mATX Case options.

[Princess Luna]

@TVwazhere

Hey hey, help me out with your so profound knowledge today ^^

 

Is this https://pcpartpicker.com/product/JsKcCJ/fractal-design-meshify-c-mini-dark-tg-microatx-mini-tower-case-fd-ca-mesh-c-mini-bko-tgd

 

The best mATX case we've right now? gimme mATX (more to the compact side) options pretty please :3

 

Things to note: It'll most likely use a RTX 2080 Ti MSi Sea Hawk X which is an hybrid card with 120mm AiO note it for clearance.

[LukeSavenije]

i mean... nr400 and define c mini are also a thing

 

but this one is pretty nice

[TVwazhere]

2 hours ago, Princess Luna said:

@TVwazhere

Hey hey, help me out with your so profound knowledge today ^^

 

Meshify Mini C is one of the best** overall cases for build quality, airflow and cable management. Aesthetics are subjective ¯\_(ツ)_/¯I used the Define C Mini in Purple build and it was amazing. The Focus G mini is also a decent budget option.

 

NZXT Discontinued the H400 mATX series, so you wont see an H410 sadly. You might still be able to find the H400 in stock for a bit longer.

Coolermaster's Q300L is on the right path, but they need to work on the front panel. which is what led me to Thermaltake'ss Versa H18 TG for Blue build 2018 (I've honestly made as many mATX builds for friends as I have ATX LOL)

 

Those who like a cube shape and are okay with "decent" airflow can look at the Crystal 280x

Metallic gear (Phanteks's budget brand) has their Neo series which includes an mATX case, the Neo Micro

InWin has their 301, which is pretty compact but has limited airflow to the CPU, gpu is pretty good though.

 

Silverstone is actually pretty big on mATX, they're coming out with a few inverted mATX cases, specifically the RL08

 

Edited July 24, 2019 by TVwazhere
Typo

[Princess Luna]

6 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

NZXT Discontinued the H400 mATX series, so you wont see an H410 sadly. You might still be able to find the H400 in stock for a bit longer.

That is a shame, it is a nice case by every mean indeed but I'd want the black one specifically and availability already isn't as good as it used as you said I think this one is out of question.

8 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

Thermaltakes Versa H18 TG f

Looks interesting, pretty compact and slick... a very high up alternative right now.

10 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

Coolermaster's Q300L

As you may recall I end up having not one, not two but three Cooler Master Case Pro 3 mATX I just adored this case back in the day... so I always try giving Cooler Master my consideration but the Q300L I don't know... it just doesn't go down my throat.

12 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

Those who like a cube shape and are okay with "decent" airflow can look at the Crystal 280x

That's a beautiful case and would also go straight to the high considerations weren't it too large to the side, it won't fit where it has to go sadly!

14 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

, the Neo Micro

Gosh that's one beautiful case but the complete lack of front intake puts me unease... Same goes to the inWin 301... the CPU is going to be.... (because I'll always be that weirdo) a locked i9 9900 and to guarantee it can keep it's 4.7ghz all cores boost on the Hyper 212 Black Edition I'll probably need an airflow... the VRM also will take advantage of it since I end up cheapening on a AsRock Z390M Pro4.

 

Originally the plan was going to be a Ryzen 7 3700X but I found an i9 9900 going for $399.90 and after making all the counts realized the difference of 70 dollars could be absorbed... Damn as much as I bash Intel I always end up with them xD'

 

18 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

Silverstone is actually pretty big on mATX, they're coming out with a few inverted mATX cases, specifically the RL08

I'll watch GN videos as soon as I get time for it, thank you kindly for the well worked out reply!

 

34 minutes ago, LukeSavenije said:

nr400 and define c mini are also a thing 

Hey Luke like written above about the Neo Micro and inWin 301 the lack of front intake is what puts me unease with these alternatives, the meshify was my consideration over the define for this reason [:

[LukeSavenije]

6 minutes ago, Princess Luna said:

the meshify was my consideration over the define for this reason

ah, i see

 

why not the nr400 then?

[TVwazhere]

4 minutes ago, Princess Luna said:

Hey Luke like written above about the Neo Micro and inWin 301 the lack of front intake is what puts me unease with these alternatives, the meshify was my consideration over the define for this reason [:

Side intakes can be about 80% as effect s full mesh if done properly, and I can say with confidence Fractal design, NZXT and Phanteks do it right by making sure there is a sizable gap between the front panel and the fans where they can actually pull air in from the sides. Of course if you want maximum airflow, nothing beats open mesh. 

Spoiler

7 minutes ago, Princess Luna said:

Looks interesting, pretty compact and slick... a very high up alternative right now.

I go into detail about it that case the Build review. The case has good CPU airflow, though the GPU is a bit close to the PSU shroud which unlike NZXT does not have holes. this wasnt an issue for the RX580 since it doesnt get super hot but for a higher end card (A Titan V?) it might be a bit claustrophobic. Hard drive mounting was a buit unique too; no cages, jsut special screws and pegs for mountings. 

Spoiler

 

[Tonberry]

I vote for the Inwin 301.

I guess there is a guy here who uses the 301, but he runs CLC loop afaik.

[TVwazhere]

14 minutes ago, PotatoCanDo! said:

I vote for the Inwin 301.

I guess there is a guy here who uses the 301, but he runs CLC loop afaik.

