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Amazingly, the 6.7 × 6.7-inch Mini-ITX motherboard form factor, which debuted in 2001, has been around for nearly a quarter century. But while lots of other tech has continued to shrink in the last couple of decades, many builders and enthusiasts are still building PCs in big towers with full-size ATX motherboards. But that really isn’t necessary for most builders today, even if you’re assembling a cutting-edge high-performance rig with a huge, heat-generating RTX 5090 or a Radeon RX 9070 XT).
For years, opting for Mini-ITX meant trading performance for a smaller PC, requiring short, compact graphics cards and low-profile coolers. Choosing a small-form-factor (SFF) SFX power supply is still often a requirement in the smallest cases, but most ITX cases released in the last few years also support full-length two- or three-slot graphics cards. And Nvidia is at least making a small effort to keep compact, high-performance card options around with its SFF-ready guidelines.
Still, GPUs have on gotten larger in the past few years, abd the 5090 Founders Edition notwithstanding, third-party SKUs of 50-series cards are at least as large as their previous-gen counterparts. So be sure to check clearances before buying a case to fit your GPU (or a GPU to fit your case).
And, obviously, don’t neglect cooling. Shoving high-end parts into a compact case without ample ventilation and fans will lead to throttling at best, and perhaps a shorter lifespan for your parts.
Recent updates
11/13/2025 Update: Things have been fairly quiet on the SFF case front in recent months. But we expect to see some new models at CES in early 2026.
Cyber Monday Exceptional PC Case Deal
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Corsair’s compact, airflow-focused Micro ATX 2500D case was expensive when we tested it back in early 2024, but otherwise pretty great, with lots of room for cables and large components. But back then it cost $159, and now Newegg is selling the case for an amazingly low $49. This is the white model, but the black model with a glass front is the same price. And there are variations with RGB fans for just $10 more. This is by far the best case deal we’ve seen so far this Black Friday.
View Deal
Here is a standout deal from the Cyber Monday event, which is currently taking place. Our list of best overall picks continues below.
The Best Mini-ITX Cases You Can Buy Today
Best Mini-ITX Case Overall
1. Lian Li Q58
Best Mini-ITX Case Overall
Our expert review:
Specifications
Type: ITX CaseMotherboard Support: Mini-ITXCard Length Supported: 320mm (12.6 inches)Storage Support: (1) 3.5” (3) 2.5”Included Fans: NoneToday’s Best DealsView at AmazonCheck Walmart
Reasons to buy
+Tidy, pretty glass/mesh looks+Great thermals+Flexible build options, including ATX PSU+Affordable at just $130
Reasons to avoid
–Cable management is a bit tough–PCIe riser card needs additional support
Lian Li’s Q58 blew us away, making it an easy pick as the best Mini-ITX case for most people. This is a 14.3-liter Mini-ITX case that costs just $130 in its base variant, and it packs great looks, excellent cooling potential, and a flexible internal design.