Micro Atx or mini Itx gaming case

[username88]

This is my first build for a decent gaming desktop which has to be portable with less noise and heat issues. I am mostly concerned about the case. I see that a lot of reviews say that I should atleast use a mAtx mid tower but I am looking for something small and portable.

Some components that I decided are

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Nvidia 660 Ti 2GB Graphic Card

I will be thinking about the motherboard and the PSU after deciding on the case. Can some one suggest me a good, decent and importantly a portable desktop case. I am looking for something which is 12" x 5" x 12".smaller the better.

Thanks!

Update: I'm also open to other cases as long as its not tooo big! ( probably 14" x 6" x 14" would be the max or something around it)

 

[T_Yamamoto]

There is the core 1000 (cheap and great)

 

[username88]

There is the core 1000 (cheap and great)

That is actually pretty big for me

 

[Carson Dyle]

Stay away from any Fractal Design microATX case if you're looking for portable. Most of them are larger than small ATX cases.

The Antec NSK3480 is a reasonably priced microATX case on the smaller side. See if that would work for you. If not, you'll probably have to go miniITX.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129035

 

[username88]

Stay away from any Fractal Design microATX case if you're looking for portable. Most of them are larger than small ATX cases.

The Antec NSK3480 is a reasonably priced microATX case on the smaller side. See if that would work for you. If not, you'll probably have to go miniITX.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129035

Can you recommend me some good miniITX cases ?

 

[veeone]

I recently did a silverstone tj08b-e build. its a matx case with good air flow and cable management. http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-Mi...erstone+tj08-e I mounted my hard drives in the 3.5 inch bay since i dont use any odd.

 

[username88]

i prefer something which is as thin as possible. not more than 5" width. but that case seems to be a good one though! Will consider it in my next build

 

[veeone]

My previous case was silverstone FT-03. Smaller foot print but taller. Both cases allow a full size video card and cpu cooler.

 

[SithSolo1]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163208 8.74" x 6.93" x 10.87" and comes with a power supply

Good luck finding a case no more than 5" wide with dual full-size PCI slots unless you have something custom done.

The closest I found was the Streacom FC10 but has multiple negatives:
Its wider and deeper than 12"
Slim slot-load optical only
Its fanless and your GTX 660Ti will probably cook itself
Thats if you can even find a power supply that fits the case strong enough to run it
Its about $300

 

[bamaland101]

since you only have the basics so far and no mobo or psu, i would suggest going with a shuttle with a z77 board.
http://www.amazon.com/Shuttle-LGA115.../dp/B007UZO3F6


thats as small as your going to get and still have OC options and so forth.

 

[Skott]

The smallest case to fit what you post is going to be the SG05. It can hold and power the GTX680 fine so the GTX660Ti would be no problem. Going up the line would be cases like the Shuttle SZ77R5, SG07/08, and so forth. These are cube like cases though so not skinny but portable enough for LanGaming and such.

There is that new DigitalStorm Bolt and the Falcon NW Tiki that are mitx, skinny and hold the components you want but you are going to pay through the nose for their builds.

 

[blastingcap]

The cases made specifically for LAN parties may be your best bet. Some of them are relatively lightweight, too, like the Antec LanBoy series. Even if a case is mATX, if it has helpful handles or something it may be easier to actually move around.

 

[username88]

Thank You all for all your suggestions.

What other cases do you people suggest If I'm looking at cases around 14" x 6" x 14".

 

[SithSolo1]

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811237027 5.38" x 13.25" x 13.25" and takes mATX motherboards. No clue how good the case is but airflow is probably not great as it only has 2x 60mm fans in the back. I highly suggest putting one in the front, it looks to be an 80 or 92mm spot. I, personally, would not use the included power supply.

New Power Supply - (Non-Modular) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256063
(Modular) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256084

 

[stevech]

re above... no USB3 front panel.

 

[Zap]

The cases made specifically for LAN parties may be your best bet. Some of them are relatively lightweight, too, like the Antec LanBoy series.

The original LanBoy and the second Super LanBoy were really lightweight. Not the latest LanBoy Air. It has grown and is a windtunnel monstrosity.

These days case manufacturers market "gamer" looks and windtunnel performance for the LAN party set.

username88 with your component choice, get the Silverstone SG05. For motherboard use the ASRock Z77E-ITX. Get a low profile aftermarket cooler and you can easily overclock to around 4.2GHz (just to the point of needing more voltage). For the graphics card, get a Zotac because they are super short. Longer cards will fit, but the Zotac is just so easy a choice for that case.

 

[ElFenix]

i wonder why we haven't seen any alienware x51 style cases from the case companies? that'd be perfect. get rid of the burner and make it even smaller. externals are $30.

 

[Zap]

i wonder why we haven't seen any alienware x51 style cases from the case companies? that'd be perfect. get rid of the burner and make it even smaller. externals are $30.

The "problem" is that once you move beyond the tower style case (and to a lesser extent the cube style) then everyone has their own particular set of needs/desires (not always the same thing :sneaky: ). Take a look at all the ITX cases that Lian Li is churning out. For every different version, there's someone out there that goes "THAT's the perfect one for me" as well as someone else that goes "sooooo close, but if only they changed that part."

The x51 is a perfect example. ElFenix now wants one without the ODD. I'm sure there are plenty out there that DO want the ODD.

There is no "perfect" case for everyone. As fast as companies keep trying to fill niches, someone will go "but if only..."

 

[ElFenix]

The "problem" is that once you move beyond the tower style case (and to a lesser extent the cube style) then everyone has their own particular set of needs/desires (not always the same thing :sneaky: ). Take a look at all the ITX cases that Lian Li is churning out. For every different version, there's someone out there that goes "THAT's the perfect one for me" as well as someone else that goes "sooooo close, but if only they changed that part."

The x51 is a perfect example. ElFenix now wants one without the ODD. I'm sure there are plenty out there that DO want the ODD.

There is no "perfect" case for everyone. As fast as companies keep trying to fill niches, someone will go "but if only..."

the ODD is optional. a lot of people complain about how much the slot load ones cost, so if it's between slot load and not having one, might as well not have one.