MG130-G is an elegant and compact gaming case with a metal-like brushed front panel and a tempered glass side window, which shows a clear and attractive view of your computer’s internal components.
Now that processors and graphics cards have gotten more powerful—while running cooler too—and most people can get by with just a single SSD, a lot of gamers are ditching the big and unnecessarily bulky mid-tower for something smaller; a Mini-ITX build.These mini-PCs have exploded in popularity recently, and it’s easy to see why: if you pick your parts carefully, you can fit everything you need into something barely larger than an Xbox One X or PS4 Pro...but with a lot more horsepower. I've already listed the best Mini-ITX motherboards, so now I'm going to break down the best Mini-ITX cases to consider for your next gaming build.TL;DR – These are the Best Mini ITX Cases:
1. Fractal Design Node 202
Best Mini-ITX PC Case
Fractal Design Node 202
See itWhen you're on a mission to build a gaming pc that's more powerful but smaller than a console, there's no substitute for the Fractal Design Node 202. It's a 10-liter chassis that can fit full-sized graphics cards inside and keep you on budget with its $70 price tag. Better yet, it's has a very clean, modern aesthetic that wouldn't look out of place in your home entertainment center.There are only two mounting points for two 120mm case fans, but they'll have to be low-profile and the same goes for your CPU cooler—you can forget about liquid-cooling your CPU. However, even without any additional fans, the Node 202 offers plenty of ventilation for the CPU and GPU areas, which are also all protected by dust filters.
2. Thermaltake Core V1
Best Budget Mini-ITX Case
Thermaltake Core V1
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A closed-loop liquid-cooler would fit easily, but a small custom loop would require you to get creative. At around 22 liters, it’s still on the larger side of “medium” ITX cases, but it’s still much more compact than a standard mid-tower case (and has steel construction, to boot).
If you want something a bit smaller on a similar budget, the 19.8 liter Cooler Master Elite 130 and 15.4-liter Elite 110 are both great alternatives. Their smaller size means you’re a bit more limited in terms of airflow and cable management, but the trade-off may be worth it if you’re looking for a more modest footprint.
3. NZXT H210i
Best Large Mini-ITX Case
NZXT H210i
See itMini-ITX isn’t always about building the smallest PC imaginable. Sometimes, it’s just about having a PC that's smaller a tower while packing as much gear as you can. The NZXT H210i isn’t tiny, and some might argue it approaches the size of a microATX case, but all that extra room makes it a versatile chassis that’s easy to build with.
It’ll fit a full-size ATX power supply, a custom water cooling loop with dual radiators and two 3.5” hard drives if you are stockpiling data. It’s also brings some unique styling with its punched-out side ventilation areas and an integrated RGB strip. The H210i also comes fitted with a smart hub, which works primarily with NZXT's array of Aer2 RGB fans and Hue2 lighting peripherals. Of course, if you don't need any of the lighting or connected smarts, you can go for the stripped-down NZXT H210i.
If you want something a bit snazzier (albeit larger and more expensive), you have lots of other options like the 34 liter Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX. You could also go with the case that started it all: the BitFenix Prodigy, or—if you’re a Portal fan—its newer turret-shaped cousin. All of these cases provide different looks and configuration options for a larger, stuffed-to-the-brim Mini-ITX build.
4. NCase M1
Best Midsize Mini-ITX Case
NCase M1
See itAt 12.6 liters, it’s hard to call the M1 a “medium-sized” case, but it’s about as small as you can get without making too many sacrifices – that is, provided you plan your build very, very carefully. With the right parts, you can fit an SFX power supply, a full-length graphics card, an SSD, a 3.5-inch hard drive, a slim optical drive, and an all-in-one water cooling loop with a 240mm radiator...at the same time. That’s insanely impressive when you consider the M1’s size.The M1’s versatility comes with top-notch build quality too, with aluminum construction, tool-less panels, and sleek aesthetics. As a result, the M1 is pretty darn expensive at $195, but if you want the smallest case possible without making big compromises, this is as good as it gets.
