Shrinking Down Without Sacrifice
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. You can build a compact, attractive, and powerful system with one of the best Mini-ITX PC cases [1]. The 6.7 × 6.7-inch Mini-ITX motherboard form factor has been around for almost 25 years now. But while lots of other tech has continued to shrink, many builders and enthusiasts are still building PCs in bulky towers with full-size ATX motherboards. That really isn’t necessary for people at this point, even if you’re assembling a high-performance rig with a huge, heat-generating RTX 4090.
Opting for Mini-ITX used to mean trading performance for a smaller PC, requiring compact components like short, compact graphics cards and low-profile coolers. While opting for a small-form-factor (SFF) SFX power supply is still often a requirement in the smallest cases, most ITX cases released in recent years also support full-length two- or three-slot graphics cards [2]. Still, that’s not always the case, and cards have gotten larger with the arrival of Nvidia’s 4090. So be sure to check clearances before buying. And don’t neglect cooling. Shoving high-end parts into a compact case without ample ventilation and fans will lead to throttling at best, and a shorter lifespan for your parts at worst.
Our Top Mini-ITX Picks
Below are our favorite tested picks for the best Mini-ITX cases you can buy today. Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware [3].
Lian Li Q58: A Premium Compact Package
Lian Li’s Q58 blew us away, making it an easy pick as the best Mini-ITX case for most people. This is a 14.3-liter Mini-ITX case that costs just $130 in its base variant, and it packs great looks, excellent cooling potential, and a flexible internal design. The basic frame is made from steel, and each side houses half-glass, half-perforated steel panels. The front and the top plate are made from fancier aluminum, altogether giving the case a very premium look and feel. The GPU can draw fresh air straight from the side, but you can still see its pretty RGB through the glass, and you can squeeze a 280mm radiator in the case’s roof.
But, the case can be reconfigured to sacrifice some AIO and storage options in favor of fitting an ATX power supply, which is a great way of achieving some cost savings, in combination with opting for the plain PCIe 3.0 riser cable. Throw another $30 in, and you’ll get a PCIe 4.0 riser cable, ready for RTX 3000 and RX 6000 graphics cards. There are few things not to like about the Q58 [3].
Fractal Design Terra: Compact and Classy
The smallest PC cases from before the likes of the RTX 4090 and modern high-end CPUs are now basically obsolete because they can’t handle huge graphics cards and the demanding thermals of modern components. But the Mini-ITX Fractal Design Terra case has (just) enough room for (most) big graphics cards, and is prettier than other cases thanks to an aluminum outer shell and some striking wood trim up front [3].
Like the larger Fractal North tower, this case is a welcome departure from the aggressive lines and RGB of most gaming-focused cases. The Terra’s flip-up doors and adjustable spine also make this case fairly easy to build in considering its tiny size. Just make sure to pick up a modular SFX power supply. You’ll need all the extra space you can get in this case [3].
Hyte Revolt 3: Compact and Capable
When iBuyPower said that it would be opening the Revolt 3’s chassis for purchase as a standalone chassis, we were excited. And now that it’s here, we’re quite impressed. The Hyte Revolt 3 is a compact ITX case that doesn’t cost much at $129, but offers a wonderfully practical design with plenty of mesh, two click-away headphone holders and a carrying handle that sits flush into the top when you don’t need it [3].
Of course, the build quality isn’t quite top-notch at this price. It’s all just painted steel, but the paint finish is nice and with its sleek, tidy looks, will fit in well in almost any gaming setup. Internally, the Revolt 3 can also house almost any Mini-ITX system you throw at it, with room for large GPUs, up to a 280mm AIO, two 2.5-inch SSDs and one 3.5-inch drive. Better yet, its layout means it doesn’t need a PCI-e riser cable, so you won’t have to worry about reduced bandwidth on an RTX 3000 or RX 6000 series graphics card [3].
The only real catch to this chassis is that it relies entirely on the AIO for airflow. But in testing, we found that this setup is perfectly adequate, even when we threw our high-TDP i5-11600K and RTX 3080 Ti graphics card at it [3].
Beyond the Basics
While the cases above cover the key considerations for most Mini-ITX builds, there are a few other interesting options that stood out in our research.
Evolv Shift 2: A Striking Vertical Design
The Evolv Shift 2 stands out at first glance for its towering, small footprint design and beautiful anodized aluminum panels. Priced at $100 for the mesh version and $110 for the variant with TG and an addressable-RGB fan, it easily earns a spot on our Best Mini-ITX PC Cases list [3].
With a small footprint and beautiful finish in both the tempered-glass and mesh variants, the Evolv Shift 2 is perfect as an SFF PC for use in the living room, or moving around the house wherever you need it. The easily accessible top IO makes plugging devices in a breeze too. Building in it was tight, and came with the typical frustrations associated with Mini-ITX systems, but I still managed a build within about 3 hours, and the end result was well worth the effort. The overall size is a bit bigger than most Mini-ITX cases would be, but the tempered glass side panels do wonders for creating systems to show off, though keep in mind that its single-fan radiator support may be too thermally limiting for some systems [3].
Cooler Master NR200P Max: A Plug-and-Play Option
Cooler Master’s NR200P Max is an excellent, ready-to-go chassis that comes from the factory with a powerful 850w power supply and 280mm liquid cooler. Top that with the inclusion of both mesh and glass side panels, a PCIe 4.0 riser cable, PSU cables and AIO tubes that are fit to length and pre-routed, and the NR200P Max is extremely simple to build in and an easy recommendation for those looking for simple setup [3].
All you need to bring is a motherboard, CPU, graphics card, memory, and a boot drive, letting you focus on the important things. The only real catch to this case is that its paint and finish are a bit boring. But with the glass panel showing off your fancy internals, we doubt you’ll mind. And if you do, paint it! [3]
Louqe Raw S1: A Work of Art (With a Price Tag to Match)
It’s been a common complaint that Mini-ITX cases are expensive. And if there’s one chassis that makes this statement true, it is the Louqe Raw S1. But this is a Mini-ITX case to gawk at. From its elegant design to its thick, one-piece aluminum outer shell, the Louqe Raw S1 is more of a work of art than a case. However, you can fit a PC in here. There’s no AIO support, nor air filtration. So yes, there are sacrifices, but it offers among the easiest build processes – chances are you’ll be done building within the hour and have a very tidy end result [3].
It will also happily fit huge triple-slot graphics cards, despite its ultra-compact 12-litter frame, and with a fancy ‘Cobalt’ PCIe 4.0 riser cable, there’s hardly a thing about this case that isn’t ultra-premium. It even has a carrying handle. Just keep in mind the case’s $330 price point and limited availability [3].
Finding the Right Fit
When it comes to Mini-ITX cases, the options range from budget-friendly to absolute premium. The Lian Li Q58 offers an excellent balance of features, performance, and price, making it our top overall recommendation. But if you’re willing to splurge, the Louqe Raw S1 is a true work of art. And for those seeking a more plug-and-play experience, the Cooler Master NR200P Max is tough to beat.
Ultimately, the right Mini-ITX case for your AMD build will come down to your budget, performance needs, and personal design preferences. But no matter which option you choose, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a compact, capable, and stylish PC that won’t sacrifice on power or features.
References:
[1] Knowledge from https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-mini-itx-pc-cases
[2] Knowledge from https://www.reddit.com/r/sffpc/comments/sl9xfn/most_quiet_miniitx_build/
[3] Knowledge from https://www.pcgamer.com/best-mini-itx-case/
