Assembling a mini PC. 5 Best Mini-ITX Cases

Cooler Master Elite 110 black

Elite 110 is a very compact solution not only in the Cooler Master range, but also among all Mini-ITX cases, presented on the market. It has a design that is popular among fans of compact cases - a cube with a minimalist design on small supports.

The case with dimensions of 280x208x260 mm is made of steel 0.6 thick mm. Because of the Elite 110's compactness, the thin metal is enough to keep the case from feeling flimsy and cheap. The weight of the device is only 2.7 kg, which is the minimum figure in our rating. In addition to metal, plastic is used in the design, from which the removable front panel is made. It is a grille for better ventilation, behind which one pre-installed 120mm fan is hidden, which can be replaced with a 140mm model or a water cooling system with a 120mm radiator. The case also received two platforms for 80 mm coolers on the back side, so there will be no problems with cooling the motherboard and other components.

However, due to the small size of the case, the height of the processor cooling should not exceed 76 mm. So if you want to use a powerful CPU, you should focus on using a water cooling system or a compact air cooler. In addition, when assembling a powerful gaming computer, it is worth considering that the video card should be no longer than 210 mm, for example, ASUS GeForce GTX 760 mini .

Thanks to an unusual design solution - a removable panel protruding beyond the case - the manufacturer managed to expand the space for installing a full-fledged ATX form factor power supply unit (up to 180 mm long), which simplifies the selection of components. Thoughtful layout allows you to place up to three 3.5-inch HDDs or a combination of three 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives inside at the same time. You can also use four 2.5-inch drives.

Note that the well-implemented cooling system is quiet, but the system lacks dust filters, as well as the possibility of hidden cable routing. On the other hand, despite the affordability, the device is equipped with a panel for quick access to connectors on the left side. There are two USB 3.0 connectors, audio ports, reset buttons, and an operation indicator. There is no Start button - you need to press the company logo to turn on the PC.

The Cooler Master Elite 110 is a good choice for creating a very compact HTPC or budget computer due to its good design and affordable price.

Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced black

The Mini-ITX platform is based on compromises between compactness and performance. On the verge connecting these two parameters, another model from Cooler Master balances - Elite 120 Advanced. The case is larger compared to the younger model, so there is enough space in it even to install a two-slot video adapter up to 343 mm long. The internal space is implemented in such a way that the disk basket can accommodate three 3.5-inch hard drives or four 2.5-inch HDDs or SSDs. And the panel protruding on the back side allows you to install a full-size ATX power supply. Inside there are holes and grooves for covert cable routing. However, there is not enough space to install a large CPU cooling system - this component should not exceed 65 mm in height.

The design of this case is as concise and discreet as the previous model, but the front side The Elite 120 is adorned with a brushed aluminium panel. Above the drive cage, there is a 5.25″ bay for installing an optical drive or reobass. Moreover, as in the case of drives, a screwless mounting system with anti-vibration dampers is used. On the front, which is user-friendly, the bay is also complemented by a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, one USB 3.0, audio ports and power and reset buttons.

The cooling system includes a 120 mm cooler behind the front panel with a speed of 1200 rpm, and also 80mm fan on the right side. The latter cooler is thinner than similar models available on the market, so it will be difficult to replace it. But its rotation speed is 2000 rpm. So if you place it on blowing hot air, then it will be good to remove heat from the processor. There is another platform for installing a 120 mm fan on a disk cage. The lid and side panels are perforated for better air inflow and outflow. Note that thanks to a well-thought-out design, the built-in cooling system is enough to maintain the computer temperature at an average level even with a heavy load on the CPU and video card (for example, when running 3D games). In addition, the bundled coolers are quite quiet, so that the computer will not create much noise, even if it is installed on a table.

Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced is suitable for creating a gaming or multimedia PC due to the ability to install full-sized components (except for the CPU cooler) and a good cooling system. Get from it and network storage (NAS) on 3 standard disks.

Zalman ZM-M1 black

Zalman's range is dominated by full-size cases, like the popular model Z11 Plus. And the ZM-M1 has become an experimental model, offering a compromise between capacity and size. This is the largest model in our selection - it belongs to the Mini-Tower segment - and is only compatible with Mini-ITX motherboards. Therefore, on the basis of this case, it is easy to assemble a PC that will be larger than conventional Mini-ITX cases, but smaller than Midi Tower models.

Compared to other models in our review, Zalman is taller and deeper. It is made of metal and decorated with matte plastic and brushed aluminium. On the front panel there is a small door behind which hides a 5.25-inch bay and a slot for quick replacement of 3.5-inch drives. There is also a small slider for adjusting the speed of the complete fans. And inside the case there is a removable basket for three 3.5-inch drives, above it is another compartment that will fit two 2.5-inch drives. The fastening is screwless, and the place for their installation is supplemented with dampers. So the case can be used to create a makeshift NAS.

Large, as for a Mini-ITX case, capacity allowed for hidden cable routing and good cooling of components. First, there are many perforated holes, partially covered with dust filters. And secondly, two 120 mm fans are pre-installed - one on the front side, the second on the back. At the same time, the front cooler can be replaced with a 140 mm model, and under the top removable panel there are two seats for a pair of 120 mm fans or a large water cooling system radiator (CBO).

The maximum length of the video card is 350 mm, and ATX form factor power supply - 200 mm. The height of the processor cooler installed on the board should not exceed 160 mm, but tests show that there is enough space even for a 185 mm high "tower" if you install it on the board already mounted in the case. True, in this case, it may be difficult to connect other components to the board. So it's better not to use a large cooler.

A well-thought-out design, an excellent implementation of the cooling system, as well as the ability to install overall CBOs and components, make this model the most balanced for building a compact and powerful PC.

