Best Micro ATX (MATX) Cases in 2022 – 5 Budget & Top Picks
Five cases that show size, as well as style, is important
With the tech industry currently booming, it’s no surprise to see today’s market playing host to a sea of high-performance PC cases that come to shelves offering a variety of different shapes, sizes, and price points. That makes choosing the right one for your specific needs a time-consuming and strenuous task – even more so if you plan on building it around the M-ATX form factor. Luckily, there is still a pretty large demand for Micro-ATX cases and we see new arrivals hitting shelves on an almost monthly basis.
Micro-ATX builds are pretty popular in the gaming community due to their cool aesthetics and affordable price points. These days, a lot of people are leaning towards Micro-ATX cases as they offer a much smaller footprint over mid-tower/full-tower cases, while still offering enough room to house large GPUs and elaborate cooling setups too. They really are the best of both worlds when it comes to gaming setups.
In today’s article, we’ll be going through some of the best micro-ATX cases the market has to offer. We’ll be putting them through their paces to see how they stack up in build quality, aesthetics, thermals, noise levels, and overall build assembly.
After careful consideration – and sifting through a ton of different options from numerous manufacturers – we came to the conclusion that the Phanteks Evolv is the best micro-ATX case overall. But we’ll talk more about that shortly.
The following recommendations are of solid construction, have spacious interiors, and promote excellent airflow. If you’re interested in seeing what sets them apart from other cases, then read on.
Let’s get into it.
Our Top Picks
Best Micro ATX Case
In-depth Review
Phanteks EVOLV mATX Case
Phanteks EVOLV mATX Case
This tempered glass case from Phanteks is visually near perfect. The Enthoo Evolv mATX gives gamers a compact case that doesn’t compromise on style whatsoever.
This case gets our number one spot thanks to an abundance of features and benefits that simply aren’t found on other cases in this list. Having said that, it does have a price tag to match. Like the Mid-tower version of this case, Phanteks have kept most of the best features from that case whilst removing the 5.25″ drive tray which can provide extra room for a water cooling setup.
The case actually comes with a pump mounting bracket in the box, which suggests that Phanteks are almost tailoring this case to water-cooling setups. It doesn’t stop there either; the Evolv also offers great RGB compatibility, a sleek tempered glass panel, dust filters, a unique looking front panel, and 2 x 140mm fans pre-installed.
The case is incredibly roomy inside and it makes building relatively simple for a case this size. It’s fairly chunky and does have some weight to it but that just adds to the feeling of the overall high quality.
This sexy case will elevate the performance and look of any build, a solid choice!
Corsair Crystal 280X RGB Micro-ATX Case
Corsair Crystal 280X RGB Micro-ATX Case
The Corsair Crystal 280X offers a unique cube-like option that doesn’t compromise on looks or performance.
This case isn’t too different from the Corsair Air 240. You can clearly see they share a similar layout underneath the shell, but that is where the similarities end, thankfully. This RGB version has three glass panels for you to enjoy, a lighting controller, and two RGB fans chucked in for some colorful airflow. While you will be paying more for the RGB version, you do get the expensive Corsair fans with it which makes it the sensible choice from the available options. The case also supports full ATX power supplies and you can also mount an additional 120mm fan on the backside panel, creating additional airflow if required.
The thing that sets this case apart from the rest on this list is the fact that it has a dual chamber. The dual-chamber works wonders for internal temperatures as your components aren’t all together in one chamber and there are fewer cables sitting in the bottom. This case could be better suited for the builders wanting to squeeze the most out of a micro-ATX system as adequate cooling can be mounted to this case.
Fractal Meshify C Micro ATX/Mini ITX Case
Fractal Meshify C Micro ATX/Mini ITX Case
Fractal cases feature in a few of our build recommendations here at WePC thanks to the quality and value they bring to the table.
The “Mini” is a smaller case in the Fractal Meshify series which has been designed for high airflow, great ventilation, and to be builder-friendly with brilliant cable management options. Storage is savvy in a case as small as this and it owes it to Fractal’s great design. The spacious interior only enhances the airflow of the system as it remains relatively unobstructed meaning it can penetrate the components easier and keep your temps down.
The ability to mount 3 x 2.5″ SSD and 2 x 3.5″ hard drives is nifty from a case of this size. The included fans work flawlessly and you generally won’t have to replace them unless you want extra silence from the build (not that they are loud).
