The gaming industry is evolving at a rapid pace. Once, it was just a hobby with little to no financial value. However, now gaming has become one of the career options. Tournaments are arranged internationally and nationally, and winners are declared based on their performances.
Due to such a rise in gaming trends, the tech industry has also evolved. The market has become a hub of new equipment that can be used to build spectacular gaming PCs. The most impressive part of a PC is the ATX case. Those who take a more manual approach to gaming PCs and love building their own systems will be familiar with the ATX cases.
Among various ATX cases, the micro models have risen in demand. Gaming PC builds using the ATX cases have amazing aesthetic appeal and are also quite affordable. Apart from that, small ATX cases are used to install motherboards with microATX or Mini-ITX form factors. Their size is ideal for constructing a powerful PC at a reasonable cost. Integrating them into your gaming setup will leave behind enough room to build large GPUs and install cooling systems.
We’ve researched and selected some of the best smallest ATX cases the market has to offer. Each this model is given a list of pros and cons, along with important specs. Given below are some of our best smallest ATX cases from the market.
Our Top Picks: Best Smallest ATX Cases
- Best Overall: Cooler Master MasterBox Q500L
- Runner-up: Corsair Carbide 175R
- Best for HTPC: SilverStone GD09B
- Budget Choice: Phanteks Eclipse P300A
- Best for Gaming: Fractal Design Meshify C
- Best Premium: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO
6 Best Smallest ATX Cases
1. Cooler Master MasterBox Q500L
The Best Overall
Specs
PROS
CONS
This model could be the smallest ATX case that has a moveable I/O panel. It can be one of the niftiest options when it comes to personal customization. The I/O panel can be easily relocated to multiple positions, which makes it accessible.
For various clearance requirements and motherboard form factors, the model comes with a versatile PSU bracket. The bracket can shift up or down for radiator/graphics card clearance.
A fully perforated chassis allows for the incredible configuration of the fans. The rear, front, top, and bottom panels are perforated which allows amazing airflow. It also facilitates a proper cooling system.
One of the best features of this ATX case is that it has magnetic dust filters. These magnetic dust filters allow quick removal and easy installation as well as cleaning of the dust filters. The best part about these dust filters is that you will not need frequent cleaning of your systems.
2. Corsair Carbide 175R
The Runner-up
Specs
PROS
CONS
Corsair Carbide 175R packs a ton of features. It facilitates a tinted tempered glass side panel that makes RGB lighting quite appealing and easy to the eyes. It can be great for people who want a visual appeal to their cases but want excessive lighting to be in control. The aesthetics don’t end here. The plastic front panel follows a brushed design, with a pre-installed 120mm RGB fan inside, along with an illuminated Corsair logo.
The airflow design is quite optimal. The ventilation system is present on the bottom and top of the front panel, allowing enough breathing room for the intake fans. The top of the microATX facilitates power and reset button, along with two USB 3.0 ports and headphone/microphone ports.
When it comes to fan customization, the system offers a few options. You can control the single 120mm RGB fan by the software using the motherboard’s standard RGB header. There is also enough room for a 280mm radiator to be installed on top of the clearance.
The cable management has been a pain point when it comes to the product. A few people have complained about the lack of a proper cable management system. The model contains rubber grommets for cable management. The height clearance at the top of the microATX case also helps with cable management. However, the back panel has been reported to be incompatible with cable management.
The air cooling system of the microATX system is optimal. However, when it comes to the manual installation of cooling systems, this model is not a good choice. The reason is that there is no room for liquid cooling custom systems to be installed in the current model.
3. SilverStone GD09B
The Best for HTPC
Specs
PROS
CONS
The SilverStone GD09B is the ultimate home theater ATX PC case. Its positive air pressure design provides superior cooling, quiet operation, and dust resistance.
With an incredible 358mm depth, this spacious home theater PC case is adapted to suit thorough components without taking up too much space.
It can support an ATX PSU, ATX motherboard, a 5.25″ optical disk drive, and numerous 3.5″ and 2.5″ drives. With its sleek stainless-steel frame and thoughtful design touches, you’ll enjoy maximizing available space while ensuring superior protection for your gaming rigs and other peripherals.
The SilverStone GD09B is the ideal home theater PC case if you want something that will fit neatly into your cabinet without creating extra clutter or unattractive protrusions.
4. Phanteks Eclipse P300A
The Budget Choice
Specs
PROS
CONS
The Phanteks Eclipse P300A is one of the smallest ATX cases on the market, making it perfect for those who are looking to build a compact PC. This case has a stunning design with an all-black color scheme that will fit in with any setup.
It also features an ultra-fine performance mesh on the front panel which provides excellent dust filtration and ventilation. The P300A supports ATX motherboards and 240mm or 280mm AIO liquid cooling systems, as well as coming with one pre-installed 120mm fan. Moreover, this small ATX case comes equipped with a tempered glass side panel to show off your components in style.
