Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Reply to this thread

Forum question

Started by Hustey | | 13 answers
Suggest me a Mini ITX case for a gaming build please!
Hi I'm looking for a mini ITX case with good cooling capabilities. I would prefer it to be a tower style case instead of a box styled case (So not the CM Elite 130 style). I was looking at the evga hadron air, and like that kind of design a lot. So if anybody knows a case similar to that one please suggest!

Thanks
  • By posting on this site, I confirm I am over 13 years of age and agree to abide by the site’s rules.

a b 4 Gaming
September 29, 2014 3:24:28 PM

Like I said before it kinda depends on what you want to include specifically, as different cases have different advantages.
The Hadron is a great little case because it can fit so much into a small package, it even has slim ODD support. The trade off is the lack of flexibility and limited cooling capabilities, but if you pick your parts well it works very well.

The Bitfenix cases are all based around a (near) identical internal chassis, so swapping between the models won't change a huge amount other than aesthetics. The big exception to this is that the Prodigy has a vented side panel which means it's going to be better for graphics card temps and more suited to axial fan coolers.

The Hadron doesn't have an obvious competitor for similar form factors, and the reason is the semi bespoke PSU which means it can be laid out in such a way. The SFX powered options will come close in terms of volume, so the ones I mentioned previously - the RVZ01 and ML07 specifically as the FT03-Mini will be over-budget, but again they will come in with limitations on CPU coolers.

If you are looking for CPU cooler flexibility then the best cases around are the Bitfenix ones as they will fit the vast majority of coolers, both air+closed loop. If you are looking at closed loop coolers specifically then the Corsair cases are well suited, while the Node 304 is a good pick for air (or smaller radiators).

If you do decide the Hadron is for you then as long as you have a blower style graphics card, a motherboard with a fairly clear "top" edge (and good CPU socket placement) and a sensible cooler it'll be a good performer. Just be aware that it might not be the strongest overclocker or the quietest machine (noisy PSU+ fans potentially working harder).
September 29, 2014 2:28:38 PM

Yeah I understand, that's why I'm really skeptical about the Hadron, I would definitely take a different case over the Hadron, but it really has to be of similar shape. Most of the cases I've looked at so far are box shaped, I need to find a mini it's tower case. I think the bit fenix prodigy is a bit too big, and I was looking at the bit fenix colossus mini. But it's hard to find for a reasonable price - I don't really wanna spend £70 on it. So if anyone can suggest a mini itx tower style case (like the Hadron) with decent cooling , it would be much appreciated, preferably not extortionate , around £ 50 - 60 is ideal. I want to be able to fit a decent size garphics card and cpu cooler in it aswell.
a b 4 Gaming
September 29, 2014 1:52:14 PM

Hustey said:
I was going to ask a question about the Hadron Air actually, do you want the blower style gpu cooler with it? Because i currently have a gtx 650 with a fan cooler on it, but I am planning to get a gtx 970 with a blower style cooler. But i'm concerned that i won't be able to use the gtx 650 for the time being? As i read that you want the gpu heat to be exhausted out the back rather than blown up onto the motherboard


The Hadron has very poor graphics cooling (search threads for this issue, there's plenty) in general. It has limited venting, limited space around the card, and no real airflow to move the heat around so it's understandable that you might get heat buildup in this area. Blower coolers are a good option here and strongly advised for this case, but in many other ITX cases you can use any graphics card you like.

Similarly, the Hadron isn't great for overclocking because the CPU cooler support (and by extension, motherboard) isn't fantastic. There are mods to fit closed loop coolers in the case, and I've seen people using down-blowers, but conventional wisdom is that you want a shorter tower cooler exhausting towards your top fans to get the best out of the case (filter by tower coolers using 90-93mm fans, there's a decent selection). Even in this scenario a big overclock is perhaps optimistic so you do have to weigh up the cost of overclocking components and a potentially reduced yield from these.
a b 4 Gaming
September 29, 2014 10:04:52 AM

Good luck.
September 29, 2014 10:02:29 AM

Yeah i was planning on using my current graphics card for the time being, and then getting a gtx 970 with a blower cooler and doing some overclocking on the cpu
a b 4 Gaming
September 29, 2014 9:56:55 AM

For miniITX build, blower coolers are preferable from cooling perspective.
September 29, 2014 9:55:57 AM

My budget is about £50 - 60, obviously i can get the evga hadron because it has a built in PSU which is £50 anyway
September 29, 2014 9:54:44 AM

I was going to ask a question about the Hadron Air actually, do you want the blower style gpu cooler with it? Because i currently have a gtx 650 with a fan cooler on it, but I am planning to get a gtx 970 with a blower style cooler. But i'm concerned that i won't be able to use the gtx 650 for the time being? As i read that you want the gpu heat to be exhausted out the back rather than blown up onto the motherboard
September 29, 2014 9:46:03 AM

What is your budget?

See all answers