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10 Best Smallest ATX Cases – Buyer’s Guide

Smallest ATX Cases
Written by Jeff Lampkin
Ever since technology started getting smaller and more powerful, we have had the ability to get powerful computers a much smaller size. This led to the invention of the ATX motherboard, which is just as powerful as a full-sized motherboard in only half the size. And for such motherboards, you need a smaller ATX case to enjoy a powerful gaming rig while saving up on tons of space. Another fine example of this comes in the form of Gaming Tablets which are as powerful as PCs nowadays. Since we can afford to have more power while saving space, it makes the entire scenario a win-win situation.

Top Rated Smallest ATX Cases

[table id=1 /] Technology is now more powerful and small as time goes by, we have compiled a list of the smallest ATX cases for your computational needs. It’ll help you accommodate your gaming experience in a small workspace while enjoying the best of the game. Besides trying them personally, we’ve also checked out with professional gamers and then added them. So let’s begin with the list.

Corsair Carbide 400C: Minimal and SLIM

Corsair Carbide 400C

Corsair Carbide 400C

Starting the list off with an ATX case which is as simple in performance as it is in looks, we have the Corsair Carbide 400C. The ATX case is quite compact in size and provides you with sufficient flexibility to meet most of your performance standards. Perhaps the best part about this mid-tower is the fact that it is quite organized in the way it functions or otherwise stores things. The case has an overall minimalistic, aesthetic design with clean lines and shapes to complement it. Not only that, but the case is also made of solid steel to give it additional strength and has separate spaces for easier storage and sorting your equipment. It even has a latched side window panel so that you can easily open it when required or admire your equipment when otherwise closed. Moving on to the internal dimensions, the case can house a full ATX motherboard and still have space left for multiple larger graphics cards and even liquid cooling technologies which you might want to add. The case has enough room near the front, the top, and the rear to add your liquid cooling equipment. All the while keeping your ATX case clean and organized. The cabinet also comes with dust filters on the top which makes cleaning a much easier task. However, they more or less fail to keep most of the dust in, primarily because of the well-ventilated cabinet. Cooling without any liquid cooling technology might be an issue as the airflow within the cabinet tends to be quite weak despite the cabinet being quite well-ventilated in nature. It has two fans in total which work well with the liquid cooling. However, the glass case combined with the stuffed, yet organized structure doesn’t really help in dissipating much heat. The problem only worsens with more dust. Apart from that, the fans on the cabinet are quite silent and do a good job of ventilating the air throughout it. They don’t really make much noise except for a low humming sound which is barely noticeable. To make the entire system more organized, there is also a PSU and Bay cover available so that your wire can stay bunched together and organized safely in one place. This just makes the entire system look much neater. It’s not that the cabinet is quite spacious. It’s just that the cabinet utilizes the space given to it quite efficiently and makes for a dense pack.

Pros

  • Strong, sturdy case.
  • Well-organized structure.
  • Liquid cooling capability.
  • Comes with two AF series fans.
  • Fans don’t make a lot of noise.
  • Latched side panel makes for easy access.
  • The organized structure looks good through the side of the panel.

Cons

  • The compact size causes a bit of an organized clutter when arranging items.
  • The dust filter is more or less ineffective at keeping dust out.
  • Case tends to overheat quite a bit without any liquid cooling technology.

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Corsair Crystal 460X RGB

Corsair Crystal 460X RGB

Corsair Crystal 460X RGB

The next ATX Case, yet again, is from Corsair. The Crystal 460X RGB is another marvel which displays the capabilities of the company to come up with designs that feature large things capable of being packed tightly into a tight space while maintaining their functionality and adding more beauty to the entire setup.
It can fit a full sized ATX motherboard into it along with multiple large graphics cards and still have space left from radiators and liquid cooling. Consequently, it is larger than Carbide 400C. It also occupies a little more space owing to the fact that it has three AF series fans placed in the front. The three fans in the front of the cabinet are meant to do more than just cooling and ventilating the mid-tower. To be precise, these fans are powered by RGB LED lights which can change color as per their programming. User can also control the way these lights change their colors through an interface in their operating system. The mid-tower is made primarily of tempered glass to display the beauty of its internal structure for all to see. It is reinforced by a Steel frame to give the entire case added durability while maintaining its overall beauty. Furthermore, the case also possesses dust filters along the top, bottom, and the front to keep the system free of dust. This is one area where the Crystal 460X RBG seems to be better than the Carbide 400C. The LED lights near the fans in the front do a wonderful job of illuminating and beautifying the entire setup no matter which color cabinet you choose, black or white. You can accommodate more fans near the back of the cabinet. Additionally, it has much more space to support liquid cooling technologies as well as radiators for additional cooling. The Drive Cages are deliberately kept away from the front of the cabinet to make sure that there is sufficient airflow to allow ventilation in the cabinet without disrupting any of the airflows. The dust filters do a wonderful job of making sure that the least amount of dust enters the mid-tower. This ATX case looks absolutely stunning with its bold, sleek, and striking looks. The RGB lights and the side panels only help by making it look even more beautiful, especially in the dark. Cooling and cleaning are no problems for this CPU. And to add on top of that, the internal structure remains quite accommodating and organized, albeit those are not the strong suits of the Crystal 460X.

