Smallest case: 5 Smallest Mini ITX Cases 2022 (Thin & Tiny)

5 Smallest Mini ITX Cases 2022 (Thin & Tiny)

Jacob Tuwiner

• What is a Mini-ITX Case?
• Mini-ITX vs Micro-ATX vs ATX
• 5 Smallest Mini-ITX Cases
• Advantages of Mini-ITX Cases
• Disadvantages of Mini-ITX Cases
• Is Mini-ITX Smaller than Micro-ATX?
• Is Mini-ITX Good for Gaming?
• Are Mini-ITX Cases Worth It?
• Conclusion

Top 3 Mini-ITX Cases

Case	Image	Reason	Shop
Louqe Ghost S1		Top Pick	View on Amazon
Skyreach 4 Mini		Smallest	View on Skyreach
Cougar QBX		Cheapest	View on Amazon

Here’s the deal:

You want to build a PC in a slim and portable Mini-ITX case.

I don’t blame you – Mini-ITX cases are growing increasingly popular, and for good reason.

Why build a gaming PC in a 50 pound monstrosity full tower when you can put your parts in something thin and portable?

In this article, we’re going to take a look at 5 of the best (and the smallest) Mini ITX case options on the market.

Let’s dive in:

What is a Mini-ITX Case?

Mini-ITX motherboards are the smallest form factor in computing, and are designed to support relatively low-cost computers in cramped environments without adequate space for a larger computer.

Because cases are designed to house motherboards (and the rest of your components attached to it), cases are also measured with Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX and ATX form factors .

Mini-ITX cases are the smallest case on the market – they’re portable (one of the cases on our list can even fit in a backpack) and are small enough to actually fit on your desk.

On the flip side, full tower ATX cases are massive, some weighing north of 50 lbs and can be several feet tall.

There are pros and cons to each form factor that we’ll explore later in the post, but there is no “best form factor” – there is only the best form factor for you.

Quick Tip

If you’re a beginner builder, choosing the best case for your PC is a tough choice.

Don’t worry, we’ve got your back:

We’ve created a comprehensive guide that’ll help you make sure you’re buying the best case for your needs. Click here to check it out.

Now, back to the smallest ITX cases!

Mini-ITX vs Micro-ATX vs ATX

Source: Tech Guided

ATX cases are the largest on the market, followed by Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX.

Here are their sizes:

• Standard ATX: 12” x 9.6”
• Micro-ATX: 9.6” x 9.6”
• Mini-ITX: 6.7” x 6.7”

mATX boards are the same width as regular ATX boards but are a couple of inches shorter. ATX motherboards, given their larger size, can accommodate more PCIe slots and are better candidates for SLI/Crossfire setups.

mITX boards are shorter both length and width than their counterparts, and are best suited for extremely tiny PC builds that are meant to be small and compact.

By the way, we have guides on the smallest Micro-ATX cases and the smallest ATX cases if you want to check those articles out as well.

Best ITX Cases Video Reviews

Here’s a video overview of the cases I mentioned in this article. This guy is awesome:

5 Smallest Mini-ITX Cases

Type

Mini-ITX

Airflow

Great

Design

Great

Window

No

Spacious

Great

Noise

Quiet

First of all, the case doesn’t use sheet metal – instead it uses extruded aluminum panels that are thicker and higher quality than traditional aluminum. They give the case a more premium feel all around.

The base configuration is 8.2 liters in volume and uses a sandwich style layout where the motherboard and PSU are in one compartment and there is a separate compartment for the GPU.

It’s the most premium case I’ve reviewed, including mid tower and full tower cases. The build quality and feel is just tremendous.

In addition the case is modular. The top, vertical extension called a tophat can be used to house case fans, a radiator, or storage drives if you wish, which is pretty darn cool if you ask me.

The tophats can be added to the top or the bottom, so if you’ve already maxed out the room on top with fans, you can add more hard drives to the bottom hat, for example.

This becomes especially useful when you want to upgrade and are running out of room.

Rather than needing to take all of your components out and put them in a new case, you can simply add more room.

View on Amazon

Type

Mini-ITX

Airflow

Great

Design

Great

Window

No

Spacious

Great

Noise

Quiet

Cooling the CPU is the biggest issue when it comes to these smaller cases because you don’t have room for large coolers or normal radiator space. But if there’s one thing the M1 does right, it’s CPU cooling.

You can fit up to a Noctua U9S or C14S quite well.

Liquid cooling is even more impressive – the M1 can fit up to a 240mm AIO, in addition to dual intake fans blowing air up into the case, meaning you can run a 9900K overclocked to 4.9 GHz at 1.25 volts with ease.

If you’re considering overclocking the Ryzen 3000 series CPUs (the 12 core and 16 core CPUs) prioritizing cooling for them is incredibly important, and surprisingly, this ITX case gets the job done without issue.

But that’s not all:

The M1 can accommodate another 240mm radiator on the side of the case, meaning if you want to liquid cool both your CPU and GPU with separate 120mm coolers, you can do that too.

Better still, this case has three expansion slots, so you can fit a thick, powerful GPU like the EVGA 2080 Ti XC Ultra.

