Best Mini ITX (MITX) Cases in 2022 – 5 Budget & Top Picks
We find you the best mini ITX case for your next compact build
The popularity of Mini-ITX PC cases, mini gaming PCs, and the smaller form factor components that go with them have been gaining popularity in recent years. With the inherent risks or potential problems such as temperature performance and noise, it is important to find the best Mini-ITX case for your building needs.
Most builders looking to create the ultimate compact system are drawn in by the aesthetics of these cases, whereas others are looking for pure convenience. Mini-ITX PC cases take up significantly less room and make transporting your PC a doddle.
Despite the smaller stature of the Mini-ITX build, that hasn’t stopped building enthusiasts from achieving some impressive results, with water-cooling support still very much in play here.
We came to the conclusion that there is more than one potential case that can hold the accolade of “best Mini-ITX PC case” depending on your specific needs. However, the Thermaltake Core V1 offered decent cooling performance while also being the most versatile.
Let’s take a look at our top five recommendations.
Our Top Picks
How We Chose
All of the computer cases on this list are here for a reason – we didn’t just pick them out of thin air. First and foremost, we conducted a search to discover which PC cases gamers are into while trying to balance those with the highest reviews against those with the lowest price tags.
Reviews from various manufacturers were taken into account, as well as reviews from others in the PC gaming industry.
Next, we get our hands on as many of our recommendations as possible so we can see the build quality up close, test how easy they are to build in, and see how they effectively cool components.
Things To Consider
When building a Mini-ITX gaming PC, there are many factors to take into consideration before buying your case.
Firstly, be aware of the size of your components (form factor). Motherboards, GPUs, and PSUs form factor can vary in size so it is important to check it will be compatible! Before jumping into a build, it is worth considering how many fans you will be mounting, how many hard drives you require, and what size radiator your cooler has!
Don’t worry – we will go into these different factors in some more detail below.
Motherboard Form Factor
As you are looking for the best Mini-ITX PC case, you only need to worry about buying an mITX board. Most, if not all, Mini-ITX cases are not compatible with the larger mATX or ATX motherboards, so make sure you get the right one!
Smaller boards will have less room for your components and will generally have fewer features too. This isn’t bad if you don’t need a lot, but if you’re making a high-end gaming build, or even a mid-range build you intend to upgrade in the future, then you might want to consider classic ATX boards with a mid-tower.
Your Case
You will normally find the motherboard compatibility labeled in the name of the case or very easily in the specs and this outlines the maximum sized motherboard you can fit into the case. As you can see from this list of cases they are all labeled ‘mini-ITX’ which indicates you will be needing components of similar form factor.
There are three prominent types of computer cases (although there are more) and each is compatible with different types of motherboards:
- Full-tower cases are the largest cases and can work with E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. Their large size is geared towards high-end gaming PCs, with extra components rather than exceptionally larger motherboards.
- Mid-tower cases are the most popular and can also work with motherboards that are as large as ATX.
- Mini-ITX cases sacrifice the larger ATX boards and while some can still support Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX boards are their primary focus.
It is worth noting that your mini-ITX build will only look great in a mini to mid-sized tower and this is down to the cable length often struggling to reach a mini-ITX board from a larger case. Some cases may have taken this into consideration but you may struggle to make your build look as clean as possible when it comes to cable managing your front panel, as they can sometimes be stretched.
Cable Management Is A Must
Cable management is highly important but often forgotten about when you get into building a mini-ITX system because sometimes there just is no extra room to properly manage cables. Cable management is more important than ever due to the decreased airflow in your mini-ITX case, which often has fewer cooling options and space in general. So keep those cables routed properly around the system to maximize cooling performance, and keep your system happy.
Now it is time to look at each Mini-ITX case, examine the pros and the cons, discuss the cases’ design, and any notable features, to determine what makes these “the best”.
The Our 5 Best Mini-ITX Cases
In-depth Review
- Huge fan comes included
- Compact
- Low price
- Straightforward to build in
- Budget materials
- Limited space for cables
- Limited space for AIO solution
This budget mini-ITX case from Thermaltake is functionally brilliant, especially when you consider the low price tag that comes with it.
The Core V1 is actually pretty tough once it’s built-in and although airflow isn’t the best, it comes with a huge 200mm fan on the front panel to pump through that air! The fan runs at 800RPM and actually only produces around 13dBa, which is pretty quiet.
There is also space on the rear panel for an outtake fan but we think its best to mount your liquid CPU cooler on this if you consider getting an AIO cooler.
