The cabinet of your computer is generally overlooked which can affect the temperatures of your computer components quite a lot. You may even get limited in terms of the storage and motherboard compatibility options that you get.
Hence, it is highly important to pick up the right cabinet for your computer which can be one of the best micro ATX cases stated down below:
- Motherboard Compatibility: While buying a computer case, it is quite important to ensure that it is compatible with the motherboard form factor of your choice. Since we are here with the best micro ATX cases, all of them work with micro ATX motherboards as well as mini ITX and even ATX motherboards in some cases.
- Side Panel: A lot of computer buyers like to have a good looking cabinet because of which cabinets with tempered glass side panels or windows are highly important. Thus, except for a few steel side panel cases, most options stated here include a tempered glass window for aesthetics.
- Construction: Other than the side panel of your micro ATX case, you would also want the whole cabinet to be sturdy and strong. Fortunately, most cases use steel for construction which is quite sturdy and ideal for long-term usage.
Apart from these factors, all the various micro ATX cases present in this article also have their details and specifications along with a complete “Buying Guide” allowing you to pick the best micro ATX case by the end of this list.
Best Micro ATX Cases Table
| Micro ATX Cases | Motherboard Compatibility | Side Panel | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooler Master Micro ATX Case | Micro ATX, mini ITX | Tempered glass | 2 years | Check On Amazon |
| Thermaltake Micro-ATX Case | Micro ATX, mini ITX | Tempered glass | 3 years | Check On Amazon |
| ASUS Micro-ATX Case | Micro ATX | --- | 1 year | Check On Amazon |
| Apevia Micro-ATX Case | Micro ATX, mini ITX | Tempered glass | 1 year | Check On Amazon |
| DEEPCOOL Micro-ATX Case | Micro ATX, mini ITX | Tempered glass | 2 years | Check On Amazon |
| MUSETEX Micro - ATX Case | Micro ATX, mini ITX | Tempered glass | 1 year | Check On Amazon |
| Lian LI Micro-ATX Case | Micro ATX, mini ITX | Tempered glass | --- | Check On Amazon |
Best Micro ATX Cases Reviews
1. Cooler Master Micro ATX Case
Cooler Master is one of the most popular brands of computer cases which have been making various models for a pretty long time including micro ATX ones.
The Cooler Master MasterBox MB320L micro ATX case is present in the 1st position in this list since it is the perfect option for high-performance computers. This is primarily due to the reason that you can install a total of six 120 mm fans inside including 3 at the front, 2 on the top, and 1 at the rear. There are even two 120 mm ARGB fans installed at the front.
You can use this case for installing either a micro ATX or mini ITX motherboard along with 2 x 2.5-inch drives, 2 x 3.5-inch drives, up to a 166 mm tall CPU cooler, and up to a 344 mm long GPU. Talking about aesthetics, not only do you get a tempered glass side panel, but there is even a PSU shroud with this PC case. On the front, you will also find 2 x USB 3.2, ports and audio ports for ease of use.
Best Features:
- Compatible with micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards
- Made out of steel
- Features a tempered glass side panel
- Supports 3 x 120 mm front fans, 2 x 120 mm top fans, 1 x 120 mm rear fan
- Includes 2 x 120 mm ARGB front fans
- Compatible with up to 166 mm tall CPU cooler and 344 mm long GPU
- Offers 2 x 2.5 inch and 2 x 3.5-inch drive bays
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
Pros:
- Comes with ARGB fans
- Excellent cooling performance
- Supports a large number of fans
Cons:
- Slightly on the premium side
2. Thermaltake Micro-ATX Case
You can also consider Thermaltake if you want to get high-performance computer parts like cabinets, CPU coolers, fans, liquid cooling components, and various other things.
Thermaltake’s S100 micro ATX case is present in the 2nd position in this listicle as this is one of the best looking options available out there. Starting with its aesthetics, it has a premium steel construction, a large tempered glass window, and even a PSU shroud on the bottom. To keep a minimal design, its audio ports, USB 2.0 ports, and USB 3.0 ports are present on the top.
