Top 5 Best Mini ITX Cases In 2024 

Mini-ITX motherboards have been in production since 2001. Nevertheless, many builders and hobbyists are still building PCs in large towers with full-size ATX motherboards, even though a lot of other hardware has continued to shrink in the decades that have followed. Most folks don’t really need that at this moment, even if they’re building a high-performance setup with a massive, heat-producing RTX 4090.

Choosing a Mini-ITX system meant sacrificing performance in favor of a smaller PC, necessitating small-sized parts like low-profile coolers and short, compact graphics cards. The smallest cases still frequently necessitate the selection of a small-form-factor (SFF) SFX power supply, although the majority of ITX cases that have been launched in recent years also accommodate full-length two- or three-slot graphics cards.

However, since the release of Nvidia’s 4090, cards have become larger, so that’s not always the case. Thus, before making a purchase, confirm approvals. Additionally, remember to chill. High-end components crammed into a small case with insufficient fans and ventilation can, at best, cause throttling and, at worst, shorten the life of your components.

QUICK LIST

Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Mini ITX Cases In 2024

1.Streacom DA2 V2

Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

With a mini-ITX chassis, there are always limitations. The mini-ITX form factor itself is a compromise, with only one PCI Express slot on the motherboard, maximum component cramming, and just enough PCB real estate and power delivery to satisfy the requirements of a small PC chassis. But nobody forwarded the memo together with its DA2 V2 PC chassis to Streacom. Although it adheres to the mini-ITX form factor, it offers you greater customization options than nearly any other mini-ITX chassis we’ve worked with in terms of component fitment, aesthetic flexibility, and overall visual attractiveness.

It is equipped with flawlessly machined aluminum, has a feel akin to Apple gear, and is priced accordingly.and the cost of necessary accessories increases.But it snags our Editors’ Choice award for premium mini-ITX PC cases for its sheer quality of manufacture and quantity of options. You can build a stunning, minimalist mini-ITX powerhouse with this case as a base, whether you want to emphasize looks, liquid cooling, or even lots of drives.

You will fall in love with the DA2 V2 if “minimalist metal” is your favorite kind of PC case, maybe with one or two sheets of glass thrown in. Designed by Streacom, the chassis measures 11.2 by 7.1 by 13.2 inches (HWD) and is made of aluminum on all sides.

The front and top are just curved aluminum expanses with a port panel with no further interruptions, while the left and right side panels are sheer sandblasted aluminum surface perforated with round holes for ventilation. (The product name “V2” refers to minor design modifications made in late 2020, primarily in relation to where some of the chassis’ holes are located; the original DA2 made its debut in 2018.) Our trial model was situated in aluminum silver; you can also get the DA2 V2 in black for the same price.

The header cable for the USB port terminates in a 19-pin USB header, but Streacom thoughtfully offers a second header cable you can install in its place using the newer USB 3.2-type header for USB-C, if your motherboard is so equipped. You can also opt for a USB Type-A module if you want to go older-school.

The DA2’s design is permeated with this user-focused attention to detail, including potential gear that users might install. The edges and panels of the case have all been meticulously chamfered or blunted to prevent cuts or nicks to your hands. Additionally, Streacom offers one of the most well-organized, rational, and lucidly illustrated printed instructions we have seen from a case maker in a very long time. It’s fortunate that you have a lot of alternatives for component placement with this chassis.

2.SilverStone Sugo 14

Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Silverstone has always excelled at designing intricate arrangements that fit a lot of hardware into a little box. The Sugo SG14 is a blatant display of Silverstone’s abilities in that regard. However, the case market has changed and is now starting to demand higher-end components; the SG14 lacks tempered glass and aluminum, two materials that are considered premium. You’ll need to upgrade to the SG15 for that.

However, the SG14’s adaptability and modularity more than make up for its lackluster appearance. When was the last time you saw a full-size, traditional 5.25-inch optical drive, a 240mm radiator, and a full-slot graphics card chassis like this one?