Pros

  • Stunning looks.
  • Steel frame provides greater durability.
  • Fans decorated with LED lights accentuate the cabinet quite well.
  • Fans do a good job of cooling the cabinet.
  • Capable of radiators and liquid cooling.
  • Dust filters work well to keep dust out.
  • The structure is quite well-organized overall.

Cons

  • Case suffers quite a lot from scratches.
  • The tempered glass needs to be maintained well.
  • The dust filters need to be cleaned regularly.
  • It is difficult to open the cabinet.
  • Additional rear fan recommended for better cooling.

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Corsair Carbide AIR 540

Corsair Carbide AIR 540

Corsair Carbide AIR 540

Next in line is an ATX case with a revolutionary design. The Corsair Carbide AIR 540 not only has some unique looks to it, but it also occupies a larger space to provide large volumes of unhindered airflow which turns out to be really efficient at cooling. Needless to say, this isn’t the smallest ATX case out there.
This specific mi-tower is quite thick in size with a broad base. While it isn’t meant to accommodate larger equipment inside of it, the additional space is used for larger volumes of air flow so that the cabinet remains well ventilated and properly cooled. It also provides space for additional liquid-cooling and heat radiators. It also has a tinted glass panel on the side. The cabinet has three fans in total, one on the back and two on the front. It also comes with space for two more fans on the top. All five fans combined provide amazing cooling abilities. When used with liquid cooling and heat radiators, this proves to a very powerful combination as the cabinet, including the components inside of it rarely ever heat up. The internal structure is organized to let as much air flow past all components alike as much as possible. It uses AF140L intake and exhaust fans to make sure that the cooling operations remain as silent as possible. You can also add more air, water, or radiator cooling to the cabinet without stuffing it. In fact, being spacious is what the mid-tower is meant to be for a change. The cabinet is built for the neat, satisfying build which you can showcase through the cast, over-sized side panel. The overall cabinet is quite customizable, just like all Corsair cabinets. To add to this, the cabinet has terrifyingly amazing cooling capabilities. However, the price to pay for this efficiency comes in the form of extra size and the need for extension cables. That being said, this cabinet never runs out of space for most expansions including graphics cards, cooling radiators, and other equipment you can think of primarily because of its shape and size.

Pros

  • Extremely spacious.
  • Unconventional looks.
  • Amazing ventilation.
  • Superior cooling capabilities.
  • Tinted side-display panel to showcase the internal structure.
  • Capable of liquid-cooling, additional air cooling, and heat radiators.
  • Sufficient space for expansions of all kinds regardless of the size of equipment.

Cons

  • Large in size.
  • Cabinet tends to get dusty quite often.
  • Expansion cables are necessary in most cases because of the extra space between components.
  • Difficult to open and access the components inside the cabinet.
  • The cabinet is a little less durable and prone to getting bent and dented.

