Cases for computers come in a wide range of sizes, from the smallest to the full tower. Cases take up space on your desk, so you might need to buy a bigger desk. A solution could be to find the smallest ATX case that will work with an ATX motherboard. It will not only be a small case, but it will also support the ATX motherboard, which can be upgraded to support high-end hardware.
People sometimes want to build a cheap PC to play games or watch movies. Most of them don’t have much room in their rooms for a desk. One kind of motherboard used in gaming builds is ATX.
Most of the things you need for a media or gaming build are easy to find on Atx motherboards. However, you need a case that looks good, has a reasonable price and is made well enough to hold large cards and fans to keep the temperature down.
ATX, which stands for Advanced Technology eXtended, is a list of your motherboard’s specs that tells you how it is set up and what features it has. It also tells you how big your motherboard is, which helps you choose the size of your atx case.
Before you buy the best ATX case for your build, there are a lot of important things to think about. Important things include the ability to grow, the durability, the size, the airflow paths, the cooling system, the noise level, etc.
Drawbacks of Compact PC Build
You must know that a small PC has its benefits, but have you ever thought about what it doesn’t have? Of course, there are pros and cons to everything.
There are a lot of bad things about small PC builds. Since the case is small, you don’t have as much room to work with.
You will have to use smaller motherboards, coolers, case fans, graphics processing units (GPUs), and power supplies (PSUs). As simple as it sounds, a system’s performance is limited by its small parts. Size issues also make it hard to add new features in the future. Due to the smaller size of some cases, it can also be hard to keep track of the cables.
But the overclocking is the biggest problem with the compact PC build. Most of the time, you can’t speed up your hardware in a small build. Why? Because there aren’t as many ways to cool it down and the heatsinks are smaller.
Even without overclocking, it might be hard to get a normal temperature in some builds.
What Does ATX Mean In Computers?
When buying computer cases or motherboards, ATX is probably a word that a lot of PC gamers know or have heard. But if you don’t know what ATX is or what it stands for, we will help you figure it out.
Advanced Technology EXtended is what ATX stands for. It is an Intel form factor. Most gaming cases on the market have a form factor that tells how a motherboard can fit inside. One of them is ATX.
Most of the time, this form factory only fits in full-size or mid-size computer cases. This form factor tells you how many expansion slots, RAM slots, and I/O ports the computer has.
We only listed ATX cases that can easily fit full standard ATX boards in this article.
What Is The Smallest Size In Pc Cases Which Fits ATX Motherboard?
Mini-ITX is the smallest size for a PC case, and it looks different from standard full-tower PC cases on the market. Another thing to note is that a mini-ITX case is even smaller than a Micro-ATX case. Mini-ITX, which is 6.7 inches long and 6.7 inches wide, is the smallest size for PC cases.
Best Picked Smallest ATX Cases In 2022
1- Cooler Master HAF XB EVO – The All Rounder
One of the brands that sell the most cooling accessories is Cooler Master. Recently, Cooler Master showed off this best cube case that seems to be perfect in every way. It is a good choice, especially for people who want to make a small, portable ATX gaming PC.
With an ATX case that is small and light, you can easily add or remove computer parts and get to the inside of your computer. It works with standard ATX boards, micro-ATX boards, and mini-ITX boards, so it is very compatible.
This cooler master case is one of the best compact cases on the list because it has everything you need for a perfect build. The compartment-like design will make it easy for you to add or remove parts from your computer.
Inside the case, you can put up to four SSD/HDD drives, a full-sized motherboard, and still have room to mod.
This monster case has two extra handles so you can move your computer to any spot in the room. It also has powerful fans to keep your CPU cool.
The model’s limits show up when the model is upgraded. As everything is well-packed and in place, there is no way to improve it.
The best thing about stock fans is that they work well with any build, so you don’t have to buy any other fans. However, over time, they may get a little noisy, in which case you may need to replace them. Other than that, the case is great for building the smallest ATX case.
