Smallest Micro ATX(mATX) Cases – Buyer’s Guide and Reviews

Starting off with the SG10B, This case has gained recognition as the best portable mATX case for HTPC builds. It offers great space efficiency at a very reasonable price.

Just like any other case on the marker, The front I/O provides you with two 3.0 USB ports, an audio and microphone port jack.

• Clearance - When it comes to clearance, This case excels; It supports a full-length graphics card, Has 165mm clearance for the CPU cooler and 180mm for the power supply. The case might look small, but it allows you to run the best possible configuration.
• Cable management - It allows for decent cable management. Considering it doesn’t have any side panels, The cables inside the case will be completely hidden. This gives you an option to be lazy if you don’t like to spend lots of time managing cables. This is not something we recommend; It’s always better to do your best at cable management, It can make your life easier when you are upgrading a component or looking for a malfunctioning component.
• Looks - Thought the case seems utilitarian, It is far from a good looking one. It is quite compact and uses space very efficiently; It shares a low profile design, which is great for portability. This specific model doesn’t have any windowed side panels. The I/O panel is located on the front; It is very accessible. In the front of the case, you will also find an easily removable dust filter. It is a decent looking case, It cannot compare with other looks oriented cases in this list but it your sole purpose it utility, You won’t find a better option.

Our Thoughts

Silverstone SG10B is a great case, It doesn’t look the best but considering the utility options it provides, It’s one of the bests. It is very lights; The low profile design allows you to easily carry it anywhere. If you like the way it looks or not much concerned about it, SG10B is made for you.

This case was shown off at Computex back in 2015. It was one of it's kind, but now we have a wide variety of option when it comes to console-sized pc cases. With a compact, slim and elegant design, This case from Fractal supports a mATX motherboard with a dedicated graphics card chamber. It also comes with an integrated power supply version.

Building an HTPC for your living room? It is one of the chassis to consider.

• Clearance - After having the first glace at the case, It can be hard to tell if it would support a GPU, Ther aren't many cases out there capable of this. This case was initially designed to support a Mini ITX motherboard but Fractal worked out some changes, and now it also supports a mATX motherboard. The GPU clearance is 310x145x47mm (LxHxD). It is ventilated quite well, featuring 2 vents on each side of the case; it can provide enough ventilation for your high static pressure case fans to work effeciently.
• Cable management - Dealing with such a confined space, Cable management is an important factor. Unfortunately, A case as small as this doesn't provide with much cable management options. It can be hard to deal with cables in such a small case, You can use cable ties and other accessories and try to manage cables, but you will have a hard time. On the positive side, It doesn't have windowed side panels which allows you to be a little lazy on the cable management.
• Looks - The case operates with a unique style. The case is designed for a horizontal orientation, Thought it also comes with a stand which can help stabilize the case in a vertical position. It looks much better in vertical posture but depending on your needs; You can also lay it horizontally. On the front panel you will find an illuminated power button, I/O port is integrated at the bottom; it consists of 2 USB ports (3.0), an audio jack and a microphone jack. It has a motherboard I/O on the back panel and a lower supply hole, It also a small vent to allow power supply breath easily.

Out thoughts

Fractal Design Define Mini C is cleverly constructed and allows you to assemble a PC which is very accessible and looks great. It is a perfect choice for a living room HTPC or gaming PC. You can use it to build a portable, almost non-visible PC, But no matter how hard you try, It's looks are likely to attract your attention every once in a while. In conclusion, It allows enough clearance to build a decent PC which looks elegant.

This case is a smaller version of the InWin 303; It is the very space efficient case and the only one in this list that will allow efficiently install a water cooling loop. The case is currently available in 2 color variations, White and black. Unlike most other cases, In this case, the power supply is located at a top with honeycomb ventilation. This kind of vents looks excellent and gives a very premium and elegant look. It features rear case fans and 4 PCI brackets.

• Clearance - Inwin 301 features 160mm of heatsink clearance, 330mm for the graphics card. Considering its size, It would have been better if it featured dual GPU compatibility, Maybe Inwin has it planned for another case coming shortly.
• Cables management - In this case, cable management can be a little tricky as there is no space behind the motherboard. This doesn't mean it is impossible to do it properly, but it will surely give you a hard time. Refer to this cable management guide by Marco on PCWorld. It will surely help you deal with the problems you might face while putting together your PC in the InWin 301.
• Looks - The front of the case features the I/O panel and an InWin logo. The color scheme of illuminated I/O panel and logo varies in different versions of the case. Mostly all the vents on the case have a honeycomb design, Though it makes it necessary for you to use high static pressure fans but more importantly it looks great. The best part about this case is it's completely transparent side panel which allows for a great look inside. The tempered glass side panel is easily removable giving to the great accessibility of the interior. It has enough space to allow you construct a custom water loop, Which will further add to the visuals.

Our thoughts

Inwin 301 is a great looking case; Though it's not the smallest one on this list, it has excellent GPU clearance and custom water loop. It looks elegant, Allows for a complete interior look. What else could one possibly expect from a case? It is a perfect choice for a gaming, high-end HTPC build.

Moving on, we have a case form Thermaltake. This case is ATX, I.e., it supports mAtx, Mini ITX, and smaller boards. The reason it made to this list is it's compact design and one of the best space efficiency. It is slightly biggest that other cases in this list but features much better clearance, All thanks to it's well put design. The best part about this case is its looks, Featuring an elegant look with a windowed side panel, It's all ready to make it's way to your living room.

This case is a great suit for a high-end gaming build, Living room VR build or an HTPC. The looks and features don't come at a steep price but considering overall build quality; It's well worth it. Just like few previously discussed cases, It also allows for a vertical or horizontal orientation. In conclusion, It is a great case, A little expensive but it's elegant looks cover for it. It's spacious enough to allow you build a custom water cooling loop. It supports high-end liquid coolers as well. If you are ready to pay the price, We recommend this case for any build.

Next up is the Lian Li PC-O6SX, This chassis is on the expensive side. It is one of the best-looking cases mentioned in this list. The side panel is made completely of tempered glass. It is quite thin compared to other cases on this list, and that is what makes it unique. Featuring enough clearance for a full-size GPU and custom water cooling loop, you can build high-end living room PC in this.

It is specifically for enthusiasts who want to build a slim, small and high-end wall-mounted computer. Due to the size, It can be quite hard to find the right parts and put them together; You cannot get cheap air coolers to keep it under controlled temperature either. If you are ready to spend the bucks, This is the chassis that will catch anyone's attention. As for the portability side, Though the case is small, It can be challenging to carry it around, Reason being the side panel, It is entirely made of tempered glass which makes it vulnerable in an accidental drop. In conclusion, It is a great case for enthusiasts, and their high budget builds.