ULTIMATE mini-ITX PC Case Showdown

**Exploring Mini ITX Case Options: A Comprehensive Guide**

When it comes to building a compact computer, one of the most crucial factors to consider is the case itself. In this article, we'll delve into the world of mini ITX cases and explore the best options available in the market.

**Design and Build Quality**

The Colossus power supply is installed at the rear of the chamber, providing ample space for enthusiasts to install their preferred components. The 240 mm radiator support is a great feature for those looking to build an all-in-one closed loop system. With this design, users can enjoy seamless airflow and efficient cooling, making it ideal for high-performance computing applications.

**Size and Compatibility**

Four out of the six cases in our review support internal all-in-one closed water coolers, while two of them can accommodate 240 mm radiators. The Note 3 or 4 is a top contender, boasting six drive slots that can support either SSDs or mechanical drives. Followed closely by the Colossus, which features an integrated Drive cage with five total drives supported. The Hyron Air, on the other hand, has limited drive slot availability, only supporting two slots.

**Unique Features and Limitations**

The PC Q30 is a unique case that caters to specific needs, making it perfect for modders who want to push the boundaries of mini ITX builds. However, its size limitations mean it can only handle solid-state drives, limiting its appeal for some users. The Hron Air, despite its compact design, lacks an intake port, which may be a concern for those who prioritize airflow.

**Budget-Friendly Option**

For those on a tight budget, the Elite 130 is an excellent option, available at just $50. With no restrictions on graphics card power supply or CPU cooler size, users can pack plenty of components into this compact case. As long as they're using a closed loop 120 mm water cooler, the Elite 130 shines.

**Dust Protection and Cable Management**

Four out of six cases in our review are fully dust-proof, ensuring that users don't have to worry about dust accumulating inside their system. The Note 3 and 250D take top honors for their easy cable management and routing options. With more room available in these cases, users can optimize their cable setup for a cleaner, more efficient build.

**Conclusion**

In conclusion, the mini ITX case market offers a wide range of options to suit different needs and preferences. From budget-friendly solutions like the Elite 130 to high-performance builds that utilize all-in-one closed loop systems, there's something for everyone. We hope this guide has been helpful in exploring these options, and we look forward to hearing from our readers on their mini ITX experiences.

**Honorable Mention: Silverstone SG Line**

Although not part of our current review, the Silverstone SG line is worth mentioning due to its extreme space efficiency and excellent functionality. Unfortunately, we don't have any units in house for comparison, but these cases are certainly worth considering for those who value compact design and performance.

