The primary benefit of a mini-ITX PC case is its compact size, which occupies far less room compared to the traditional mid-tower or full-tower cabinets. This results in increased desk space for accommodating additional peripherals and other accessories. Moreover, this compactness enhances its portability, making it convenient for transportation to LAN parties or a friend's residence.
If you want to build a great ITX PC, then you really need one of the best mini-ITX cases. Here are our favorites.
Value for money mini-ITX case
Cooler Master Masterbox NR200
- Easy to build in
- Good drive support
- Excellent value
- Great cooling support
- No USB Type-C header
Why you should buy this: Value-for-money mini-ITX case offering the best performance.
Who's it for: First-time PC builders looking for an affordable and performance-oriented mini-ITX case.
Why we chose the Cooler Master Masterbox NR200:
The Cooler Master Masterbox NR200 is one of the highest-rated mini-ITX cases on the market. With a starting price of $100, the NR200 is an 18.25-liter case that is available in standard black or white color options. It is also available in cyan blue, orange, pink, and purple colors for a slightly higher cost. Then there is the NR200P, which comes with a tempered glass side panel along with the standard mesh panel.
The case can accommodate mini-ITX or mini-DTX motherboards with an SFX or SFX-L power supply and up to a triple-slot GPU. You can even fit an ATX power supply using a special bracket which is sold separately. Fan support includes two 120mm fans on the top and bottom, a 92mm on the rear, and two 120mm or 140mm on the side panel bracket. It can fit air coolers up to 155mm tall, and it supports water-cooling radiators up to 280mm on the side or 240mm on the bottom.
Storage mounting is actually pretty decent for a mini-ITX case as you can install a total of three 2.5-inch drives or two 2.5-inch and one 3.5-inch drive. The case also comes bundled with two 120mm fans to mount on top and a rear 92mm fan depending on the model you purchase. If you can push your budget, there is also the NR200P Max that comes with a pre-installed 280mm AIO cooler, an 850W SFX Gold PSU, and a PCIe Gen 4 riser cable.
Premium full-mesh mini-ITX case
SSUPD Meshlicious
- Premium steel build
- Full-mesh panels
- Support for up to 280mm radiator
- Support for SFX and ATX PSU
- Down-facing GPU I/O
- Can accumulate dust
Why you should buy this: An excellent tower-style mini-ITX case with robust expandability options.
Who's it for: Mini-ITX PC enthusiasts looking for the best thermal performance.
Why we chose the SSUPD Meshlicious:
The Meshlicious comes from SSUPD (Sunny Side Up Designs), a sub-brand of popular case maker Lian Li. It features high-quality powder-coated steel mesh panels all around, including the sides, front, and top. Available in white or black color options, you can purchase the case in full mesh or a single tempered glass side panel to show off your components. Featuring a sandwich-style layout, the motherboard and power supply are mounted on one side and the GPU on the other. The most unique feature of this case is that it can accommodate up to a 280mm AIO liquid cooler on the front, which is impressive for a sub-15-liter case.
It also offers a special bracket to mount three 2.5-inch drives or two 3.5-inch drives, provided you are using a small-form-factor GPU. Available with a PCIe Gen 3 or Gen 4 riser cable (for an extra cost), the Meshlicious can accommodate up to a 336mm four-slot GPU in a standing orientation and up to 211mm in a vertical orientation (without a radiator). The case supports SFX or SFX-L power supplies and, if you are brave enough, an ATX PSU with very little wiggle room for cable management.
Offering excellent thermal performance, the Meshlicious is one of the top mini-ITX cases that can surprisingly accommodate a lot of components. However, the build process can be tricky, and the fact that the GPU I/O is at the bottom may be an issue for some users.
High-quality aluminum mini-ITX case
Fractal Design Terra
- Elegant design
- Movable center spine
- Can accommodate large GPUs
- Slightly expensive
- Limited cooling options
Why you should buy this: A tasteful mini-ITX case that stands out from the crowd.
Who's it for: Those who are looking for a compact case with a premium finish.
Why we chose the Fractal Design Terra:
Fractal has been pretty busy as it launched a slew of new PC cabinets this year. One of its most distinctive offerings in the mini-ITX space is the Terra. It looks very elegant with its aluminum finish and the tiny wood accent at the front, which is unique on every single unit. Like many compact cases, this one comes with a sandwich layout with an adjustable spine. Thus, one can adjust the internals to offer more space either for the GPU or the CPU cooler.
