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Best mini ITX Case for $90.

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August 5, 2014 3:21:47 PM

What the title says. Also I'm looking at the Cosair 250D, is it any good?

More about : mini itx case

August 5, 2014 3:25:53 PM

"Best" is a broad term and depends on what you are looking for in a case. What will the system be used for? If it's a gaming system you need to make sure there's enough room for a large GPU. If you're going to be overclocking you need to make sure it has good airflow. If you will be using it as a NAS or similar then it will be important for it to have room for a bunch of HDDs. If you provide us with a little more information about your components and how you plan on using the system it will make it much easier to recommend a case that is "best" for your use.
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August 5, 2014 3:27:55 PM

What shortstuff said - best is subjective.

Itx cases come in hugely different forms and sizes and what you intend to put in it is hugely significant.
On top of that, even if you know the rough type of thing you want to include, the case will limit or significantly change your choices.

The 250D basically only makes sense if you plan on using an overclockable Intel processor and a H100i (or similar) and probably an Asus/ASRock motherboard. Change any one of those things and it's pretty inflexible.
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August 5, 2014 3:28:50 PM

I probably should post my specs so here no case included: [PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mRPmmG) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/mRPmmG/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54460) | $184.98 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-h97mitx...) | $92.98 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1...) | $79.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-driv...) | $52.92 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [Sapphire Radeon R9 270 2GB Dual-X Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sapphire-video-card-100365...) | $170.38 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx500...) | $59.99 @ Newegg
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-fqc06950) | $70.00
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $711.24
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-05 18:28 EDT-0400 |
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August 5, 2014 3:39:42 PM

Still kinda depends. If you want an ITX case for portability, or to sit somewhere specific/compact, then it'll limit the options. You don't have an optical drive listed, so I'm going to assume you don't need one.

I'd say it's a safe bet that the 250D isn't a great pick for the reasons I mentioned above.

Something like the Antec ISK-600 or Fractal Design Node 304 is a pretty safe pick for being reasonably sized but flexible in terms of components/upgrades. My preference would definitely be towards the Node.
The Coolermaster Elite 120/130 are always worth consideration as they are very reasonably priced and can fit a lot of stuff.

A bit of a wild card option - have a look at the EVGA Hadron Air. It's not very good for flexibility, but it's incredibly small. It comes with a built in PSU, which is decent (and the Corsair CX are pretty rubbish anyway, that's something to ditch regardless of which case you chose) and comes in on budget if you allow for this - it's not cheap.
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August 5, 2014 3:42:45 PM

Rammy said:
Still kinda depends. If you want an ITX case for portability, or to sit somewhere specific/compact, then it'll limit the options. You don't have an optical drive listed, so I'm going to assume you don't need one.

I'd say it's a safe bet that the 250D isn't a great pick for the reasons I mentioned above.

Something like the Antec ISK-600 or Fractal Design Node 304 is a pretty safe pick for being reasonably sized but flexible in terms of components/upgrades. My preference would definitely be towards the Node.
The Coolermaster Elite 120/130 are always worth consideration as they are very reasonably priced and can fit a lot of stuff.

A bit of a wild card option - have a look at the EVGA Hadron Air. It's not very good for flexibility, but it's incredibly small. It comes with a built in PSU, which is decent (and the Corsair CX are pretty rubbish anyway, that's something to ditch regardless of which case you chose) and comes in on budget if you allow for this - it's not cheap.