**Final Thoughts**

If you're interested in building a mini ITX system, we want to hear from you! Please share your experience with us in the comments below, including the case you chose and the specifications you used. Your feedback will help us better understand the needs of our readers and provide more tailored content in the future. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next article!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhey I'm Demitri with hro KNX and welcome to another video I think the enclosure Market is changing direction I think we're moving away from big building the biggest to building the smallest and most compact and space efficient uh cases while still maintaining all the features all the functionality So today we're doing a mini ITX Showdown comparing some of the latest and some of the most popular offerings within the current market now this doesn't mean showcasing the best miniex cases but this is just to give an idea of what is available and how they compare against each other so let's get started so the five cases on display today are the corser obsidian 250d which is the latest edition to the series The Beat Phenix Colossus the mini ITX version cool master elite 130 the note 304 from fractal design not not this is not a microwave evj hrant air there's their first case that certainly needs a revision too and lastly the Leon Le PC q30 very interesting case uh with pretty unique design now let's first outline all the criteria that'll be making this throw down possible we'll be taking a look at Price volume volume is important because it gives us relative comparison as to the internal layout space efficiency we'll taking a look at Power Supply compatibility graphics cards uh limitations CPU options drive storage potential and finally dust proofing so starting with the first the most expensive of the pack would be the evj hyron air but that's because it actually comes with a 500 wat gold power supply so the higher price tag may actually be slightly misleading next is the all aluminum lean Le case that brings in at $149 uh plus this is a very limited edition coming in after that the beat Fenix Colossus and the note 304 both of which ring in at $100 now keep in mind the internal layout of the Colossus is identical as the original Prodigy and Phenom lineup so we're technically not singling out this particular model the latest obsidian brings in a very competitive price of $90 and lastly the elite 130 that's only $50 next is the internal volume uh in a way it determines whether or not the case is spe space effici so you can go as compact as possible without compromising on internal functionality the largest of the pack coming close to 30 L is the Colossus uh it's not surprising given there's a full hard drive cage inside and it has also been designed for water cooling in mind the next case is slightly smaller at 28 L the 250d now it's still considered slightly bulky for its form factor but also it does have internal water cooling support next on the list is the PC q30 this is lean Le's case uh would make a really cool modor case uh but because of the curve you do have limited compatibility and functionality the note 304 and the elite 130 come very close to each other almost exact same volume of just under 20 L one looks like a mini fridge and the other like a typical Cooler Master case and lastly the smallest guys of the pack is the hyron Air ad just under 16 L now that we have the price and size out of the way let's jump inside these cases and see how it deals with power supply graphics cards and cooler compatibility and starting with the hyron air uh the reason why it's so small is because because of the included slim power supply it occupies the bottom portion of the case and it does not interfere with the rest so up to 102 in graphics cards are supported with 5 1/2 in for your CPU Cooler moving on to the node because the power supply is installed at the front the case units longer than 160 mm will restrict long graphics cards so go for smaller power supplies and you still will have 12 in for your GPU and 6 and 1/2 in for your CPU Cooler the elite one takes a slightly different approach with top mounted full-sized ATX power supply with 13 in of clearance for your GPU uh and this is really meant for 120 mm all-in-one closed loop water coolers instead of a CPU tower just because of the 3-in clearance between your motherboard and the power supply the PC q30 is a bit different requiring an sfx power supply so we have 7.8 in for your graphics card and 5 in for your CBU cooler moving on to the Corsair 250 d uh thanks to a very open design it will support any size power supply we have 11 1/2 in for your GPU and 3 and 1/2 in for your CPU Cooler and just like on the elite 130 this is designed for an allinone closed loop and we have a 240 mm radio support So an all-in-one cooler is the ideal solution here and finally the Colossus power supply is installed at the rear uh because the chamber is sort of closed off by the hard drive cage units only up to 160 mm will fit there's 12 1/2 in for your GPU with the top hard drive cage removed and almost 7 in for your CPU Cooler So based on that four out of the six cases will support internal uh all-in-one closed water coolers only two of which can support the 240 mm radiators so the 250d and the Colossus effectively the two largest cases out of the pack now aside from having the best Cooling and having the best support for enthusiast Hardware a lot of miniitx cases are turned into uh Nas units so network attached storage so drive capacity is key the Note 3 or4 is the best option with six Drive slots available for either SSD or mechanical drives followed by the Colossus that has an integrated Drive cage with five total drives supported uh then they is delete with a good combination of either 3 and 1/2 or 2 and 1/2 in drives internally uh the