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Cooler Master HAF XB EVO

Cooler Master HAF XB EVO

Cooler Master HAF XB EVO

Cooler Master is a manufacturer known for their cooling solutions. However, they also make rather fine CPU cabinets. The Cooler Master HAF XB EVO cabinet is a fine example of that. And just like the rest of the technology the company is famous for, the HAF XB EVO specializes in cooling the temperature of your ATX motherboard.
While the ATX case itself is rather large and resembles a retro VCR, The efficiency of the mid-tower is something else altogether. There is sufficient space to accommodate the largest of components including the largest Heat Sinks and Liquid Cooled systems which you can find. It still leaves you with enough space for further customization and proper air flow. In fact, the HAF series stands for High Air Flow. It uses the same principle as the Corsair Carbide Air 540 to ensure that a ton of air simultaneously enters and exits the cabinet to help and keep it as cool as possible. However, the unit does not have any dust filters, which means that frequent cleaning is necessary to keep things smooth. There is a lot of space in between different components of the system for air to flow in and strip away heat. Furthermore, there are two 120mm XtraFlo fans on the front which come pre-installed and a one optional similarly sized fan on the top which you can use to ensure rich airflow to keep your device cool. You thus reserve the option of having one 120mm fan or two 80mm fans on the rear panel. At this point, it becomes quite difficult to say whether the Carbide Air 540 or the HAF XB EVO does the job better, but one thing is for certain. If you ever need more powerful cooling solutions, the latter provides you with much more room as compared to the former. This usually translates to more powerful cooling as well. You also have the option of adding one radiator on the front and back panels each with this model. Now as far as the flexibility of the cabinet is concerned, it can accommodate not only an ATX motherboard, but it has removable trays and cages which can help you accommodate a Micro-ATX or even a Mini-ITX motherboard in there. Even the overall architecture and slots for the rest of the components are more removable, giving you a high degree of flexibility. The Cooler Master HAF XB EVO might be quite bulky, but it certainly is worth the cooling and flexibility which it provides. If space isn’t that much of an issue and you’re looking for an ATX case capable of accommodating the most powerful components within it, go for this mid-tower. The Retro looks might be a turn off to many, however. Also, the fans are a tad bit noisy.

Pros

  • Retro looks add a unique style to the cabinet.
  • Sufficient space to accommodate the most powerful cooling solutions.
  • All components receive enough airflow to remain cool without much intervention.
  • Removable trays and cages to make the mid-tower more customizable.
  • It can accommodate ATX, Micro-ATX, and even Mini-ITX motherboards.
  • Comes with carrying handles on the side for ease of portability.
  • Sufficient space reserved for expansion.

Cons

  • Not all people might be interested in the retro looks.
  • Occupies a lot of space for an ATX cabinet.
  • Needs to be cleaned quite often due to the lack of a dust filter.
  • The cabinet can be slightly noisy at times.

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NZXT Phantom 410

NZXT Phantom 410

NZXT Phantom 410

If you’ve ever dreamt about making your gaming rig look like Ferrari, your dream might yet have a chance of coming true. You can begin by getting the NZXT Phantom 410 ATX case and making the CPU of your PC look like a high-powered sports car. Although it is difficult to determine whether or not this case would be able to win a race on its own, it still is a stunner to look at.
The case comes in three color variants, Red, White, and Gunmetal, all of which look just as stunning as the other and give a completely different feel to the ATX case. The case is made of steel and is quite durable. The case itself looks so stylish that there is little need to beautify any of the components inside of it. The cabinet is capable of including eight different fans and two radiators for cooling purposes. However, the cabinet remains quite sealed overall, making it a little difficult to be cooled as effectively primarily because of the lesser volume of air allowed to enter it. Apart from this, the mid-tower has sufficient space to accommodate most large equipment. It comes with three fans pre-installed, one exhaust fan on the front, one on the top and one on the front for inlets. However, given the lower areas of exposure, more fans are usually needed to cool better. And adding more fans usually results in a noisy cabinet as if it was meant to be a Ferrari with a V-8 engine. Liquid-cooling or heat radiators are highly recommended for better operation. The HDD cage can be removed to allow the accommodation of larger Graphics Cards. It also features a tiny acrylic window on the side for taking a peek at the internal components of the system, even though given how stylish the tower already is and how tiny the viewport is, is more or less unnecessary. It does add to the overall style nonetheless. The cabinet is quite flexible apart from the removable Drive Cages as it features support for ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards as well. Additionally, the Drive Cages can simply be slid out of their slots and mounted on the side walls to accommodate space for larger GPUs. These make the case quite customizable. Overall, the Phantom 410 is quite stylish and customizable, even though it does suffer from a few heating issues.

Pros

  • Extremely stylish.
  • Quite durable.
  • Screwless Drive Cages for easy customisability.
  • Removable HDD Cages to accommodate larger hardware.
  • Capable of supporting ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ATX motherboards.
  • Can accommodate fairly large radiators and liquid-cooling solutions.

