What is your favorite high performance mATX case?

[cbn]

What is your favorite high performance mATX case?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Does "high-performance" and "micro-ATX" even go together?

 

[cbn]

Does "high-performance" and "micro-ATX" even go together?

For the purposes of this thread "high performance" would be any mATX case that can handle at least two higher end video cards in Crossfire/SLI or an overclocked CPU with a single higher end Video card.

An example would be the Corsair Air 240:

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/carbide-series-air-240-high-airflow-micro-atx-and-mini-itx-pc-case

 

[cbn]

Coolmaster N200, from the entry level Case and PSU thread also qualifies---> https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...d-psu-hot-deals-thread.2470019/#post-38390106

 

[Carson Dyle]

Define Mini

 

[cbn]

Define Mini

It doesn't have to be a "small" high performance mATX case, it could be a "larger" high performance mATX case like the Fractal design Node 804 which is 41 liters in displacement. (Although the two Micro ATX cases I posted (Corsair Air 240 and Coolermaster N200) are fairly small at 33.3L and 33.8L respectively)

 

[Carson Dyle]

It doesn't have to be a "small" high performance mATX case

The Define Mini is anything but a small case. I haven't looked up the volume, but feel free.

 

[cbn]

The Define Mini is anything but a small case. I haven't looked up the volume, but feel free.

Thanks for clearing up my confusion on what "Define Mini" means. I thought you were asking a question when, in fact, you are referring to a case made by Fractal Design with the model designation "Define Mini":

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352011

And yes, it is on the large side at 41 liters.

 

[cbn]

One thing all the cases mentioned in this thread have in common (so far) is provision for dual 120mm front fans.

This, in contrast, to a very popular mATX case like the 26.1L Fractal design Core 1000 which only has provision for one 120mm front fan.

 

[gus6464]

Thermaltake Core V21. Has room for 3x 240mm radiators and can take every gpu out there even the super massive Zotac 1070 AMP Extreme which none of those cases can fit.

Oh and comes with a giant 200mm front fan.

 

[aigomorla]

I like TT's Core series...
I also like lian li's tho...

Gamer => TT core series
Office => Cant beat the professional look of Lian Li.

 

[bbhaag]

Coolmaster N200, from the entry level Case and PSU thread also qualifies---> https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...d-psu-hot-deals-thread.2470019/#post-38390106

Did they ever get the sticky power button sorted out with this case? I eventually had to remove the power button on mine and now I have to use a screw driver to power down when my pc hard freezes. Other wise it's a great case with a lot of flexibility in a mATX package.

 

[cbn]

Did they ever get the sticky power button sorted out with this case? I eventually had to remove the power button on mine and now I have to use a screw driver to power down when my pc hard freezes. Other wise it's a great case with a lot of flexibility in a mATX package.

I looked through the Newegg reviews and did notice comments about the sticky power button even in 2016.

P.S. Thanks for mentioning that. I will add a note about the sticky power button in the entry level case and PSU thread Coolermaster N200 post.

 

[cbn]

This one looks really nice:

https://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/focus-series/focus-g-mini

 

[mopardude87]

For the purposes of this thread "high performance" would be any mATX case that can handle at least two higher end video cards in Crossfire/SLI or an overclocked CPU with a single higher end Video card.

An example would be the Corsair Air 240:

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/carbide-series-air-240-high-airflow-micro-atx-and-mini-itx-pc-case

Wow i like that case,i saw the 540 and 740 which looked good but that one looks very good.Maybe good enough to replace my Antec 900? I like the direct front to back airlow setup.

 

[ClockHound]

I liked the 240 when I had it - other than the cheap build quality. And the restrictive air filters. Which I replaced with DIY filters.

SPCR review went in-depth on the filters: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1430-page9.html

Was it my fav mATX case? No.

That would be either the Core V21 or Raijintek Aeneas (modded for airflow).

 

[mopardude87]

I liked the 240 when I had it - other than the cheap build quality. And the restrictive air filters. Which I replaced with DIY filters.

SPCR review went in-depth on the filters: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1430-page9.html

.

Eh i hate air filters,i keep on top of dust lately and wipe the front of my Antec 900 daily.Mostly cause i swapped the cages about and got the internal 120 fanmm pointed at the ram and cpu cause my motherboards vrms like to run toasty without active cooling.Not wanting dust collecting on the ram.

 

[daperl]

Meshify C Mini. Love this case.

 

[UsandThem]

Eh i hate air filters,i keep on top of dust lately and wipe the front of my Antec 900 daily.Mostly cause i swapped the cages about and got the internal 120 fanmm pointed at the ram and cpu cause my motherboards vrms like to run toasty without active cooling.Not wanting dust collecting on the ram.

To each their own, but I would personally never buy a case without at least front filters. With us having a couple pets, a filter-less case just wouldn't do in our house.

Than can be a bit restrictive depending on the implementation and filter style, but aren't as restrictive as the solid front panels on many of the newer cases that a lot of people use (like Phanteks and InWin).

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

Meshify C Mini. Love this case.

I also really like this case. I used it for a M-ITX build. Has room for 2X 140mm front fans a rear 120mm fan as well as a couple top fans if desired. I am running with 2X Noctua 140mm fans in front and one of the stock fractal design fans in back.

-T

 

[cbn]

This one looks really good for the money:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147295&ignorebbr=1

(Not high performance out the box with one rear 120mm fan, but it does have mounting for two 120mm front fans and two 120mm top fans (can also mount 240mm radiator on top). Displacement: 25 liters, so it is small for mATX but one of the reviewers claims it can still mount 11" dGPU.)

 

[mopardude87]

I bought the Fractal Meshify c Mini to replace the dated Antec 900 i had.Oh man what a absolute treat to build in that thing.I should take pictures cause the build is absolutely clean.I officially love Fractal.

I did rip out the front foam filter,not a mark on the case but i hate restrictions and it really just opened up the cooling potential of this case.I removed the stock fans and dropped in 3 of the Antec 120mm fans into the build with 2 up front and 1 in the rear and on max rpm this thing cools just about as well as the Antec 900 did with its 5x120mm and top 200mm all on max rpm as well.Gpu idle temps are slightly higher but whatever at load i can't see any difference that is measurable.

Looking at specs of other 120/140mm fans,the Antec 120mm fans are certainly dated in comparison.I could perhaps get by when tons less noise and comparable performance but i wouldn't know where to start and begin.🙂

 

[UncleAelfrich]

I will throw in a vote for the fractal design Node 804.

https://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/node-series/node-804

 

[cbn]

Here is one with 4 x 3.5" bays:

(With this noted, the Fractal Define Mini from post #8 had 6 x 3.5"....but this one FWIW is a bit smaller at 36 Liters as compared to 41 liters)

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119369&ignorebbr=1

A written review here---> https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Cooler_Master/Masterbox_NR400/

Video review below:

P.S. The stock fans are not LED as shown in the finished build in the video above. (Included fans are 1 x 120mm (non-LED) in the front and 1 x 120mm (non LED) in the rear)