5. Dan Case A4-SFX
Best Small Mini-ITX Case
Dan Case A4-SFX
See itSo you want a kick-butt gaming PC in as small a form factor as humanly possible. Well, you've come to the right place because the Dan Case A4-SFX is the cream of the Mini ITX crop, coming in at only 7.5 liters...and with a whopping price tag.You wouldn’t believe the power you can cram into this case, though. It’s the smallest chassis on the market that can fit a full-size GPU, though you’ll almost certainly want to use a reference-style “blower” card to move hot air out of the chassis. In fact, there are no fan mounts to speak of, meaning you’ll need a good low-profile air cooler or a compact liquid-cooler. A gaming build in the A4 won’t be cheap, but for a powerful PC the size of a shoebox, you can’t expect it to be.
All that said, the biggest downside of the Dan Case A4 isn’t even it’s price—it’s how hard it is to actually buy. Supplies are quite limited, and the case is often sold out, or in pre-order status for the next revision. So if you want to buy this case, you may have to wait a while...but it’ll be worth it.
6. Silverstone SG13
Best High-Airflow Mini-ITX Case
Silverstone SG13
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For example, while the M1 (previous entry) fits graphics cards up to 12.4 inches, the SG13 is limited to 10.5 inch long cards (10.0 inches for the SG05), which means it can hold any Nvidia Founder's Edition card (including the GTX 1080 Ti), but only midrange AMD GPUs.
CPU air coolers will need to be more compact, water cooling radiators will need to be smaller, and you’ll have to choose between two 2.5” hard drives or one 3.5” hard drive (and if you have an ATX power supply, that choice is made for you, since it butts up against the hard drive mounts). Again, that still leaves a lot of room for a decent build, as long as you don’t expect the world. At $45, it’s hard to complain--especially when the M1 is four times as expensive.
7. Silverstone ML08
Best Console-Style Mini-ITX Case
SilverStone SG13
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You can fit a full-size GPU in it pretty easily, and while it’s bigger than a typical gaming console, it’ll fit in your living room very similarly, either horizontally or standing vertically on its optional feet. It also has a handle for easy carrying to LAN parties and the like. It’s pretty reasonably priced too.
For similar alternatives, check out the Silverstone RVZ01B, RVZ02B, and RVZ03B cases are similar to the ML08 but with more of that “gamer” look. All of the cases in this category are built with a mix of steel and plastic, but that’s to be expected given the design.
8. NFC Skyreach 4 Mini
Best Portable Mini-ITX Case
NFC Skyreach 4 Mini
See itStill not satisfied? Well, you asked for it: The NFC Skyreach 4 Mini is smaller than a PlayStation 4 and can fit components more powerful than Sony’s top-of-the-line PS4 Pro. You won’t be able to fit a full-size GPU in the Skyreach, but some mini cards (like MSI RTX 2070 Aero ITX) will fit beautifully.Technically, any graphics card under 250mm in length will fit inside this tiny case, but it may require a little modding if only to dissipate all that heat. And even then, it's going to be extremely noisy (not to mention costly), so I can't say I'd recommend it--but you do you. Check out the Small Forum Factor Forums for tips on building in the Skyreach 4 Mini.
Note that you’ll also need to use an external power-brick style PSU, which some may consider “cheating” (since you’re just moving that component outside the chassis), but when it comes to desk space, it doesn’t get much more compact than the Skyreach 4 Mini. Like most Mini-ITX cases of this caliber, it’s pricey at $200, but if you’re dead set on a tiny beast of a PC, you’re probably willing to pony up the dough.
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Whitson Gordon is a writer, gamer, and tech nerd who has been building PCs for 10 years. He eats potato chips with chopsticks so he doesn't get grease on his mechanical keyboard.Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam