Are you shopping for the most suitable ATX case for a little computer? Do you wish to find one that satisfies your requirements without occupying an excessive amount of space? If that’s the case, you’ve come to the correct place. The need for more compact ATX enclosures is growing in conjunction with the widespread transition from desktop computers to laptops. The days are long gone when a big tower case was required to hold all of your hardware. These days, you can get away with a smaller box.
If you require a smaller form factor without losing performance or features, the best tiny ATX cases are the solution you’ve been looking for. This is especially true for PC builders and gamers. This list will cover some of the best tiny ATX cases currently available on the market, ranging from models that are very inexpensive to those that are designed specifically for high-end gaming rigs.
Therefore, regardless of whether you want a little PC that does not compromise on power or something more portable that you can take with you wherever you go, there is likely to be a case that is suitable for your requirements. Let’s take a more in-depth look at a few of the leading candidates, shall we?
1. Corsair Carbide Air 540
The Corsair Carbide Air 540 is a one-of-a-kind enclosure that has been purpose-built from the ground up to provide the highest possible levels of both airflow and cooling. It has a design with two different chambers, one of which is designed to keep hot components like your CPU and GPU isolated from any other hardware you may have in your setup.
This will not only help to keep everything running at a comfortable temperature, but it will also look amazing thanks to its sleek black appearance that is highlighted by white LED illumination. It is helpful for those who want more personalized settings because the included fans are simple to install and can be controlled via a fan controller or software.
The Carbide Air 540 should be at the top of your list if you are searching for a case that is not only inexpensive but also provides a wide variety of cooling solutions without compromising on its overall size.
The Carbide Air 540 is not quite compact, measuring 15.4 inches by 13.3 inches by 14.2 inches. This is due, in large part, to its dual-chamber architecture, which separates distinct components, the correct housing of which typically requires larger cases.
Despite its size, it nevertheless provides a form factor that is rather compact and does not compromise on either performance or features in exchange for its smaller stature.
In addition to white LED lighting that illuminates the power and reset buttons on the front panel, the front panel also includes two USB 3.0 ports, headphone/microphone jacks, and two more USB 2.0 ports.
You’ll find your motherboard hooked to one side of the case while facing outward for simple access during installation or upgrades in the future, despite the fact that this model does not include any side panels that you may purchase separately.
If you are searching for a solution that is more economical, the Carbide Air 540 is one of the best ATX cases you can buy. It is tiny, and it offers plenty of different ways to cool your components.
If you want powerful hardware but don’t want to sacrifice convenience or aesthetics in the process, this is an excellent choice because its fan controller enables you to precisely adjust your fans to keep everything running nice and cool without making too much noise. This makes it an excellent choice for those who want powerful hardware but don’t want to make that sacrifice.
2. NZXT H510 – CA-H510B-B1
The Noctis H510 ROG Certified case has been developed especially for use with gaming rigs, and it combines an aggressive outer design with appearances that are more understated to fit.
It has four USB ports along the front edge, as well as plugs for a microphone and headphones, as well as power and reset buttons with red LED lights.
Not only does it come pre-installed with three fans (one at the rear and two up front), but it also comes ready for extra cooling alternatives such as water cooling radiators or additional fans in the event that they are required.
You won’t have to worry about having trouble finding hardware that is compatible in the future because there is sufficient capacity to support larger components as well. This frees you up to focus on building your system.
This model features a small ATX form factor and measures 16 inches wide, 14.2 inches deep, and 18 inches tall. It is spacious enough to store your components adequately without losing aesthetics.
It weighs a little under 20 pounds, which is on the lower end, which makes it easier to move around and install additional hardware at a later date if that is something that is needed.
The Noctis H510 ROG Certified case has a stealth bomber-inspired sleek black exterior that is highlighted by a red LED illumination everywhere from the power buttons to the fans in the front of the case. This gives the case an aggressive appearance.
It provides an excellent mix of design and function that will work well in a variety of settings, such as a gaming area or a more low-key setup in your living room. It will also work well in a variety of other settings.
3. CORSAIR 7000D Airflow
The Graphite 7000D full tower has a stylish design that makes it one of the most fashionable computer cases in its category. It has a sleek black exterior with smoked tempered glass panes that make it easy to see the components that are housed inside.
The front panel has connections for headphones, microphones, and USB 3.0 ports. The power and reset buttons are located along the top edge and are backlit with white LED lights.
Although it is not quite compact by any stretch of the imagination due to its dimensions of 21.65 inches by 9.76 inches by 23.62 inches, this is still very lightweight at just over 27 pounds without having hard drives or components installed yet.
To give you an idea of how much room you have available, the case itself has nine expansion slots, and the top panel has three more slots that can be used for external drives or additional hardware. These expansion slots can be used interchangeably.
