Best mini-ITX PC cases in 2023

From entry-level options to premium cabinets, these are the best mini-ITX PC cases you can buy on the market right now.

PC cases come in all shapes and sizes but they all fall under the umbrella of three main classes of cases — full-sized ATX, microATX, and mini-ITX. These are the three main form factor that make up the bulk of the PC case market. We’ve added a ton of full-tower and mid-tower cases in some of our collection articles including the best PC cases, best PC cases for gamers, and more. In this article, we’re going to take a look at a dedicated list of the best mini-ITX PC cases you can buy in 2022.

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If you’re not familiar with mini-ITX, these cases are smaller than the rest of the pack. A mini-ITX PC is often considered the best option for those who are working with small desk spaces. Although most mini-ITX cases are focused on size first and performance second, there are some cases out there that can even support the best CPUs and fastest GPUs available.

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Best overall mini-ITX PC case: Lian Li Q58

Lian Li is one of the most popular names in the computing space. The company makes a lot of PC peripherals including cases, AIO coolers, fans, and more. While the company is largely known for its mid-tower and full-tower cases, it recently decided to enter the ITX market with the Q58 case. This quickly became one of the most popular mini-ITX options on the market and rightfully so. There’s plenty to like about this particular mini-ITX chassis and it’s our pick for the best mini-ITX PC case you can buy on the market right now.

One of the first things you’ll notice about this particular case is its impressive design and looks. Coming in either black or white, it’s a beautiful chassis that’s made out of a combination of aluminum, glass, and mesh panels. The top half of both side panels is made out of glass while the bottom half is a mesh panel. The front panel is entirely made out of aluminum but it’s been painted with a finished split right in the middle to match the other panels. The top panel is also made out of aluminum and it’s got a mesh finish to act as an exhaust panel.

The case is also designed in a way to make it easier for the users to easily access the internals. It also features swappable hinged glass and mesh panels, which means you can choose to add both glass or mesh panels on the same side too. Another interesting thing about this particular mini-ITX PC case is that it is compatible with both SFX and ATX PSUs. The Q58 case comes with an additional bracket to transform from SFX PSU mode to ATX PSU mode, which is great.

In terms of specification, the Lian Li Q58 case supports mini-ITX motherboards. Even though the case doesn’t come with any pre-installed fans, there’s plenty of space to manually add fans for the build. You can add up to two 120mm or two 140mm fans on the top panel along with a single 120mm fan at the bottom. As for the radiator support, there’s space to add a single 240mm or 280mm radiator on the top panel and a single 120mm radiator on the bottom panel. When it comes to clearance, the Lian Li Q58 offers enough for a GPU with a max length of up to 320mm and CPU coolers with a max height of up to 67mm.

The Lian Li Q58 comes with three expansion slots that let you mount your GPU vertically. You also get PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 compatible riser cable for installation. The case also features two magnetic dust filters at the bottom to keep the dust from entering inside. Overall, the Lian Li Q58 has a lot of things going for it, and we think it’s a perfect option to consider even for a demanding PC build. Also, at $139 (or sometimes less as this case has been seen at $100), the Lian Li Q58 leaves barely any room to complain about.

Lian Li Q58

The Lian Li Q58 is a premium mini-ITX case that offers plenty of great features at an affordable price.

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Alternate best overall mini-ITX PC case: NZXT H210

From full tower chasses to its highly-popular mid-tower options, NZXT has a lot of PC cases in its portfolio. After finding success with other form factors, NZXT decided to step into the world of mini-ITX form factor with its NZXT H210. This particular PC case, as you can see, looks very similar to a lot of its other cases out there. It borrows a lot of visual cues from its elder siblings, which is good. In fact, the NZXT H210 also gets a lot of the good features that we like about NZXT’s other cases too.

One of the first things you’ll notice about this particular case is how closely it resembles NZXT’s other cases. The NZXT H210 almost feels like a smaller version of, say, the H510i. The H210 comes with 210 x 349 x 372mm dimensions and weighs 6.0kgs. This particular case is noticeably bigger than the Lian LI Q58 case we just saw. In fact, it’s safe to say that the NZXT H210 is one of the biggest mini-ITX form factor cases you’ll find on the market. Don’t worry, though, it’ll still fit into a desk with limited space and take up a lot less space than mid-tower cases.

One of the best things about this particular PC case is that it’s bundled with Aer F 120mm fans. You can also buy a version of this that comes with an RGB LED light strip, and a controller to control the lights and the fans. While one fan is installed on the top panel to act as an intake, the other one is installed at the back which acts as an exhaust. The NZXT H210 also carries the same selection of ports on the front panel as its elder siblings, which is great. Both the front and the PSU intakes are covered with mesh filters that’ll keep the dust away from the internals of your PC.

