With the recent trend of compact, sleek gaming PCs, it is important to have a case that will not only fit your build but also provide adequate airflow. In this guide, we will review some of the best mini ITX cases for budget-conscious gamers.
The mini itx case is a small form factor computer case that offers a lot of space for your components.
Consider a mini-ITX case if you want to have fun while taking up the least amount of space. They not only save you a lot of room, but they also keep your system cool.
Mini-ITX gaming enclosures are the way to go for a more compact and portable gaming system. Even whether you have a low-cost gaming system or high-end gaming components, you can still fit them inside today’s smallest game cases. These cases have received hundreds of good ratings and are ideal for taking your system to a friend’s home for a small gathering.
These cases are small, but they offer plenty of ventilation and cable management features, allowing you to keep temperatures below critical. Not only that, but these cases are attractive and have a contemporary style. However, keep in mind that these cases are only compatible with Mini-ITX motherboards and will not support any other form factor.
Mini-ITX case by Cooler Master Elite 130
Check the price on Amazon.
Recommendation
The Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini-ITX case is one of the most affordable choices, with triple fan GPU support and a large quantity of airflow in a small package. It also has two pre-installed fans and plenty of room for cable management.
Review
When it comes to building a portable and small gaming setup, the Cooler Master Elite 130 is the greatest value for money. It includes a number of features that make cable management simple. The motherboard is on the bottom, while the power supply is on top. It’s a one-of-a-kind design that allows you to quickly change all of your components in one compact box.
This case includes many tiny rectangular ventilation holes on each side, which are necessary since it generates a lot of heat, particularly if you use a high-end graphics card and overclock it. It can handle graphics cards up to 343mm in length, however it only supports conventional PS2 power supplies and does not come with one pre-installed.
A front-facing 120mm fan and a side-facing 80mm fan are provided for cooling. Graphics cards with 2/3 fans may be mounted easily in this case, making it a better choice than many mid-towers that can’t handle graphics cards like the Zotac GTX 1080 or GTX 1080 Ti.
The mesh on the front of the casing allows for free ventilation. Because the sides have a different kind of mesh, it’s essential to avoid limiting cooling on two sides. You won’t have any problems with air flow now that you have this case.
It supports up to 1 ODD, 3 HDDs, and 4 SSDs for storage, which is a lot in such a small chassis, and it also has 3 USB ports and audio output/input jacks on the front panel, much like any other mid or full tower.
[rwp box id=”0′′] rwp box id=”0′′] rwp box
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
Mini-ITX case Thermaltake CORE V1 Black Edition
Check the price on Amazon.
Recommendation
The Thermaltake Core V1 is a tiny cube with good material quality and a lot of mesh for good airflow. The enclosure also supports bespoke water loops and enables for the installation of thick 120mm radiators.
Review
This case is a smaller version of the V21 and has a cube form. It takes up a fraction of the space and provides even more airflow than the Cooler Master Elite 130. The mesh on the front and side panels offers adequate cooling from all sides, making a pull-push arrangement simple.
There are two HDD or SDD bays for storage, which you may utilize for any storage device. The position is completely unaffected, making it much simpler to construct the PC. The case also has a pre-installed 200mm front fan, which is large and sufficient for intake. It’s a fantastic choice since you won’t have to purchase unique fans individually.
You can also install medium-sized CPU coolers with a height of up to 140mm, which is 75mm more than the CM Elite 130 can handle, making ventilation simpler and providing support for a variety of coolers an advantage over the CM Elite 130. Although the price is higher, you will have more flexibility with this case if you spend a bit more.
External connectors are located on the left side, and include two USB 3.0 ports, as well as a reset and power switch. So there isn’t much to see here. However, unlike many Mini-ITX cases, the top panel of the case includes a clear glass through which you can view the inside.
[rwp box id=”1′′] rwp box id=”1′′] rwp box
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
Mini-ITX case Corsair Obsidian 250D
Check the price on Amazon.
Recommendation
The Corsair Obsidian 250D is a high-quality cube case with a clear window at the top and 240mm radiator support on the interior. The chassis is well ventilated and can accommodate medium-sized CPU coolers. The brushed aluminum finish gives it a vintage appearance, and optical drive support is uncommon in Mini-ITX cases.
Review
Do you desire a more attractive casing that is also more reliable? If you answered yes, then this is the situation for you. It’s from Corsair, and it’s extremely adjustable and excellent for airflow, much like the other two. It can accommodate full-size graphics cards and other components, as well as a 240mm CPU radiator. The glossy front panel is constructed of scratch-resistant black anodized brushed aluminum and has two USB 3.0 ports as well as audio input/output jacks.
