The Mini ITX case is proof that size does not matter at all for PC gamers. In fact, we’ve seen a lot of custom PC builds making use of the mini ITX together with a mini ITX motherboard. No one’s making multi-GPU SLIs or Crossfire gaming rigs anymore. Most of the PC components such as audio cards, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet that we’ve relied on for years are now embedded on to the motherboard. M.2 SSDs are roughly the size of a finger and cloud services are taking care of mass data storage. No one really needs all that bulk from full tower PC cases.
With all that being said, we’re going to talk about the best mini ITX cases in the market right now and why you shouldn’t be ignoring them. Chances are, you’re reading this because you no longer need to rely on bigger PC cases to build a decent gaming PC.
What Are Mini ITX PC Cases?
A mini ITX, or ITX Case, is different from all the other PC cases in the market because it’s compact and smaller. They allow for more desktop space while still handling powerful PC components without being limited by compatibility. Majority of mini ITX cases right now are no bigger than the size of a laptop, which is a great choice for people adopting a minimalistic approach to workstation management or those who’re conscious about available table space.
What you are lacking in size doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be lacking in the performance department. Mini ITX builds are just as powerful and efficient as a full tower PC, albeit you only have to deal with minimal compatibility issues.
The Top 10 Best Mini ITX Cases In The Market
We’ve curated the best mini ITX PC cases for you to choose from. We’ve done hours of research to come up with this top 10 list, along with an Honorable Mentions list right below. Note that the list is not arranged in any particular order.
Cooler Master NR200
Best Mini-ITX Case In The Market
When it comes to building a mini ITX PC, your biggest concern is the case’s ability to handle powerful components, which end up being bigger than most mini ITX cases. But with the Cooler Master NR200, you don’t have to worry about that. It can accommodate a graphics card up to 330mm in length, or to put it simply, can fit an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090. There are two racks for 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch drives with enough room for NVM.e SSD. It can also accommodate a either a 240mm liquid or CPU cooler.
The fact that it can handle a 30XX series GPU and liquid cooling makes the Cooler Master NR200 the best mini ITX case in the market right now.
Razer Tomahawk
Best Mini ITX PC Case For RGB Enthusiasts
If you’re looking for a stylish mini ITX, the Razer Tomahawk will get you sorted out with all the RGB swag you need. The Razer Tomahawk can accommodate 240mm liquid cooling radiators with 3 slots for 2.5 inch drives, along with three more expansion slots.
The front panel of the Razer Tomahawk gives you access to different ports along with the Razer Chroma Lighting Effects found at the bottom of the case. The stylish underglow definitely makes the Razer Tomahawk a premium Mini ITX case in the market.
Lian Li Q58
High End Mini ITX Case
Second to the Cooler Master brand, we have Lian Li as one of the top brands who make the best mini ITX cases in the market. And on this list, we have the Lian Li Q58, a premium mini ITX case with a hefty price tag. The PC case is made from a mixture of steel, tempered glass, and aluminum, making the Lian Li Q58 a durable and versatile case. The Lian Li Q58 comes with a PCIe 4 Riser cable which allows you to install a RTX 3000 or RX 6000 series graphics card.
As for the thermal issues, Lian Li Q58 has a lot of mesh panels along with a mesh GPU intake. There’s a total of 3 fan supports to help keep your PC components cool even when running demanding games. You can even install a large 280mm radiator at the top of the chassis, beating out the Cooler Master NR200 and Razer Tomahawk above.
Thermaltake Tower 100
Mini ITX Case With More Compact Design
If you ever wanted to know what a vertically inclined console would look like, it would be a gaming PC built with a Thermaltake Tower 100. Make no mistake about this compact tower because it has enough room for both CPU coolers and full-sized graphic cards, albeit you’d be looking at somewhat of an odd motherboard I/O setup.
The Thermaltake Tower 100 comes with pre-installed routing channels that have cables coming out the back, but if you don’t use them, cables exit out the top behind the top filter. There are two USB 3.0 slots with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C port in the front panel along with your headphone and microphone jacks.
The Thermaltake Tower 100 can also accommodate a standard ATX power supply, so you won’t have to spend extra on purchasing an SFX II power supply. Air flow won’t be an issue here since air is pulled from two directions (back and underside of the case) and exits at the top. You also get transparent side and front panels that let you showcase your RGB components and cable management swag.
BitFenix Prodigy M2 2022
Best Mini ITX Case with Cube Aesthetics
If cube is your aesthetics, then the BitFenix Prodigy M2 2022 model is the PC case for you. The design is sleek and first impressions are almost always positively guaranteed. This mini ITX PC case measures at about 250x310x340mm and comes with two easy-to-grab handles so you can easily lug this around.
The side panels comes with two USB 3.0 ports with HD audio jacks. The case supports GPUs up to 310mm long (as long as you remove the HDD cage). If you have a modular power supply design, the cage might come in handy too. As for storage, the BitFenix Prodigy M2 2022 can equip up to five 2.5″ SSDs or 3.5″ HDDs. Your choice.