All in all, the Ncase M1 is the best case hands down when it comes to pure performance. If you’re going to use your mITX case to house some beefy parts, this is the case for you.

View on Ncase.com

Type

Mini-ITX

Airflow

Ok

Design

Great

Window

No

Spacious

Good

Noise

Quiet

The graphics card can be up to 210mm in length – that may not seem like a lot, but that means this case can accommodate a card like the RTX 2070 Mini or the Zotac 1080 ti Mini.

For storage you can fit up to two 2.5” drives. CPU cooling is the biggest compromise, as the cooler height maxes out at 45mm which doesn’t seem like a lot, but you can still accommodate noctua L9i or L9a (depending on which CPU you go with) and can comfortably cool an i5 or Ryzen 5 CPU, which is adequate for 95% of games.

With a case like this portability is incredibly important, which is why the Skyreach 4 Mini’s lightweight yet strong material is awesome.

This case is too small to fit even an SFX power supply, which may throw some of you off – instead, it uses a special power supply called an HDPlex 400AC, but you don’t need a power brick for the PSU.

ALthough the price is pretty high for what you’re getting, its compact size is uncontested by any case on the market. No other case is just 5 liters, no other case can fit in a backpack, and considering this tiny thing can still house an RTX 2070, it’s clearly well designed.

View on NFC Systems Website

Type

Mini-ITX

Airflow

Great

Design

Great

Window

No

Spacious

Great

Noise

Quiet

You don’t need more than a 9700K or a 2700X for a gaming machine, but you can run them in this thing if you want with a liquid cooler.

Believe it or not, you can water cool the CPU with a 92 mil AIO. But be careful with cable management, as the stock 24pin cables can be a bit of a nightmare to manage with the liquid cooler installed.

This case can accommodate two slot GPUs up to 295mm in length, meaning you can run a 2080 Ti in here.

The Dan A4 popularized the sandwich configuration where you’ve got the GPU separate from the motherboard and power supply.

It’s hard to argue hardware optimization gets any better than the A4, and for a gaming build, even a high end gaming machine, you don’t need much more than what’s offered in the Dan A4.

View on Amazon

Type

Mini-ITX

Airflow

Great

Design

Great

Window

No

Spacious

Great

Noise

Quiet

You can still fit some bigger components in this case like radiators and bigger GPUs, but considering the QBX is 20 liters as opposed to 12.5 liters, the space optimization isn’t as good.

In addition, the Cougar QBX is made of plastic, lacking the same build quality as the solid aluminum M1.

Still, for such a low price, I’d consider the QBX to be pretty darn good for the price. If you want to build a budget Mini-ITX gaming machine, this is definitely a great case to consider. You can water cool with the QBX since it supports a 240mm AIO, or dual 120mm radiators.

Despite the side panels being plastic, I think the brushed finish looks pretty good and it’s fingerprint resistant.

View on Amazon

Advantages of Mini-ITX Cases

Mini-ITX cases are growing increasingly popular among members of the PC Master Race, and for good reason. They bring a ton of benefits to the table that other form factors like Micro-ATX and ATX don’t.

Let’s talk about it:

Saves Space (Duh)

This one is pretty obvious, but I thought I’d include it anyway. Unlike gigantic full tower and even mid tower cases, Mini-ITX cases are small and tiny. They don’t take up much space, which is great if you’re gaming without a lot of real estate to work with.

You could stack three Mini-ITX cases on top of each other, and they still wouldn’t be as big as a standard ATX case.

But here’s the kicker:

You can even put your Mini-ITX case on your desk – crazy, right?

Lighter

Mini-ITX cases are also going to be much lighter than a standard ATX case. Even small ATX cases are heavy.

Although weight probably shouldn’t be a huge factor in your buying decision, it’s still something to consider if you want to move your case around a lot (more on that below).

More Portable

Yeah, this one is obvious, but it’s still one of the main advantages of using a Mini-ITX case.

For example, full tower cases are monstruos in size, not to mention weight. While they’re great for building enthusiast rigs with custom water loops, a lot of storage drives and huge graphics cards, you can basically throw portability out the window.

Even mid tower ATX cases can get pretty heavy.

When I was younger I remember lugging my PC from my mom’s house to my dad’s house on the weekend, week after week. I’d unplug everything, shove my monitors, cables and peripherals in a bag, and throw them in the trunk along with my heavy mid tower case (that I still use to this day). Looking back, building in a Mini-ITX case would’ve made way more sense!

Jacob Tuwiner
Founder, Easy PC

With a Mini-ITX case – especially one with handles – moving it around is effortless.

If you’re the kind of gamer that likes to have LAN parties, or you can see yourself moving your new PC around a lot, then I’d highly recommend going with a Mini-ITX case.

Cheaper (Generally)

Generally speaking the smaller the case, the less material goes into making it. The less material that goes into making it, the cheaper it is.

Simple, small cases are usually cheaper than giant, elaborate cases with tons of features which take more time and energy to properly machine.

There are of course exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, Mini-ITX cases are great for budget builders.