Even though it does not have a mesh panel, its cooling performance is decent since it supports 2 x 140 mm fans on the top as well as the front along with a standard 120 mm fan at the rear. This fairly sleek case also supports micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards, up to a 165 mm tall CPU cooler, up to a 330 mm long GPU, 2 x 2.5” drives, and 2 x 3.5” drives.
Best Features:
- Compatible with micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards
- Made out of steel
- Features a tempered glass side panel
- Supports 2 x 140 mm front fans, 2 x 140 mm top fans, 1 x 120 mm rear fan
- Includes 1 x 120 mm rear fans
- Compatible with up to 165 mm tall CPU cooler and 330 mm long GPU
- Offers 2 x 2.5 inch and 2 x 3.5-inch drive bays
Pros:
- Premium build quality
- Modern and sleek looking aesthetics
- Compatible with large 140 mm case fans
Cons:
- Does not uses a mesh design
3. ASUS Micro-ATX Case
ASUS Prime AP201 is a MicroATX case designed to offer high-performance capabilities within a compact form factor. It features quasi-filter mesh panels, comprised of over 57,000 precision-machined 1.5mm holes, enhancing airflow and providing a clear view of internal components. With support for 360mm coolers, graphics cards up to 338mm in length, and standard ATX PSUs, the AP201 is optimized for thermal efficiency.
The case boasts spatial efficiency, accommodating ATX PSUs, lengthy graphics cards, custom liquid cooling setups, and various storage devices, all within a 33-liter footprint. In addition to two Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, the front panel includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, providing nimble connections for compatible microATX ASUS motherboards.
Best Features:
- Tool-free side panels with a secure clip mechanism
- Extended motherboard tray with strategic cutouts enables sizeable cable management
- Removable dust filters for easy maintenance and improved airflow
- Quasi-filter mesh panels with over 57,000
- Supports 360mm coolers, graphics cards up to 338mm
Pros:
- Unique, Minimalist, Easy to Build In
- Solid Mesh Case
- Quite spacious design inside,
Cons:
- Not so compact
4. Apevia Micro-ATX Case
Apevia is quite a new brand of computer cases that you can consider if you are looking for something affordable but still want something feature-rich and high performance.
The Apevia Prodigy BK micro ATX case is one of the best looking options stated in this listing that also offers great performance. You get excellent cooling performance from this cabinet since it supports 3 x 120 mm front fans, 2 x 120 mm top fans, 1 x 120 mm rear fan. And since there are 2 ARGB 120 mm front fans and 1 ARGB 120 mm rear fan included in the box, this is a great looking case.
You also get decent flexibility with this cabinet since you get a tempered glass side panel, PSU shroud, 2 x 2.5-inch drive bays, 3 x 3.5-inch drive bays, front panel audio ports along with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, and support for up to 160 mm tall CPU coolers as well as up to 350 mm long GPUs. This cabinet can be used with micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards as you like.
Best Features:
- Compatible with micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards
- Made out of steel
- Features a tempered glass side panel
- Supports 3 x 120 mm front fans, 2 x 120 mm top fans, 1 x 120 mm rear fan
- Includes 2 x 120 mm ARGB front fans and 1 x 120 mm ARGB rear fan
- Compatible with up to 160 mm tall CPU cooler and 350 mm long GPU
- Offers 2 x 2.5 inch and 3 x 3.5-inch drive bays
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Provides multiple ARGB fans in the box
- Great cooling performance
- Multiple drive bays for large storage capacity
Cons:
- Fans are a bit loud
5. DEEPCOOL Micro-ATX Case
Other than its high-end options, you can also find budget-friendly PC components and computer cases from Deepcool like the one stated here.
Deepcool’s Matrexx 40 micro ATX case is one of the best options out there if you want great cooling performance without paying a lot of money. Even though there is only a single included 120 mm fan at the rear and support for one extra 120 mm fan at the front, you still get excellent cooling performance from its mesh front panel.
