When thinking about building a desktop PC, you tend to visualise those large gaming rigs with flashing lights and whirring fans that draw attention to themselves – and sometimes the space they take up excludes them from all but their own dedicated rooms. With a Mini ITX case, you can neatly fit everything you need into something that's more comparable to an Xbox or PlayStation than a small filing cabinet.
Even if you're looking to build a top-of-the-line machine, you'd be surprised how many high-performance CPUs and GPUs are able to work at a cool enough temperature to comfortably run inside even the smallest PC cases. If you throw water cooling into the mix, then your imagination is the limit! Read on to find out why you should build your own micro PC and to check out our reviews of the best Mini ITX cases on Amazon and eBay.
Quick List - Top Mini ITX Cases
Corsair
Massive Cooling for a Small Case
NZXT
A Clean Design Featuring an Uninterrupted Tempered Glass Side Panel
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Table of Contents
Mini ITX cases are simply named after the Mini ITX motherboard, which, at just 17 x 17 cm, is commonly the smallest motherboard used when building a PC. It is very important to be aware of the fact that Mini ITX cases are only compatible with Mini ITX motherboards.
They were originally designed as components for home theatre systems and still remain a popular choice for home entertainment hubs and media centres today. They're also a great choice if you're looking for a work computer that doesn't take up much desk space. You can even go for a minimalist gaming build, which is something of a challenge for those with experience but can result in an incredibly portable rig.
If you're looking to build a small form computer, opting for a Mini ITX motherboard and case is the best way to ensure that your PC won't take up much space while still being able to fit all the components you need for work, gaming or entertainment. To put it simply, if you want to build a tiny PC, Mini ITX is the way to go.
Even if you're completely new to PC building and don't know where to start, you are in the right place. In this guide, we'll discuss only the most important features and functions so you can work out which Mini ITX case will be right for your needs. Let's get going!
When building a small form PC, you'll want to make sure that the case you have is the right size for what you have in mind. Unlike traditional towers, Mini ITX cases come in different dimensions and shapes for all sorts of spaces, so it's worth thinking about where your PC is going to live.
If you're looking for something to put on a TV stand, for instance, you may want something flat, whereas if you're tucking it away in a cabinet, something long and deep may be better.
You'll also want to make sure that your Mini ITX case is large enough to fit your desired graphics card (GPU) if you're building a gaming PC. It can be difficult to fit some of the bigger cards in the smaller, flatter cases, so make sure to check the measurements and compatibility of any large components you're planning on buying beforehand.
After checking the compatibility of the parts to make sure they all fit together, one of the most important things to consider when building a PC is making sure that nothing overheats. This is especially important when opting for a Mini ITX build as there is far less space inside the case for air to circulate.
To do this, there needs to be plenty of ventilation and enough fans to create a healthy airflow. When looking at more powerful builds, you may want to consider water cooling for the cooling method. If you're aiming to create a top-of-the-line gaming rig, this is your best option as any overheating in a Mini ITX case won't just fry your CPU and GPU, but potentially cause a fire as well.
If you're new to PC building and have your heart set on a micro gaming machine, there are choices out there specifically designed for the job that have plenty of space inside for the chunkier heat sinks, air coolers and GPUs. Just make sure you're not cramming a bunch of components in together without the right cooling, and if you're unsure, it's always worth contacting an expert or the manufacturers.
One of the great benefits of a Mini ITX PC is that you don't have to struggle to get to the back of the case in order to plug in your various accessories. However, it's certainly a nice feature to have your most-used ports in an easily accessible place, especially if you have your PC tucked into a TV stand or nearby cabinet.
You can expect to find a number of usefully located USB ports. These are great for adding a Bluetooth or wireless receiver for entertainment setups – or simply as somewhere to easily attach an iPod or external hard drive filled with your favourite films and TV shows. You may also want to check to see if the case comes with 3.5 mm audio-out ports so you can hook up your new PC to a sound system.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cooler Master MasterBox NR200 | ![]() | Great Value Gaming Build Case From a Leading Brand | |
2 | Corsair Crystal RGB Tempered Glass Micro ATX PC Case|CC-9011135-WW 280X | ![]() | Massive Cooling for a Small Case | |
3 | NZXT Mini-ITX PC Gaming Case|H210 | ![]() | A Clean Design Featuring an Uninterrupted Tempered Glass Side Panel | |
4 | Thermaltake Core V1 | ![]() | The Micro Cube That Still Allows Plenty of Airflow | |
5 | AeroCool Atomic ARGB Mini Tower | ![]() | Plenty of Space Inside for a Bargain Price | |
6 | Thermaltake Core V21 | ![]() | An Extremely Versatile Modular Case | |
7 | Razer Tomahawk Mini-ITX Gaming Chassis | ![]() | A Serious Case for Serious Gamers | |
8 | Fractal Design Node 202 Mini-ITX Case | ![]() | Sleek, Elegant and Able to Sit Vertically or Horizontally | |
9 | IN WIN B1 Mini-ITX Tower Case | ![]() | A Unique Design That’s One of the Smallest Around | |
10 | CiT Mini-ITX Case|MTX-007B | ![]() | One for the Simpler Budget Builds |
Cooler Master are well known in the world of PC building as they manufacture some of the best heat sinks and air coolers in the world. This case is no different with space for liquid cooling radiators and up to seven fans in total.
