Compact cases for Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards, in mini tower and midi tower sizes, suit home, office and gaming builds that need less desk space than a full ATX tower. Our range has over 25 models from GAMEMAX, ZALMAN, Fractal Design and DEEPCOOL, in steel, plastic and tempered glass designs.
How to choose a compact PC case
Motherboard support. Check the list of supported form factors first. Many cases in our range take only Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX boards, while some also accept full ATX, which leaves more room for a later upgrade. A Mini-ITX board will fit in a Micro-ATX case, but a Micro-ATX board will not fit in a Mini-ITX case.
CPU cooler height. The maximum cooler height in our range runs from about 15.7 cm to 18.1 cm. Many tower air coolers are taller than the lowest of those limits, so measure the cooler you plan to use. For the slimmest cases, a low-profile cooler or a liquid cooler is the safer choice.
Graphics card and power supply. Space is tight in a small build, so compare the maximum graphics card length and the power supply type in the specification with the parts you own. Some small cases only take the shorter SFX power supply instead of a standard ATX unit.
Fans and airflow. Most cases in our range come with one 120 mm rear fan installed, and the rear mount takes 120 mm or 140 mm fans. A mesh front panel generally lets in more air than solid glass. If you plan to fit a gaming graphics card, look for room to add intake fans at the front.
Drive bays. Our range offers one to three 3.5" bays and one to four 2.5" bays. A build with only M.2 SSDs needs none of them, but anyone keeping a large hard drive collection should count the 3.5" bays before buying.
Compact case brands we carry
- GAMEMAX: known for affordable gaming cases with tempered glass side panels and RGB lighting, and the largest group of models in this category.
- ZALMAN: a South Korean company with a long history in PC cooling and cases, which shows in its attention to airflow.
- Fractal Design: a Swedish brand known for minimalist Scandinavian styling and cases built around quiet operation.
- DEEPCOOL: best known for CPU coolers, which is why its cases tend to pay close attention to cooling space.
- JONSBO: known for small-form-factor cases, particularly Mini-ITX designs with metal construction.
- FSP GROUP and ADATA: better known for power supplies (FSP) and memory and SSDs (ADATA), and both also make PC cases.
Also in our range: KOLINK and INTER-TECH.
Frequently asked questions about compact cases
Can a Mini-ITX motherboard go in a Micro-ATX case?
Yes. Mini-ITX boards are smaller than Micro-ATX boards and use mounting holes that Micro-ATX cases also provide. The reverse does not work, so a Mini-ITX case cannot take a Micro-ATX board.
What is the difference between a Micro-ATX and a Mini-ITX case?
A Micro-ATX case takes larger boards with up to four memory slots and more expansion slots, while a Mini-ITX case takes a smaller board that usually has a single expansion slot. Mini-ITX cases are usually smaller but offer less room for coolers, drives and fans.
Will a full-size graphics card fit in a compact case?
It depends on the case. Always compare the card length with the maximum graphics card length in the specification, and check the thickness of the card against the available slots. Many Micro-ATX cases take long cards, but very small Mini-ITX cases often do not.
Do small PC cases run hotter?
They can, because there is less space for air to move around. Good intake and exhaust fans, a ventilated front panel and a cooler that fits with some clearance keep temperatures under control. A case with a 120 mm or 140 mm rear fan and room for extra fans is a sensible starting point.