@RollinLower

[Velcade]

1 hour ago, TVwazhere said:

Meshify Mini C is one of the nest overall cases for buildquality, airflow and cable managment.

Mmmmmm quite nesty indeed.

 

I love this case for matx builds.  I've built 3 different systems in the case.  It's really been a joy.  Airflow and Cable management are spot on.  

[RollinLower]

7 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

@RollinLower

the InWin 301 is almost the perfect mATX case imo. if only the airflow was just a bit better..

i just cut a big hole in the front of mine and put some dust filtering stuff behind it. so now i just barely manage to cool a OC'd 1950X threadripper and a Titan X and a 1070 in this with just 360mm rad space.

clearance is tight

 

 

[Princess Luna]

2 hours ago, TVwazhere said:

Of course if you want maximum airflow, nothing beats open mesh. 

It's certainly a strong point and I'll be honest to say it's a plus that I enjoy the aesthetic appeal of it too.

 

2 hours ago, TVwazhere said:

The case has good CPU airflow, though the GPU is a bit close to the PSU shroud which unlike NZXT does not have holes. this wasnt an issue for the RX580 since it doesnt get super hot but for a higher end card (A Titan V?) it might be a bit claustrophobic.

That's interesting, yes the CPU and VRM air flow is a priority as I'm not sure if the Hyper 212 Black Edition gonna satisfy entirely for the i9 9900 one can only hope.

 

I can see blower cards surely having a hard time on it but fear not the TITAN V is staying on the Cooler Master Case Pro 3, I'd hope this to not to be too much of an issue since the 2080 Ti will by AiO hybrid as long as the radiator gets it's flow it should be fine... all more reason why the CPU area will need the best cooling it can get.

 

56 minutes ago, Velcade said:

Airflow and Cable management are spot on.  

Yes totally trying to achieve the clean visual and space for cabling is utmost appreciated.

 

55 minutes ago, RollinLower said:

the InWin 301 is almost the perfect mATX case imo. if only the airflow was just a bit better..

 

I'm nowhere near working with 360mm closed loops heheh and yes I can see how tight it looks, I'm not sure... from all I gather I'm still pending to the meshify mini c or the Thermaltakes Versa H18 TG

 

Sick build by the way congratz [:

 

Thank you every one!

[Vejnemojnen]

Please let us which case you opted for eventually. I've been also looking at options for compact mATX cases, and the candidates so far are Thermaltake Versa h18 (far the cheapest, roughly half the price of a define mini or nzxt h400); CM NR400; FRACTAL FOCUS MINI; NZXT H400; or even Chieftec CUBE CI-01B-OP ( this one comes without case fans, so one can choose whatever one likes the most...) 

 

Still undecided, will check actual case sizes.

[Princess Luna]

3 minutes ago, Vejnemojnen said:

.

After a long debate between the Fractal Meshify Mini C and the Thermaltakes Versa H18 I end up opting for the Mini C due to a discount on it on Amazon due to my boyfriend's Amazon Prime account deal.

 

[Vejnemojnen]

Great. Would be a very sound choice, but unfortunately costs around ~80 euros, whereas the h18 is ~35€. 

 

The fractal is definitely a better case though. Have fun with it 

[Princess Luna]

Just now, Vejnemojnen said:

Great. Would be a very sound choice, but unfortunately costs around ~80 euros, whereas the h18 is ~35€. 

 

The fractal is definitely a better case though. Have fun with it 

Yeah but nothing beats my originally favourite, Cooler Master Case Pro 3... it's certainly on the bigger spectrum of mATX, not being small at all but that case was amazing value.

[Ruo94]

1 hour ago, Princess Luna said:

After a long debate between the Fractal Meshify Mini C and the Thermaltakes Versa H18 I end up opting for the Mini C due to a discount on it on Amazon due to my boyfriend's Amazon Prime account deal.

 

 

As a fellow meshify C user, I fully support your superior choice of case.

[Touch My Hamm]

http://metallicgear.com/products/Neo-Series-uATX ???

 

Or you could join the Corsair 350D club and mod it to have a tempered glass side

[Vejnemojnen]

Found another pick

Jonsbo C3 Plus.

Small-compact-elegant-very delicate, but looks like, it has poor airflow.

http://www.cooltek.de/en/jonsbo/c-series/288/c3-plus

 

Bitfenix Phenom mATX is around the same price. Looks good, no PSU shroud though (I'd prefer a case with shroud. Just looks good. Otherwise, I'd have to get a nice PSU which is not black..).

 

InWin 301 is also an option, and small for an mATX case.

 

And yet a Fractal Define C Mini TG for ~ 70 euros. Probably the best value so far?

 

seems like there is a nice range of available cases. Won't be easy to choose.

[Vejnemojnen]

I don't know, but the CM Q300L also looks suitable, albeit, without PSU shroud. But I was wondering, whether it'd be cool enough with two front fans installed& 1 rear exhaust fan. Other candidate would be InWin 301, which just looks better, but I don't like that it features no option for TOP fans, and seems a bit restrictive with air flow in general.

 

I know the Q300L can be a heathouse without additional fans, but, with 2-3 installed, I guess the thermals should improve by a nice margin. And it's very cheap. For PSU, I'm planning to use WhisperM anyway, which is fully modular, so, it'd matter little whether there's a separate chamber or not. And It's very compact in size. 388x388 mm or so. Can it be recommended? The InWin looks better, for sure, but also more expensive and I can hardly believe it has better thermal performance.