Cons

  • Suffers from a few heating issues.
  • Additional fans make the cabinet as noisy as a Ferrari.
  • The storage space inside the cabinet gets quite cluttered.
  • Liquid Cooling or Radiator cooling comes recommended with the cabinet.
  • A little difficult to organize components inside the rig and it gets quite cluttered.

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Rosewill Cullinan V500 RGB

Rosewill Cullinan V500 RGB

Rosewill Cullinan V500 RGB

Moving on to more modern aesthetics and the beauty of simply lit components in darkness, the Rosewill Cullinan V500 RGB is one ATX case which you would definitely want to check out if you’re into the idea of illuminating all parts of your gaming rig.
The best part about this ATX tower is probably the fact that it properly illuminates different components of your CPU while being tinted enough to maintain an overall element of darkness throughout the rest of it. This ATX case really highlights the parts which you have illuminated and only those. It is made of three sleek, tinted pieces of tempered glass which surround it from three sides to give it the special look which we so appreciate about it. However, while this looks good, it does add to the heating issues which this case has, even though it has four cooling fans pre-installed in it. The three fans on the front are inlets and are surrounded by RGB colored rings. Similarly, there is one RGB colored exhaust fan on the back of the cabinet. It also has additional space on top and front of the cabinet to accommodate a heat radiator. It also supports liquid-cooling. The cabinet is a little larger and can support motherboards as large as an Extended ATX. The LED lights are controlled by remote control and not by software. This has both benefits as well as drawbacks as it makes the LED dependent on the remote, but it also keeps them compatible with all sorts of hardware architectures and Operating Systems. Overall, the Rosewill Cullinan V500 RGB is one of those ATX cases which are quite beautiful to look at but have tons of heating issues. On the plus side, however, it is quite accommodating and doesn’t let a lot of dust enter the cabinet. It can support some of the largest hardware available out there, even though cooling them might be a real challenge.

Pros

  • Looks quite beautiful.
  • Tempered glass provides beautiful aesthetics.
  • Doesn’t suffer much dust accumulation.
  • Extremely accommodating.
  • Supports hardware up to an EATX and the largest graphics cards.
  • Sufficient space to support advanced cooling technologies.
  • Comes with four cooling fans which have their own RGB lighting rings.
  • LED lighting independent of hardware or Operating system.

Cons

  • Suffers from severe heating issues due to glass.
  • Tempered glass must be handled comparatively carefully.
  • A little large for an ATX case.
  • LED lighting dependent on the remote.
  • Advanced cooling solutions recommended with the ATX case.

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darkFlash Phantom

darkFlash Phantom

darkFlash Phantom

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you take a CPU cabinet and stuff it with more fans than components? Would it brew up a cyclone inside the cabinet? Or would it freeze the innards of the cabinet entirely? Lucky for you, you can now find that out for yourself by stuffing a total of eleven fans into the darkFlash Phantom.
Continuing the trend of the making completely transparent ATX cases, this specific tower takes it one step further by allowing you to add a total of eleven different fans to your CPU case. While this cabinet does not provide the same beauty through the darkness which the Rosewill Cullinan V500 RGB does, it does follow a similar pattern of illumination while correcting the mistakes of the same. It comes with six fans attached to the case, which is surrounded by three sides of tempered glass. Since tempered glass causes the cabinet to heat up quite significantly, they decided to overcome the problem by riddling the tower with as much ventilation they could. It has four fans pre-installed in the front panel to act as inlets and two fans on the back to act as the exhaust. You further reserve the option of stuffing the case with two more fans on the top and three additional fans along the bottom to act as inlets so that you can practically create a wind tunnel inside your cabinet and help it stay cool. In case that wasn’t enough, it also supports water cooling radiators along the top and the front. If that doesn’t freeze the cabinet, we’re afraid nothing else would be able to do that. There is also sufficient space for you to accommodate the largest hardware components inside the case. It is also quite well-structured to allow ease of organization. However, it faces a few problems with dust despite the magnetic dust filter. Also, the cabinet cannot support larger PSUs, which does pose a problem if you wish to use more powerful hardware with the cabinet. Furthermore, even though all the panels are made of tempered glass, the glass itself is quite thin and is prone to breaking if you don’t take proper care of it. Overall, the darkFlash Phantom seems to be an improved version of the Rosewill Cullinan V500 RGB case, but it does come with its own set of problems. Furthermore, it just doesn’t compare to the stunning beauty of the former. At this point, it is completely up to you to choose your own advantages and drawbacks.

