SIZE DOES MATTER
Need a small case to go with your mini motherboard?
Sick of having a PC the size of a small bar fridge? Fear not, as mini-ITX and micro-ATX PC cases are now becoming more popular than ever. Between half and a quarter of the size of a mid-tower, they’re designed to minimise their footprint and tuck snugly away out of sight. Unlike mini-ITX and microATX motherboards, there’s no real specifications about the exact size of these cases. Therefore, you’re going to need to check the specs about each case to see if it will fit your chosen motherboard.
It’s only thanks to the miniaturisation of other PC components that these mini-PCs are becoming more popular. However, this means you may need to buy smaller components than would fit inside a standard PC, such as an M.2 SSD rather than a SATA 3 SSD, which can lead to higher overall costs than a standard sized PC.
The beauty, though, is that many of these cases can sit next to the TV without being obtrusive, and some cases will even fit inside a standard AV stand below your TV, alongside your console or Blu-ray player if you have one. These tend to be known as HTPC (home theatre PC) cases, though, which we haven’t included in this roundup. Instead, we’ve looked at eight of the mini-tower style cases, and there are dozens to choose from.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SMALL FORM FACTOR CASE
When buying a small case, the most important decision is whether it has the space for what you want to put inside. Obviously, if you go for a smaller mini-ITX board without a graphics card, you can get a tiny case. On the other hand, if you want to pack a GeForce GTX 1080 with a micro-ATX motherboard, you’re going to need something bigger.
What we found was that the interior design of most cases tend to follow very similar layouts. They’ll probably have the PSU mounted in the bottom, and many of these cases come with a PSU included. If they don’t, you’ll need to check whether the case can fit an ATX PSU, or requires a special, smaller SFX PSU, which usually max out around the 500–600W range. That’s still ample for most users, though.
Build quality is another important factor. Something built from a more solid steel construction will obviously handle accidental bumps better than a plastic fantastic el cheapo. Arguably the second most important consideration though is aesthetics; do you like the way the case looks, and will it ‘fit’ with your home’s interior design? This is ultimately a personal decision, with some loving a case festooned with glowing Neon and a side window to show off the disco lights inside, while others prefer subtle, sleek lines that blend into the background. We tend to find that it’s the younger audience attracted to the former, while older users prefer the more minimalist look, but at the end of the day... it’s a matter of taste.