Super Cool

Last but not least, Mini-ITX cases are (in my opinion) dope. Most people go the standard route with a traditional mid tower case.

Others may be more adventurous, building in an inverted PC case – but I don’t think anything is cooler than building a mini gaming PC.

They’re portable, unique, and they can actually fit on your desk… who would’ve thought?

If you’re the kind of person that likes to stand out, and show your unique personality, a Mini-ITX case is a great way to do just that.

Disadvantages of Mini-ITX Cases

While Mini-ITX cases are awesome, they have some down sides too.

Not all Components Will Fit

First of all, not all large GPUs will fit inside your case. That tri-fan Titan X you’ve got your eye on? Yeah, you can forget about it.

It’s not all bad in this department though, as most GPU manufacturers have tiny versions of their graphics cards to accommodate small enclosures.

You will also need to consider the height of your CPU cooler, especially if you’re using a thin ITX case.

Room for fans and hard drives is another hurdle, although the cases I’ve recommended on this list make great use of the space available to them.

Building in a small case isn’t the end of the world, but it’s something to keep in mind when you’re choosing your components. Websites like PC Part Picker will usually tell you something is too long or too tall.

Mini-ITX has Less Room for Expansion

Even if your case has enough space for the parts you initially select, odds are your upgrade options will be severely limited.

It’s difficult to find a Mini-ITX case that supports SLI setups, insane water cooling rigs, etc.

Then again, most people building in a Mini-ITX case are doing it for the convenience of their portability, not because they want to build the most powerful PC on earth.

Cramped Space Means More Heat

Cooling is easily one of the biggest issues that plagues many ITX cases.

With limited space for fans and cramped conditions inside the case, airflow is typically restricted.

Poor airflow is another reason why many mITX cases aren’t designed for ultra powerful builds.

If you plan on pushing your components to the limit with extreme overclocking, they’re going to give off a lot of heat, in which case you’re better off using a more spacious case with better airflow.

Don’t get me wrong, some mITX have stupendous airflow, but they’re few and far between, at least when compared to the airflow of their larger ATX counterparts.

More Challenging to Work On

Lastly, Mini-ITX cases are more challenging to work on than traditional ATX cases, because they’re more cramped and have more imaginative (and sometimes confusing) designs.

That’s why I usually recommend beginner builders follow our awesome guide to building a gaming PC for the first time, and use a spacious mid tower case.

Is Mini-ITX Smaller than Micro-ATX?

Yes, Mini-ITX is the smallest kind of PC case. It’s the opposite of a full tower case which is the largest type of PC case on the market. PC case sizes are measured compared to the motherboard sizes they can support.

Full tower ATX cases can support full-sized ATX and even E-ATX motherboards, whereas small Mini-ITX cases can only support ITX motherboards.

Is Mini-ITX Good for Gaming?

Generally speaking, Mini-ITX is no better or worse for gaming than any other case, since the case doesn’t have a direct impact on performance – the components inside your case are what determine your gaming performance.

However, the size of your case does have an indirect impact on gaming performance.

Here’s what I mean:

As mentioned above, Mini-ITX cases limit the kinds of components that you can use. A smaller case means not all GPUs will fit, so you’ll have to carefully select your graphics card if you’re building a gaming PC.

That tri-fan Titan X you have your eye on? Hate to break it to you, but it probably won’t fit.

But don’t get discouraged – a lot of GPU manufacturers are hip to ITX builds and as a result have a host of small form factor GPUs to choose from.

Another issue is cooling – a smaller case will generally have less room to mount fans, less clearance space for powerful air coolers not to mention water coolers, and worse airflow overall.

You may need to spend more money to get a top-tier Mini-ITX case that is small yet able to house the kind of components you’re looking for.

Those cases do exist, however, and they’re listed in the article above. If you can get your hands on a solid Mini-ITX case that has room for your parts and sufficient airflow, you’re in business! Again, it all comes down to you, your wants/needs, and personal preferences.

Are Mini-ITX Cases Worth It?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, there is only a right answer for you.

Here’s what I mean:

If you want to build a unique gaming PC that’s powerful, portable, and doesn’t take up much space, then using a Mini-ITX case is a great idea (assuming it’s a quality case).

They’re unique looking, small, and use space efficiently. But that convenience comes at a cost.

The most obvious cost is the price (obviously) but there are a few other disadvantages that may hinder a beginner user from building in a tiny ITX case.

Aside from being more expensive, they can be more difficult to build in and aren’t as beginner friendly as an ATX case.

For beginner builders on a budget who don’t want anything too tricky, going for an ATX case is a better option. That doesn’t mean you have to buy a 10 foot tall monstrosity though – we’ve got a guide all about the smallest ATX cases that you’ll probably love. They’re small and easy to use.

Or, if you want a case in between that’s not too big or too small, check out our guide about the smallest Micro-ATX cases.

Conclusion

Mini-ITX cases have their pros and cons, but overall I think they’re pretty awesome, especially if you want an on-the-go computer.

It’s pretty insane that you can build a gaming PC powerful enough to game in 4K resolution, and take it with you in your backpack.