Pros

  • Looks quite beautiful.
  • Extremely roomy.
  • Can accommodate the largest hardware and even EATX motherboards.
  • Can accommodate up to 11 cooling fans and additional water radiators.
  • Excellent ventilation.
  • Remains very cool.
  • The innards of the cabinet are well lit using the RGB LED even without additional lighting.
  • Well structured and easy to organize components.

Cons

  • The tempered glass panels are quite thin and prone to breaking.
  • Quite large for an ATX case.
  • Accumulates quite a lot of dust over time.
  • Cannot support larger PSUs which might hinder the usage of more powerful technology.

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Cooler Master Masterbox TD500: Best Micro ATX Case

Cooler Master Masterbox TD500

Cooler Master Masterbox TD500

Yet another stylish ATX case to meet your gaming needs comes in the form of the Cooler Master Masterbox TD500. The case is quite beautiful and features a striking balance between lighting and shapes. The case also offers ease of customization and organization. It is one of those towers which are proficient at most of their job.
Starting off with its looks, it has a very well-balanced style. The front panel as well the side display panel is made of diamond cut acrylic. There are three LED lit RGB fans on the front panel which add to the beauty of the case through the translucent textured acrylic surface. Even the side panel is made of a single piece of shaped acrylic. While the acrylic might be arguably more durable than tempered glass, it certainly does provide the entire cabinet with a gorgeous design which adds to the overall beauty of the case. However, the acrylic also causes a few heating issues. Luckily, you have the option of attaching up to two additional fans on the top of the cabinet as well as one fan behind the cabinet. In case you don’t want to add more fans, you can use liquid cooling radiators instead. However, you cannot accommodate both in the same space. Apart from this, the cabinet can support ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. It can also support up to six different drives as the drive cages are packed away in a separate space, shielded from the rest of the hardware. It can support graphics cards as large as 400mm in length, which is often more than enough for the largest equipment. While the case certainly does look pretty good, it has quite a lot of heating issues. Not to mention that the case is quite noisy despite being a stunner in looks. Without advanced cooling measures, the case can easily get quite hot. The acrylic case is good against impacts, but it doesn’t handle pressure all the well. Overall, this case is more about form over function as it needs advanced cooling measures to function properly and is very noisy even when it does function. However, if you’re into the bold looks of this case which you probably won’t find elsewhere, this case is meant for you.

Pros

  • The design of the case is very beautiful.
  • The LED lights add a beautiful touch to translucent glass.
  • Has sufficient space for a variety of cooling options.
  • Supports ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards.
  • It can support multiple disk drives as well as larger hardware.
  • The overall structure of the cabinet remains quite well-organized.

Cons

  • Suffers from quite a few heating issues.
  • Requires advanced cooling solutions.
  • Fans in the cabinet tend to be quite noisy.
  • Acrylic is prone to breaking under pressure.
  • Doesn’t provide the flexibility to use fans as well as radiators.

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Cooler Master Mastercase SL600M: ATX Case with Stunning Looks

Cooler Master Mastercase SL600M

Cooler Master Mastercase SL600M

Technological innovations are not limited only to electronics and computer hardware. In fact, technological advancements can be made to computer accessories as well. That is exactly the case with the Cooler Master Mastercase SL600M ATX case.
While the tower does look quite stunning in its own right, it is more than the way it looks. It has a few changes made to it which are backed by science and beckon the question as to why nobody thought of such a thing before. The case itself is made of Aluminum, which makes the case quite light, but takes away from the overall durability of it. The aluminum surface of the case has been sandblasted to give it the fine shine which really complements the unique, angular design which the case flaunts gorgeously. The angular shapes of the cabinet are further complemented by a beautiful tempered glass panel on the side which allows you to look inside it. Moving beyond the looks of the cabinet, the cooling technology has some significant changes made to it. Instead of sucking in air from the front, or the top, it sucks in air from the bottom. This is where science meets practical design as hot air has a tendency to rise up. The cool air sucked in cools hardware from the bottom while the hot air is let out of the top of the cabinet. This simple change works wonders as the case requires half the equipment which it did before to remain cooler. On top of that, the cabinet also comes with its own noise reduction technology which makes sure that all cooling efforts remain as noiseless as possible. It provides space for more advanced cooling as well. In other features, it has a rotatable PCI slot which helps in accommodating motherboards in different orientations so that you can adjust for the rest of your hardware. Even the I/O panel has a proximity sensor which lights up to help you locate slots and ports in the darkness. The internal structure of the cabinet is quite organized as well. Overall, the Mastercase SL600M is the ATX case which provides you with a great degree of flexibility and some efficient cooling measures. However, it does not support an awful variety of hardware. It is also confined strictly to ATX motherboards only. The rest of it functions quite smoothly.

