When you’ve got a desktop PC, it’s possible you’ll not need to put it on the ground for a number of causes: possibly you reside with a toddler who could get curious concerning the performance of the ability button, or with a pet that drops an excessive amount of hair. Perhaps you want frequent entry to the motherboard rear connectors, or maybe you merely need to exhibit your system.
The issue is that your present case, like most instances that may match the parts you’ve got, could not appear to be one thing that ought to be on a desk both: in tower-style instances, I/O connectors in the course of the entrance panel are all however gone, which can require you to face up in an effort to use them. Relying on what a part of the desk your PC stands on, it will probably additionally fall over when you stumble upon its higher half. Perhaps it would not look good to you on a desk both.
There are shorter instances which might be far more appropriate than most to be used on a desk. Listed here are among the better of them, for each finances, measurement requirement, or sort of PC.
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Greatest for Gaming
The Lian Li O11 Air Mini is without doubt one of the most compact instances that both assist an ATX motherboard or Micro-ATX and a top-mounted radiator. The rear panel is modular, so you’ll be able to set up it in line with your present {hardware}. The case makes use of a dual-chamber design to save lots of top, 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 sweet with two 140mm followers within the entrance and a 120mm one on the rear. With an ATX motherboard, radiators of 240mm could be put in on the backside or on the facet (when you 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 will additionally be capable to set up the latter on prime (in mATX mode) or on the backside (in ATX mode).
Aside from that, the facet window is product of tempered glass, and the underside mud filter is definitely detachable from the facet. The highest I/O contains three USB 3.0 ports, together with one Sort-C. The case is accessible in black or white, for $110 and $121 on Newegg, respectively.
Greatest Outdated-Faculty
A case that just about made it into our record of greatest old-school instances, the Cooler Grasp HAF XB Evo contains two 5.25″ bays and 4 SATA drive bays (2 of which hot-swappable) in 3 detachable cages. In contrast to the Lian Li O11, this ATX case saves top by mounting the motherboard horizontally, on a detachable tray, above the drives and PSU.
The CPU and graphics card are stored cool with two 120mm followers within the entrance. These could be changed with a 240mm radiator or 140mm followers, however 280mm radiators aren’t formally supported, besides the Nepton 280L. You possibly can add a 200mm fan on prime, 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 contains Sort-A USB 3.0 connectors, however due to the 5.25″ bays you’ll be able to add any connector you need. Regardless of its measurement, the case is straightforward to hold due to massive handles on the perimeters.
Greatest Worth
When you’ve got a Micro-ATX motherboard, then the Thermaltake Core V21 will give you one of the best worth at $70. The case contains 5 enlargement slot covers, regardless that mATX instances solely assist 4 enlargement slots, in case you put in a multi-slot card within the backside slot.
This case would not simply appear to be a dice, but additionally works like one. Its important physique could be put in in any orientation on the underside panel. When you’ve got a graphics card, the default orientation with the motherboard mounted horizontally will present one of the best distribution of weight (and a detachable filter for the PSU). If not, it’s possible you’ll need 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 would be able to rotate accordingly.
The highest and facet panels are interchangeable, so you’ll be able to select the place to place the acrylic facet window (beware to not choke your graphics card with it). The opposite two panels provide massive vents with magnetic filters.
With a 200mm fan within the entrance, the V21 has no points with cooling. You may also set up a 120mm or 140mm fan on the rear, and a 280mm radiator in 3 completely different areas. In a type of areas, you’ll be able to 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 gives Sort-A USB 3.0 and no 5.25″ bays (regardless that the principle physique has the area for one), however for the value it is laborious to complain.
Most Compact
If you’d like absolutely the most compact case that may match a Micro-ATX motherboard, look no additional. This case would not even waste area on a PSU chamber, however places the PSU within the entrance, drawing air via the perimeters of the entrance panel and releasing it via the perforated prime panel (the exterior energy wire nonetheless connects to the rear of the case). When you’ve got a tower-style CPU cooler, it’s possible you’ll need to rotate it 90 levels in both course if attainable, because it will not get direct airflow from the entrance.
The case solely comes with one 80mm rear fan, however you’ll be able to add one other one, in addition to three 120mm ones: 1 on prime and a couple of on the backside. The underside spots can be used for SATA drives, and one other one could be put in behind the PSU. Until you utilize each of the underside spots for HDDs, you’ll be able to set up one other SSD underneath the PSU.
The entrance panel has two USB 3.0 Sort-A connectors on prime. For about $70, it is a good worth. The primary function fully lacking is devoted cable administration area, so you will need to use a modular PSU with this case.
Greatest for NAS
Even when you want 10 disk drives in a single package deal, 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 couple of extra on the ground of the motherboard chamber. The entrance panel has area for two SATA SSDs and a slim optical drive.
Every chamber comes with its personal 120mm rear fan. Within the PSU chamber, you’ll be able to substitute it with a 140mm one. That chamber may home a 280mm radiator on prime (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. Every 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 can be sufficient. That is additionally why we do not advocate putting in 240mm radiators within the entrance, regardless that every chamber helps one.
Just like the ThermalTake Core V21, the case has 5 enlargement slot covers, however when you set up any card in it, it is best to transfer the entrance fan to the underside of the panel to assist cooling it.
Every 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 facet of the entrance panel are two USB 3.0 Sort-A connectors.
Extra Options for Restricted Desk Areas
If you happen to want your PC in your desk, however haven’t got the area for many of the instances we advisable, it’s possible you’ll must accept an everyday Micro-ATX case. Cooler Grasp gives two good choices with a 5.25″ bay within the MasterBox NR400 and Silencio S400.
If you happen to do not want an exterior bay, the Fractal Design Meshify C Mini and Outline C Mini are good alternate options. If you happen to choose to avoid wasting cash, take a look at the corporate’s Focus G Mini.