I hope you found this guide informative. For more information on Easy PC, check out our about page and for questions, please feel free to contact me.

Take care!

The 5 Smallest ITX Cases in 2022 – Voltcave

PC Cases

Written by Azzief Khaliq

Last updated Feb 8, 2023

Affiliate Disclosure: When you purchase products through our links, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

If you feel like most mainstream Mini-ITX cases are still too big, you’re not the only one. There’s a burgeoning market for tiny, sub-10 liter Mini-ITX cases perfect for users who want to save as much space as possible. These are some of the smallest ITX cases out there, letting you build diminutive PCs that’ll fit perfectly in even a small backpack.

Of course, many of these cases come with compromises, whether in terms of cooling, component compatibility, or total cost. But if you’re serious about going small, then those are just some of the sacrifices you’ll have to make along the way. Let’s get going.

Our Favorite Small Mini-ITX Cases

1. LZMod DC-M1

Smallest Mini-ITX Case

Measurements (H x W x L)	7.1 x 2.2 x 7.5 inches
Volume	1.9 liters
Motherboard Support	Mini-ITX
PSU Support	DC-ATX with external power brick
Maximum GPU Length	None
Maximum CPU Cooler Height	1.45 inches
Expansion Slots	None
Fan Mounts	None
Radiator Support	None
Drive Mounts	None
I/O Ports	None

The LZMod DC-M1 comes in at around 1. 9 liters in volume, which is absolutely tiny even by Mini-ITX cases’ standards. If you want the smallest ITX case money can buy, this is the case is for you.

Despite its tiny size, the DC-M1 offers 1.45 inches of CPU clearance, just enough for a Noctua NH-L9a or L9i. It’ll be a tight fit, but you should be able to make it work. We’d probably recommend a lower-profile cooler like the ID-Cooling IS-30, though, just to be safe.

As you might expect given the size, the DC-M1 is an APU-only case. This means that you don’t have room for a dedicated GPU and will need to rely on a CPU with integrated graphics from either Intel or AMD. However, that’s not too bad: install an AMD Ryzen APU like the 5600G, and you’ll get playable framerates in casual and esports titles like Rocket League or CS:GO.

Source: LZMod

Another casualty, so to say, of the DC-M1’s ultra-compact size is the internal power supply. The DC-M1 uses a DC-ATX (also known as Pico PSU) power supply with an external power brick for its power delivery. LZMod recommends a 19-volt setup, so you’ll want a DC-ATX PSU like this RGEEK 200 W unit, combined with a suitable 19-volt power brick. This one designed for Intel NUCs should be a perfect match.

That said, there doesn’t seem to be any particular reason that LZMod recommends a 19-volt unit over the more standard 12-volt setup. Scroll down to our SilverStone Milo 10 review for links to a 12-volt DC-ATX PSU that you can likely use here too.

Overall, the LZMod DC-M1 is a niche product, but one that we can see gaining some popularity. The fact that it takes standard parts with no modification needed (unlike the SGPC K17, another tiny case also on our list) makes it a much easier choice if you need a tiny PC.

2. SGPC K49

Smallest Mini-ITX Case with Full-Size GPU Support

SGPC Mini-ITX Computer Case

$83.99

View on Amazon

View on AliExpress

07/03/2023 01:49 am GMT “/>

Measurements (H x W x L)	6.9 x 5.1 x 12.04 inches
Volume	6.94 liters
Motherboard Support	Mini-ITX
PSU Support	SFX
Maximum GPU Length	11.81 / 1.69 inches
Maximum CPU Cooler Height	2.2 inches
Expansion Slots	Two
Fan Mounts	None
Radiator Support	None
Drive Mounts	1x 2.5” drive
I/O Ports	• 1x USB Type-C • 1x USB 3.0

The SGPC K49 is likely one of the smallest Mini-ITX cases with room for a full-sized GPU that’s readily available from an online retailer. Unless you want to dive into the world of expensive, limited-run enthusiast SFF cases, the K49 is one of your best bets for high-end gaming in a tiny enclosure.

Despite only being 6.94 liters, the K49’s dedicated GPU compartment means it has enough room for an 11.81-inch, two-slot graphics card. This means cards like the Zotac RTX 3070 Twin Edge or, if you’re lucky, a Founder’s Edition RTX 3080. Impressive, especially for a 7-liter Mini-ITX case.

The K49 furthers its “portable gaming rig” credentials by having room for two handles. It comes equipped with a leather handle on the rear by default, with the option for a plastic top handle if you prefer. We’ve also seen builds with an aluminum handle in place of the leather handle. However, we’re unsure if the aluminum handle comes with the K49 or if it’s an aftermarket option.

Source: u/krzcowzgomoo

SGPC’s decision to make that much space for the GPU in a 7-liter case does mean sacrifices in other areas. For one, the K49 doesn’t have room for fans or radiators. And, unlike some slightly larger competitors, you don’t even get the choice of swapping drive cages for fans; the K49 only has space for one 2. 5” drive anyway.