Pros

  • Looks very beautiful.
  • Efficient and innovative cooling system.
  • Noise reduction technology ensures that you hear much noise while cooling your rig.
  • Provides space for additional advanced cooling technology.
  • Smart I/O panel helps users locate ports by lighting up in the dark.
  • The overall architecture is organized and flexible.

Cons

  • The aluminum case is not very durable.
  • Cannot accommodate larger hardware or cooling solutions.
  • The case gets quite hot from time to time even though the hardware remains cooler.

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Cougar Conquer

Cougar Conquer

Cougar Conquer

Concluding our list with the very last entry, we have the Cougar Conquer which is probably the most stylish ATX case ever built. It looks simply stunning and does not suffer any heating at all, primarily because it is quite open and exposed. However, the durability and ease of construction is another question altogether.
Starting off with the looks, the Conquer has some beautiful, angular shaped brackets for your hardware. And that’s primarily it. It isn’t exactly a case, but more of a rack for your hardware where they can be hung while they work for you. Despite that, the design look absolutely stunning with three panes of Aluminum on the top, front, and bottom. There are two panes of tempered glass bolted onto the sides so that you can display the internal architecture of your rig. The aluminum does take away from the durability of the tower by quite a lot as it is a softer metal. The tempered glass doesn’t provide much security either. There are also three RBG LED fans on the top panel to decorate it. Furthermore, all panels are removable so that you can further customize the looks of your tower. There aren’t many cooling issues with the case as it is more or less exposed to the ambient atmosphere around it and doesn’t tend to trap much heat. The three fans are given as an added measure. You can also add your own water cooling radiators if the configuration just doesn’t cut it for you. The case does, however, suffer from quite a lot of dust. It needs to be opened and cleaned quite frequently. As far as customizability is concerned, that is actually rather difficult as the case doesn’t really provide much space for that. Moreover, building your gaming rig inside the case comes with a little bit of a challenge because of the unconventional architecture. At least, the case looks quite pretty and is mostly silent. It also doesn’t have any heating issues. However, if you’re looking for an ATX case for more ease of construction and practicality, you’re better off not going for this. This is one of those mid-towers which looks quite good and functions quite fine as well, provided you can take the time out to set it up and get it running.

Pros

  • Stunning looks.
  • Provides efficient cooling.
  • Doesn’t make much noise.
  • Provides space for advanced cooling measures.
  • Capable of accommodating larger hardware.
  • Supports ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards.

Cons

  • Very expensive.
  • The aluminum case isn’t the most durable.
  • Accumulates a lot of dust.
  • Difficult to customize.
  • Building and organizing are difficult due to the unconventional structure of the case.
  • Needs additional hardware and mounting brackets in a few instances.

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ATX Case Buyer’s Guide

All ATX cases are not built the same way. They have their own set of advantages and disadvantages to them. Some are focused on looks while others are focused on ease of build, and practicality. Some of them offer a great amount of flexibility, while there are some that prefer to provide as much finesse as they can for a very specific architecture. All things considered, there are a few rules of thumb which you can apply while purchasing your own ATX case and a few things to look out for if you’re looking for something in specific.

Size

The first thing about an ATX case is its size. An ATX motherboard is meant to be smaller than a full-sized motherboard. Similarly, ATX cases are meant to house these smaller motherboards. While you can certainly go for a larger case, it sort of takes the entire point out of making your technology more compact. Now size itself is more of a trade-off. You’re trading storage space for space which the cabinet occupies. After all, the cabinet is just a container. Smaller cases would take up lesser space, but they would also be able to store smaller hardware. In contrast, if you go for a larger case, you’ll be able to accommodate larger hardware, but you’ll be occupying more space with the case. Look for a size which suits the dimensions of your workplace while letting you accommodate the hardware you wish to include in your gaming rig.