This simple-looking case is overflowing with quality and for such a low price it can’t be ignored.
NZXT H210 – Mini-ITX
NZXT H210 – Mini-ITX
We’ve recently had the pleasure of reviewing a couple of Thermaltake’s case offerings (Thermaltake Core V1 and Thermaltake View 71) with some impressive results. So, when choosing our budget pick for the m-ATX category, the Thermaltake Versa H17 was an instant contender. This case keeps the Versa styling (boxy) that we’ve seen on other Versa models before, however, it does offer a sleek, brushed aluminum style front panel that is aesthetically pleasing. That being said, there are an additional two versions of the H17 that offer a tempered glass side panel and an acrylic side panel.
As far as features are concerned, the H17 comes with one pre-installed exhaust fan (120mm) which makes use of a 3-pin cable over a Molex. Users then have the option to install additional fans in the front and roof if they need additional airflow. It even supports a 280mm radiator on the front.
From a build point of view, the assembly process using this case was extremely easy. The cable cut-outs were well-positioned (although not grommeted) and the PSU shroud helped aid in cable management as well. The rear of the case is another side of solid metal, so cable management at the back won’t be an issue.
The H17 has support for 2 x 2.5″ drives alongside 2 x 3.5 drives which can be mounted to the motherboard tray. The clearance inside supports a PSU of up to 220mm, a GPU of 350mm, and a CPU cooler of 155mm in height. So all-in-all, a decent amount of room.
And while the airflow isn’t the greatest I’ve ever seen, it’s still efficient enough at keeping your components cool. Overall, another excellent case from Thermaltake that offers great value for money.
Thermaltake Versa H17
Thermaltake Versa H17
The H210i from NZXT features the same tempered glass and steel design of their larger versions of this case (H510) and is available in the same variety of colors – black and white, black and blue, and also the one we feature here, red and black. The H210 is a mini-tower(small) and only supports boards that are mini-ITX. Despite the H210’s hefty price tag, there aren’t many downsides to this case as it is one of the best performing Mini-ITX cases we have had the privilege of using.
Usually, cases of this size don’t really offer much in terms of specs and benefits – other than they’re size. However, the H210 offers up some interesting features that might surprise you. For example, this case is fully equipped to support water-cooling configurations.
Having said that, if water-cooling isn’t your thing, don’t worry, this case comes with a bunch of airflow options that will allow you to keep internal temps nice and low. You have the option to fit an additional 2 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm fans in the front, and 1 x 120mm in the roof – this case comes with a pre-installed rear fan. Furthermore, you can equip a radiator to the front and rear if you want to bolster cooling.
Overall, the H210’s strong performance and value are good enough reasons to purchase this alone. That being said, you also get stunning aesthetics, excellent cable management, and easy build assembly thrown in as well. A fantastic little ITX case.
Final Word
So, there you have it, our comprehensive breakdown of the best micro-ATX cases currently available this 2022.
The importance of a PC case cannot be overstated. Your case protects the rest of your components and provides them with airflow to ensure they’re running at a stable temperature. The additional bonuses that come with a micro-ATX case, however, mean you can add convenience and some real space-saving solutions into the mix as well!
Below are the final contenders in short.
Our top pick for the best micro-ATX cases is the Phanteks Enthoo Evolve mATX as it offers fantastic airflow, superb build quality, and a stunning aesthetic as well.
The Corsair Crystal 280X offers an easy and unique build experience in today’s market. Thanks to the spacious interior and radiator support it offers, you’ll have enough room to build a powerful gaming PC in this case, whilst having the cooling support to keep it running efficiently.
The Fractal Meshify C Mini is unrivaled in terms of value! This beast offers all the benefits you’d expect from a top-end Fractal case – build quality, aesthetics, cooling, and a bang-for-your-buck price tag.
If you’re on a budget but still want a fabulous micro-ATX case to show off your new compact build then the Thermaltake Versa H17 is one of the best budget cases available.
And finally, if you’re looking for something a little smaller than micro-ATX, but still want all the features and benefits of a larger case, we higher recommend the NZXT H210.
Let us know what your thought of the case selections we chose by leaving us a comment in the section below. Better still, you can now head over to our Community Hub where you can discuss everything case related with like-minded individuals.