The lack of radiator space means you’re limited to low-profile CPU coolers like the Noctua NH-L9a. They’re more than capable of cooling higher-end CPUs, but the lack of additional airflow means that mid-range gaming CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 5600X or Intel Core i5-12400 are probably safer choices.

On a positive note, K49 has optional side panel standoffs that give you an extra 10 mm (0.39 inches) clearance for your CPU cooler. Combine that with the air gap the standoffs provide, and you might get decent CPU temperatures in the K49 even with a low-profile cooler.

Overall, the SGPC K49 is a great, budget Mini-ITX case for anyone after a portable high-end gaming PC. It isn’t perfect, but minor issues such as limited drive space and uneven build quality are relatively easy to overlook if its combination of size and GPU support works for you.

3. SilverStone Milo 10

Best Portable Mini-ITX Case

SilverStone Milo 10 Computer Case

$79. 99

View on Amazon

07/03/2023 01:15 am GMT

For some users, “portable” means that a case has handles to make it easy to carry around. For others, though, “portable” means that the case is small enough to throw into an average-sized backpack. If you’re after the latter, the SilverStone Milo 10 is a Mini-ITX case you’ll want to consider.

The SilverStone Milo 10 is tiny, even compared to other small Mini-ITX cases. It comes in at 3.7 liters with the “elevated” (in SilverStone’s words) top installed and just 2.8 liters with the standard top. That’s less than 1/10th of an average mid-tower case’s volume and is more akin to a thick paperback novel than any computer case.

Of course, with those diminutive dimensions, it’s no surprise that the Milo 10 doesn’t have room for a dedicated GPU. There’s simply no way to make it work, so you’ll be relying on integrated graphics here.

Source: hpelgrift on PCPartPicker

Unless you’re adamant about building the smallest PC possible, we recommend going for the Milo 10’s elevated top. It adds about 0.83 inches to the Milo 10’s height, opening up more drive and cooler options. You can even sneak in a slim optical drive with the elevated top, which might be handy if you need your computer to do double duty as an HTPC.

The Milo 10’s measurements mean that there isn’t any room inside the case for a conventional power supply. Instead, the Milo 10 requires a DC-ATX power module and an external AC adapter to power your rig.

That wouldn’t be an issue, except that SilverStone’s official AC adapter costs more than the case itself! If that’s too rich for your blood, you can opt for this RGEEK 250 W Pico PSU combined with a suitable 12-volt adapter. A unit like this one should do the job.

Yes, there are smaller cases on our list, but the SilverStone Milo 10 is nearly as small as you can go without sacrificing components. So it gets our portable pick, even if it’s not technically the smallest Mini-ITX case here.

4. Louqe Ghost S1

Premium Small Mini-ITX Case

LOUQE Ghost S1 Mk III Mini-ITX Computer Case

$300.00

View on Amazon

07/03/2023 11:25 am GMT

Measurements (H x W x L)	7.4 x 5.5 x 12.6 inches (without TopHat) / 8.4 x 5.5 x 12.6 inches (with M TopHat) / 9.64 x 5.5 x 12.6 inches (with L TopHat)
Volume	8.5 liters (without TopHat) / 9.65 liters (with M TopHat) / 11.04 liters (with L TopHat)
Motherboard Support	Mini-ITX
PSU Support	SFX, SFX-L
Maximum GPU Length / Thickness	12 inches / 1.77 inches
Maximum CPU Cooler Height	2. 6 inches
Expansion Slots	Two
Fan Mounts	• 1x 120 mm (in place of 2.5” disk tray) • 2x 120 mm (with TopHat)
Radiator Support	• Up to 240 mm (with L TopHat)
Drive Mounts	• 3x 2.5” drives
I/O Ports	• 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 • 2x USB 3.0 • Audio In/Out

The Louqe Ghost S1 isn’t the smallest Mini-ITX case you can buy, but it is one of the most premium cases available. It’s milled out of solid aluminum blocks, giving it a high-end build quality that few Mini-ITX cases can match.

But there’s more to the Ghost S1 than the build quality and materials, as impressive as they are. The Ghost S1 comes with expansion options in the form of what Louqe calls TopHats. These attach to the top or bottom of the case and provide extra room for fans or even water-cooling radiators.

The TopHats come in two sizes, medium and large, although you’re limited to a single medium TopHat if you want to keep your Ghost below 10 liters. Installing a medium TopHat gives you room for two 120 mm fans, which can be useful if you’re running a hot (or overclocked) CPU:

Source: OptimumTech

OptimumTech ran an Intel Core i7-8700K overclocked to 4.3 GHz in the Ghost S1, recording 73.3 degrees Celsius with the stock fanless configuration and 64.9 degrees with a medium TopHat and two 120 mm fans.

73.3 degrees isn’t bad, and you can definitely get away with running a hot CPU in a base Ghost S1. But unless you’re hurting for space, we feel that the inch or so of height is worth it for a nearly ten-degree reduction in CPU temperatures.