Cooling Technology

Gaming rigs can be cooled by three means. Fans are used to suck in cold air which strips away all the heat from your computer components where it is then expelled from the cabinet. Liquid cooling systems use water or other coolants to strip away the heat from your components and then disperse them in the air. Finally, heat sinks and radiators are used to increase the surface area of your components so that more heat can be dispersed into the air. Air cooling is the primary necessity in all cases and a computer with poor airflow often fails at cooling your gaming rig effectively. Liquid Coolers and Radiators are accessories which do make a huge difference but are effectively useless without proper airflow. You should look for a cabinet which has proper airflow and supports more advanced cooling technology if you often run into heating issues with your hardware.

Customizability

In most cases, if you’re looking to buy an ATX case, you’re essentially looking to build your own PC. Customizability refers to the amount of hardware, cooling equipment, and decorations you can stuff into your tower without hampering its functionality. The size of a cabinet really goes hand in hand with the customizability. However, there are a few ATX cases which are not awfully large but have a superior organizational structure which allows you to store even the largest of hardware in the same smaller space while leaving room for more. Ultimately, the mark of customizability is looking at a mid-tower and seeing whether it’ll allow the hardware of your desired dimensions to fit into it or not.

Organization

An ATX case which has a well-organized structure inside of it can do many wonders. For starters, it can accommodate larger hardware in smaller spaces. Furthermore, it also makes the entire rig simpler to maintain and upgrade, or even further customize. A well-organized cabinet also makes sure that all things are neatly in their own position and that searching for a specific component remains quite easy. You don’t have to dig through an entire jungle of wires to get what you want.

Durability

A good ATX case is one which is quite rugged and durable. After all, you don’t want to harm the contents inside of your case just because something happened to it. A durable case can easily protect all the hardware inside of it with relative ease and it can further shield the equipment against impact and other hazards which may otherwise destroy them. To expand upon this, a case which doesn’t accumulate much dust over time and is easier to clean should be preferred. Clean hardware usually performs better than that which is dirty.

Flexibility

A flexible tower gives you the freedom to arrange it the way you want and can accommodate a large variety of hardware and supporting equipment. Some cases are built to contain only ATX motherboards. There are also cases which can support any motherboard including full-sized ones, ATX motherboards, or even Mini-ITX Motherboards. Similarly, a flexible cabinet can accommodate a wide variety of hardware and let you arrange it in different manners and ways.

Looks and Appearance

Most people often ignore the style aspect of a case. However, it is as important an aspect as the rest. After all, it is your own cabinet and you should strive to make it as beautiful as possible in your own eyes. Everyone has their own sense of style, but you should go for the one which appeals to you the most. Going for a stylish looking cabinet only adds to the overall beauty of your gaming rig and gives a satisfying feeling when you’re using it.

Noise

A good gaming rig should produce as less noise as possible. The noise only serves to distract you from whatever it is that you wish to do. Furthermore, noisy cases also make a huge ruckus for those around you even though you may succeed in drowning out said noises. Finally, a noisy cabinet causes many vibrations which aren’t good for the health of your hardware in the long run.

Price

Nothing so special here. If you are getting what you want at a lower price range, you should definitely go for that. Also, planning out your hardware and your gaming rig within your budget isn’t such a bad idea. Not all that is expensive is worth the price to pay. As should be obvious by reading these factors, you cannot have all of them in one cabinet. You need to sacrifice a few of these factors in order to go for others. Also, making sure that you can find all of these factors together is something easier said than done. Hence, it is upon you to hunt for the factors which you want in your gaming rig and choose the appropriate one from that which is available to you.

Verdict

This was the list of our best small ATX cases. The list was meant to include a wide range of variety including style, functionality, customizability, and many other features which you may want in your personal gaming rig. It may be the technological innovations and accessibility of the Cooler Master Mastercase SL600M or the insane space and cooling capabilities of the Corsair Carbide AIR 540. It might even be the style of the Cougar Conquer. It can also be the simplicity of the Rosewill Cullinan V500 RBG or the eccentric ideas behind the darkFlash Phantom. In the end, different cases are meant to suit different people as per their own vision of their gaming rig. Select the ATX case which suits you the best and let us know which one you like the most!

About the author

Jeff Lampkin

Jeff Lampkin was the first writer to have joined gamepolar.com. He has since then inculcated very effective writing and reviewing culture at GamePolar which rivals have found impossible to imitate. His approach has been to work on the basics while the whole world was focusing on the superstructures.