{ !!! block='price' type="big" idgood='152794' !!!}Thermaltake Core V1 black Price from 3 018 up to 4 076 ₴ →

Thermaltake products are unknown only thanks to thoughtful design and excellent quality, but also because of a reasonable price policy. The Element Q mini-ITX case is the most compact in our rating, because its height does not exceed 13 cm, and the weight, together with the power supply, is within 3.1 kg. , but it can also be used to build an office PC.Thermaltake Core V1 looks simple and nice. It resembles a cube in shape (although the depth is slightly greater than the width and height) with rounded top and bottom faces of the front panel. In addition to the perforation of the front panel, the model is decorated with an acrylic window on the "roof". At the same time, the case turned out to be relatively large, which means it is suitable for those who do not want to sacrifice performance for the sake of maximum compactness.

When 0.8 mm thick metal was used in the development of the chassis, so the case is not flimsy and is able to withstand even a monitor installed on it without deforming the structure. The case is decorated with a matte finish and a nice removable plastic front panel. She received two bays 5.25″ and 3.5″, power and reset buttons, operation indicators. And behind a small door are USB 3.0 connectors and an audio output. Only USB 3.0 ports are missing, but a modern motherboard can solve this problem. The user is provided with a minimum of internal space. There is no special disk basket. One HDD is installed in the slot on the front panel, and the second - on the side on the right side. The 220W power supply is located on the back side of the top, right above the motherboard. Therefore, you should rely only on processor cooling up to 40 mm high. The case is 33 cm deep, so there is enough space to install a graphics accelerator up to 290 mm long. True, the model is designed only for the use of a single-slot card. In general, based on Element Q, it will not be possible to assemble a powerful gaming desktop.The most important feature of the case is a thoughtful design with good capacity. For ease of assembly of the computer, some parts of the case can be removed. It uses two metal frames to install two pairs of 3.5″ and 2.5″ drives at the same time. In the case, they are located sideways, on the edge, so they do not interfere with other components and the movement of the air flow. There is enough space to install processor cooling up to 140 mm high, and a special cutout in the panel in front of the motherboard substrate is designed to accommodate very large CBO heatsinks. In addition, there is enough space to install a powerful dual-slot video card up to 285 mm long. The design provides for the use of power supplies up to 200 mm long and located at the bottom of the case. There will be about 6 cm of space between it and other components for laying cables.

There are no seats for additional fans. But there are perforations on the side walls for air circulation. The only active part of the case's cooling system is the 80mm power supply cooler. It is quite noisy, but it is installed directly above the board. Therefore, when using a processor like Intel Celeron or AMD A4, instead of actively cooling the processor, you can use a heatsink without a fan. located behind a removable front panel. Its size is 200 mm (larger than competitors), and the noise level does not exceed 28 dB at 800 rpm. If desired, it can be replaced with a 120 mm or 140 mm water cooler. There are also two more seats for 80 mm fans, which should be used for better ventilation of the case if it has a discrete graphics card. The side walls are supplemented with perforations for better cooling of the components, and there is a dust filter on the bottom panel under the power supply. In addition, the case is equipped with an I / O panel, which includes two USB 3.0 ports, a pair of audio jacks, activity indicators, as well as power and reset buttons.

Element Q is a case for creating a miniature home media center or a compact computer. Its plus is a pre-installed power supply, and its minus is a small capacity. In conclusion, Thermaltake Core V1 provides excellent options for building an office or gaming PC due to its thoughtful layout and high capacity at a relatively low cost. In addition, the bundled cooler provides good cooling of the components, so it is only worth spending on case fans when assembling a powerful machine.

Fractal Design Node 304 black Price from 4 910 up to 6 912 ₴ →

The Fractal Design NODE 304 is Micro-Tower compatible with Mini-DTX and Mini- ITX. This is the most compact model in the Swedish manufacturer's NODE series and one of the smallest cases in our ranking. It has a stylish look (with black or white colors) and excellent versatility for a Mini-ITX system. This case is equally good for creating a gaming machine, network storage and HTPC.

With dimensions of 210x250x374 mm, the weight of the model is almost 5 kg. This is due to the use of 1 mm thick metal and durable plastic inserts. There are a couple more features in the case design. The first thing you should pay attention to is the placement of the power supply. It is installed not in the back of the case, but in the front, so its length should not exceed 160 mm. Also be aware that the modular power supply cables may interfere with the installation of other system components. An interesting nuance is that there is no reset button, although there is a power button with an operation indicator.

The storage system is implemented in the form of three removable bays, each of which can accommodate a pair of 2.5ʺ or 3 disks ,5. As a result, you can get a storage of six drives. These modules can be removed to make room for other components. Other nice features include anti-vibration dampers and an I/O panel with USB 3.0 ports. The installation of video cards 310 mm long (with the mount for two HDDs removed) and processor cooling systems up to 165 mm high is supported. Moreover, it will be possible to place not only a solid cooler, but also a CBO with one fan. The cooling system includes 3 branded coolers from the Silent R2 series, the name of which emphasizes their quiet operation. A pair of 92 mm fans are installed under the front panel of the case, rotating at speeds up to 1300 rpm. And on the back side there is a 140 mm cooler that blows heated air out. The case does not have additional fan slots. But there is a speed control of the complete fans, which will help you choose between maximum cooling and quiet operation of the system. There are also dust filters (for the front coolers and PSU mounting location) and grilled windows on the left and right sides of the chassis to remove heat from the graphics card and other "hot" components.

In conclusion, we note that the Fractal Design NODE The 304 turned out to be versatile, thoughtful and roomy, has a pleasant appearance and a cooling system that copes with its tasks. All of these advantages justify the relatively high cost of the body for demanding users.