Source: u/Robbbbbbbbb

Unsurprisingly, GPU temperatures will be high in the Ghost S1 due to the lack of ventilation. OptimumTech’s RTX 2080 Ti Founder’s Edition hit 85 degrees Celsius in the default configuration, even with a TopHat installed.

However, swapping the 2.5” drive mounts with a slim 120 mm exhaust (in their case, Noctua’s NF-A12x15) helped drop the GPU down to 83 degrees Celsius. Still high, but those two degrees might help keep your card from thermal throttling in the right conditions.

The Louqe Ghost S1 is a solid, if pricey, choice for a small gaming rig. It’s not quite as compact as the SGPC K49, but the excellent build and expansion options make it the sort of case that you can keep around for the long term. It’ll grow with your needs, more than we can say for most other small Mini-ITX cases.

5. SGPC K17

Slimmest Mini-ITX Case

Measurements (H x W x L)	10.15 x 1.9 x 7.04 inches
Volume	2.2 liters
Motherboard Support	Mini-ITX
PSU Support	Flex ATX
Maximum GPU Length	None
Maximum CPU Cooler Height	1. 18 inches
Expansion Slots	None
Fan Mounts	None
Radiator Support	None
Drive Mounts	None
I/O Ports	None

If you want to build the thinnest PC you possibly can with standard, off-the-shelf parts, then SGPC’s K17 is the case you want. At just 1.9 inches thick and 2.2 liters in volume, it’s one of the smallest and thinnest Mini-ITX PC cases you can buy.

As you might expect given its dimensions, the SGPC K17 is quite a restrictive Mini-ITX case to build in. Its lack of GPU support shouldn’t come as a surprise, but you’ll also have to give up 2.5” drive mounts in the K17. The 1.18-inch CPU cooler height limit is also tough, limiting you to coolers like the ID-Cooling IS-30. One of those will be enough for a Ryzen APU, but don’t expect to cool a high-end Intel processor with such a tiny cooler.

One less-obvious aspect of the K17 is that it doesn’t support motherboard I/O shields either. So you’ll want to avoid any of the higher-end Mini-ITX motherboards that come with integrated I/O shields. Unless you’re willing to modify it and rip all that stuff out to fit it in the K17, like this user:

Note the exposed VRM fan and motherboard IO next to the cooler. Source: u/diamorif

Unlike the SilverStone Milo 10 and LZMod DC-M1, the SGPC K17 doesn’t use an external power brick. Instead, it has room for a Flex ATX PSU, making it a wholly self-contained computer. It’s great that the K17 is a “brickless” case, but the downside is that these Flex ATX PSUs can get pricey if you want a high-quality unit with modular cables. FSP’s Flex Guru 300W, for example, costs more than $120.

But we’d argue that it’s worth it; the K17 is so small that you’ll want to eliminate as many unused cables as possible. And considering that you won’t have any SATA drives, PCIe cards, or floppy drives to power up, you’ll definitely have quite a few unused cables taking up space if you go for a non-modular Flex ATX power supply unit.

Overall, saying that the SGPC K17 “isn’t for everyone” is a bit of an understatement. It’s a niche product within the already-niche sub-10 liter Mini-ITX category, with compromises that not everyone will want to deal with. But if you want the thinnest PC possible, the K17 is the case for you.

Before You Buy

We’ve covered most of the essential considerations when buying a Mini-ITX case in our guide to the best Mini-ITX cases, so we won’t repeat any of that here. Instead, let’s quickly discuss a couple of topics that should be more relevant to anyone looking to build a sub-10 liter PC.

Space-Saving Alternatives

One of the main reasons to buy one of the smallest Mini-ITX cases is the space savings they offer. At 10 liters (or smaller), they take up barely any room on your desk and will fit just about anywhere. But building in these cases can be tricky.

There’s little room to work in, cable management is often challenging, and some of them have significant compromises in terms of cooling, storage drives, or other components. If space issues are your primary motivation, there are a few alternatives we think you should consider before committing to a miniature PC.

Source: -Desh- on PCPartPicker

Is desk or floor space your main concern? If so, one compelling alternative to a small ITX case is a wall-mountable PC case instead. They’re not cheap, and you’ll have to add the cost of a high-quality TV wall bracket, so it’s not the most budget-friendly alternative. But these cases are a great choice if you want to free up desk space while running full-sized components.

If case height is the issue, you could also consider an HTPC case instead. HTPC cases are generally designed for horizontal operation, making them perfect for shelves or height-restricted situations. You can also opt for a horizontal PC case like the Cryorig Taku that can double up as your case and a monitor stand.

Source: u/AbstractStateMachine

Of course, these solutions might not work for every situation. Most wall-mounted or horizontal PC cases aren’t very portable, for example, and won’t work if you want a rig that fits in your backpack. But if your main priority is minimizing the amount of space your rig takes up at home, then these alternatives are at least worth investigating.

Handy Tools

We’ve already alluded to the fact that these tiny Mini-ITX cases can be difficult to build in. Cases this small often sacrifice ease of assembly in the name of space, and there are a few tools that you might want to have around to make the building process a bit more painless.