If it merits a place on our Best PC Cases list remains to be seen, but let’s dig into the Silverstone Sugo SG14’s features, design and thermal capabilities to find out. First, here are the full specs.Following the SG14’s unboxing, you’ll need to choose whether to position the chassis horizontally or vertically. I put the four provided feet on the horizontal panel because I prefer it that way because it has no perforation at the bottom and you will lose the least amount of heat.

The tall square feet are for when the chassis is oriented vertically, so to ensure adequate airflow can reach the bottom panel where the GPU would draw its air in through. Naturally, that’s already where I made my first mistake. Later, I found the much-lower spherical rubber feet, which would have made the chassis look a little less dorky in this orientation.

Ignoring my error and taking a quick look around the outside of the chassis, not much is visible. With the exception of the front panel, which is constructed of plastic and has a gold accent strip, all of the panels are painted steel. The chassis seems a little unimaginative to me, yet it strangely reminds me of Deep Thought, the computer in Douglas Adams’ well-known six-book “trilogy” that solved the ultimate riddle of existence.

3.Fractal Design Torrent Nano

Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Although the Fractal Design Torrent is among the best full-size PC cases we’ve tested in recent years, its large size and expensive price will prevent builders with limited room and resources from owning one. However, as a follow-up, Fractal Design unveiled the Torrent Nano, a new chassis that was modeled by that model but came in a much more cheap Mini-ITX form factor. Despite being slightly more expensive than one might anticipate for a Mini-ITX device, the Torrent Nano boasts all of the things we enjoyed about the original Torrent and is an excellent, appealing tiny desktop platform. Because of its extremely high-end metal construction, we still prefer the Streacom DA2, although the Torrent Nano receives the job done for less than half the price.

Like the original Torrent case from Fractal Design, the Torrent Nano is bigger than it looks. It is a Mini-ITX case, although with its external dimensions of 14.8 by 8.7 by 16.4 inches (HWD), it is more akin to a MicroATX chassis. Although it’s still quite small compared to the original Torrent, this case isn’t ideal if you want to build a genuinely tiny Mini-ITX PC. If you are looking to get the maximum performance out of a Mini-ITX setup and are prepared to give up some room for more cooling and expandability, the Nano will be more appealing.

The case’s front features a bold style that is frequently absent from compact Mini-ITX chassis. Thin plastic strips on the front panel extend all the way into the case. Even though the plastic composition of these accents is a little disappointing, they nonetheless add interest to the case’s appearance, and the front panel’s shape allows air to flow freely inside the case. A huge fan, 180 mm by 38 mm, speeds up this process.

Depending on the Torrent Nano model you purchase, RGB LED lights may also be included with this fan. The only model with an RGB LED-lit fan is the Black RGB TG Light Tint variant. Additionally, that model contains an RGB LED light strip that may also be found in Fractal Design’s Black TG Dark Tint and White TG Clear Tint variants. All three of these cases have a tempered-glass panel on the left that helps to show off the lights as well as the components you install. If you want a fully RGB-free build, there’s also a solid black model that doesn’t have any lights and puts a basic steel panel in place of the tempered glass. The model we tested and photographed here is the White TG Clear Tint one.

The top panel is identical to the right side panel, with the exception of a small curvature. The panels are both made of basic steel and lack any distinctive features. Additionally situated atop the casing is the front I/O panel, which has two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a headphone connector, a microphone jack, and a single USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port.

The Torrent Nano’s internal system architecture differs slightly from what you may anticipate from a contemporary PC case. That’s not unusual for a Mini-ITX case, but the Torrent Nano is surprisingly simple to work with, despite the fact that many Mini-ITX chassis are difficult to assemble because of their compact form.

4.Corsair 2000D RGB Airflow

Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Although one of Corsair’s rivals first made headlines with a low-profile gaming cube case more than a decade ago, we’ve never seen it done quite like this. The majority of the components of the 2000D RGB Airflow are flipped onto their edges, but the vertical graphics card space that characterizes this kind of chassis is retained. Our testing will demonstrate what a performer it is. Indeed, the cost of the supplies looks a little excessive, and the cable work will require some patience. However, if you can afford it and put up with some potential fan noise while the system is running, it can serve as the foundation for an incredibly stylish and quite sleek Mini-ITX tiny form size PC build.

