Best Micro ATX Case Worth Your Investment

If you prefer a slim form factor gaming PC, chances are you are going to have to use a motherboard and a PC case that can fit the size. Micro-ATX is among the more cost-saving form factors that you can take into consideration.  They have smaller sizes than regular ATX mid-tower cases but are slightly larger than mini-ITX cases. 

One good thing about mATX motherboards and cases is that they are a little less expensive than mini-ITX. A lot of gamers under a tight budget can’t afford to buy a mini-ITX motherboard and case but find themselves better options, which are a case and motherboard from micro ATX that cost only a fraction of the previous models’ prices. 

Therefore, in order to help you find the best micro-ATX case that fits your desires and budget, we have selected 5 of the best-choice micro-ATX cases. These can be used either in a premium gaming PC or a reasonably priced system. 

• Best overall micro-ATX case: Lian Li 205M. View Amazon

• The second best m-ATX case:  Phanteks EVOLV mATX. Check Amazon

• High-quality m-ATX case with a cubic style: Thermaltake Level 20 VT. View Amazon

• Best price-to-performance mATX case:  Thermaltake S100. Check Amazon

• Best budget-friendly micro-ATX case: Montech Flyer. Check Amazon

1. Lian Li 205M

If you are looking for a stylish high-profile chassis that doesn’t cost too much, Lian Li’s 205M micro-ATX case can be a perfect choice. This PC case is also among the more spacious mATX cases compared to the other options on the list. It has enough capacity to store video cards that have a size of 14.8” and 6.2” in length and height respectively.

The 205M also has the ability to store up to five fans and a 240mm AIO cooler on the front or top of the case. Additionally, it comes along with two preinstalled 120mm fans. 

While having similar overall quality, the Lian Li 205M has slightly more internal space than the Phanteks EVOLV mATX below and also costs around $40 or $50 cheaper.

In general, the 250M is not only one of the best small form factor cases but also among the best micro-ATX cases in terms of quality overall. It is a great choice worth considering for those who want a decent mATX case but yet are under a budget. 

Top features: 

• Ability to hold up to 14.8’’ GPUs in length.

• Can fit CPU coolers with up to 6.2” in height. 

• Can store a maximum of five different fans.

• Comes in white or black.

Today’s top deal: Check on Amazon

2. Phanteks EVOLV mATX

An alternative that has roughly the same quality as Lian Li 205M is the Phanteks EVOLV mATX. It is designed with a side panel made of tempered glass and a PSU cover.  Nevertheless, there isn’t as much room for video cards because they can only hold cards that have a 12.5” length at max.  

However, rest assured that even at 12.5” long, it has more than sufficient capacity to store even higher-quality CPUs on the market. To be honest, you will find some RTX 3080s and RTX 3090s that have that length. So you aren’t typically restricted to what you can do with the EVOLV mATX.

Compared with the 250M, the EVOLV mATX gains the upper hand since it can accommodate a larger-sized 360mm AIO radiator or cooler. So, in case you are still deciding between these two cases and looking to fit the biggest possible cooler in the system, the EVOLV mATX can give you a chance to opt for a bigger radiator. 

Top features: 

• Ability to hold up to 12.5’’ GPUs in length.

• Can fit CPU coolers with up to 7.6” in height. 

• Can store a maximum of six fans.

• Comes in three styles and colors.

Today’s top deal: Check on Amazon

If you are interested in other PC cases and motherboards, check out the list below.

• Best Mini ITX Case

• Best Full Tower PC Case

• Best Gaming Motherboard

3. Thermaltake Level 20 VT

If you are looking for a micro-ATX case with a cubic style, the Thermaltake Level 20 VT is our best choice. This PC case has mostly received positive feedback. It is designed with four panels on its top, sides, and front made of tempered glass, three of which are removable. 

The case is very spacious and can accommodate graphic cards with a 13.8” length and CPU coolers with a 7.3” height. Both of those have enough room to hold any air CPU cooler or graphics card. Thermaltake Level 20 VT is also supportive for liquid cooling and roomy enough to store AIO coolers with a 280mm size at max. Double radiators with a 240mm size can fit on the top panel of the case as well. 

One drawback of the Level 20 VT, however, is that it is more expensive than a lot of other cubic cases but doesn’t provide as much airflow as the other options on this list. Nevertheless, this shortcoming can be compensated by installing additional hardware and can be bypassed by its ability to store up to nine fans at max and support liquid cooling extensively. 

However, it is better to go for the Thermaltake Core X2, the Thermaltake Core V21, or Corsair Crystal 280X if you truly want something that offers better cooling. 

Top features: 

• Ability to hold up to 13.8’’ GPUs in length.

• Can fit CPU coolers with up to 7.3” in height. 

• Can store a maximum of nine fans.

• Comes in gray or black.

Today’s top deal: Check on Amazon

4. Thermaltake S100

An option for those who choose micro-ATX cases that provides the best price-to-performance ratio is the Thermaltake S100. This case has many popular features that are currently common among system builders, such as a PSU shroud and a side panel made of tempered glass. Aesthetically, with a delicate all-black look that is attractive enough for users who prefer sexy options but not too extravagant for those aiming for a more plain design. 

Additionally, With its spacious room, it’s capable of housing graphics cards with up to 12.9’’ in length, which is roomy enough to store most graphics cards on the market, and 6.4” tall CPU coolers. The PC case can also accommodate radiators with up to 280mm in length, as long as the thickness of fans and radiator on it are no more than 55 mm.  Thus,- in this case, liquid cooling is possible as well.

All of these features can be owned for slightly below $70. Therefore, it can be concluded that the S100 is a choice worth considering if you are searching for a micro-ATX case with a nice appearance and heaps of space to store a high-quality build. 

Top features: 

• Ability to hold up to 12.9’’ GPUs in length.

• Can fit CPU coolers with up to 6.4” in height. 

• Can store a maximum of five fans.

• Comes in black or white.

Today’s top deal: Check Amazon

5. Montech Flyer

Although this PC case is the cheapest option, that doesn’t associate with poor quality. It only comes with two preinstalled fans, but can be added with up to three more fans later (for a maximum of five different fans).  

Despite its relatively simple design, the Montech Flyer has slightly more strengths than other cases that are under $50. Aesthetically, it has a transparent side panel made of acrylic, a PSU shroud that comes in full length, and a sideways RGB strip.

Montech Flyer can hold graphics cards that are up to 12.9” long and CPU coolers that are 6.2” long at max. These are sufficient to store premium video cards as well as CPU coolers. 

All in all, with a less than $50 price, this is a nice option for system builders who are under a tight budget but still would like a PC case that doesn’t majorly affect their component choices.  

Top features: 

• Ability to hold up to 12.9’’ GPUs in length.

• Can fit CPU coolers with up to 6.2” in height. 

• Can store a maximum of five fans.

• Comes in black or white.

Today’s top deal: Check Amazon

Check out the list below for the best motherboards.

• Best DDR5 Motherboard

• Best AM4 Motherboard

Whether you are looking for a micro-ATX case that supports a high-quality gaming PC or an attractive-looking mATX case, this article has one of the best micro ATX cases for you to choose from. There are mATX cases that are designed with RGB lighting, or spacious enough to store the longest graphics cards, or are capable of holding sturdy liquid cooling systems. Meanwhile, there are also a lot of options that are more budget-friendly that you can use to build a decent entry-level gaming PC.