Looking for shortest ATX case

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Archknave

Junior Member
Aug 22, 2007
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Got a problem for the well informed out there.

Wife bought new computer desk. The desk cabinet for the PC to reside in is only 17" deep, 17.5" tall, and about 12" wide. Her existing PC case (cheapie) fits the dimensions fine except for the depth. It sticks out a good three inches.

I don't want to buy a new motherboard and hassle with rebuilding the thing. I'm looking for a case that will use my existing ATX power supply and motherboard.

Motherboard is Abit IS7-V, which is about 7.5" deep by 12" tall (that's how it sits in the tower).

I have one AGP card and one PCI card in it, got a 5.25" cd writer and a 3.5" normal-sized hard drive. I have a 3.5" floppy in it, but I could lose that if necessary.

I have a parallel port connector on the back that sticks out a good 2", so I'm ideally looking for a case that's around 15" in depth. Even if I could find one that is right around 16", I could probably angle it to fit more of it in there.

I've combed the major manufacturers, but I'm only finding micro-ATX cases that will work. Can anyone point me to a solution?

Thanks!
 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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The Rosewill R6A series are much better than the above Rosewill model (the R6A series has the same chassis as the Antec SLK3000-B - some of them are only 18.1" leaving a half inch to poke out either side. If you get a much smaller case, it is likely to be a weird arrangement that may compromise cooling or something else. The new Antec NSK4400 is the right size.

.bh.
 
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Archknave

Junior Member
Aug 22, 2007
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I have a rosewill case that is 16x17xwhatever thickness that I bought on newegg for $30
Click to expand...

Okay, this may have done the trick. While the case you linked to was too big, I went through Rosewill's product line and found two models that are only 15.4" deep. They are the R804BK and R805BS.

So, assuming the dimensions they list aren't typos, I've found my box. Thanks!
 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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The NSK4400 is under 17" both high and deep. Full ATX cases really can't be that shallow without doing some tricks. A standard ATX mobo is about 10" deep (9.6") and your typical HDD is 6" deep - opticals are deeper. Be sure the tricks employed suit your components. With the Rosewill cases you mentioned, it looks like part of the mobo will have to fit in behind the drive cages - the side of the cages are all the way to the left side of the case for that purpose. IOW, think before leaping. How is cooling supplied to the HDDs, etc. That is why I suggested the R6A Rosewill series as they have a very high Casitude (tm) score (particularly looking at drive cooling, noise and ease of use) yet only exceed your depth measure by about an inch.

I see that your mobo is one of the compact designs so that won't be an issuse re. the above, but you will have to consider the length of your add-on cards...

.bh.
 
Z

zero2dash

Member
Jul 28, 2007
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Don't think you're going to find a short ATX that isn't deep; doubt there's a 'best of both worlds' product out there.
I can recommend the Lian-Li PC-A05/PC-A05B but it's still deeper than your desk dimensions. (8.3'' x 15'' x 19.3'')

Again, I doubt you're going to find an ATX case that is short in both height and depth...more like one or the other.

mATX might be the way to go in your case if you don't want the case sticking out the front a bit.
 
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Archknave

Junior Member
Aug 22, 2007
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Thanks for the advice, I've got a good fan on the CPU and nothing really hot in this machine. The case it is in now is cheap with no fans and it runs fine, so I don't think cooling will be an issue.

However, I'm holding off buying the Rosewill case because it looks like the dimensions might be typos. Newegg carries both models but transposes the height and depth figure on one of them. Other online vendors seem to also think the height and width are swapped from what the manufacturer states. Not sure how to find out the truth. The manufacturer isn't returning my e-mails. I sent one off to Newegg.

If it is a typo, then 16.2 inches might be the best I can hope for. I can probably pull the parallel printer cable and go USB with this printer, that will save me an inch.
 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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Even though Rosewill is one of the house packagers for Newegg, they have their own web site. What does it say there? It says the depth is 15.x on both... Could be correct considering the way the std. size mobo is supposed to tuck up alongside the drive cages.

.bh.
 
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Archknave

Junior Member
Aug 22, 2007
6
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FINAL WORD

Ordered the Rosewill R084BK case. Received it and measured depth. Came out to about 16.5 inches. The shipping box from the manufacturer says 390 mm which converts to about 15.4 inches.

So the manufacturer has the incorrect depth dimension on both their website and the packaging.

Now I'm going to have to do what I didn't want to do at first, which is buy a micro ATX case and mobo and rebuild the computer. Drat.
 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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What's the problem, you said you had 17" of depth to work with or was that figure wrong too?

.bh.
 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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... add 2"...

Just pull the desk a bit away from the wall or get a cable with a right-angle end on it...

.bh.
 
J

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,684
136
If you're going matx, and it seems that you will, might want to consider this case-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811108062

It's really small, even for matx, and should serve in a relatively low-power situation.

I've never used one, but my experience with Inwin has been very positive over the years... well, other than the extremely ancient A500 of years ago, a real woofer, but they all were, back then...

Generally speaking, Inwins are stout and well crafted, with decent psu's- I doubt the MtJade is any different...

 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
I think I'd take [L=this one]http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=CA-3505B[/] before any other standard mini-Tower mATX case.

.bh.
 
J

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,684
136
That's a well made case, Zepper, which I've used in the past, and should suit the special purpose at hand. Optical drive selection is critical, however, because of the short depth, unless a PS3 psu or SFX on an adapter psu is employed... very doable.

I generally prefer the conventional matx inwins, because they're a better buy with included decent power supplies, but they're too deep for this application. That depth is usually an advantage, but not in this case...

Depending on circumstance, Archknave could cut out the back of the desk to accomodate the wiring of the present case, solve his problem in a different way...
 
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