It features mesh side panels for cooling, as well as a 140mm fan for the graphics card. Although a very long graphics card may be installed in this case, the maximum length restriction is 290mm, so you can easily install a twin fan or reference graphics card. However, if your graphics card has three fans, like as the Zotac GTX 1080 Ti amp, you should avoid purchasing this case. In a mini-ITX enclosure, though, you should anticipate more.
For improved cooling, one of the side panels may accommodate twin 120mm fans, or you can add a hydro cooler like the Corsair Hydro Series H100i in place of the fans. From the outside, you can view all of your components via the other side panel, which is transparent. The case, in my view, is enough for cooling since it supports a variety of fan sizes ranging from 120mm to 200mm, including a pre-installed 1x 140mm Corsair AF 140 fan, which is an excellent choice for cooling.
[rwp box id=”2′′] rwp box id=”2′′] rwp box
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
Mini-ITX case from BitFenix
Check the price on Amazon.
Recommendation
The BitFenix Mini-ITX case is a smaller version of a standard mid tower chassis, and although it isn’t as small as a Cooler Master Elite 130 or Thermaltake Core V1, it offers plenty of room for several hard drives, tall coolers, and radiators. The case is modular and has an optical drive slot, similar to the Corsair Obsidian 250D, making it compatible with a wide range of components.
Review
This case is constructed of the BitFenix FyberFlex Composite, which is excellent for shock absorption and gives your case a contemporary and attractive appearance. This enclosure is extremely adaptable, and the mountings inside may be changed to suit your needs. Unlike the previous cases, this one includes a total of four handles for mobility, making it a true portable LAN party case.
The case features mesh sides, top, and front for cooling, as well as one ODD support. It has enough room for up to five custom fans and excellent radiator support on the top and back. As a result, you have the option of installing a 240mm radiator at the top or a 120mm radiator at the bottom. It isn’t even limited by the height of the CPU cooler. It accommodates CPU coolers with a height of up to 160mm, which will suit most coolers, although I suggest the liquid cooler for which it was designed specifically.
There are 5 3.5′′ drive bays in which you may put up to 9 SSDs or 5 hard drives. Although you won’t be able to add a lengthy graphics card if all the disk bays are combined, this function is very useful. Another option is to remove all of these mounts and replace them with a 240mm radiator in the front and a long graphics card for improved performance and cooling. According to the official website, a 240mm radiator may be installed at the top, and several users have confirmed this. However, I’m not sure how this is feasible with an optical drive port at the top. This chassis does, however, allow for the installation of tall CPU air coolers.
The side panels feature tiny honeycomb-like openings for ventilation, and numerous fans may be installed at the top, back, or front. This case comes in a variety of colors from which you may choose to match your components.
[rwp box id=”3′′] rwp box id=”3′′] rwp box
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
Enthoo Evolv Mini-ITX case from Phanteks
Check the price on Amazon.
Recommendation
Because of its design to accommodate any kind of cooler and graphics card, the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv looks more like a compact mid-tower than an ITX cube. The cable management and water cooling are a breeze inside, and the sturdy build at a cheap price is unrivaled.
Review
This case may be considerably better for the money you spend for it. It looks like a small Mid tower and features a large motherboard tray cutout for easy installation of a custom CPU cooler. The rear of the motherboard tray doesn’t have enough area for thick wires, but the side, where the cable grommets are, has a bit more room. Because the majority of the wires will travel through that location, routing the cables along with those two Phanteks straps will be simple.
The casing can accommodate a 280mm radiator at the top and a 240mm radiator at the front. Alternatively, you may utilize a complete tower CPU air cooler with 5x 120mm or 5x 140mm fans at the top, front, and back. The Pro is that there isn’t enough space for intake at the front, but the Con is that this thing is crazy in terms of cooling support. The front panel blocks strong airflow, and there is no adequate airflow at the top. So that’s one for this case completed.
But, to be honest, it looks great and has a modular drive cage inside that you can use to add a hard drive or an SSD, or simply remove with the thumbscrews.
The PSU shroud fully covers the bottom of the case and includes a large cutout to display the brand of your power supply. It may be a benefit for some and a disadvantage for others. If you don’t want your PSU’s brand to be visible, just hide it with spray paint. In addition, there are two drive bays within the shroud for mounting detachable hard drives.