Even at its given price tag, you get a tempered glass side panel along with handy audio ports along with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports on top. Talking about other compatibility ratings, this case can be used with a CPU cooler of up to 151 mm, a GPU of up to 250 mm, micro ATX motherboards, mini ITX boards, up to 2 x 2.5-inch drives, 3 x 3.5-inch drives, and even 1 x 5.25-inch drives.
Best Features:
- Compatible with micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards
- Made out of steel
- Features a tempered glass side panel
- Supports 1 x 120 mm front fan, 1 x 120 mm rear fan
- Includes 1 x 120 mm rear fan
- Compatible with up to 151 mm tall CPU cooler and 250 mm long GPU
- Offers 2 x 2.5 inch, 3 x 3.5 inch, and 1 x 5.25 inch drive bays
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
Pros:
- High value for money computer case
- Great cooling performance
- Various drive bays
Cons:
- Limited GPU size compatibility
6. MUSETEX Micro ATX Case
Musetex is quite a premium brand of micro ATX cases that offers great-looking design products that also offer high performance to the user.
The Musetex Mesh micro ATX case is the most premium motion stated here. As per the name, you get a mesh panel at the front. When combined with its included ARGB fans, you get excellent performance since it has 1 x 200 mm front fan, 2 x 120 mm top fans, 1 x 120 mm rear fans. And if you want to improve this cooling performance further, then you will be glad to know that it supports 1 x 120 mm rear fan, 2 x 140 mm top fans, 2 x 140 mm, or 1 x 200 mm front fan.
Since this is a premium case, you get a PSU shroud along with a tempered glass side panel. You also get 3 x 2.5 inch and 2 x 3.5-inch drive bays, mini ITX and micro ATX motherboard support, vertical GPU mounting support, and much more. Just like other PC cases, this one also has audio ports, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, and 1 x USB 3.0 ports on the top.
Best Features:
- Compatible with micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards
- Made out of steel
- Features a tempered glass side panel
- Supports 2 x 140 mm or 1 x 200 mm front fans, 2 x 140 mm top fans, 1 x 120 mm rear fan
- Includes 1 x 200 mm front, 2 x 120 mm top, and 1 x 120 mm rear ARGB fans
- Offers 2 x 2.5 inch and 2 x 3.5-inch drive bays
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Includes multiple ARGB fans
- Great looking case
- Supports vertical GPU mounting
Cons:
- Quite an expensive micro ATX case
7. LIAN LI Micro ATX Case
LIAN LI LANCOOL 205M MESH, Snow Edition – a high airflow Micro ATX PC case designed for gaming enthusiasts. The upgraded mesh front panel ensures optimal air ventilation while keeping dust at bay.
Featuring a tempered glass side panel, the LANCOOL 205M MESH provides a clear view of your RGB components, adding a visually stunning element to your gaming rig. The steel front panel and main structure offer durability, supporting micro ATX (mATX) and Mini-ITX motherboard sizes.
Designed as a mid-tower chassis with an easy installation design, this case includes removable SSD mounting brackets and a bottom side panel PSU and HDD bay for hassle-free component changes. The LANCOOL 205M MESH is a compact and convenient choice for your gaming setup.
With professional cable management solutions, including extra space behind the motherboard tray for hidden cable organization, this gaming PC shell case ensures a clean and tidy aesthetic. The front I/O essentials, including 2x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, power button, reset button, audio out and in, power LED, and HDD LED, are conveniently located on the top.
Best Features:
- Compatible with ATX, micro ATX, and mini ITX motherboards
- Made out of steel
- Features a tempered glass side panel
- Supports 3 x 120 mm front fans, 2 x 120 mm top fans, 2 x 120 mm bottom fans, 1 x 120 mm rear fan
- Compatible with up to 155 mm tall CPU cooler and 400 mm long GPU
- Offers 2 x 2.5 inch and 2 x 3.5-inch drive bays
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
- Really easy to work with
- Lots of different ways to route cables
- Simple and minimalist design
- Micro tower is small enough to fit on top of a desk
- Air flow on the back, top, front, below the psu, and on the sides of the front panel
- Removeable Magnetic dust filters on the top and the bottom
Cons:
- Rear panel doesn’t move to slide it
Buying Guide for the Best Micro ATX Cases
You can find various motherboard models out there that all have different sizes and form factors. To use a given motherboard with your computer, it is highly important to ensure that it can fit inside your PC case.