Another really neat feature about the H210 is its support for custom liquid cooling. Inside you’ll find a small strip of metal between the motherboard and the front panel where you can attach a small reservoir for a custom loop, though it has to be mentioned that this reservoir has to be pretty small in order to fit. The H210 can also only fit a 240mm radiator at the front, limiting the performance of a custom loop (or an AIO cooler for your CPU or GPU if you don’t want to go custom).

The biggest weakness of the H210 is its lack of breathing room for the GPU. There’s almost no room for any GPU larger than 2 slots, and even then you’ll find that the PSU shroud sits right below the GPU fans, restricting airflow and potentially raising GPU temperatures. Ideally, you’d be putting your GPU on liquid cooling in order to avoid overheating. Otherwise, you’ll have to make sure your GPU is both small enough to fit and power efficient enough to not overheat, which limits you to more midrange graphics cards.

Overall, there’s a lot to like about the NZXT H210 mini-ITX PC case for those who are going to be using custom liquid cooling. For others, it’s not as great of an option due to its suboptimal GPU airflow and space limitations, but can still get the job done. It can also be found for around $70 to 80, which for a case of this quality is a great deal.

NZXT H210

The NZXT H210 is a solid mini-ITX chassis that offers plenty of space and is suitable for a lot of builds.

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Best high-end mini-ITX PC case: InWin A1 Plus

InWin A1 Plus

InWin is also a popular name in the computing space with a particularly solid selection of PC cases out there. You may have seen a ton of InWin full tower and mid-tower cases, but it’s worth pointing out that the company also makes some great mini-ITX chassis. Just like its other PC cases, InWin’s mini-ITX is equally premium, if not more. As such, we’re recommending the InWin A1 Plus as our pick for the best high-end mini-ITX PC case you can buy on the market right now.

The highlight of this particular PC case is the glowing RGB base. It’s essentially a tinted transparent stand for the case that’s fitted with addressable RGB lights. The A1 Plus also comes with two Sirius Loop ASL120 fans pre-installed out of the box, a 650 watt gold-rated PSU for your build, and the top panel of the InWin A1 Plus also houses a wireless charging pad that allows you to charge devices including smartphones. It’s compatible with WPC Qi 1.2 and supports 10W charging.

As for the specs, this mini-ITX case supports mini-ITX motherboards and has two expansion slots. You also get space to install up to two 2.5″ drives inside the chassis. As for the clearance, the InWin A1 Plus will let you install CPU coolers with a maximum height of up to 160mm. You can also install GPU with a maximum length of up to 325mm, which is pretty good. You may not be able to fit all the big-sized CPU coolers, but you should have no issues installing with some of the newer GPUs out there.

Radiator support is a bit poor as the InWin A1 Plus has space for only a single 120mm radiator at the back. This means you will not be able to install sophisticated cooling solutions; it’s best to just use air cooling. In addition to the two pre-installed fans, there’s space to add up to two more 120mm fans at the bottom.

Overall, the InWin A1 Plus is a solid mini-ITX PC case that’ll definitely add more to the visual appeal of your setup. Thanks to the glowing RGB base and the wireless charging top panel, there’s no denying that this case will grab all the attention towards itself. However, at $200 the InWin A1 Plus is pretty expensive, even more expensive than a lot of other mid-tower cases. But that does include a 650 watt PSU, which tends to retail for around $80 to 100.

InWin A1 Plus

The InWin A1 Plus is a premium mini-ITX chassis that comes with a wireless charger on the top panel and a glowing RGB stand at the bottom.

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Best compact case for high-performance builds: Corsair Crystal 280X RGB

The mini-ITX form factor is usually not the go-to option for enthusiasts looking to churn out a high-performance build. However, there are a few cases in this form factor that rise to the challenge of fitting lots of computing power in a tiny area. The Corsair Crystal 280X RGB is one of those cases. Technically, this case is for micro-ATX motherboards but a mini-ITX board can still fit inside, and all the extra room is ideal for a performance-focused, compact build.

One of the best things about this particular PC case is that it comes with three tempered glass panels. There’s one on the top, one on the side, and one covering half of the front panel. Despite the relatively small form factor, the Crystal 280X RGB case comes with a dual-chamber design, which means the motherboard, GPU, and cooling components reside in one chamber while the PSU, cables, and storage are in the other. This kind of dual-chamber design is usually reserved for bigger cases, but we’re glad Corsair managed to bring it to the compact form factor space.

The 280X comes with with two LL120 RGB fans that are installed on the front. It may not be enough for an optimal airflow but that’s not an issue considering there’s plenty of space to add more fans. You can install two 120mm fans on the top panel and two additional fans at the bottom panel. The Crystal 280X RGB also plays well with AIO and custom liquid coolers on the market. You can install up to 280mm radiator on both the top as well as the bottom panel, while the front panel can take a 240mm radiator.