The front panel is comprised of 2 x USB 3.0 ports with your audio jacks just below. The panel with your power button etc is located on the side which helps aid cable management as they are closer to the bottom of the case, which is where you will be running a lot of cables.
You get an acrylic window on this case to view the system from above and its located on the top panel which can be removed independently from the side panels. You can also interchange these panels to improve your configuration. You also get a lower ‘chamber’ underneath where your motherboard will be mounted and this gives you some extra room to hide a few cables and improves airflow around your components.
For the performance, price, and versatility, the Thermaltake Core V1 is still one of the best Mini-ITX cases available.
- Excellent value
- Compact design
- Quality construction
- Good cooling performance for size
- Not the best visually
The Silverstone SG13 is a bare-bones box, that is incredibly compact and offers a surprising amount of cooling performance.
There is little to talk about in features and design aside from the mesh front, with uniformed indentations. The outer shell is made of thin steel and hooks into place on each side.
Cable management is a little tricky due to the space limitations but I doubt Mini-ITX builders will be too concerned. You can fit an AIO inside with a 120/140mm fan, which is advised from Silverstone themselves to keep temps down. You will also want to stick to using an SFF PSU as ATX will actually partially block the right vent.
This may not be as versatile as the Thermaltake Core V1 but it is much smaller and does surprisingly well for its low price tag.
- Simple and sleek
- Low noise
- Great for cable management
- Great value
- Premium quality
- Chunky
- Not much PSU clearance
If you are looking for a quieter mini build then the Fractal Design Nano S is the perfect case for you. Not only does Fractal cram this with ATX case features but it also keeps the noise lower than the rest, with its noise dampening materials.
The case is literally a mini looking version of the Define R5/R6 and even though it is smaller, you still get great airflow in a spacious interior. There are no compromises on cable management options either, with ample room to route cables and rubber grommets for a more aesthetically pleasing build!
This case isn’t the smallest mini-ITX case you will find but it’s certainly one of the best overall for silent operation. Inside, you can fit an ATX PSU if you required which is great and you can easily mount a custom water cooling solution in the Nano S too.
This is built for peace and quiet and it delivers on that promise!
- NZXT's amazing aesthetics
- Good GPU thermals
- Water-cooling support
- Premium materials and build quality
- Pricey due to its form factor
- Bigger than other ITX cases
- Limited front I/O ports
The NZXT H210 PC Case may not be the best Mini-ITX or the smallest, however, it offers amazing quality for the price. The aesthetics are as pleasing as the bigger models in the H-series range and it basically looks identical to the H510, despite the size of course.
This Mini-ITX case is feature-packed and ships with two 120mm Aer fans that are pre-installed. The fans at the back and top of the casework together to provide you with a negative air pressure setup and good cooling performance out of the box. You also get a great-looking cable bar to cleverly hide cable management and give you an extra mounting point for a reservoir you wanted to build a water-cooled system. We also see a PSU shroud and USB 3.1 Type-C.
This may not be as compact as the SG13, Core V1, or Node 202, but its unique size in this category earns it its place as the best “big” Mini-ITX pick.
- Can be stood horizontally or vertically
- Logical, compact layout
- Quality construction
- Not the best for out of the box GPU cooling
- No top vent filter
- Could be a tricky build for some
The Fractal Design Node 202 is the brand’s slim case offering and the smallest Mini-ITX case they produce. Its design makes it ideal as a media center style HTPC or just another chassis for gamers with a small space to work with.
This ITX case can hold a full-sized GPU, and while the cooling isn’t as good as some of the others on our roundup, it certainly offers a unique system build.
The case can stand vertically or lay down horizontally with included feet, making it ideal for the living room, among other environments. Like most cases of this form factor, cable management is compromised but at least you get that Fractal Design quality and a logical layout to ease the process.
A great case for casual gamers looking to spice up the living room gaming and finally remove the console altogether.
Final Word
The importance of a PC case cannot be overstated. Your case protects the rest of your components and provides them with airflow to ensure they’re running at a stable temperature. Due to the smaller form factor with a mini-ITX case, you may not get the best temps inside, however, you get convenience and some real space-saving solutions that look fantastic!
Stuck for ideas with your next Mini-ITX build? why not check out our build recommendation here. have you already got a Mini-ITX PC case? Or are you currently speccing for your next build? Either way, we would like to know what case you went for and also if you have any alternate suggestions we should look into, so head over to the WePC community and share!
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