[SOLVED] Best budget microATX case?

[JoshTheDogBuildingNewPC]

Hi! I am looking for a microATX case for my new build, and I am wondering if anyone has recommendations on the best case with minimal cost but some basic features, like:

• 3.5mm jack
• 1 or 2 USB 3.0 ports
• Anything else about cases that is important but I don't know about

 

[Lutfij]

The definition of budget can vary from person to person and varies even more when region comes into the topic. If you will, what sort of a budget have you allocated for your chassis purchase, what is your preferred site for purchase and where are you located?

Off the top of my head, you could look into CoolerMaster's NR400 chassis or Deepcool's Macube 110 or DarkFlash's DLM21/22 mesh versions.

What sort of heatware will you stuff inside the chassis?

 

[JoshTheDogBuildingNewPC]

What sort of heatware will you stuff inside the chassis?

I am trying to keep the entire budget for my PC under $500, so a case under $50 for sure. When you say heatware, do you mean fans? If so, I have no idea what kind of fans I need inside my case.

 

[Viorala]

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811353095

It's around 3 inches shorter than normal but it works because there aren't any 5.25" bays.

It's a bit tight with the coolers: max height is 160mm, a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO is 159mm. But a Deepcool Gammax is 155mm, so there are smaller ones about.

You'll probably never get a PSU that fills the max length. I think they cap out around 150mm or 155mm.

GPU length is fine imo.

1 x USB 3.0 / 2 x USB 2.0 / Audio

One intake fan with mesh, the other without, (in the front), that's a con but there's no tempered glass so it shouldn't be an oven. You can make the top rear fan an intake too, not sure if that's a good idea or not. As for liquid cooling, I honestly have no idea but I don't see why a medium sized one wouldn't fit.

Perfect amount of 2.5" and 3.5" slots imo.

Most reviews say cable mgmt is ok, there's one or two that are a bit fussy about it.

There's only four expansion slots. This is a con, definitely if you're planning on running two GPUs - I don't think it will work. If not, then I don't think it's a big deal.

It comes in different colors and is relatively inexpensive.

 

[Viorala]

Here is a bigger one:

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811353106

It has 2x usb 3.0.

Again, no tempered glass so it's not an oven.

 

[JoshTheDogBuildingNewPC]

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811353095

It's around 3 inches shorter than normal but it works because there aren't any 5.25" bays.

It's a bit tight with the coolers: max height is 160mm, a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO is 159mm. But a Deepcool Gammax is 155mm, so there are smaller ones about.

You'll probably never get a PSU that fills the max length. I think they cap out around 150mm or 155mm.

GPU length is fine imo.

1 x USB 3.0 / 2 x USB 2.0 / Audio

One intake fan with mesh, the other without, (in the front), that's a con but there's no tempered glass so it shouldn't be an oven. You can make the top rear fan an intake too, not sure if that's a good idea or not. As for liquid cooling, I honestly have no idea but I don't see why a medium sized one wouldn't fit.

Perfect amount of 2.5" and 3.5" slots imo.

Most reviews say cable mgmt is ok, there's one or two that are a bit fussy about it.

There's only four expansion slots. This is a con, definitely if you're planning on running two GPUs - I don't think it will work. If not, then I don't think it's a big deal.

It comes in different colors and is relatively inexpensive.

Ok, so what about this case is better compared to other cases around the price range, like the two mentioned above and the Deepcool Mattrex 30? (btw that's what I'm currently looking at, if there is something significantly wrong with that one please let me know)

 

[JoshTheDogBuildingNewPC]

Here is a bigger one:

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811353106

It has 2x usb 3.0.

Again, no tempered glass so it's not an oven.

I will probably be looking for microATX cases for the build, as after some research I have seen that in general, microATX is cheaper because it's smaller, but is there an advantage to having a bigger case (other than upgradability)? Also, are ATX cases better value?

 

[Viorala]

I just got done case hunting last week, I'm just pulling cheap cases off my newegg wishlist. But I have different requirements than you: I didn't want the tempered glass or the 5.25" drive bays.

ATX cases are either rare or loaded with stuff I didn't want - I think I found 2 total over the course of my hunt. But I see the appeal, I mean a big case screams better airflow.

MicroATX is interesting; I put a pc together in an old compact HP case (so not really itx but it was def small) with a tiny motherboard and I swore up and down the GPU wouldn't fit but it did. Trust the manufacturers I guess.

edit: not micro, I think they're called itx. MicroATX is all over the place.

 

[Flayed]

I like the Silverstone PS15 for a mATX case, but I guess it is not really that budget at $65. It would be good if you find it on sale though.

 

[JoshTheDogBuildingNewPC]

I just got done case hunting last week, I'm just pulling cheap cases off my newegg wishlist. But I have different requirements than you: I didn't want the tempered glass or the 5.25" drive bays.

ATX cases are either rare or loaded with stuff I didn't want - I think I found 2 total over the course of my hunt. But I see the appeal, I mean a big case screams better airflow.

MicroATX is interesting; I put a pc together in an old compact HP case (so not really itx but it was def small) with a tiny motherboard and I swore up and down the GPU wouldn't fit but it did. Trust the manufacturers I guess.

edit: not micro, I think they're called itx. MicroATX is all over the place.

Yeah, I'm ok for just about any case that looks simple/clean, has good enough airflow, has headphone jack and 2 usb ports, and is cheap. I don't know exactly what's good in a case, but I'm not planning on anything super crazy for it. Just a Ryzen 3 3100 and maybe a GTX 1050 ti. Nothing super hot.
Getting glass on the side might be nice, but I really don't care that much. Functional and cheap over "cool stuff" for sure.