And for those of you who are going with a micro ATX motherboard, we have stated a few of the best micro ATX cases up above. Alongside these various cases, you will also discover all their details. You can also consider this comprehensive buying guide for the best micro ATX cases to know more about them:
1. Motherboard Compatibility
As you can guess by the name, all the various PC cases stated above are meant to be used along with micro ATX size motherboards. But even then, it is still a great idea to check the motherboard compatibility of your given computer cabinet.
This is due to the reason that most micro ATX cases in the market offer compatibility with mini ITX motherboards as well. In some cases, you can even find them to be compatible with larger ATX motherboards. If your computer case has compatibility with other motherboard sizes, then it can be quite handy if you ever decide to get a new motherboard in the future.
2. Side Panel
Other than the versatility and performance of your computer case, a lot of buyers also tend to buy cabinets for aesthetics. If that is also the case for you, then it is highly likely that you would love to get a computer case with a transparent side panel. Hence, almost all micro ATX cases include a tempered glass side window that not only looks great and offers proper structural strength to the cabinet, but is also prone to scratches, unlike acrylic micro ATX cases. However, a few budget computer cabinets may also include a steel side panel which may not look good to some buyers.
3. Construction
Apart from the side panel itself, the construction of the rest of the computer cabinet is also quite important to check. By getting a strong and sturdy micro ATX case, you can be assured that it is going to last for a pretty long time without facing any issues in the long run. Fortunately, almost all micro ATX cases use steel for their construction which is excellent for structural strength and long-term usage.
4. Cooler Height and GPU length
While buying a computer cabinet, it is quite important to ensure that you can fit all of your parts inside. And apart from the motherboard, you should also check whether your CPU cooler and graphics card are going to fit inside since they are two of the largest computer components present inside your computer. Thankfully, almost all PC cases have a cooler height and GPU length size compatibility which should be higher than the size of the components that you are using.
5. Fans Support
To properly cool your computer, you would need to have a lot of fans inside it. Thus, it is a great idea to check the fan support offered by your micro ATX cases. Most of them will support 2 front fans, 2 top fans, and 1 exhaust fan with a few cases even including the support for bottom fans. Apart from supporting multiple fans in multiple locations, a lot of micro ATX cases can also include fans in the box which is something you should check before getting one.
6. Drive Bays
Even though almost all modern motherboards come with an M.2 slot for installing an onboard SSD, there is still a pretty high chance that you are also going to install hard drives and traditional SATA SSDs in your computer. In such cases, it is highly important to check the number of drive bays offered by your micro ATX case.
Usually, you will find 4 to 6 drive bays in a given micro ATX case which can include 2.5-inch bays for SSDs and smaller hard drivers, 3.5-inch bays for traditional hard drives, and even 5.25-inch bays for optical disk drives and other similar sized accessories.
7. Front Panel Ports
Since reaching the input and output ports of your computer’s motherboard is not the most practical option, almost all computer cases include front panel ports. These ports can be either installed on the top or on the front depending on your PC cabinet case.
In either case, you will find front panel ports like power button, reset button, audio ports, USB 2.0 ports, USB 3.0 ports, and even USB type C ports which are the most common type of ports that you need regularly.
8. Warranty
As almost all computer cases are either made out of steel or aluminum in some cases, you can expect them to easily last for a pretty long time. But even then, it is still a great idea to check the included warranty period. This is due to a simple reason that any micro ATX case that includes a 2-year warranty or similar is most likely going to last for a pretty long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: Micro ATX Cases are tower cases that are smaller than regular ATX cases but larger than mini ITX cases. Full sized towers are large and bulky and can sport dual graphics cards, water cooling loops and many cooling fans. Micro ATX cases, sometimes called as Mini Towers, offer a decent airflow and some models even support water cooling even though they are smaller than full tower. Usually, Micro ATX cases support Micro ATX and Mini ITX motherboards.