Firstly, a long magnetized screwdriver will come in handy for M.2 drive screws, expansion slot covers, and possibly even mounting your CPU cooler. These are compact cases, and the extra length will help you comfortably tighten and loosen screws without needing to jam your hands into the case itself.

Tatoko 12 inches long Slotted and Phillips Screwdriver

$10.69

View on Amazon

07/03/2023 07:10 am GMT “/>

Magnetic screw grabbers are also worth having around to pick up any screws that you accidentally drop in the case. Given how tightly-packed these cases are, you might find it hard (if not impossible) to pick up loose screws by hand. So a screw grabber can be a life-saver when trying to extract a pesky loose screw jammed somewhere between PC components or parts of the case itself.

Telescoping Magnetic Pick-Up Tool for Screws Nuts Pins

$18.99

View on Amazon

07/03/2023 08:10 am GMT

It also won’t hurt to have some zip ties on hand to help with cable management. Mini-ITX cases generally don’t have much cable management room anyway, and these sub-10 liter cases have even less free space. So anything you can do to tidy up excess cabling and keep it out of the way of fans and CPU coolers is essential.

TEVADO 100 Pack Cable Zip Ties Heavy Duty 12 Inch

$5.29 ($0.05 / Count)

View on Amazon

07/03/2023 03:24 am GMT

Closing Thoughts

The smallest ITX cases take the compact, space-saving nature of the best Mini-ITX cases to a whole new level. They’re proof that you can pack a lot of power in a tiny case, even if you’ll have to deal with a few challenges and restrictions along the way.

The SGPC K49 is the case we’d recommend if you want a truly compact gaming rig. There’s something special about running an RTX 3070 and Ryzen 5600X in a roughly 7-liter case, complete with a convenient carry handle. But if you don’t need high-end 3D performance and can get by with an APU, SilverStone’s Milo 10 might be more your speed.

No matter which case you go for, make sure you know what PC components or features you’ll have to compromise on before committing. Have fun!

Subscribe for an occasional dose of PC hardware inspiration and guides.

You’re in!

Subscribe

Guessing the smallest unique natural number (cases of three and four players) / Habr

Hello, Habrahabr!
Not so long ago, somewhere in the vastness of one social network, I saw the following game: the players send the host (let’s call him that) a positive integer (the players do not know each other’s numbers), the winner is the one who sent the smallest unique number. For example, if 7 players are playing and they sent the numbers 5, 4, 2, 1, 1, 2, 6 , the player who sent the number 9 wins0004 4 . It became terribly interesting to me how to play this game “correctly”, but it turned out that if there is an unambiguous solution for n players, it is rather complicated and confusing, so let’s consider specific cases for 3 and 4- x players.

Three player case

Choice from {1, 2, 3}

So let’s go. First, let’s introduce a restriction: let the players can choose numbers only from {1, 2, 3} (then it will be easier and more obvious to choose any natural number). What we are trying to do now is to find a mixed strategy such that if all the players followed this strategy, no one could increase the chances of winning by changing their strategy (this thing, by the way, is called the Nash equilibrium). That is, for each player to choose the number 9 with probability0004 1 , with probability – the number 2 and with probability – 3 , and it would be unprofitable for each of the players to deviate from these probabilities.

Suppose that players 2 and 3 use these probabilities, and player 1 decides to increase his chances of winning and now uses the strategy . To win, he must choose the number 1 (and the other players must choose either both 2 , or both 3 , or one 2 , and the second – 3 ), the number 2 (the rest must choose either both 1 , or both 3 ), or 3 (in this case, the rest must or both choose 9000 4 1 , or both choose 2 ). Thus, the final probability of winning can be expressed as the sum of these three probabilities: (1). We also do not forget that the sum of all probabilities is ultimately equal to one, i.e. (*).

So player 1 we need to try to increase our probability of winning, but we have a limit (*). The glorious method of Lagrange multipliers comes to the rescue, which does exactly what we need – it finds local extrema of the function (we have this function (1)) under the existing restrictions on some equalities (we have equality (*)). The Lagrange equation gives us the following equations:

,

which we solve, taking into account, of course, the equality (*). We get the following probabilities:

Done! What is the conclusion from this? When 3 players can only choose from {1, 2, 3} , the optimal strategy for each of them is to choose 1 about half the time, 2 about a quarter, and about a quarter 3 . This will be the Nash equilibrium.

Choice of any natural number

So what happens if we remove the restrictions on the set from which players can choose numbers and how do we find the Nash equilibrium for such a game? Now if the player chooses some number i , he wins only if all players choose the same number strictly less than i , or both choose a number strictly greater than i . Thus, for each player the probability of winning is as follows: . Differentiating this equation, we obtain an infinite set of equations: and the constraint . Such a contraption is solvable, but quite difficult, so I’ll just give the answer here:
.

What does it all mean? If we substitute specific numbers into the resulting equation, then for the first seven we get approximately the following probabilities:

That is, the Nash equilibrium will be such a set of strategies where each player with a probability of approximately 0.46 chooses 1 , with a probability of 0. 25 – 2 , with a probability of 0.13 – 3 , and so on.

