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Micro-ATX Case (small size is most important)

A

austin316

Diamond Member
Can anyone suggest a small micro-atx case that you like? I would be putting a video card in it, but I could go low-profile if need be.

Thanks!
 
That Antec is certainly not a bad case, and the PSU is most likely a solid option for what you have planned, but a LIAN LI PC-V351B is higher quality and better looking (IMO) than the Antec.

Pair the PC-V351B with a Corsair 400W PSU, and you have yourself a sweet setup that will last you for years to come.
 
I've never been a big fan of cube cases myself, but it's all a matter of preference.

If you want a slim desktop case, maybe check out the NSK-1480. Will limit you to half-height expansion cards, but it doesn't sound like this will be an issue.
 
The NSK3480 has a 120mm fan that can cool well at near-silent speed if you care about noise. I have a 44xx (taller by 1 x 5.25" slot, takes both matx and full mbs) and it's a great case.

From the newegg customer reviews the lian-li may be noisier.
 
DaveSimmons said:
The NSK3480 has a 120mm fan that can cool well at near-silent speed if you care about noise. I have a 44xx (taller by 1 x 5.25" slot, takes both matx and full mbs) and it's a great case.

From the newegg customer reviews the lian-li may be noisier.
Click to expand...

i've had the 3480 and its very quiet. it actaully has another fan spot on the front too.
 
TJ-08 is a pretty nice looking case. Missing some of the noise reduction features in the Antec (silicone HDD grommets, for example), but otherwise seems pretty solid. I have an NSK-3300 (earlier revision of the 3480), and my only real complaint with it is the plastic front panel looks and feels kind of cheap (although mine has held up surprisingly well). Next case I buy is going to have an aluminum front panel. Looks better IMO and would probably be more durable.
 
nitromullet said:
That Antec is certainly not a bad case, and the PSU is most likely a solid option for what you have planned, but a LIAN LI PC-V351B is higher quality and better looking (IMO) than the Antec.

Pair the PC-V351B with a Corsair 400W PSU, and you have yourself a sweet setup that will last you for years to come.
Click to expand...

If small size is your priority, I would skip the Lian Li PC-V351. The Antec NSK 1380 is *much* smaller. (I have both cases.) Definitely look at the dimensions before buying. I've got an ancient, huge Thermaltake tower for an old extended-ATX motherboard. The 351 is nearly 2 inches wider than that huge tower.

Also, the 351 uses 6 small screws to attach the side panel, which is just a simple sheet of anodized aluminum sheet. It's a nice looking system when assembled, but a bit painful to be opening on a regular basis.

NSK1380 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129038)
---------
-Very small cube
-nonATX PSU (It's an Antec AR-350, 350W & 80+, replacements available for $40.)
-Mostly plastic panels, steel frame
-Full disassembly with 1 thumb screw (as I remember)
-One 3.5" external bay & 1 HD bay
-Fits retail heatsink, but might be noisy due to lack of open space.

PC-V351B
----------
-Large cube
-ATX PSU (I tried using a modular OCZ PSU when I got the case, and there wasn't enough room to plug the modular wires into the back of the PSU without chopping holes in the side of a 3.5" bay. A non-modular PSU was a much better fit.)
-All aluminum + motherboard tray
-Disassembly requires > 10 small machine screws (painted black)
-Four external 3.5" bays & 2 HD bays (I know Newegg just says 2x 3.5" bays, but look at the pic -- it's got 2 big bays on each side of the case.)
-Lots of room for a CPU heatsink & extra fans.

----other comments----
The Lian Li case does look nicer than the Antec case due to its pretty anodized aluminum panels, but I'd say the Antec case is a bit more rugged and better engineered. I think it's a bit of a cop-out to design side panels that are just tacked onto the case frame via sets of screws.

If a quiet case is a higher priority than a small case, the Lian Li is the way to go. Just keep those side panels from vibrating! If they're not screwed down properly, you can get a nasty buzz from the lightweight aluminum.
 
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