Are you looking for a small computer case? You’re not alone. As processors and other components have become more power efficient the desire for a small computer case within which to fit these cooler, less demanding parts has sky-rocketed. Let’s face it – slim is in. Big, bulky computer cases look almost medieval next to a sexy mini-ITX case.

The thing about mini-ITX cases, however, is that the quality of the case shines through much brighter than with other cases. If a case is larger it doesn’t matter quite as much if the manufacturer is great at laying out a case. There is still going to be plenty of room. But with a mini-ITX case every inch counts. This guide will help you pick out the best mini-ITX for your newer, smaller computer.

Antec ISK 300 – $70-90 dollars

Antec is the George Clooney of computer cases. Just say the name in a room of computer enthusiasts and everyone knows what you’re talking about – and most people have something good to say.

Antec is best known for its mid-range desktop cases, but the Antec ISK 300 attempts to extend the magic to the mini-ITX sector. And completely, utterly succeeds. The Antec ISK 300 is handsomely constructed and also incredibly tiny. It is less than four tall, 9 inches wide, and 13 inches deep. It in fact looks more like an oversized external DVD-ROM case than a computer.

Given its size it should come as no surprise that any ISK 300 build is going to be cramped. There is room, however, for a mini-ITX motherboard, a 2.5 inch hard drive,  a 5.25 inch external drive and even a slim PCI or PCI Express card. Note that I said nothing about the power supply – that’s because the ISK 300 uses an included 65 watt external power supply. The result is a tiny but capable system small enough to fit in a desk drawer. If size is your number one priority the Antec ISK 300 is a good choice.

Silverstone SG06- $120-130 dollars

I own this case. Or rather, I own a slightly larger variant called the SG02. It is a beautifully built case which serves well as my HTPC case, but I now wish I had waited for the Silverstone SG06, because this thing is awesome.

First, let’s talk size. At 11 x 8.5 x 7 inches the Silverstone SG06 is not the smallest mini-ITX case, but it can hardly be accused of being large – and the space is put to very good use. The case has a 120mm fan which provides excellent airflow without much noise. It also has enough room to mount a large CPU cooler, a video card of up to 9 inches in length, and it comes with a 300 watt power supply.

What this all means is that you can actually build a powerful mini-ITX system in this case. Add a Radeon 5770 with a Core i5 750 and suddenly you have a gaming computer which is small enough to take to LAN parties.

Lian-Li PC-Q07 – $60-90 dollars

The Lian-Li PC-Q07 looks like the world’s smallest and coolest mini-fridge. All Lian-Li cases are made of brushed aluminum which makes them lighter and sexier than the cases from other manufacturers. The Lian-Li PC-Q07 is 8 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 11 inches high, making its height it’s largest dimension.

Inside the Lian-Li is somewhat less spacious than the SG06 but more spacious than the ISK 300. It can potentially fit a PCI card with an appropriate mini-ITX motherboard but larger cards may interfere with the hard drive locations. The Lian-Li PC-Q07 does not come with a power supply but can fit any standard sized product.

Surprisingly, the Lian-Li’s greatest trait is probably its value. The SG06 is probably a better case overall than this, but it costs about $50 to 70 dollars more depending on where you buy. Even if you factor in an expensive $20 dollar power supply the difference is still substantial. If you’re not looking to cram maximum power into your case the Lian-Li is a nice alternative.

Thin is in, particularly when it comes to small computers like HTPCs. Although there are advantages to buying a large case, as outlined in the Smidgen PC HTPC case buying guide, many simply do not have the room for a massive case in their home theater. There are also aesthetic reasons to pick a slim HTPC case, as such cases don’t attract undue attention, although your grandparents will wonder how a PC can fit in such a slim enclosure!

The slim HTPC case market is still somewhat untapped, but there are some good cases to pick from. The three slim HTPC cases listed below are my personal favorites.

Thermaltake Mozart SX

Thermaltake Mozart SX

Slim, yes, but small? The Thermaltake Mozart SX isn’t. Although it is only 90mm tall (without optional “feet” installed) the Thermaltake Mozart SX is quite large in terms of width and depth coming in at around 19 and 17.5 inches respectively. There is reason for this, however, as the size allows for installation of both full ATX motherboards and most normally sized ATX power supplies. That’s rare for a slim HTPC case. The extra room may not matter to some, but to those looking to re-purpose an older machine as an HTPC the Mozart SX is a very attractive slim HTPC enclosure.

