Limited space: TOP 5 Cube Case cases for building a compact PC

Despite the name Elite 130, the Cooler Master case is rather an affordable and versatile option for those users who are looking for an inexpensive and compact Cube Case. The interior of the Cooler Master Elite 130 allows you to install a Mini-ITX form factor motherboard, one dual-slot graphics card, three 3.5 format drives or five 2.5 format drives. HDD/SSD pockets are hybrid here, so there are no problems with installing disk arrays.

Despite its compact size, the case will quite pull a moderately powerful and hot assembly of a six-core processor and a mid-level graphics card like the RX 580. Theoretically, its length should not exceed 343 mm, but such a "paddle" may simply not fit after installing a standard power supply. Perhaps the narrowest point of the Cooler Master Elite 130 is the height restriction of the processor cooler, 65 mm will not allow you to roam especially when choosing. On the other hand, there will be less hassle with the cooling system, since there are a couple of pre-installed fans in the case.

There are three USB ports on the front I/O panel, as well as a headphone output. An extra USB is always a plus, since many Cube Case cases are equipped with only two ports, which is why you need to immediately buy a USB hub in addition to the case in order to connect something else besides the mouse and keyboard. But a replaceable dust filter on the front grille would not be superfluous, but for some reason Cooler Master decided to abandon it. But they did not forget about the rubber feet, which extinguish excess vibration from the components.

In shape, Thermaltake Core V1 is a neat cube of exceptionally black colour, which stands out thanks to a large grille that occupies the entire front panel. There are also quite large air intakes on the sides of the case, so there are no problems with the circulation of Thermaltake Core V1. The control panel with the power button, audio output and a pair of USB ports is located on the left panel. And on top of the lid there is a rather large acrylic window, which will come in handy for enthusiasts who love illuminated components.

The case design turned out to be so successful that Core V1 is one of the most popular cases in the company's assortment. Despite its compact dimensions and friendship exclusively with compact mini-ITX motherboards, this case is designed for the installation of components of standard dimensions and is able to accommodate quite powerful hardware. The maximum length of the graphics card inside the case can reach 285 mm, and two-cooler GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER and RTX 2060 SUPER fit this description. Considering the fact that standard power supplies of any power and processor coolers up to 140 mm high are placed in the case, a compact and fairly powerful system can be assembled on the basis of Thermaltake Core V1, which will pull games and cope with professional software. The main thing is to install a couple of additional fans in the case for blowing.

The advantages of the model also include screwless fasteners that simplify the installation of the computer, a large drain fan and symmetrical side walls that can be swapped and place the case close to the wall on the right or left side. Of the shortcomings of Core V1, only plastic legs can be distinguished, which do not particularly save from vibration and a limited set of compartments for installing drives (a pair of 2.5 plus a pair of 3.5). Well, there are only two USB ports here, but this is a common story for the Cube Case format. Otherwise, everything is fine. With the only caveat that this is not the quietest building, the priority of the engineers was cooling.

The market is full of computer cases for a variety of tastes: classic ATX boxes, illuminated gaming cases, horizontal office cases and compact cube case models are able to satisfy a variety of requests. Among all this diversity, the so-called Barebone systems stand out, which quite successfully build bridges between standard and miniature enclosures. One of the most popular representatives of this camp is the SG13 model from the Taiwanese company SilverStone.

The SilverStone SG13 interior is designed to accommodate up to three drives, a full-format power supply for ATX enclosures, a 120/140 mm cooler and a graphics accelerator up to 266 mm long. If you look at the case more closely, the fact that there is no stock cooler in it and only once is used to connect cooling immediately catches your eye. For a simple buyer, this is rather a minus, since it will have to be purchased separately. For modders and enthusiasts, on the contrary, this is a plus, since stock coolers usually do not shine with quality, and here we have complete freedom to choose, you can install at least a water-cooled pump. The main thing is that it should not be higher than 140 mm.