Ans: Micro ATX cases and motherboards are some of the best value for money products in the computer industry. Micro ATX cases are a sweet spot between ATX and Mini ITX form factors. They are small and yet offer a good air flow for cooling. They are spacious to support a high-end graphics card.
Ans: Micro ATX cases are all about that compact build without compromise in air flow. Some look for the smallest micro ATX case for their build. The Thermaltake Core V21, BitFenix Prodigy M and Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L are some of the smallest available micro ATX cases.
Ans: Micro ATX motherboards often have 4 RAM slots, couple of PCIe slots and decent VRMs for good and clean power delivery. If you are planning to build a gaming PC with Micro ATX case and Motherboard, then you can build a very good gaming system and you can save a few bucks as well.
Ans: ATX motherboards have better VRMs, more PCIe slots and are larger in size when compared to micro ATX motherboards. Other than that, both ATX and micro ATX motherboards are good form factors for gaming PC or for video editing. If you are on a budget and doesn’t want to compromise on the performance, then Micro ATX is the better option. But with ATX motherboards and cases, you can upgrade your system with latest and better components.
Ans: The three most popular motherboard form factors are ATX, Micro ATX and Mini ITX. ATX is the largest of the bunch with ample PCIe and RAM slots and excellent VRMs for clean power. Between Micro ATX and Mini ITX, micro ATX is slightly bigger than mini ITX but it is smaller than ATX. The mini ITX is the smallest of the three.
Ans: No. A micro ATX motherboard cannot be fit in a mini ITX case. Mini ITX is designed for ultra compact builds and supports only mini ITX motherboards. Micro ATX is smaller than ATX and is also aimed at compact builds with good cooling. Usually, Micro ATX cases support both Micro ATX and Mini ITX motherboards.
Ans: Micro ATX, either case or motherboard, doesn’t affect the performance. First, the micro ATX motherboards are almost similar in size as ATX except they are little short vertically. This means you only miss out on couple of extra PCIe slots. You still get up to 4 PCIe slots and 4 RAM slots. Apart from these, the build quality and power delivery are very similar to ATX motherboards.
So, no drop in performance. Coming to Micro ATX cases, they are smaller than full tower ATX cases but with reduced motherboard size, they make up for enough air flow and cooling setup. If you want performance without breaking bank, then micro ATX is definitely a good option.
Ans: Usually, ATX cases are 60CM tall and 20CM wide from the front view. Micro ATX cases on the other hand are 25CM tall and 18CM wide. These numbers are average among different PC case manufacturers and are not standard but you can easily get an idea to check out if your case is ATX or Micro ATX.
Conclusion
If you are familiar with computers, then you must know that you need the right computer case to fit all of your components inside. Even if you are going with a highly popular form factor like micro ATX, it is quite important to pick the right case or cabinet for your PC.
To help you out, we have stated the best micro ATX cases alongside their specifications and features. After going through the detailed buying guide stated above, picking up the right one should be fairly easy. If not, then you can consider going with one of our favorite recommendations for the best micro ATX cases:
- Despite being a fairly budget-oriented micro ATX case, the DEEPCOOL Micro-ATX Case can be a viable option for all those who wish to get a gaming computer with optimal performance. Other than having a front mesh panel, you get an included rear 120 mm fan and support for one 120 mm fan on the front. Along with performance, you also get pretty good aesthetics with its tempered glass side panel.
- If you do not have any budget restrictions, then the Cooler Master Micro ATX Case can be a great high-end workstation PC case. Other than its two 120 mm ARGB fans preinstalled in the front, you can also install two 120 mm fans on the top, one 120 mm fan at the rear, and even replace the front ones with three 120 mm fans. Being a high-end offering, it also includes a PSU shroud and a tempered glass side panel for aesthetics.