q30 from lean Lee uh due to its size limitations can only handle solid state driv four of them and the hyron air would only support for two Drive slots but this means each case is unique uh if you try to crmp as much uh stuff as possible into a minex enclosure you're effectively making it bigger uh while going on the other side if you're trying to make it as compact as possible you do arise to some compromises so the 250d and the Colossus both have internal water cooling support for 240 mm radiers this is excellent news for enthusiasts who want to utilize that function while the node 304 and the elite 130 have sort of an all around excellent application for drive storage capacity and Enthusiast Hardware support you just don't have that water cooling abilities as a 250d in the Colossus um the PC Q3 is a whole another story it's just a unique case that would be perfect for moders for example um but it doesn't have the same type of functionality that we have come to expect from mini ATX enclosure if you're really strict on the budget the elite 130 at just $50 is almost a no-brainer considering how much things uh you can pack in there without any type of uh restrictions on your graphics card power supply and as long as you're using a uh closed loop 120 mm water cooler inside your golden only two cases out of the pack are fully dust proof that's the note 304 and the 250d while the hron air doesn't have any intake so don't worry about that four out of the six cases support some sort of optical drive and while working with each case is slightly different the individual chamber layout on the 250d and the Colossus is just slightly more convenient uh given there's more room for cable management and uh cable routing is overall easier the hron air I think looks the best out of all the cases and it is also the smallest out of the pack that can still support Enthusiast grade gpus and the PC q30 like I said uh it's just very unique it is very particular case with very particular needs and there are um I'm sure there's going to be people that would find the use for the case especially within the modern Community now I hope this guide has been helpful exploring the mini ITX options on the market but I can't end the video without mentioning the Silverstone SG line as they pack ex extreme space efficiency and excellent functionality in through the cases just sucks we don't have any uh on hand to show and compare with the rest of the cases so hope you enjoy this uh video I hope this content has been helpful make sure to Thumbs Up And subscribe for more similar content and if you do decide to go the mini ITX route let us know in the comments below as to what case you finally ended up choosing and building your system and what type of specifications you went with it because I'm sure a lot of people are now interested in that small form factor including myself uh so I'm sure that all these setups are going to be very helpful for the rest of our readers and our viewers so guys thanks for watching we'll see you in the next one now aside from having the best Cooling and support for enthusiast Hardware a lot of mini ITX systems are turned into NSA units NSAhey I'm Demitri with hro KNX and welcome to another video I think the enclosure Market is changing direction I think we're moving away from big building the biggest to building the smallest and most compact and space efficient uh cases while still maintaining all the features all the functionality So today we're doing a mini ITX Showdown comparing some of the latest and some of the most popular offerings within the current market now this doesn't mean showcasing the best miniex cases but this is just to give an idea of what is available and how they compare against each other so let's get started so the five cases on display today are the corser obsidian 250d which is the latest edition to the series The Beat Phenix Colossus the mini ITX version cool master elite 130 the note 304 from fractal design not not this is not a microwave evj hrant air there's their first case that certainly needs a revision too and lastly the Leon Le PC q30 very interesting case uh with pretty unique design now let's first outline all the criteria that'll be making this throw down possible we'll be taking a look at Price volume volume is important because it gives us relative comparison as to the internal layout space efficiency we'll taking a look at Power Supply compatibility graphics cards uh limitations CPU options drive storage potential and finally dust proofing so starting with the first the most expensive of the pack would be the evj hyron air but that's because it actually comes with a 500 wat gold power supply so the higher price tag may actually be slightly misleading next is the all aluminum lean Le case that brings in at $149 uh plus this is a very limited edition coming in after that the beat Fenix Colossus and the note 304 both of which ring in at $100 now keep in mind the internal layout of the Colossus is identical as the original Prodigy and Phenom lineup so we're technically not singling out this particular model the latest obsidian brings in a very competitive price of $90 and lastly the elite 130 that's only $50 next is the internal volume uh in a way it determines whether or not the case is spe space effici so you can go as compact as possible without compromising on internal functionality the largest of the pack coming close to 30 L is the Colossus uh it's not surprising given there's a full hard drive cage inside and it has also been designed for water cooling in mind the next case is slightly smaller at 28 L the 250d now it's still considered slightly bulky for its form factor but also it does have internal water cooling support next on the list is the PC q30 this is lean Le's case uh would make a really cool modor case uh but because of the curve you do have limited compatibility and