Heating is not an issue here. There are vents located underneath and on the side, along with two 1000RPM/120mm fans that’s built in within the case. It can also accommodate a 240mm radiator for those who want to do some liquid cooling instead.
At a glance, you might think that this is a large ATX tower and makes a great choice for those who want a compact mini ITX PC case without losing customization and expandability.
Lian Li TU150
A Portable Mini ITX Case For The Minimalist
There’s so much to talk about with the Lian Li TU150 mini ITX PC case. It has enough space for a triple-slot GPU, SFX power supply, four fans, and not to mention areas to route cables located at the back of the motherboard tray and roof. It may not be the most portable case on this list simply because of what it can accommodate, even though it’s a tad bigger than some of the cases on this list.
Fractal Design Node 202
A Console-Style Mini ITX Case
If you want a mini ITX case that looks like a console, the Fractal Design Node 202 is the case for you. The Fractal Design Node 202 dons the classic rectangular Xbox vibes and looks just as sleek as the console itself.
There are two versions: one with power supply and one without. You get up to 10L of storage space, but you need smaller components for cooling. You’ll need at least two low profile 120mm fans, and that’s the best possible choice of fans you can have. You can pick up a liquid cooler for the CPU as well, but even with this tight of a space, heating is never going to be an issue. There are ventilation slots located right around the CPU and GPU mounts.
Thermaltake Core V1
Overall Best Budget Mini ITX Case
Whoever said Thermaltake mini ITX PC cases are expensive might be lying because there is one entry from Thermaltake here that lets you take the budget route. Introducing the Thermaltake Core V1.
The Thermaltake Core V1 accommodates up to 285mm graphics card with room for standard ATX PSU and CPU coolers for up to 140mm. All of which are extremely affordable PC components, by the way. When it comes to budget compact cases, the Thermaltake Core V1 is the KING!
The front of the Thermaltake Core V1 case allows you to mount 200mm fan with room for two 80mm fans at the back, so the case actually has direct airflow through it. The motherboard is horizontally inclined, which means your graphics card and other components are vertically aligned.
Phanteks Eclipse P200A
Impressive Mini ITX Tower Case
The Phanteks Eclipse P200A may be a mini ITX, but it doesn’t adhere to mini ITX builds. At most, the Phanteks Eclipse P200A will resemble closer to that of a standard ATX build due to the fact that it looks like a full tower case.
It’s larger than most mini ITX cases, so it can accommodate standard PC hardware. You’re looking at 3-slotted graphic cards up to 355mm long and ATX power supply installed into the Phanteks Eclipse P200A. You have enough clearance for 165mm CPU coolers as well as clearance for multiple 240mm radiators if you’re just into liquid cooling. You can expand further into one 280mm cooler through the front slot. The Phanteks Eclipse P200A comes with an integrated front dust filter and extra fan mounts so you get plenty of air flow through the case.
Lian Li PC-O11D Mini
A Larger Than Usual Mini ITX Case
We’re not playing favorites here. It just so happens there are three entries from Lian Li on this list because they’re just so good at what they do. The third mini ITX case from Lian Li is the PC-011D Mini.
If you want something that’s a mix of a standard case and a really small mini ITX PCs, then the Lian Li PC-O11D Mini is the one for you. The Lian Li PC-O11D Mini requires a SFX L Power Supply or SFX, which might be more expensive than standard ATX PSUS, but hey, the good news here is that the PSU is individually mounted and has its own section. You get enough room for your other components.
The Lian Li PC-O11D Mini accommodates both mini ITX boards and ATX motherboards, which gives you a lot of freedom for your build. You have enough room for four HDDs, with two of them being 3.5″ removable racks.
Honorable Mentions
We got our top 10 out of the way, and we’re moving on to our honorable mentions. These are just as good as the other mini ITX cases mentioned above.
Phanteks Evolv Shift 2
Best Slim Design Mini ITX
If you want a slim mini ITX case, the Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 is worth considering. It’s on this list for several reasons, on top of its incredible slim aesthetics.
The Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 accommodates a full-sized graphics card up to 335mm long, which is basically any other graphics card out there. Because of the slim case, you’re going to end up using a SFX power supply, but don’t even fret because everything about the Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 is worth it.
You get CPU coolers for up to 85mm tall, so either a low profile CPU cooler or a 140mm to 120mm AIO cooler should do the trick. You also get two color options for Phanteks Evolv Shift 2: black and grey. You get dual side tempered glass panels and the case can accommodate a single 3.5″ HDD or up to three 2.5″ drives.
Thermaltake Suppressor F1
Cube Aesthetics Mini ITX PC Case
Looking like something out of a sci-fi film, the Thermaltake SUPPRESSOR F1 is a budget-friendly mini ITX case with minimalism at its core. The core comes with dual 2.5″ and 3.5″ drive bays, so you can set up four storage devices using the modular device racks, which is a great feature for the price you’re paying. You also get dual expansion slot that can accommodate cards up to 285mm.