As for the component clearance, the Crystal 280X RGB will let you install a CPU cooler with a maximum height of up to 150mm. Additionally, you can also install a GPU with a maximum length of up to 300mm. When it comes to the PSU, you can install one with a maximum length of up to 180mm. The case also has as many as four expansion slots, which means you should have no issues installing even some of the modern triple-slot GPUs on the market.

For $120 or so, the Corsair Crystal 280X RGB is a bit on the expensive side, but it can form the foundation of a great gaming PC. It’s also large relative to other ITX cases in this collection and really stretches the definition of “small form factor,” but compared to even mid-towers the 280X is quite compact.

Corsair Crystal Series 280X

Corsair Crystal 280X

The Corsair Crystal 280X is the biggest case in this collection, so it’s suitable for more high-end builds.

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Best mini-ITX case for beginners: Cooler Master NR200P Max

While the idea of working with a mini-ITX chassis sounds cool, there’s no denying that building inside a mini-ITX case is no child’s play. Even enthusiast PC builders often struggle to properly build inside a mini-ITX SFF chassis. With that in mind, we’re recommending the Cooler Master NR200P Max as one of the best options for newcomers.

The Cooler Master NR200P Max is essentially an upgraded version of the older NR200 case. The new version of the case addressed a lot of issues that plagued the original iteration. Additionally, the new case also makes it easier for users to build by shipping with a 280mm AIO cooler and an 850 watt, gold-rated SFX PSU pre-installed out of the box. This should be enough to support even the best CPUs on the market right now.

The Cooler Master NR200P Max also comes with a PCIe Gen 4 compatible Riser cable for the GPU. It has three expansion slots which means you can vertically mount even the newer triple-slot GPU inside this chassis. As for the clearance, you can install a GPU with a maximum length of up to 336mm and a CPU cooler with a maximum height of up to 67mm. One of the best things about this case is that you also get dust filters for all the intake and exhaust, keeping the dust away from the components.

Overall, there’s a lot to like about the NR200P Max mini-ITX chassis and we think it definitely deserves a top spot in our collection. However at $450 the NR200P Max is one of the most expensive cases in this collection. That does include the PCIe riser, PSU, and AIO cooler, which is about a $200 to 250 value. If you don’t want these bundled items, you can buy the NR200P (non-Max) which is just the PC case for about $130.

Cooler Master NR200P Max

The Cooler Master NR200P Max is an excellent option for beginners as it comes pre-installed with both the PSU as well as the AIO cooler.

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Best budget mini-ITX case: Thermaltake Core V1 Extreme

If you’re building a mini-ITX gaming PC on the smallest possible budget, the Thermaltake Core V1 Extreme is a great candidate. At just $40 to 50, it’s one of the cheapest cases you can buy, period, and for a mini-ITX build it offers support for full-sized PSUs, CPU air coolers, and graphics cards. However, the Core V1 was launched quite a few years ago, and what “full-sized” means has changed since then, so this case is somewhat limited to more midrange options.

Aesthetically, the Core V1 isn’t amazing but isn’t ugly either. Its front and side panels (which are swappable) are very perforated so that airflow is mostly unimpeded, while the top panel has an acrylic window. On the inside, you’ll find a massive 200mm fan that provides airflow to the whole PC, over the CPU cooler, GPU, motherboard, and PSU, as well as a dust filter for the PSU. You can also install two 80mm fans in the back for exhaust airflow. The Core V1 is pretty good in the airflow department.

When it comes to component compatibility, the Core V1 supports normally sized PSUs, GPUs up to 260mm in length and two slots in height, and a CPU air cooler up to 140mm tall. There’s also the option for a 120mm or 140mm radiator, but at this size an air cooler will serve you better. The lack of clearance for GPUs and CPU coolers means you won’t be able to put high-end components and even some midrange parts in the Core V1, but we don’t imagine you’ll be wanting to put an RTX 4090 or a Core i9-13900K in here anyways.

The Core V1 has its flaws: it’s old, it doesn’t have great radiator support, it’s not the most compact case, and it has significant limitations on GPU compatibility. But it costs only $40, so we give the Core V1 a thumbs up for anyone building a low-end or midrange mini-ITX PC.

Thermaltake Core V1 Extreme Mini ITX Cube Chassis

The Thermaltake Core V1 Extreme is a budget case for mini-ITX PCs. It can house a large CPU air cooler and a dual slot GPU.

