Best Mini ITX (MITX) Cases in 2023 – 5 Budget & Top Picks

We came to the conclusion that there is more than one potential case that can hold the accolade of “best Mini-ITX PC case” depending on your specific needs. However, the Thermaltake Core V1 offered decent cooling performance while also being the most versatile.

Despite the smaller stature of the Mini-ITX build, that hasn’t stopped building enthusiasts from achieving some impressive results, with water-cooling support still very much in play here.

Most builders looking to create the ultimate compact system are drawn in by the aesthetics of these cases, whereas others are looking for pure convenience. Mini-ITX PC cases take up significantly less room and make transporting your PC a doddle.

The popularity of Mini-ITX PC cases, mini gaming PCs , and the smaller form factor components that go with them have been gaining popularity in recent years. With the inherent risks or potential problems such as temperature performance and noise, it is important to find the best Mini-ITX case for your building needs.

How We Chose

All of the computer cases on this list are here for a reason – we didn’t just pick them out of thin air. First and foremost, we conducted a search to discover which PC cases gamers are into while trying to balance those with the highest reviews against those with the lowest price tags.

Reviews from various manufacturers were taken into account, as well as reviews from others in the PC gaming industry.

Next, we get our hands on as many of our recommendations as possible so we can see the build quality up close, test how easy they are to build in, and see how they effectively cool components.

Things To Consider

When building a Mini-ITX gaming PC, there are many factors to take into consideration before buying your case.

Firstly, be aware of the size of your components (form factor). Motherboards, GPUs, and PSUs form factor can vary in size so it is important to check it will be compatible! Before jumping into a build, it is worth considering how many fans you will be mounting, how many hard drives you require, and what size radiator your cooler has!

Don’t worry – we will go into these different factors in some more detail below.

Motherboard Form Factor

As you are looking for the best Mini-ITX PC case, you only need to worry about buying an mITX board. Most, if not all, Mini-ITX cases are not compatible with the larger mATX or ATX motherboards, so make sure you get the right one!

Smaller boards will have less room for your components and will generally have fewer features too. This isn’t bad if you don’t need a lot, but if you’re making a high-end gaming build, or even a mid-range build you intend to upgrade in the future, then you might want to consider classic ATX boards with a mid-tower.

Your Case

You will normally find the motherboard compatibility labeled in the name of the case or very easily in the specs and this outlines the maximum sized motherboard you can fit into the case. As you can see from this list of cases they are all labeled ‘mini-ITX’ which indicates you will be needing components of similar form factor.

There are three prominent types of computer cases (although there are more) and each is compatible with different types of motherboards:

• Full-tower cases are the largest cases and can work with E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. Their large size is geared towards high-end gaming PCs, with extra components rather than exceptionally larger motherboards.
• Mid-tower cases are the most popular and can also work with motherboards that are as large as ATX.
• Mini-ITX cases sacrifice the larger ATX boards and while some can still support Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX boards are their primary focus.

It is worth noting that your mini-ITX build will only look great in a mini to mid-sized tower and this is down to the cable length often struggling to reach a mini-ITX board from a larger case. Some cases may have taken this into consideration but you may struggle to make your build look as clean as possible when it comes to cable managing your front panel, as they can sometimes be stretched.

The advantages to using an ITX PC case

An ITX (Mini-ITX) PC case is a smaller form factor case that is designed for miniaturized computers. These cases are typically smaller and more compact than traditional ATX cases, and can offer several benefits, including:

• Space-saving: ITX cases take up less space than larger cases, making them ideal for small apartments, dorm rooms, and other tight spaces.
• Portability: Because of their smaller size, ITX cases are more portable than larger cases and can be easily transported to LAN parties or other events.
• Low power consumption: Mini-ITX motherboards consume less power than their ATX counterparts, which can result in lower electricity bills and less heat generated by the system.
• Flexibility: ITX cases are compatible with a wide range of components, including high-end graphics cards, powerful processors, and multiple storage options, making them a versatile option for a variety of different builds.
• Customization: Some ITX cases are designed to be highly customizable and offer a wide range of features and options, such as built-in lighting, tempered glass side panels, and customizable front panels.
• Aesthetics: The compact design of ITX cases can make for a visually pleasing and unique build, which can be a nice touch for people who want their PCs to be a part of their home decor.

Cable Management Is A Must

Cable management is highly important but often forgotten about when you get into building a mini-ITX system because sometimes there just is no extra room to properly manage cables. Cable management is more important than ever due to the decreased airflow in your mini-ITX case, which often has fewer cooling options and space in general. So keep those cables routed properly around the system to maximize cooling performance, and keep your system happy.

Now it is time to look at each Mini-ITX case, examine the pros and the cons, discuss the cases’ design, and any notable features, to determine what makes these “the best”.