If you’ve got a desktop PC, chances are you’ll not wish to put it on the ground for a number of causes: possibly you reside with a toddler who could get curious in regards to the performance of the ability button, or with a pet that drops an excessive amount of hair. Maybe you want frequent entry to the motherboard rear connectors, or maybe you merely wish to exhibit your system.
The drawback is that your present case, like most instances that may match the parts you’ve got, could not appear like one thing that needs to be on a desk both: in tower-style instances, I/O connectors in the midst of the entrance panel are all however gone, which can require you to face up with the intention to use them. Depending on what a part of the desk your PC stands on, it could possibly additionally fall over for those who stumble upon its higher half. Maybe it does not look good to you on a desk both.
There are shorter instances which are rather more appropriate than most to be used on a desk. Here are a number of the better of them, for each funds, measurement requirement, or sort of PC.
Masthead credit score: oatsmalone
Best for Gaming
The Lian Li O11 Air Mini is without doubt one of the most compact instances that both help an ATX motherboard or Micro-ATX and a top-mounted radiator. The rear panel is modular, so you may set up it based on your present {hardware}. The case makes use of a dual-chamber design to save lots of peak, with the PSU and as much as six SATA drives, of which as much as 4 3.5″ HDDs, within the different chamber.
After an preliminary recall and substitute of the mesh panels, airflow is nice with two 140mm followers within the entrance and a 120mm one on the rear. With an ATX motherboard, radiators of 240mm might be put in on the backside or on the aspect (for those who take away one of many dual-HDD plates), however 280mm ones can solely be put in within the entrance. With a Micro-ATX motherboard you may additionally have the ability to set up the latter on high (in mATX mode) or on the backside (in ATX mode).
Other than that, the aspect window is fabricated from tempered glass, and the underside mud filter is well detachable from the aspect. The high I/O consists of three USB 3.0 ports, together with one Type-C. The case is accessible in black or white, for $110 and $121 on Newegg, respectively.
Best Old-School
A case that nearly made it into our record of greatest old-school instances, the Cooler Master HAF XB Evo consists of two 5.25″ bays and 4 SATA drive bays (2 of which hot-swappable) in 3 detachable cages. Unlike the Lian Li O11, this ATX case saves peak by mounting the motherboard horizontally, on a detachable tray, above the drives and PSU.
The CPU and graphics card are saved cool with two 120mm followers within the entrance. Those might be changed with a 240mm radiator or 140mm followers, however 280mm radiators aren’t formally supported, besides the Nepton 280L. You can add a 200mm fan on high, a 120mm one on the rear, and two 80mm ones behind the SATA drive cages.
The entrance I/O could be very handy to make use of whereas sitting in entrance of the case. It solely consists of Type-A USB 3.0 connectors, however because of the 5.25″ bays you may add any connector you need. Despite its measurement, the case is simple to hold because of giant handles on the perimeters.
Best Value
If you’ve got a Micro-ATX motherboard, then the Thermaltake Core V21 will give you the perfect worth at $70. The case consists of 5 growth slot covers, though mATX instances solely help 4 growth slots, in case you put in a multi-slot card within the backside slot.
This case does not simply appear like a dice, but in addition works like one. Its foremost physique might be put in in any orientation on the underside panel. If you’ve got a graphics card, the default orientation with the motherboard mounted horizontally will present the perfect distribution of weight (and a detachable filter for the PSU). If not, chances are you’ll wish to rotate the principle physique 90 levels in order that the PSU and the CPU cooler are each close to the underside. The Thermaltake emblem is printed on a magnet that you may rotate accordingly.
The high and aspect panels are interchangeable, so you may select the place to place the acrylic aspect window (beware to not choke your graphics card with it). The different two panels provide giant vents with magnetic filters.
With a 200mm fan within the entrance, the V21 has no points with cooling. You can even set up a 120mm or 140mm fan on the rear, and a 280mm radiator in 3 totally different areas. In a type of areas, you may set up it subsequent to a 240mm one!
The PSU chamber helps as much as six SATA drives, of which as much as three 3.5″ HDDs. The case solely presents Type-A USB 3.0 and no 5.25″ bays (though the principle physique has the area for one), however for the worth it is laborious to complain.
Most Compact
If you need absolutely the most compact case that may match a Micro-ATX motherboard, look no additional. This case does not even waste area on a PSU chamber, however places the PSU within the entrance, drawing air by means of the perimeters of the entrance panel and releasing it by means of the perforated high panel (the exterior energy wire nonetheless connects to the rear of the case). If you’ve got a tower-style CPU cooler, chances are you’ll wish to rotate it 90 levels in both route if attainable, because it will not get direct airflow from the entrance.
The case solely comes with one 80mm rear fan, however you may add one other one, in addition to three 120mm ones: 1 on high and a pair of on the backside. The backside spots may also be used for SATA drives, and one other one might be put in behind the PSU. Unless you utilize each of the underside spots for HDDs, you may set up one other SSD underneath the PSU.
The entrance panel has two USB 3.0 Type-A connectors on high. For about $70, it is a good worth. The foremost function fully lacking is devoted cable administration area, so you may wish to use a modular PSU with this case.
Best for NAS
Even for those who want 10 disk drives in a single bundle, you do not have to purchase a full ATX case. The Fractal Design Node 804 can home 8 of these in two cages within the PSU chamber, and a pair of extra on the ground of the motherboard chamber. The entrance panel has area for two SATA SSDs and a slim optical drive.
Each chamber comes with its personal 120mm rear fan. In the PSU chamber, you may change it with a 140mm one. That chamber can even home a 280mm radiator on high (as an alternative of the drive cages…), whereas the principle chamber helps 240mm (or two 140mm followers) so long as your RAM is not too tall. Each chamber additionally helps two 120mm entrance followers (the motherboard chamber comes with one), however due to the form of the entrance panel, one in every chamber could be sufficient. That’s additionally why we do not advocate putting in 240mm radiators within the entrance, though every chamber helps one.
Like the ThermalTake Core V21, the case has 5 growth slot covers, however for those who set up any card in it, you need to transfer the entrance fan to the underside of the panel to assist cooling it.
Each chamber additionally has its personal detachable mud filters on the backside and behind the entrance panel. The rear of the case features a bodily 3-speed fan controller, and on the aspect of the entrance panel are two USB 3.0 Type-A connectors.
More Solutions for Limited Desk Spaces
If you want your PC in your desk, however do not have the area for a lot of the instances we really helpful, chances are you’ll must accept a daily Micro-ATX case. Cooler Master presents two good choices with a 5.25″ bay within the MasterField NR400 and Silencio S400.
If you do not want an exterior bay, the Fractal Design Meshify C Mini and Define C Mini are good options. If you favor to avoid wasting cash, take a look at the corporate’s Focus G Mini.