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Best looking mini-ITX tower: Phanteks Evolv Shift 2

If you’re in the market to shop for a mini-ITX tower, the Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 is one of your best options. It’s relatively inexpensive at $120, it’s slim and tall, and it looks great. If you’re into the Xbox Series X look, then the Evolv Shift 2 is a great choice.

The Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 has a glass and aluminum construction that makes it look better than most other cases in this collection. This type of sleek tower form factor isn’t for everyone, but we think the enthusiasts will find plenty of what they like in this case. One of the first things you’ll notice about this particular PC case is how tall it really is. Standing at 19-inches tall, it’s one of the tallest cases in this collection, but it also occupies less desk space than typically shaped chasses.

The internal layout of the Evolv Shift 2 is among the most unusual ones we’ve seen. The entire chassis is divided into three main sections. The lower portion of the case houses the SFX-L PSU and a 120mm radiator for cooling. The top portion is where you’ll install the motherboard along with the GPU with a help of a riser cable, which is PCIe 3.0 rather than 4.0, but it’s unlikely you’ll run into performance issues even with a high-end GPU. There’s more space to add SSDs and 3.5″ drives in the middle too.

Phanteks only includes a 140mm RGB fan with this case, or a normal RGB-less fan if you end up buying the ‘Airflow’ variant, which has mesh side panels instead of tempered glass. You’ll still get an RGB controller with either version however. Support for CPU cooling is a bit poor as only a 120mm AIO or an 85mm tall air cooler can be installed. As for the graphics card, the case has enough space to accommodate a GPU with a max length of 335mm and max thickness of 2.9 slots. If you’re interested primarily in gaming, this arrangement should work out fine since you can pair a good midrange gaming CPU with a high-end GPU.

Overall, the Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 is a fantastic mini-ITX tower. It’s obviously not for everyone but we think it’s a solid option for enthusiasts who are looking to dip their toes into the world of mini-ITX. We don’t recommend this particular case for beginners as the overall installation process can be very overwhelming.

Phanteks Evolv Shift 2

The Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 is one of the best-looking PC cases on the market. It’s not the easiest case to work with but enthusiast will find plenty to like about it.

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Alternate best mini-ITX tower: NZXT H1 Version 2

If you’re looking to pick up a mini-ITX tower then we also recommend checking out the NZXT H1 Version 2 case. The overall form factor of the H1 is very similar to that of the Evolv Shift 2, but it has its own characteristics that set it apart. NZXT sells this case with an included 140mm AIO liquid cooler, a 750 watt gold-rated PSU, and a PCIe 4.0 riser, so naturally this bundle of parts goes for about $350. Make sure you get the updated Version 2 model, as the original has a defect which sometimes caused it to short and catch fire.

The NZXT H1 tower, which comes in either black or white, stands 15 inches tall, making it significantly shorter than the Evolv Shift 2. The overall form factor remains the same however, which means building inside the H1 tower is still somewhat difficult. Newcomers with little-to-no experience with mini-ITX towers should definitely check out other options on the market like the H210 or the NR200P Max.

In terms of component clearance, the NZXT H1 will let you install a GPU with a maximum length of up to 305mm, which is decent, but with only two expansion slots you’re limited in what kind of graphics card you can install. The included 140mm AIO is fine for midrange CPUs with lower power consumption but not much more. Next to the Evolv Shift 2, the H1 is going to be a bit more limited in graphics horsepower.

Compared to the Phanteks Evolv Shift 2, the NZXT H1 Version 2 is more expensive but also comes preinstalled with a PSU and AIO cooler, which is nice, but we’re not sure if it’s an-extra-$400-nice. If the Evolv Shift 2 didn’t exist, we’d definitely say the H1 is the best tower style mini-ITX case.

NZXT H1 Version 2

The NZXT H1 Version 2 is a tower style PC case for mini-ITX systems. It supports midrange to higher-end components while taking up much less desk space than the typical chassis.

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Best mini-ITX PC cases to buy in 2022: Final Thoughts

Just like the full-towers and mid-tower options, there are plenty of mini-ITX cases on the market right now. Depending on your budget or the kind of build you’re looking at, you can choose between either the most affordable option or something premium with pre-installed components. Overall, we think the Lian Li Q58 and the NZXT H210 are two of the best mini-ITX PC cases you can buy in 2022. Both cases offer plenty of great features at a relatively affordable price. More advanced PC builders can also check out the Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 while newcomers to the mini-ITX world can check out the Cooler Master NR200P Max case.

With the exception of the Corsair Crystal 280X, all of these cases require a mini-ITX motherboard. We recommend checking out our collection of the best motherboards on the market to find some good options out there. Additionally, you can also check out our collection of the best graphics cards to pick and choose the right GPU that can fit inside an SFF chassis. As always, we also encourage you to join our XDA Computing Forums to discuss your build and get more product recommendations from the experts in our community.