It sounds silly, but the case is one of the easiest parts of a new PC build to ignore. Not only do you want one that conforms to your parts, you want one that is easy to work with and attractive. We sometimes forget how much of a difference having a nice case can make. After all, you're going to be spending a lot of hours watching it, and when something goes wrong, you want easy and quick access to internals. a specification that covers a wide range of enclosure sizes and types. So take a look below for help selecting your next micro-ATX case.
Master MasterBox Q300L Cooler
The MasterBox Q300L often features on top-selling mATX lists, and for good reason. It's sturdy, attractive, has great airflow, and is relatively inexpensive. The top and front magnetic dust filters mean that wherever you decide to mount a radiator, you will get good airflow as well as dust filtration. The side-mounted IO panel also has a neat trick: you can mount it on any edge of the acrylic side panel.
The steel construction means you don't have to worry about warping things while you work, and behind the motherboard is a space for cable management to keep things neat and out of the way. Usually around $50, this case offers a lot of features for very little money.
Corsair Crystal Series 280X RGB
The Corsair Crystal Series 280X RGB sports a pretty radical design while still maintaining the standard rectangular design you'd expect from a computer case. The front features two Corsair LL120 RGB fans, which internally connect to a Node PRO for use with other Corsair lighting solutions via their iCUE software. On the front of the fans is a magnetic dust filter, and the side, front and half of the top are covered with tempered glass. The front and top glass panels are raised to provide airflow to the front fans and a top-mounted radiator, respectively.
The extra large nature of the case provides ample cable management behind the motherboard and even includes drive bays in the same area for a super clean setup even with a bunch of drives. The floor, roof and feeding areas are also equipped with dust filters to keep things clean. If you're looking for an interesting design or really want a super clean setup, the Corsair Crystal Series 280X RGB will do just fine.
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Fractal Design Node 804
The Fractal Design Node 804 is a cube-style case for those of you looking for something a little more compact in a sea of mid-tower designs. It also adopts the dual-chamber design like the Corsair case we mentioned earlier, which means your setup will stay clean and cool while your drive bays and PSU stay out of the way. Three 120mm fans are included and the case supports up to four radiators for cooling enthusiasts.
Unlike many Cube models, this one still includes the classic side panel window to show off your setups, and the removable dust filters will keep things clean and working as intended. Which should pair well with the very clean brushed aluminum front panel.
Master MasterBox E300L Cooler
The second case on our Cooler Master MasterBox lineup list, the E300L is another example in the debate that has raged in the PC build community for years: to RGB or not to RGB. Some say having rainbow neon lights in your suitcase is a distraction. If you're one of those people, the E300L will fit the bill perfectly, with its minimalist yet fashionable brushed panel and subtle accents available in three colors (blue pictured).
Internally, the E300L is much more classic in design than most of the other cases we've covered so far. Without top support for a heatsink and traditional PSU and drive bay placement. But for some of us, that's enough. If you're just looking for a basic case that will get the job done and hide under your desk, then the E300L provides just enough functionality to get the job done.
Lian Li O11-Dynamic-mini
Image by Lian Li
For enthusiasts, Lian Li will be a household name. For quite some time now they have been creating great case designs with interesting designs. Their O11-Dynamic-Mini, abbreviated as O11D Mini by Lian Li, is another dual-chamber micro-ATX design, this time with a mesh top to provide maximum airflow.
True to their enthusiast-focused mindset, the O11D Mini provides a modular pump mount for those performing custom loop builds, three different back panel choices depending on how you want to set things up, and panels front and sides in tempered glass. The pump stand in particular offers three different mounting options, and Lian Li also offers vertical GPU kits for those who wish to opt for this configuration.
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Thermaltake Core V21
Finally, we have another cubic design with the Thermaltake Core V21, which offers a compact design with clear side panel placement and a huge 200mm fan in the front to keep things cool.
It also supports horizontal or vertical motherboard placement and top-mounted radiators. And, in an odd but certainly interesting design choice, the Core V21 is stackable. Which means you can actually daisy chain your components across multiple enclosures and stack them to create one large enclosure. It's certainly not the most common use case, but if that's the kind of functionality you're looking for, the Core V21 should definitely be on your radar. Like several other designs we've listed here, it also uses a chambered concept, which separates your PSU and drives from your main components.
The number of micro-ATX cases on the market is simply too many to count. Just about every model imaginable exists somewhere if you're willing to search hard enough. It is certainly the most varied and best serviced section of the computer case market. Keep in mind that airflow, ease of use, and supported configurations should be your first considerations when choosing a case.
For more recommendations, check out the 10 Best Gaming Chairs with LEDs of 2021 | Best RGB Gaming Chairs and 7 Best Gaming Ethernet Cables in 2021 at Thekingplayers.