As you can see from the image alone, the Thermaltake SUPPRESSOR F1 was built with ventilation in mind. It comes with a 200mm intake fan preinstalled in front with two 80mm fans in the rear, so you get direct air flow through the case. You also get enough space for liquid cooling for radiators up to 140mm.
Cooler Master Elite 110
Cooler Master Brand On a Budget
If you’ve been told that you can get a Cooler Master case at an affordable price tag, they were probably referring to the Cooler Master Elite 110. Don’t be fooled by the $50 price tag because there’s a reason why the Cooler Master Elite 110 is on this list, and it’s not the price tag.
The Cooler Master Elite 110 comes with mesh front panel design that allows for front and back air flow, while accommodating a 120mm radiator. It weighs about 6lbs or less so it’s lightweight and portable.
You can use GPUs up to 210mm long and CPU cooler up to 76mm tall. The Cooler Master Elite 110 can accommodate multiple storage devices with four 2.5″ device bays and three 3.5 inch device bays. Of course, to adhere to its budget-friendliness, the Cooler Master Elite 110 accommodates a standard ATX PSU up to 180mm long.
NZXT H210i
Best Performing Overall Mini ITX Case
One of the best overall mini ITX case out there is the NZXT H210i, and it comes with a premium price tag too.
The NZXT H210i offers more clearance than any other mini ITX chassis listed on here, so it’s no surprise that the case is dubbed as one of the top mini ITX cases for custom PC builders.
NZXT H210i can accommodate graphics cards up to 325mm long and CPU coolers up to 165mm tall. Sure, there are other mini ITX systems on here that can house longer GPUs but the reality is that you don’t need anything longer than 325mm. An RTX 3090 is under 325mm long, so the NZXT H210i would be the perfect mini ITX chassis for such a GPU.
If you want to build a high-end gaming mini ITX system, the NZXT H210i should be your only choice.
Thermaltake Core P1
Best Open Air Mini ITX Chassis
We talked about the Core V1, but now let’s talk about the Thermaltake Core P1. And yes, that’s exactly how it looks like. It’s an open air mini ITX case with a sleek tempered glass design. It comes with two 2.5″ external drive bays with one 3.5″ and one 2.5″ internal drive bay. It also comes with five expansion slots.
As for clearance, the Thermaltake Core P1 can accommodate CPU cooler height up to 170mm with GPU length up to 380mm with 240mm AIO clearance on the left side. Did we mention that this is a budget friendly case and comes in at a price tag of less than $100?
Is Mini-ITX Bad For Gaming?
Regardless of the best mini ITX case you’ve chosen from the list and the mini ITX form factor, the biggest concern for any mini ITX case is its dust management and cooling features. Insufficient cooling might put more strain on your gaming rig, whether you have a full tower or the best mini ITX case. Dust filtration and prevention can also kill your system faster than you can say “HARDCORE”.
But when it comes to components, some of the best mini ITX cases we’ve listed here can house even the most powerful of GPUs (e.g. RTX 3090) and cooling won’t be an issue for some because they have enough clearance for liquid cooling systems and added internal fans.
What Are Some Limitations Of A Mini ITX PC?
Space is the biggest limitation from any mini ITX case because it’s a compact case all throughout, and this is also common among small form factor builds and micro ATX builds. But there are other limitations as well:
Expansion Might Be A Challenge
Mini ITX motherboards might give you a challenge for expansion, especially when it comes to RAM. You’ll probably be limited to 16GB or 32GB dual channel RAMs with limited frequency too. You’ll only get one PCIe slot, but then again, no one’s building multiple SLI GPUs or Crossfire builds anymore.
For expansion slots, you’ll find that most of the ones we listed here have two expansion slots while there are a few with three expansion slots. Other than that, expansion is only a primary concern for PC builders who want to make the most out of their mini ITX motherboards and the case itself.
Larger GPUs Might Not Fit All Mini ITX PC Cases
Not all large GPUs will fit inside mini ITX cases, but as we mentioned earlier, the RTX 3000 series don’t exactly take up much space either. Manufacturers of GPUs will provide the necessary details so you’ll be able to determine whether or not a GPU will fit inside your compact case.
Overheating Might Be A Problem
One of the biggest worries for using mini ITX cases is overheating due to the compact nature of the space. But more often than not, this is a minor misconception. From what we’ve listed on here, the best mini ITX case can accommodate liquid cooler and CPU cooler systems without any difficulty. Some cases even have better air flow than mid tower cases.
Unless you’re planning on overclocking your components, then there’s no real issue for overheating here.
What Do You Want From A Mini ITX?
The compact design of the best mini ITX PC might is one of the biggest aesthetic features that draw in a lot of PC builders to use the case. When you’re building a powerhouse of a workstation, you might consider a mid tower case or a full tower case, but there are builders out there that will use a mini ITX chassis.
Limitations aside, your options for a mini ITX case are endless. This article alone gave out 15 of the best mini ITX cases in the market right now. All you have to do is secure the other components and you’re on your way to building a high-end gaming rig that’s compact and doesn’t take up a lot of desk space.