2 – Lian Li PC-O11D Mini Case – Best In 2022
The design of the Lian Li PC-O11D Mini was based on that of the original 011 dynamics. Later, it was made 20% smaller in size, but it still worked with a good chunk of epic radiator sizes.
The size isn’t really that small; in fact, it’s a little bit bigger than a NZXT h510 elite. Still, it can hold a lot more hardware than it used to. The Lian Li PC-O11D mini is more interesting and smaller in 2022 because of this.
The look of steel, aluminium, and tempered glass works well when it comes to design. Lian Li’s premium aluminum PC case series has earned a great reputation on the market. This is the best model available. In short, it meets the quality control, performance, and functionality standards of the market.
There are two main parts to the O11 dynamic mini. The main chamber is where the most important parts of the system and the cooling are. When these two work together, they do a good job.
ATX cases with a lot of wires are hard to look at. The Lian Li PC-O11D Mini Case, on the other hand, is not like this. Behind the motherboard, trees is the wires and parts (like drives) that don’t look as important.
It’s important to note that the power supply only works with SFX and SFX-l power supplies.
The 011 mini has an expansion slot panel and a motherboard that can be changed. You can switch between full ATX, Micro ATX, and ITX boards with this.
The O11 mini case is both an ATX mid-tower that saves space and an ITX case with a lot of room. Plus, it has a huge amount of space between the radiator and the wall.
Depending on what size motherboard you put in, you can put up to a 360mm radiator on the top, bottom, or side.
Should You Buy It?
If you don’t like the Cooler Master HAF XB EVO, the LIAN Li PC-O11D is a great choice. It also looks better and lets you build things that work better.
User Experience
The Lian LI PC-O11D is a great case for putting together a small setup. In this case, the best thing about it is how easy it is to use. Besides being strong, it is also easy to take apart and put back together. This makes it easy to manage the cables.
But some real-time users said that Amazon Seller’s customer service was not good. And since there are no fans already installed, you might have to buy them separately.
Just so you know, it is a small case. If you want to use a full-sized motherboard, there may not be much room for AIO.
3- Corsair Carbide Air 540 – Cube Case Option
The new case from the well-known brand Corsair, the Carbide Air 540, is one of the best and smallest cases for an ATX motherboard. It has a great design and meets all of your needs.
The design is all about making sure there is a lot of airflows so that every part stays cool. The dust filter helps a lot to keep dust from getting into the parts of your CPU. The dust filters are easy to clean and are easy to put back on because they have magnetic sticks on them.
The power supply and drives are in the back chamber, while the CPU, GPU, motherboard, and memory are in the main chamber.
The three built-in cooling fans keep your system cool and make sure that none of its parts get too hot. There are three fans going at once, so they do make a bit of noise.
One of the best things about the Corsair Carbide Air 540 is that it has great ways to organize the wires. The rubber grommets help keep the wires in the right place.
The best part is that this is one of the best small e-ATX cases on our list and can hold most of the things.
With high-end graphics cards and RGB lighting, the acrylic side panels will let you show off to your friends. The side panel is made of acrylic, which is not the best material.
4- SFF Time – N-ATX
When we talk about the smallest ATX cases, SSF Time is one that you should check out. If you want a more portable case, you can even put this one in your backpack because it is so small.
At first glance, though, it looks like SFF Time only works with Mini-ITX or Micro-ATX motherboards. But this case is big enough to fit all form factor motherboards, including Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, Micro-DTX, ATX, and Extended-ATX motherboards.
You can also use a Micro-ATX or ATX motherboard with a triple slot GPU. But if you choose an ITX motherboard, you can add a bigger card. But be careful. If you want to use a 360mm radiator for liquid cooling, it will take up some room on your GPU. Then you can only use a GPU with two slots.
As for features, the front has two USB 3.0 ports, three slots for 3.5-inch drives, and room for up to nine 2.5-inch drives.
The bad thing about this case is that it is hard to organize cables. You will have a hard time working with cables in this container because it is so small and there isn’t much room inside.