Perhaps it is in the combination of thoughtfulness and upgrade capabilities that the main attraction of this case lies. Modders liked its neatness, monolithic assembly and modding capabilities like removable internal chassis or transformer pockets for storage devices. The "do as you like" paradigm makes it possible to assemble a computer in this kid for a variety of tasks, whether it's a quiet office PC, a multimedia home harvester, a mobile workstation or a rather nimble gaming PC. But even without the possibilities for modding, the SilverStone SG13 with its thoughtful designs, rubberized legs and air intakes scattered everywhere seems to us an excellent choice among all Cube Case cases. Besides, he's pretty cute. Especially if it is in white and without a matte front panel.

At first glance, the QBX looks simple and elegant: neat plastic panels "for polished aluminium" on the front and top, viewing windows with mesh on the sides. The panels are thick and made of high-quality material corresponding to the price of the case. The power/backlight button, HDD activity indicators and front ports are hidden on the right side of the case. The location is not the most familiar (usually these panels are placed on the left) and is not very convenient, since all the ports are literally on the very edge and it is inconvenient to connect to them because of the tiny gap. In general, the USB hub is asking for it here.

But inside there is complete order. The Cougar QBX layout allows you to mount a large-sized video adapter (up to 350 mm long), a powerful power supply (up to 140 mm long), five drives and a whole pack of additional fans paired with an existing 90 mm cooler on the back wall. In total, 7 coolers are scattered around the body. It is clear that you do not need to install all 7 at the same time, and this is unlikely to work, but such variability unties your hands when assembling. We were also pleased with the compartments for hidden wire broaching, which are more familiar to see in full-format modular enclosures, and a pair of removable dust filters.

Such a combination is not seen every day in cases of this level, so the positioning of QBX as a gaming case is more than justified. Some GeForce GTX 1080 Ti AORUS can fit inside the chassis without any problems. At the same time, there is enough space for it not to rest against the power supply, and a large liter of the case will provide good air circulation in a limited space. The flip side of the coin is not the best acoustic insulation Cougar QBX. The stock cooler turned out to be especially noisy, which emits a strange grinding noise at medium rpm. We hope that this is a marriage of our test sample. You can also find fault with the permissible height of the processor cooler (only 105 mm), but in the era of fast and energy-efficient processors, this is not such a minus. Moreover, no one buys such cases for overclocking assemblies, in which every detail will work at 120%. Although, no one forbids installing "dropsy" in Cougar QBX, there are appropriate fasteners here.

The Swedish brand Fractal Design has made a name for itself on high-quality enclosures that combine a strict, but not boring appearance, thoughtful organization of the interior space and excellent sound insulation. Fractal Design engineers managed to implement these principles in the NODE 304 case, which is unusual for this company.

Its advantage over competitors is the ability to install a powerful processor cooler (up to 165 mm high), a serious dual-slot graphics card up to 310 mm long, a standard power supply and a small platoon of drives (6 3.5 slots are provided). Of course, not all at once, the place inside is not rubber. Nevertheless, it gives rare versatility when on the basis of a single chassis, you can design both a NAS server with a bunch of hard drives and a powerful gaming PC with a long graphics card. The second success factor of NODE 304 is a serious approach to cooling. The user receives a finished product with a trinity of already installed coolers with hydraulic bearings. It is worth changing them to something cooler only if the user is a fan of the complete noiselessness of PC components. Although without unnecessary manipulation, NODE 304 turned out to be extremely quiet. In this Fractal Design great fellows.

How did they manage to pull it all off? The casket opens simply, the case was made slightly higher and wider than is customary among barebone models. For example, it is 3 cm taller, 2 cm wider and 2.5 kg heavier than the popular SilverStone SG13. We don't know how, but it seems to us that these extra centimeters were worth it. To find out that the purchased power supply does not fit into the case due to the fact that the power cables rest against the radiator of the motherboard is still a pain. Therefore, the disadvantages of NODE 304 can only include small things like tight screws for HDD baskets and the price tag is almost twice as high as other popular cases of this format. However, the price here is justified by the quality of materials, the level of assembly, a nice design and a set of stock coolers.