Speaking of which, cooling options are limited as there is only a single 120mm fan mount at the bottom. For CPU cooling you can install an air cooler with up to 77mm height when configured for max CPU-cooler and 48mm when configured for max GPU clearance. There are not options for liquid cooling, which does restrict you to CPUs that are less power hungry. You can, however, install GPUs with up to 322mm length, 72mm width, and 145mm height depending on the spine configuration. The case can only accommodate mini-ITX motherboards and is limited to SFX and SFX-L power supplies. Available in graphite (black) and silver color options, the Terra is also offered in a jade green hue which makes it one of the most unique cases out there. It is a tad bit expensive at $180, and is currently quite limited in terms of availability.
A unique extendable mini-ITX case
Phanteks Evolv Shift XT
- Innovative extendable design
- Good range of cooling options
- Solid metal and tempered glass construction
- Mesh filtration
- ARGB lighting
- Bulky PCIe Gen 4 riser cable
Why you should buy this: It is one of the most versatile mini-ITX cases that can expand for improved cooling.
Who's it for: Enthusiasts looking for a premium mini-ITX case.
Why we chose the Phanteks Evolv Shift XT:
The most innovative mini-ITX case in recent years, the Phanteks Evolv Shift XT is an attempt to solve some of the issues faced while building a mini-ITX PC. Thanks to its unique top section, the case can literally evolve to accommodate better cooling solutions. Thus, you can go for a single air cooler with up to 72mm clearance, add two additional 120mm fans on top, or even add a full-size 240mm AIO radiator and fans for the best thermal performance.
The case comes with a premium aluminum exterior with two removable panels on the front and two large pieces on the top and bottom holding the inner chassis in place. Featuring a traditional sandwich-style layout, you can install a mini-ITX motherboard, an SFX/SFX-L power supply, and up to a triple-slot 342mm GPU. As mentioned above, you can transform the case according to your needs with its three-level mounting options. There is also a single storage mounting option to install a 2.5mm SSD, and for RGB lovers, there is an infinity mirror at the front of the case with ARGB lighting.
Best vertical mini-ITX case
Corsair 2000D Airflow
- 360mm AiO support
- Multiple fan mounts
- Does not require GPU riser
- Small footprint
- Bottom facing motherboard I/O
- Cable management needs attention
Why you should buy this: An excellent vertical mini-ITX case with versatile cooling options.
Who's it for: Those who have very limited desk space.
Why we chose the Corsair 2000D:
Corsair finally launched a new mini-ITX case this year. The 2000D Airflow is pretty impressive for a small form factor vertical chassis. Apart from offering a fairly large clearance for an air cooler for the CPU, it also has the option to install up to a 360mm AiO cooler on the side. The front can accommodate three 120mm fans, and you can also install two slim fans at the back for extra cooling for the GPU.
It support large GPUs with up to 365mm length and best of all, it does not require any riser cables as the GPU can directly slot into the motherboard at the rear. For storage there is the option of up to three 2.5-inch SSDs, but sadly no provision for larger hard drives.
PSU support is limited to SFX or SFX-L and you do need to be mindful of cable management, especially the ones coming out of the power supply. Another point of concern is the motherboard rear I/O which is placed at the bottom due to the internal orientation, which can be annoying in everyday use. Thankfully the front I/O is decent including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 type-A ports and an audio jack. Available in white or black color options, the case has mesh panels all around for optimum airflow, and if you go for the more expensive RGB model, you get three pre-installed fans at the front. Pricing starts at $139, which is a little steep, although it is currently selling for $119 on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mini-ITX is a small form factor (SFF) standard for motherboards and computer cases. It was developed back in 2001 and has since become widely adopted by various hardware manufacturers. The goal of the mini-ITX standard is to provide a compact, yet fully functional, platform for building small and space-efficient computers.
Mini-ITX cases are compact and tailored to accommodate the smaller size of mini-ITX motherboards and other hardware components while providing efficient cooling and sometimes limited expansion options. These cases are popular among users who are looking to build small and space-efficient systems for various purposes, such as home theater PCs, gaming rigs, compact workstations, and more. Building a mini-ITX PC can be difficult due to the extreme size limitations, but the result can be a tiny PC that's perfect for a living room or even just to create an aesthetically pleasing, clean desk.
Mini-ITX systems are compact, energy-efficient, and well-suited for small spaces or aesthetically pleasing builds. They're used for tasks ranging from gaming to home theater and industrial applications.
Some mini-ITX cases can accommodate full-sized graphics cards, but many have limitations on the card's length and width. You might need a riser cable and adapters or opt for smaller GPUs designed for compact cases.