Do you have a recommendation for a good ~500W PSU?
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August 5, 2014 3:47:04 PM

I think the Cooler Master Elite 130 would probably be a good fit for the system. There are a couple other minor changes I would make to the system including the above-mentioned PSU. Here's what your build would look like with my changes.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.24 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($154.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $756.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-05 18:45 EDT-0400
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August 5, 2014 3:49:14 PM

The XFX Core 550W (Bronze) is a pretty safe bet as entry level PSUs go.
If you want something modular then the Seasonic M12/G-series, Antec HCG-M or XFX (more or less any) are a good starting point. There are some other good options like the Rosewill Capstones, but they are often too long to fit in ITX cases (which often use around a 160mm limit on PSU length).
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August 5, 2014 3:55:15 PM

shortstuff_mt said:
I think the Cooler Master Elite 130 would probably be a good fit for the system. There are a couple other minor changes I would make to the system including the above-mentioned PSU. Here's what your build would look like with my changes.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.24 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($154.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $756.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-05 18:45 EDT-0400


I like the PSU, but the CM elite 130 doesn't look like it's dustproof very well?
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August 5, 2014 4:10:36 PM

You never stated that being dust proof was a requirement you were looking for. Case choice varies greatly on personal taste. I think the Corsair 250D would also work well for your system. I, personally, like the design of it more than the Cooler Master cases. I thought I'd suggest the CM Elite 130 since you had already been looking at the 250D. That way you would compare the two cases to see which one you like best. All of the components in the build I suggested would fit just fine in the Corsair 250D.
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August 5, 2014 6:35:40 PM

shortstuff_mt said:
You never stated that being dust proof was a requirement you were looking for. Case choice varies greatly on personal taste. I think the Corsair 250D would also work well for your system. I, personally, like the design of it more than the Cooler Master cases. I thought I'd suggest the CM Elite 130 since you had already been looking at the 250D. That way you would compare the two cases to see which one you like best. All of the components in the build I suggested would fit just fine in the Corsair 250D.


Thanks :D , also what do you think of the bitfenix prodigy? I'm kinda tied between the Corsair 250D and the Prodigy.
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August 5, 2014 6:37:21 PM

I personally would go with the Corsair of the 2.
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August 5, 2014 7:54:28 PM

rolli59 said:
I personally would go with the Corsair of the 2.


pros and cons? Other than looks?
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Best solution

August 6, 2014 5:29:12 AM

I wouldn't go with either of them because if you are going down the ITX route then it suggests you want to keep things fairly compact, and neither of them necessarily presents a practically smaller case than a lot of smaller conventional towers. If you want to fit high end hardware and cooling solutions into a smaller case, both have some serious credentials, but if you aren't using that facility then their strengths lists become fairly short.

Corsair 250D-
Pros -
Has a window (I guess that's a Pro)
Comfortably fits a H100i (or similar)
Good HDD bays
Fits full sized optical drive bay
Fits any PSU really
Fits any size/type of graphics card as long as it's dual slot.
Fits more or less any arrangement of components available - you don't have to remove drive bays etc.
Cons -
Very wide (277mm - by comparison the enormous Corsair 900D is 252mm wide)
Overall airflow is pretty poor
Cooler support is weak - doesn't support thicker radiators and has no real air cooling capability either.
You need a motherboard with a clear "top" edge or various cables can block/get trapped in fans.

Bitfenix Prodigy-
Pros -
Very flexible internal design - you can fit almost anything you could want in here from large numbers of HDD to full water cooling loops and multiple radiators.
Great general airflow especially with upgraded fans.
Good for both high end air, AIO and full liquid cooling.
Fits a full sized optical drive bay (other component dependant).
Fits any size/type of graphics card as long as it's dual slot.
Suitable for more or less any motherboard.
Comes in a variety of colours.
Popular with modders - lots of aftermarket parts and ideas if you want to get creative.
Cons -
Pretty wide (250mm)
Can be a bit wobbly.
Handles don't make it easier to carry, they are effectively useless.
"Front" panel on the side can be annoying as it increases the effective width of the case.
Fitting any mid range plus graphics card generally means removal of three 3.5" drive bays.
The price of flexibility is that some options are only available under certain conditions, like removing drive bays.
PSUs limited to 160mm in length (not a huge issue but it does limit selection so definitely a negative).
Windowed versions aren't great as they wreck graphics card cooling.
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