- Doesn’t have the best side panels.
- Not easy to set.
Verdict
On a good list of cases with very good airflow technology, you will not afford to have the Carbide Series Air 240 missing. It is also a great case that will accept almost any computer component, as such it is not the most compact.
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Phanteks Enthoo Evolv Mini iTX Case
What Phanteks attempted to do with the Enthoo Evolv ITX is to make a smaller version of its larger Enthoo Evolv microATX tower, for SFF. And to be fair enough, that has been met quite rightly.
There is nothing very unique with the design of the case, but it is still sweet and solid. It makes use of steel and plastic in the build.
At the front, you get to have 200mm fan which definitely has a great cooling function when you complement it with 4 more fans that it can take with one at the back, two at the top, and two at the front.
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If you need a case for a liquid cooling solution, this will still serve in that regards. It allows for the use of a 240mm radiator at the front, while at the top you can have a 280mm. At the rear, the case can take a 140mm radiator. What this essentially means is that when it comes to cooling, this is a great piece.
At the bottom, you can decide to have either 2 3.5-inch drive bays or a water pump, and it can take a 13 inches long GPU.
Looking at everything that it offers, you will not want to believe that this is the smallest ITX case out there. It is not.
Pros
- Gives room for great cooling.
- Good pricing.
- Beautiful and nice build.
- Comes with useful features.
Cons
- Not the most silent
Verdict
One of the most interesting things with this case is that it has greater performance ch bigger than it looks, and trust me, it doesn’t look very small. The features it has are both generous and useful. Hence, if you are looking for performance and features, the bell rings for you here.
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Conclusion
Sometimes like the saying goes, less can be more. That has proven more and more these days with small form factor (SFF), and so it all boils down to how perfectly you set your gaming equipment, which rolls down to the PC case you decide to use.