Consider the smallest ATX case when looking for a computer that has great upgrade options. This case offers two 3.5″ HDD trays that are easily accessible in the front panel. The 2.5″ SSD mounting space is in the right compartment, behind the motherboard. The small ATX case only comes with a 2.5″ SSD bracket, so one may need an optional upgrade 2.5″ bracket if they desire two SSDs mounted simultaneously.
This is a minimalist PC case for a budget choice. However, you will have a lot of upgrade options such as 120mm air fans, vertical GPU bracket, RGB LED strips and controller.
For those looking to build their smallest possible gaming PC without breaking their budget, this could be an ideal choice.
5. Fractal Design Meshify C
The Best for Gaming
Specs
PROS
CONS
The Fractal Design Meshify C is a small PC case that provides optimal cooling peerformance for the interior space. It features a mesh front panel with raised bezels in the shape of diamonds, along with a tempered glass side panel that adds a unique elegance to this case.
This PC case can support two 3.5″ HDD or 2.5″ SSD through its flexible drive bays and up to three dedicated SSD drives. It can also house a large GPU (up to 315 mm) and PSU with depths of up to 175 mm, making it great for building high-end PC.
Furthermore, this PC case includes easily accessible dust filters on the front, top, and base, together with radiators up to 360 mm in size for liquid cooling systems.
A separate cable management compartment is also provided to keep the interior space ventilated. It also includes two pre-installed fans that provide powerful airflow for improved heat dissipation in the case.
This small ATX case, with the flexibility to adapt the space inside, is ideal for enthusiasts looking to build a powerful gaming PC.
6. Cooler Master HAF XB EVO
The Best Premium
Specs
PROS
CONS
For a PC case that offers excellent ventilation, the Cooler Master HAF XB EVO is a great choice. It features a mesh front panel and perforated side panels, making it easy to keep your components cool.
The case also comes with two 5.25″ optical drive bays, two hot-swappable 3.5″ HDD bays (2.5″ SSDs can also be installed) in front, and two more 3.5″ HDD (or 2.5″ SSD) cages inside. The side panels are made of sturdy steel with perforations to ensure ventilation. It can be easily removed with thumb screws.
This small ATX case supports liquid-cooled radiators up to 240mm in size. It is also equipped with a motherboard tray for easy installation and comes with two 120mm front-mounted air fans.
With its cubic design, compact size, the Cooler Master HAF XB EVO is great for building a gaming PC a test bench or even an HTPC.
Guide to Buying the Best Smallest ATX Cases
You need to be aware of a few things before you purchase your ATX case. You will need to consider those things as failure to do so will result in the purchase of a model that will not be compatible with your system. To avoid such a mishap, let us look at a few attributes of the ATX cases.
Form Factor
A form factor is basically the size of your motherboard in terms of ATX. Usually, depending on how large your motherboard is, you can either fit EATX, ATX, microATX, or Mini-ITX with your gaming setup. The Mini-ITX is the smallest, while the EATX is the largest.
In fact, there are no standard dimensions for PC cases. Instead, their form factor will be decided by the manufacturers based on the size of the motherboard that will be installed in it. They can be classified into three categories: Full-Tower, Mid-Tower and Mini-Tower. However, they might go by various names. For instance, Corsair refers to PC cases that support the microATX motherboard as “Small Form”, but Thermaltake refers to them as “Micro Case”.
Therefore, you shouldn’t concern too much on the name of PC case form factor. Instead, you should be aware of the type of motherboards they support and the amount of room for other important parts like graphics cards, power supplies, etc.
Smaller cases have lesser features. However, they can leave behind much room for other stuff. If you are looking for features, then microATX isn’t probably the best choice. The Mid-Tower or larger case may be the right choice for you.
The Capability of the ATX case
You will need to be aware of your ATX case’s capability. It might be possible that you may end up purchasing a microATX case that may not support a large GPU unit. Similarly, other components can also face a similar issue. Several coolers and GPU units may not be compatible with the microATX unit.
Do a complete analysis of your PC, and note the components. Your aim is to find the best smallest ATX cases that is supported well by the other hardware components of your PC.
Managing the Components
Sometimes, several other factors can be completely ignored, such as cooling system management, building enough space for other components, and routing the proper cables to ensure that they look clean. Even if you have found a compatible microATX case, you will notice that failure to manage your other components can result in a complete mess. You will need to manage the cables, along with placing the other components in such a way that they don’t look cramped.
Final Verdict
There is no one-size fits all option when it comes to purchasing smallest ATX cases. In this article, 6 best smalest ATX cases have been given. Each option appeals to a different kind of gamer.
Among the ATX series, the Thermaltake series seems to be among the most talked about smallest cases compared to the rest. However, among all the various options that have been given here, the best option is arguably Cooler Master MasterBox Q500L. Apart from boosting good aesthetic appeal, the systems often pack a lot of other features, along with facilitating feasible price options. That’s not all! It also facilitates powerful ventilation and cooling system that allows for an amazing thermal regulation system. The best part is that the price is also very feasible and doesn’t break your wallet.
Cooler Master MasterBox Q500L is a good option for gamers who prefer a more manual approach to their PCs. With different uses and financial capabilities, you can also consider the remaining options to select the best small ATX cases for yourself.