functionality the note 304 and the elite 130 come very close to each other almost exact same volume of just under 20 L one looks like a mini fridge and the other like a typical Cooler Master case and lastly the smallest guys of the pack is the hyron Air ad just under 16 L now that we have the price and size out of the way let's jump inside these cases and see how it deals with power supply graphics cards and cooler compatibility and starting with the hyron air uh the reason why it's so small is because because of the included slim power supply it occupies the bottom portion of the case and it does not interfere with the rest so up to 102 in graphics cards are supported with 5 1/2 in for your CPU Cooler moving on to the node because the power supply is installed at the front the case units longer than 160 mm will restrict long graphics cards so go for smaller power supplies and you still will have 12 in for your GPU and 6 and 1/2 in for your CPU Cooler the elite one takes a slightly different approach with top mounted full-sized ATX power supply with 13 in of clearance for your GPU uh and this is really meant for 120 mm all-in-one closed loop water coolers instead of a CPU tower just because of the 3-in clearance between your motherboard and the power supply the PC q30 is a bit different requiring an sfx power supply so we have 7.8 in for your graphics card and 5 in for your CBU cooler moving on to the Corsair 250 d uh thanks to a very open design it will support any size power supply we have 11 1/2 in for your GPU and 3 and 1/2 in for your CPU Cooler and just like on the elite 130 this is designed for an allinone closed loop and we have a 240 mm radio support So an all-in-one cooler is the ideal solution here and finally the Colossus power supply is installed at the rear uh because the chamber is sort of closed off by the hard drive cage units only up to 160 mm will fit there's 12 1/2 in for your GPU with the top hard drive cage removed and almost 7 in for your CPU Cooler So based on that four out of the six cases will support internal uh all-in-one closed water coolers only two of which can support the 240 mm radiators so the 250d and the Colossus effectively the two largest cases out of the pack now aside from having the best Cooling and having the best support for enthusiast Hardware a lot of miniitx cases are turned into uh Nas units so network attached storage so drive capacity is key the Note 3 or4 is the best option with six Drive slots available for either SSD or mechanical drives followed by the Colossus that has an integrated Drive cage with five total drives supported uh then they is delete with a good combination of either 3 and 1/2 or 2 and 1/2 in drives internally uh the q30 from lean Lee uh due to its size limitations can only handle solid state driv four of them and the hyron air would only support for two Drive slots but this means each case is unique uh if you try to crmp as much uh stuff as possible into a minex enclosure you're effectively making it bigger uh while going on the other side if you're trying to make it as compact as possible you do arise to some compromises so the 250d and the Colossus both have internal water cooling support for 240 mm radiers this is excellent news for enthusiasts who want to utilize that function while the node 304 and the elite 130 have sort of an all around excellent application for drive storage capacity and Enthusiast Hardware support you just don't have that water cooling abilities as a 250d in the Colossus um the PC Q3 is a whole another story it's just a unique case that would be perfect for moders for example um but it doesn't have the same type of functionality that we have come to expect from mini ATX enclosure if you're really strict on the budget the elite 130 at just $50 is almost a no-brainer considering how much things uh you can pack in there without any type of uh restrictions on your graphics card power supply and as long as you're using a uh closed loop 120 mm water cooler inside your golden only two cases out of the pack are fully dust proof that's the note 304 and the 250d while the hron air doesn't have any intake so don't worry about that four out of the six cases support some sort of optical drive and while working with each case is slightly different the individual chamber layout on the 250d and the Colossus is just slightly more convenient uh given there's more room for cable management and uh cable routing is overall easier the hron air I think looks the best out of all the cases and it is also the smallest out of the pack that can still support Enthusiast grade gpus and the PC q30 like I said uh it's just very unique it is very particular case with very particular needs and there are um I'm sure there's going to be people that would find the use for the case especially within the modern Community now I hope this guide has been helpful exploring the mini ITX options on the market but I can't end the video without mentioning the Silverstone SG line as they pack ex extreme space efficiency and excellent functionality in through the cases just sucks we don't have any uh on hand to show and compare with the rest of the cases so hope you enjoy this uh video I hope this content has been helpful make sure to Thumbs Up And subscribe for more similar content and if you do decide to go the mini ITX route let us know in the comments below as to what case you finally ended up choosing and building your system and what type of specifications you went with it because I'm sure a lot of people are now interested in that small form factor including myself uh so I'm sure that all these setups are going to be very helpful for the rest of our readers and our viewers so guys thanks for watching we'll see you in the next one now aside from having the best Cooling and support for enthusiast Hardware a lot of mini ITX systems are turned into NSA units NSA\n"