You shouldn’t expect to have a lot of options for how the air flows. Still, the default airflow setting works fine for most people.
This small computer case, the Meshify C, has a design that makes it easy for air to flow through and gives you high-end performance.
The free flow of air keeps devices from getting too hot and makes your computer run better.
The computer case’s cooling system is made even better by the two fractal design fans that are already installed and the seven different places where fans can be put. Fractal Design Meshify C also has an open interior, which makes it even less likely that parts will heat up and makes sure that high-speed processing goes smoothly.
The outside of this elegant Fractal design Meshify C case is black, and the inside is also black. Its classic design and smart features make it stand out from the other cases and give it a defiant look.
The most important thing about this Fractal Design Meshify C is that it has a lot of different ways to store hardware. It has a lot of space and can hold up to 5 storage devices easily. Because the drive cage is removable, you can change the space to fit your device.
This smart and flexible case can even hold your huge GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) and heavy-duty PSU (Power Supply Unit).
Some of the things that make it stand out are the smart cable management, the front mesh with dust filters, and the rubber grommets cushion that stop vibrations.
6- Riotoro CR1080 – Mini Gaming Case
The Riotoro CR1080 is one of RIOTOTO’s small ATX cases. Full-size ATX motherboards, graphics cards, and power supplies can all be used with RIOTOTO.
To start with how well the Riotoro is made, the case is made of Alloy Steel. So, you can expect it to last for a long time. The length, width, and height of this chassis are 15.75″, 14.1″, and 9″. So, the small mid-tower case can be said to be.
The two separate compartments make cooling more effective and make it easier to put all the parts together. This case has two 3.0 ports, a mic jack, and a headphone jack on the top, and seven slots on the back.
There is room for two power supplies in this case. The Riotoro logo makes the simple front look more beautiful.
The side panel lets you see what’s on the inside. This case can be cooled with water or extra fans, and it comes with one 120mm fan.
You can also make an AIO water cooling setup that supports up to 120/140mm on the back and 360mm on the top or front.
This case isn’t too heavy, so it’s easy to carry and move around. The building is made of aluminium and is a little bit thin. One of the mini atx cases on this list is this one.
7- SilverStone Grandia GD09 – For Compact ATX Builds
The Silverstone GD09 is a computer case that has an ATX shape. It has a simple, minimalist design that makes it perfect for putting on a shelf or in an A/V cabinet.
Silverstone’s GD09B case had a unique design for a small ATX build for the office. The best thing about this case is that it is made of aluminium, which is a strong material.
When you need to fit something into a small space, GD09’s small size is an advantage. Both ATX standard and micro ATX are supported by the motherboard. It is 22 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 18 inches high. Still, it has eight places where you can put expansion cards.
When it comes to expansion cards, you can put in graphics cards that are up to 12.2 inches long. This system is not for building towers, but it is for setting up a desktop. It doesn’t take up much room on your desk.
Also, the GD098 is very light, weighing only about 9.26 pounds.
Even though it is small, the SilverStone does a great job of making the most of the space it has. You can fit an ATX PSU, motherboard, optical drive, hard disc, SSD, and up to two high-end graphics cards.
The GD09 is good at making the best use of space because it can be set up horizontally. Also, the cables are easy to deal with. But you can’t use it to make a powerful rig or set up for rendering. It works best for normal web browsing, word processing, data entry, and other office tasks.
You can put two 80mm fans on the back and one 120mm fan on the top. You can also put two 120mm fans on the front. The case comes with a single 120mm fan that is already set up. As for ventilation, there are dust filters that can be easily reached. So the flow of air is not a problem.
You can install either a 220mm or a 150mm power supply. But my one worry about this case is that there isn’t much room for the cooler. In a warm place, you may have trouble keeping warm.