It also has a couple of other cool design characteristics that are worth mentioning here and there. The back of the case has plenty of space between components and rubber grommets that make it easier to route cables around the back of the case. The front panel has an integrated fan controller that allows you to precisely tune your fans to achieve the level of cooling you require without producing an excessive amount of noise.
The Graphite 7000D full tower case is one of the top ATX cases when it comes to aesthetics. It offers plenty of functionality and great construction in a sleek black exterior with smoked tempered glass panes in every direction. It is one of the best cases available for this form factor.
Even though it is a little on the cumbersome side, it is a good option due to the fact that it provides simple access to all of your internal hardware as well as just enough area to add additional components in the future if that is something that is wanted.
4. LIAN LI PC-Q32
The fact that you desire a small and compact chassis for your Micro ATX build does not imply that it has to have a plain or uninteresting appearance because there are a lot of different options available right now, some of which have intriguing design choices.
Take, for instance, the Lian Li PC-Q32 as an illustration. It is one of the newest Micro ATX cases available right now and is manufactured by one of the oldest names in computer case manufacturing, so you can be sure that they know what they’re doing even at a more affordable price point like this one.
With a minimalist, all-black exterior, it has a distinctive appearance that makes it stand out from other cases on the market. However, it still manages to be less than 12 inches tall, making it ideal for saving space in tight entertainment centers or workstations. This is accomplished without sacrificing any of the features that are necessary for regular use.
This Micro ATX model has dimensions of approximately 9 by 11.8 by 7 inches, making it noticeably more compact than the vast majority of full towers on the market. However, it still provides sufficient space on the inside to accommodate your hardware, including high-end graphics cards and multiple storage drives at the same time.
There are also two preinstalled 120mm fans here with conventional mounting holes in addition to one exhaust fan for fantastic ventilation overall. In addition, there are lots of connectors around the back including USB 3.0 inputs for quickly transferring data between your computer and external devices.
Even though it measures just 14.6 x 8.3 x 16.1 inches, making it even smaller than the Cooler Master Masterbox Lite 5, which is designed for Mini ITX builds rather than Micro ATX, there’s still room inside to fit quite a few components, including one optical drive bay up top and another on the front panel in addition to three storage bays in total with cages built into the interior to keep everything organized neatly. The cages are built into the interior to keep everything organized neatly.
5. Thermaltake Core V1
If you want to create an ITX PC in the near future, it does not mean that you have to go out and spend a lot of money on a massive case that has a lot of features that you will never use, nor does it mean that you have to be able to put all of your components inside without any problems.
The Thermaltake Core V1 is able to do both of these things at the same time by providing one of the most competitive prices available for a Mini ITX case while also maintaining a beautiful and contemporary appearance with an open frame design that allows for an abundance of ventilation.
It only measures 11.8 by 7.2 by 12 inches, so it is about as small as you can get without opting for something even more fundamental. However, there are some full-size options available on the market, including a few from Thermaltake, which cost a little bit more but offer a larger footprint instead.
Having said that, the interior of this model is still very spacious and can accommodate a large number of components, such as an ATX power supply that is mounted on the bottom, up to three hard drives with a 3.5-inch bay, one solid-state drive with a 2.5-inch bay below those bays, and up to six expansion slots at once for possible future upgrades.
Thermaltake includes one 120mm fan with white trim to keep everything cool. Additionally, a few spare screws are included in case you decide to add additional fans at a later time. The front panel is fully meshed to allow for a massive amount of airflow even when there are no additional fans installed.
This model has a sleek black finish, accents made of brushed aluminum around the edges, and a large hexagonal vent located on the top, and despite the fact that it is quite inexpensive in comparison to the vast majority of Mini ITX cases, it still manages to look contemporary and fashionable at the same time.
Because it does not require an excessive amount of space and is not very difficult to move from one location to another, it is an excellent choice for both the personal computer in your living room and the rig in your bedroom that is located close to the television.
Conclusion
These are the 5 smallest ATX cases that have ever been produced. These mid-tower cases are ideal for your next build of an HTPC or media center computer and are great for gaming builds as well. Both in terms of their functionality and their appearance, they are outstanding.
These full-size towers all have a height of fewer than 22 inches, which is more than enough room to accommodate the majority of the components around them.
Keep in mind that the purpose you intend to serve should determine the type of case that is most suitable for you. It is important to think about where you will put your personal computer and how loud it will be, as these factors will determine the sorts of fans and design components that are optimal.
The fact that a Mini-ITX case can save space in comparison to a full ATX tower is the most crucial aspect of this trade-off, as it comes at the expense of some cooling performance and some capacity for customization.