Four player case

The same game with four players is not much different from a game with three. In this case, the function to be maximized has the following form:

What’s what:

The solution has the following form:

It follows that most often you will have to choose the numbers 1 and 2 , occasionally – 3 , very occasionally – 4 , and you almost never have to deal with numbers greater than four.

Thank you for your attention. Play games.

Bomb shelters in Rostov: the administration has compiled a list of 1821 shelters in case of shelling: where they are and how much they can accommodate0010

137 days in the ocean: a man drifting on a boat was found in the Atlantic – rescue footage

Are you naughty? Only a person with iron nerves will find a rabbit in this picture in 10 seconds

The role of business in the sustainable development of Russian regions was discussed at the “Challenges-2030” conference

A teenager received 6 years in prison for wanting to set fire to a military enlistment office in Rostov

Rostov resident hit a girl and shot him her intercessors in a yard dispute

“After 6 hours of hell, we are free!” Drivers are asked not to drive towards Crimea due to a huge traffic jam0010

The Rostov region turned out to be worse than the Krasnodar Territory and Adygea in terms of the quality of roads

The director of the film “The Crew” Alexander Mitta was in intensive care

The Rostov administration found the designer of the bridge to Zeleny Ostrov

Doctors told why broccoli and eggs are saved from overeating

B In Rostov, a residential complex will be built on the site of the former museum of cosmonautics

The head of the administration of the Leninsky district of Rostov resigned

In Russia, the minimum wage will be increased – as salaries and benefits will increase

Shoigu commented for the first time on the armed rebellion of Wagner PMC

Residents of Ayuta have been unsuccessfully complaining to the police for years about their neighbor who burned down the apartment and started shooting

Krymsky bridge – many kilometers of traffic jams due to tourists. When will it end?

Those injured in the fire at the Novocherkassk State District Power Plant were discharged from the hospital

Oman beckons us! Five facts about a direction little known to Russians, which is doomed to popularity

Privokzalnaya street will be dug up in Rostov, and Lermontovskaya street will be made one-way — schedule of restrictions

Videos from Primorsko-Akhtarsk appeared, filmed in the first minutes after the explosion

FSB reported an attempt on the life of the head of Crimea

The temperature in Rostov will rise to +3 7 degrees this week – weather forecast

Everyone remembered these 10 phrases and pictures incorrectly. And you too?

The Don bottom will become even deeper – how will this affect the fauna and coast of the Rostov region?

“Contain a section that reveals the reasons for the beginning of the NWO”: what students will learn in the new history textbooks. The Ministry of Education answers

Will there be a new wave of mobilization due to the departure of Wagner PMC? Kartapolov answers

This is something new: 161. RU has changed its design

In two years he reached the Supreme Court: how a man forced the management company to reduce the tariff for housing maintenance

“Do we need these show-offs in Rostov?” Architect Trukhachev – about the love of officials and developers for skyscrapers

PMC “Wagner” announced the suspension of the recruitment of mercenaries

Zelensky called a condition for peace talks, and an explosion thundered in the Kuban: NVO news for July 2

An explosion in the Kuban: a huge crater was found near the airfield in Primorsko-Akhtarsk instead of a facelift: add these 6 foods to your diet and you won’t recognize yourself in the mirror

Rostov developer was allowed to demarcate a plot near Lenin Square

A pensioner is building a fabulous house out of garbage – take a look at how it looks

The first motor ship moored at the new berth in Taganrog

Six houses to be demolished in the center of Rostov and Lengorodka

All news

According to the administration, 2. 7 million people can hide in Rostov basements

Photo: Evgeny Vdovin 90 010

Share

The Rostov administration has registered 1801 shelters in the basements of residential buildings, and underground passages can become twenty more shelters. Information about each is officially published by the city authorities.

– The main part is the basements of apartment buildings. <...> Entrance doors to the technical underground must be locked (the keys are kept in the organizations for the maintenance of the housing stock, the joint dispatch service, the janitor, the workers living in these houses), a special inscription is made on the door about the place of storage, — the press service of the Rostov administration reported in response to a request from 161.RU.

According to published data, up to 2.7 million people can hide in Rostov cellars. Underpasses are designed for 10.7 thousand people.

The administration noted that, according to the recommendations of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Rostov Region, people should take food and water to shelters with them when evacuating.

Photo: Maria Romanova

Share

Photo: Maria Romanova

Share

Most shelters were registered in Voroshilovsky district (688), the smallest number – in Zheleznodorozhny (47). Shelter addresses can be found at the link.

Related

• March 20, 2023, 07:00

  What is wrong with the shelters from the list of the Rostov administration? Some simply do not exist

• February 19, 2023, 17:10

  Results of the week. Snowfall covered Rostov, authorities published a list of shelters

• February 17, 2023, 12:05

  Where to find shelter in Rostov: check if your address is on the list

• February 17, 2023, 10:20

  sky shelters? Checked several addresses

• November 25, 2022, 09:00

  Head of the Don Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations: people have the right to know the address only of their shelter

• November 22, 2022, 16:00

  Administration: in Rostov there are shelters for 2 million people.