SilverStone is a well-known company that makes computer parts, especially computer cases. You can find cases for ATX, Extended ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, Mini Stx/ NUC/ PI that are of the highest quality.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, if you want a small ATX build for use in a typical office. The Silverstone GD09 can support ATX with a lot of hardware, but it’s still not enough for gaming or rendering. So, it is a great choice for people who use Microsoft Excel and regular web browsers. It is the smallest atx case you can get for a compact build.
User Experience
Grandia GD09 has a unique and small desktop design that lets you build a small ATX machine.
It can easily fit an ATX power supply, most graphics cards, and an ATX motherboard. But it can’t hold coolers that are too big.
Some reviewers on Amazon have said that HDD has some serious problems. Switching out your SSD is not easy.
To remove or install the SSD, you have to take apart almost the whole set-up.
8- Corsair Carbide 400C – High Performance
With this easy-to-open side panel, it is way too easy to take things out of or put things on a computer. The side panel is see-through, so you can see what’s on the inside.
At this price, the case is a great deal because it comes with two fans.
With the spring installation mechanism, you can quickly mount or remove the SSDs.
9- NZXT H510 – For Fast Building
The NZXT H510 is a great case for easy building. It costs $170 and has great airflow, tempered glass, RGB fans, lighting, and USB 3.1 Gen 2 and type C ports for connections.
This case looks simple, but it can hold up to mini-itx motherboards, which are pretty good for this price.
One 120mm fan that isn’t RGB and one 140mm RGB fan are included in this package.
In this case, managing the cables isn’t as hard as it was with the Carbide 400C. There are some extra sections to help the cable flow better.
The NZXT H510 works with motherboards with the Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, and ATX form factors. So that you can use it to build a good gaming PC.
When you take off the back panel, you’ll find two SSD bays in the middle and two hard drive trays at the bottom. But you can’t take these drive slots out of the case, which I think is a bit of a bummer.
The I/O panel is the best thing about this case. This simple set of cases has a Gen 2 USB 3.1 Type-C port, a USB 3.1 Gen-1 Type-A port, and a TRRS 3.5mm audio port. On the back I/O panel, there are seven expansion slots and a PSU tray.
The airflow is also set up in the best way. On the front, you can put either two 140mm fans or two 120mm fans. Just take out the screws and the front panel of the fan will come off, making it easy to put in. For exhaust, you can also put a 140/120mm fan on top and a 120mm fan on the back. The case does come with two 120mm fans that are already set up.
10- CORSAIR Crystal 460X RGB – Classic Design
The NZXT H510 is a great case for building that makes it easy. It costs $170 and has good airflow, tempered glass, RGB fans, lighting, and USB 3.1 Gen 2 and type C ports for connections.
This case looks simple, but it can fit up to mini-itx motherboards, which are pretty good for this price.
This package comes with one 120mm fan that isn’t RGB and one 140mm RGB fan.
In this case, it’s easier to keep track of the cables than with the Carbide 400C. There are some extra parts that help the cable move more smoothly.
The NZXT H510 can be used with ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. So you can build a good gaming PC with it.
When you take off the back panel, you’ll see two SSD bays in the middle and two hard drive trays at the bottom. But you can’t take these drive slots out of the case, which I think is kind of a bummer.
The best thing about this case is the I/O panel. This simple set of cases has a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, and a TRRS 3.5mm audio port. There are seven expansion slots and a PSU tray on the back I/O panel.
The best way is also used to set up the airflow. You can put either two 140mm fans or two 120mm fans on the front. Just take out the screws and the fan’s front panel will come off, making it easy to put in. You can also put a 140/120mm fan on top and a 120mm fan on the back to move air out of the case. There are two 120mm fans already set up in the case.
11- Thermaltake Core G3 – Slim ATX Case
The Thermaltake Core G3 is a slim case that works well with ATX motherboards. The best part is that you can hide it anywhere, like under your TV. Almost everything will be in it.
It doesn’t look great, and more work on the outside could have made it look better. But you can still make a good RGB gaming PC with this case. One side of the case is also made of clear glass. You can easily get to the glass side, which lets you work more from the look’s point of view.