Besides size, the Thermaltake Mozart SX has a few other features of note. It can fit up to 3 3.5″ drives, which is a lot for a slim HTPC case and enough that a HTPC built in the Thermaltake Mozart SX could double as a home file server. The Mozart SX also comes with VFD, remote and media software, although none of it is class leading. Typically priced under $200 dollars, the Thermaltake Mozart SX is competitive on price. On the whole it is a solid offering, although its size in width and depth will make it impractical for some.

Silverstone LC11M

Silverstone LC11M

Although I once considered Silverstone only for their high-end cases, Silverstone has really been churning out the small enclosures. The LC11M is Silverstone’s slim HTPC case product, and it has the typical look and feel of a Silverstone product. Silverstone has been doing a good job of ensuring that their HTPC cases look handsome from the front, and the LC11M is no different. The only problem is the excessively bright blue LEDs on the front. These same absurdly bright LEDs are found on some of Silverstone’s other products as well.

Given that it is around the same height as the Mozart, but several inches smaller in width and depth, the Silverstone LC11M feels a bit cramped. It comes with its own tiny PSU and a few small 80mm fans. In practice, though, the smaller usable space inside the Silverstone LC11M doesn’t feel like a problem. The case fits mATX boards, two hard drives, and requires a riser card to use the PCI slots. Besides an extra hard drive there isn’t anything useful that can be fit into a Mozart SX that won’t fit in the LC11M.

The only real downside is that the Silverstone LC11M usually retails around $220, and it is arguable if the higher price is worthwhile. It isn’t easy to find, either, even online. If you want one and find it at stock at a reasonable price, grab it!

Silverstone LC19

Silverstone LC19

Moving down the Silverstone family tree in price, but not necessarily in price, we have the SilverStone LC19. While both the Thermaltake Mozart SX and Silverstone LC11M are thin, the LC19 takes it to a different level. It is only 2.7 inches tall, making it one of the slimmest HTPC cases available. In fact, this slim HTPC case is no larger then a modern Blu Ray player. It isn’t particularly large in other dimensions, either, at 15 inches wide and 14 inches deep.

Despite this, the SilverStone LC19 still supports mATX motherboards, PCI cards through riser cards, and a full size 3.5 inch hard drive. There sacrifices in other areas, however. The SilverStone LC19 only supports slim optical drives, which are more costly then normal ones. It is also lacking in air flow as it has only a single 50mm exhaust fan and the power supply is an external model, such as with a laptop, which can make wire clutter in your home theater worse.

These downfalls are to be expected, however. When buying a slim HTPC case this thin one should expect to have to jump through a few hoops. While the SilverStone LC19 does have some competitors in the ultra-slim HTPC case market, it is the slimiest HTPC case I’ve found consistently available in the United States. And while a price of around $200 bucks isn’t cheap, it isn’t any worse then the LC11M.

Word of Warning

While the three slim HTPC cases here are my personal picks, I do want to warn those new to HTPCs that these cases are all radically different then normal PC cases and even normal HTPC cases. They all require the use of riser cards in order to use PCI cards. The also are cramped and difficult to work with. One can never assume when building PCs this small that any particular part will fit just because it works in a mATX tower. Slim HTPC cases allow for the creation of some very impressive HTPCs, but be sure to do the research before you buy.

The Cooler Master 360 could be a good HTPC case. But it's not.

The Cooler Master 360 is a general-purpose desktop and HTPC PC Case with a strange talent – it can be oriented either in tower or desktop formats. It is also about the same size as a normal mATX PC case, so it would seem a good candidate for a mid-size HTPC. The Cooler Master 360 is even stranger on the inside, as it uses a unusual layout in which the power supply is actually mounted at the front of the case. Because of this layout it is capable of mounting a full ATX motherboard, which is impressive for a case of this size.

Unfortunately, as I detail in my full review, the Cooler Master 360 has some pretty serious problems. The build quality is shaky even for an inexpensive case, and the case looks quite ugly overall. The big sin, however, is that the strange internal layout results in limited room for video cards and only one – that’s right, one – 3.5″ internal hard drive bay. That makes the Cooler Master 360 unsuitable for an HTPC in my mind. It’s a shame, really. Cooler Master could have had a hit on their hands if they’d executed better.

For the full review, check out my Brighthub article.

The SilverStone Sugo SG02B-F is a Micro-ATX case aimed towards general purpose and HTPC applications. As is mentioned in this review, the SilverStone Sugo SG02B-F is well laid out and well priced, but it does have some issues with noise levels. Overall it has garnered a 4 out of 5 rating and is recommended.