The MasterBox is a great all-around choice but is perhaps best suited to budget gaming builds as it can house GFX cards up to 330 mm in length and supports both mini-DTX and mini-ITX motherboards. If you're looking to keep your components running cool, then you can't go wrong with Cooler Master.
This case's two chambers, a front and rear, will keep even the most resource-intensive graphics cards cool – and as well as the two RGB fans included, there's room for up to six in total. Corsair's Direct Airflow Path design also means that this case can handle the most powerful CPUs and GPUs around.
There are also dust filters on practically every opening to ensure that your system looks great once it's in place. Combined with the tempered glass side and RGB lights, it looks incredible when all systems are firing.
The H210 is one of the best options around if you're looking to fit a high-end system into a compact and aesthetically pleasing case without breaking the bank. It's suitable for both air-cooled and liquid-cooled systems, and there's plenty of space inside for GFX cards up to 325 mm.
With its large tempered glass panel, it's easy to see what you're doing when building your PC, plus it allows you to create any look you want in terms of lighting. There are also plenty of options for cable management to keep everything well organised.
Just like its older sibling, the Core V1 from Thermaltake is divided into two chambers to allow for the most air circulation possible while keeping your cables neat and tidy. It's full of air holes in order to keep one of the smallest cases on our list as cool as possible.
If you're looking for a small work PC that doesn't take up too much space on a desk, then this is a great option. We'd also recommend this as a media centre if you're after something to tuck away in a cabinet or TV stand.
At first glance, you may be forgiven for thinking that you're looking at an option that's going to cost upwards of £100 thanks to the huge eye-catching RGB light on the front of this case.
However, thanks to its tall design, it's capable of accommodating the larger CPU coolers (184 mm) and GFX cards up to 347 mm in length, which is the best on our list in terms of interior space. Like others, the hinged tempered glass panel opens up for easy access which is always a nice touch.
The Thermaltake V21 is a modular case, which means that it's divided into two chambers in order to keep your cables separated from your components. In turn, this will maximise cooling whether you opt for fans or liquid cooling.
There is plenty of flexibility thanks to the modular design, so whether you want to include some extra hard drive space for a media centre or fit in a high-end graphics card, you're able to pick and choose the layout which is optimal for your build.
Being the premier maker of gaming accessories in the world, it's no surprise that Razer's cases are made with gamers in mind. The Tomahawk is fully compatible with AIO or custom liquid cooling systems, has plenty of space for air circulation, and can accommodate GFX cards up to 320 mm long as well as those thicker cards that require three expansions slots.
There aren't any cooling options included with the case so you'll need to have some experience in PC building and be aware of which fans, or liquid cooling, you want to install. It's also worth noting that, while expensive, it's most definitely good quality and the two tempered glass swivel doors make accessing the innards a breeze.
Thanks to its incredibly sleek and thin design, there's no better option than this if you're after something to sit exclusively underneath a TV. This wouldn't look out of place next to a DVD player or smart TV box.
You may have noticed the lack of cooling options included with this case, so you'll want to make sure that you're not installing any components that run too hot unless you plan on adding your own fans. Luckily, thanks to the smart thermal interior design and ample ventilation, a simple media centre shouldn't have too much trouble.
If you're looking for a unique and small form PC that you want to hook up to a living room TV to act as a home media centre, then this case would make a great choice. As you can see, it doesn't look too dissimilar to a router or modem.
You can stand it on its end on a shelf next to your WiFi router, or place it flat underneath a television where you'll barely notice its presence, but its small size means that it's not suited for more powerful builds due to the lack of space, and therefore air circulation, inside.
After a cheap case for a simple work PC or a media centre? You won't find one much more compact than this offering from CiT. It's even small enough to mount onto the back of a monitor with the included VESA mount.
As a more budget-friendly option, this case doesn't have the most premium feel and there are some reports of the CD slot not quite lining up properly, so it's not something we'd recommend if you're planning on adding a DVD drive.
Building your own PC for gaming? We've got even more great advice in the articles below. If you're also weighing up going for something larger, don't miss our guide to budget PC cases. Or, if you're starting completely from scratch, we're here to help you find the best mouse and monitor.
Building a compact Mini ITX PC is great fun, combining the puzzle-like aspects of fitting everything you want into the smallest space possible with the joy of having a new computer at the end of it. Whether you're after something for gaming, work or entertainment, we hope that you've been able to find something on our list that fits what you need.
Author: David Sexton
No. 1: Cooler Master|MasterBox NR200
No. 2: Corsair|Crystal RGB Tempered Glass Micro ATX PC Case|CC-9011135-WW 280X
No. 3: NZXT|Mini-ITX PC Gaming Case|H210
No. 4: Thermaltake|Core V1
No. 5: AeroCool|Atomic ARGB Mini Tower
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