The Thermaltake Core G3 is thin enough to fit anywhere, like under a desk or a TV. This case already has two 120 mm fans with filters installed and set up.
If you’re just starting out, managing cables can be hard because you have less room to work. But you can deal with them if you work a little.
This is the smallest CPU cabinet on this list of the best portable computer cases. With this most portable pc case, you can build the best slim computer beast.
This is the thinnest ATX case on the internet that can fit a full ATX motherboard. It also has the best airflow and design.
12- Cooler Master Mastercase SL600M – 2019 Red Dot Award Winner
One of the easiest and best cases on this list is the Cooler Master Master Case SL600M. I’m pretty sure that the Coolermaster master case sl600m is the best simple case for you if you’re looking for one.
The case’s design is simple and perfect, and it holds everything you need. Aluminum is used to make the case, which makes it lighter than most other gaming cases. Sandblasting the aluminum gives it a better shine and a more angular shape, which makes it look beautiful.
The side panel is made of tempered glass, which lets you see a great view when you look inside. This case has the best airflow, so your PC parts will stay cool.
You can put either two 140/200mm fans or three 120mm fans on the top. Please keep in mind that these fans on top should be for venting. As for the intake, you can put two 140/200mm fans at the bottom or three 120mm fans.
This case’s best feature is that it won the 2019 Red Dot Award for thermal performance and design. It is a really cool computer case.
The price is great for the two 200mm PWM fans that come installed on the bottom of the case. It can hold up to 360mm water coolers and radiators to keep PC parts cool. The dust filter at the bottom can be taken out and cleaned.
13- Cooler Master Masterbox 3.1 TG – Budget ATX Case
One of the well-known brands in pc world is Cooler Master. The master box 3.1 TG has a great look and is one of the best cases from Cooler Master.
The dark mirror panel in front and the choice of colours for the trim are great ways to add to the car’s customization. The 4mm thick tempered glass panel will show off the parts of your beast PC.
This is the best case on this list for the money.
It will not only get you the best case at the best price, but it will also help you save money for other parts of your computer, like the CPU and graphics card.
It has everything you need to make a great build. This case has a lot of room, so it will be easy to put your computer parts in it. This computer has an ATX motherboard and uses water cooling to keep the CPU from getting too hot.
The look as a whole is great, and it would be even better if the trim came in three colours so that it could be customised even more. You can also 3D print trims in your favourite colour.
14- Cooler Master MasterCase H500P – Affordable Case For ATX
Cooler Master is one company that sells computer parts at prices that are both good and affordable. There are many ATX computer cases that are well made and look nice. The Cooler Master MasterCase H500P is one of the best-selling items on a different platform.
There are three 140mm fans in the Cooler Master MasterCase H500P. The front fans can be controlled by RGB, which gives them a unique look. The single fan in the back is just a regular fan. The ATX case’s side panels are made of tempered glass, which lets you see the inside of the case clearly.
If you use RGB parts inside a case, tempered glass will make it look great.
The best thing about this case is that it comes with covers for organising cables.
This ATX case is a little more expensive than other ATX cases for the average consumer, but it will improve your gaming experience the most.
Can I put a Micro ATX motherboard in an ATX case?
Yes! The Micro ATX motherboard is small, but it can still hold a CPU and expansion cards. MicroATX should fit easily into any MicroATX case, but it will also fit in most atx or mini atx cases.
What advantages does ATX have over microATX?
Atx motherboards have more PCI slots and ports than micro atx motherboards. This is a big advantage of atx over micro atx.
How many PC case fans do I need?
Every case company says that your case needs at least three fans. Some of the cases have fans built in.
What is the smallest case you can fit atx motherboard in
We’ve listed all the cases that can fit an ATX motherboard, but the RIOTORO full tower and the Thermaltake Core G3 are the smallest ones that can do so without any problems.
What is the smallest computer case i can fit an atx motherboard in
The smallest computer cases that can hold an ATX motherboard are the RIOTORO and the Thermaltake Core G3