[rwp box id=”4′′] rwp box id=”4′′] rwp box
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
Manta Mini-ITX case from NZXT
Check the price on Amazon.
Recommendation
The NZXT Manta is a well-known mini-ITX case that is renowned for its airflow and distinctive design. Curved panels provide additional room, and the casing is modular, allowing you to customize it as much as you like. This case, despite its high price, is a real dream for any gamer looking for a small gaming setup.
Review
Yes, it is above $100, but the features are exceptional. It has curved panels all over it that aren’t there to give it a sophisticated look. They are there for a reason. The goal is to improve air flow. The mesh in the spaces between such panels enables ventilation from the front and sides. The casing is solid and sturdy. It is important to value the quality of the product.
2x 120mm fans are pre-installed in the front and 1x 120mm fan is pre-installed in the back of the chassis. However, you may replace those fans with larger 140mm fans or 280mm radiators. The case’s top also supports a 280mm radiator, making it an excellent choice if you want to create several bespoke water loops. The chassis can accommodate big CPU air coolers with a height of up to 160mm, which is a characteristic seen in most mid tower cases. The panels also come with dust filters, which assist to minimize dust buildup.
Like the NZXT S340, cable management is excellent since there is a bracket that holds all of the cables together. Wires entering through the PSU shroud may be routed simply via that bracket, and the PSU’s cutout can be utilized to connect the cables to the graphics card or hard drive. Because the case is modular, the front drive cage may be removed entirely, allowing you to put two SSDs at the cable routing bracket on the motherboard tray. Alternatively, the hard drives may be installed within the PSU shroud or on the back of the motherboard tray on the bracket’s left side.
The case also has a connector for connecting chassis fans from various locations, allowing you to handle all of those tiny wires in one location.
[rwp box id=”5′′] rwp box id=”5′′] rwp box
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
Thermaltake Core P1 Mini-ITX enclosure with Tempered Glass
Check the price on Amazon.
Recommendation
Thermaltake Core p1 is the finest mini-ITX case in terms of aesthetics, in my view. Because it has tempered glass to show off all of the components and the ability to install the graphics card vertically, you can view your LEDs from all angles via the big window.
Review
The Core p1 is a kind of open frame box with tempered glass that supports Mini-ITX motherboards. Although the sides are completely open for ventilation, anticipate some dust to collect quicker than on any other item on this list. Putting that con aside, there’s a lot going on here. Because the case is completely modular, you can practically pull everything apart and adapt it to your specific requirements.
Behind the motherboard tray, the case includes drive bays that can accommodate both hard disks and SSDs. The front panel also contains an SSD drive bay, while the ones behind the rear panel, along with their connections, will be entirely concealed. You can run cables through the corner since there is plenty of room behind it. Only the rubber grommets and separate cutouts for the motherboard ATX power connection and CPU power connector are missing. You’ll have to pass them via one of the three cutouts on the motherboard tray, which isn’t very tidy.
However, it can certainly accommodate a 240mm radiator, which is located in a different location than the other cases. Your system will remain cool since the hot air will not be blasted on other components. You can’t anticipate the case to be like some of the other cases I described above since it doesn’t have any extra or additional locations for adding radiators.
You have the option of aligning the graphics card vertically or horizontally. There are five PCI expansion slots available, and you may put the graphics card in any two of them. Now, personally, I believe that is both needless and essential. Unnecessary since a mini-ITX motherboard will only have one GPU installed, so why not utilize two? Because the PSU will take up a lot of space underneath it, and if it just has two PCI expansion slots, there will be a lot of vacant space. As a result, the symmetry will be ruined, and simple bending of the PCI expansion cable would be difficult. As a result, it has its own set of disadvantages and advantages.
The greatest benefit of this situation now is its location. You may either wall hang it or put it vertically or horizontally on your desk. It’s extremely adaptable and fits with any arrangement you’re attempting to create. You may use it to alter the appearance of your setup whenever you want to.
[rwp box id=”6′′] rwp box id=”6′′] rwp box
BUY NOW ON AMAZON
The mini itx mesh case is a best-selling mini itx gaming case that provides great airflow, water cooling support, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Mini-ITX builds worth it?
Mini-ITX builds are a great way to get an affordable PC that can still be powerful.
What is the best Mini-ITX case?
The best Mini-ITX case is the Fractal Design Focus G. It has a small footprint, but still supports high-end components like water cooling systems and graphics cards.
Are ITX builds bad?
ITX builds are not bad, they are just smaller than standard ATX.