The Raijintek Ophion Elite and the SilverStone Alta G1M are two devices that the 2000D RGB Airflow shares a footprint with, measuring just 7.9 by 10.7 inches, or much less than a foot square. However, you may have noted that Corsair’s version has its main cable-passage hole near the bottom of the rear panel. At eighteen inches, the 2000D RGB Airflow is also the shortest of the group; however, the Alta G1M’s extra few inches are primarily due to its bottom air inlet.

Two Gen 1 Type-A and one Gen 2 Type-C USB 3.2 ports are included with the 2000D RGB Airflow. Type-A can support up to 5 Gbps, while Type-C can support up to 20 Gbps (when linked to a Gen 2×2 internal header). The combination headphone/microphone jack could potentially support headsets with separate plugs via an adapter cable, and the reset button next to it functions as a reset button (not a lighting control, despite this model’s integrated ARGB controller). Oh, and the logo on the power button lights up when the system is on…nifty.

The top panel of the 2000D RGB Airflow is magnetically fastened, but we discovered that when the outside temperature dropped below 20 degrees Celsius, it would not stay completely flat on our system. When it is removed, a four-hole 2.5-inch drive mount and a recessed SFX power-supply bay are revealed.

5.InWin POC One

No products found.

Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

In the past year, flatpack PC cases have become more popular. What about an unfoldable, then? If standard PC constructions have grown boring, assembling your own PC case from panels and parts could be the ideal “extra fun” project. This type of assembly is difficult to do wrong and doesn’t require further technical expertise. Presenting the InWin POC One, an improved and more expensive variant of its previous POC-case family endeavor. Laying everything out is simple; the difficult part is cramming large components into small areas. If you’re looking for a vertical orientation case with a distinct semi-industrial style, the POC One might just be your cup of (insert favorite beverage) if you’re up for the challenge.

With the exception of one significant difference, the POC One’s fundamental layout is similar to those of cases like the SilverStone Alta G1M and Raijintech Ophion Elite, standing at about half the depth and most of the height of a traditional mid-tower. On the right side, underneath the exhaust fan mount, is where the power supply is mounted. According to the design, you should be cramming the device into a corner to the right of your keyboard and mouse so that you can easily access its front-panel ports and have a clear view of its side window.

These connectors, which are arranged behind the power button, include a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, a four-pole headset (headphone/microphone combo) socket, and two USB 3.x Type-A ports. Those taking a closer look at the photo might notice that two of the vent perforations are oval rather than round: That’s a reflection of the 240mm radiator mount on the opposite side. The vents on this side cover the graphics card chamber.

In fact, in this instance, what appears to be the top is actually the bottom: Although port I/O panels facing upwards are frequently found on towers with limited space, the POC One is the first that we have seen to leave that area unguarded, revealing its cable hold-down hooks. The top edge of the case and the graphics card I/O only had 1.8 and 1.1 inches of space between them, respectively, so concealing those wire ends would have required a rather thick 3D panel, similar to the one found on the rival Thermaltake The Tower 300. As an alternative, InWin might have extended the edges by one inch and flipped the casing. (Or not. Our graphics I/O and motherboard don’t look too bad.) However, be aware that observing this scenario from the top will expose all that grisly cabling.

Buying Guide: The Best Mini-ITX PC Cases for 2024

What Is a Mini-ITX Case?

A Mini-ITX form factor PC has many obvious advantages. Because mini-ITX cases are smaller than other models, they may be a better fit for particular living or work environments. Specifically, a Mini-ITX PC is frequently the greatest choice in workspaces with limited space, such as for those using shared tables or small cubicles as an alternative to laptops. (The pandemic certainly lessened that latter necessity, but many of us now work from home or as hybrid employees, and we wish our home offices were significantly less disorganized.)

Many Mini-ITX PC cases are not overly noticeable when placed on desks, in niches, on shelves, or beneath monitors, unlike chassis in the bigger MicroATX and ATX sizes. A few are even designed to mount behind monitors or under desks to hide them from view. The Mini-ITX case isn’t bound by a strict size limit; what makes a case Mini-ITX is its support for the Mini-ITX motherboard form factor, and none larger. (More on that in a bit.)