5 Best Micro-ATX Cases under $100 2021 Reviews | Top MATX Cases

Written by Branton

Last updated Sep 8, 2021

best matx cases

Picking the best micro ATX case for your new computer build can be an overwhelming process. With dozens of cases to choose from, how do you know which one is going to be the best suited for what you need? That's where we come in.

Below, you'll find a list of the 5 best mATX cases ranging from the budget-level all the way up to the more expensive enthusiast level. Each case was picked based various factors including airflow and included fans, build quality, cable management, space, and aesthetic appeal.

This list contains only 5 of the cases that I consider to be the best within their specific category - you can find the best ATX cases here. That means you might see the same cases on other lists, or you might find different ones. Either way, you'll find something awesome for your gaming PC.

Best Micro ATX Cases / MATX Cases 2021

1. Corsair Obsidian 350D

The Corsair Obsidian 350D is my pick for the all-around best Micro-ATX case. It packs all the features you would expect to see in a mid tower case into an mATX form factor and does so well. In fact, it supports 3 form factors: ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX.

On the outside, the Obsidian 350D is an mATX case through and through. It's no bigger than the other cases on this list but somehow packs in everything you can expect to see in an average mid tower case into a much smaller package.

Cable management is top-level and there's nothing to complain about here. There is ample room on the back side of the motherboard tray for hiding cables and every hole is covered with a rubber grommet. If you're a stickler for neat looking builds, this is definitely your case.

It's also very easy to reach the dust filters which is another small plus that not everybody appreciates. Small bonus points there.

The 350D comes with a 120mm fan in the rear for exhaust and a 140mm fan in the front for intake. In total it will support up to 5x fans or even a couple of 240mm radiators if you want to go full liquid cooling or any other cooling options.

Quality-wise, I've never been disappointed with a Corsair case and the 350D is no different. Everything used is high-quality and it'll be noticeable from the minute you take it out of the box.

Where the rest of the cases on the list only have 4x expansions slots, the Obsidian 350D comes with 5 which allows for either an SLI or Crossfire config of graphics cards. However, I wouldn't suggest doing that. If you're going the SLI/Crossfire route, definitely get a bigger case.

All-in-all, Corsair's Obsidian 350D is my pick for the best Micro-ATX case for delivering a high quality experience both when you're building and when you're admiring your build.

The Good
  • High-quality materials
  • Tons of room for expansion
  • Will support 240mm radiators
  • Good airflow
  • Great cable management
  • Flush mounted side glass panels
  • 160 mm for CPU cooler gives it optimal cooling performance
The Bad
  • Limited HDD space
  • Fairly heavy for an mATX case
Specs

Form:
Micro-ATX
Dimensions:
17.3" x 8.3" x 17.7" (L x W x H)
Weight:
13.3lbs
Max GPU length:
380mm (15")
Max CPU cooler height: 
160mm
Front panel:
2x USB 3.0 | Audio in/out
Fan support:
1x 120mm rear (included) | 2x 120mm/140mm front (1x 140mm included) | 2x 120mm/140mm top
Radiator support: 120mm/240mm/280mm
Power supply:
Bottom mounted | ATX | 180mm

2. Nanoxia Deep Silence 4

As the name implies, Nanoxia's Deep Silence 4 is built with a low noise system in mind, and it does that job very well. 

The Deep Silence 4 will allow you to build a nearly silent PC by offering ample soundproofing at the cost of worse cooling. Nanoxia didn't cheap out on the materials either and everything used in this case is of the highest quality. 

How it achieves a near-silent design is partly due to the soundproofing, but also partly due to the 2x 120mm fans Nanoxia includes. They're comparable to high end Noctua fans and are pretty much silent most of the time. It will also support water cooling setups but only if they use a 120mm radiator. 

For the best results, you should really remove the top internal drive bay at the very least, this will allow for much better airflow and drop temps substantially.

The materials used in the Deep Silence 4 are very high quality and you will not be disappointed here. It's all steel and high-quality plastic that'll easily stand the test of time. 

When it comes to what you can fit inside, it'll support a 265mm (10.5") GPU with the internal drive bays installed or 395mm (15.5") with the middle 2 bays removed. 

If you're building an extremely quiet system and you're looking for an mATX case to accommodate that, the Deep Silence 4 is definitely something you should consider. 

The Good
  • Very quiet
  • Includes a fan controller
  • Includes 5.25" drive bays
  • Good cable management 
  • High-quality materials
The Bad
  • Heavy for an mATX case
  • Cooling sacrificed for sound dampening (not a con if you want a quiet build)
  • Not a lot of room for cable management behind the mobo tray
Specs

Form:
Micro-ATX
Dimensions:
18.8" x 7.8" x 14.9" (L x W x H)
Weight:
19lbs
Max GPU length:
265mm (10.5") | 395mm (15.5")
Max CPU cooler height: 
160mm
Front panel:
2x USB 2.0 | 2x USB 3.0 | Audio in/out
Fan support:
1x 120mm rear (included) | 2x 120/140mm front (1x 120mm included) | 1x 120/140mm top | 1x 120/140mm bottom
Radiator support:
120mm
Power supply: 
Bottom mounted | ATX | 160mm

3. InWin 301

InWin has been in the business of making PC cases for a long time now, based on that it would be a safe assumption that they know how to make a good case and the 301 is prime example of that.

Cable management in the 301 is great. I mean, it's leagues ahead of the previously mentioned cases in terms of your options. I'm not joking when I say that it's not difficult to end up with very clean cabling when you're using the 301, even if you don't really know what you're doing.

Build quality is also great. It's obvious that In Win went all in when they decided to manufacture the 301 when you take a look at the high quality materials used. There's no cheap aluminum on this mATX case, nope, this bad boy is built from 1.2mm SECC steel. It's noticeable too as this beast weighs in at a whopping 14.4lbs and comes with 4 expansion slots!

The tempered glass panel is proper tempered glass and it detaches in a very unique way. Instead of opening from a rear/front mounted hinge or simply sliding off, In Win decided to go a different route and have the side window detach by pressing a button like a car door.

Airflow is above average and you won't have any issues here. HOWEVER, the 301 comes with NO FANS. Not one. So, if you do opt for the 301, make sure you at least buy 1x 120mm fan to use as an exhaust.

In terms of internal support, the 301 will fit up to a 330mm (13") GPU and a 158mm cooler. Meaning, you're not very limited in regards to what components you can use. The 301 would work great in budget builds and high-end builds alike.

The Good
  • Very high quality
  • Great cable management
  • Tempered glass side panels
  • Good air flow
  • 2 colors available (black & white)
  • Fair price for the level of quality
The Bad
  • Does not come with any fans
  • Fairly heavy compared to other mATX cases
Specs

Form:
Micro-ATX
Dimensions:
14.6" x 7.4" x 14.3" (L x W x H)
Weight:
14.4lbs
Max GPU length:
330mm (13")
Max CPU cooler height: 
158mm
Front panel:
2x USB 3.0 | Audio in/out
Fan support:
5x 120mm (0 included)
Radiator support:
120mm | 240mm
Power supply: 
Top mounted | ATX | 160mm

4. Cooler Master MasterBox Lite 3.1

Cooler Master makes great PC cases and their MasterBox Lite 3.1 is definitely no exception.

Only recently have I used it and boy was I impressed. For under $50 you get a case that not only looks more expensive, but performs like it too... In most areas, easily making it one of the best for the money.

Cable management is similar to the Vivo V06 in the sense that it's not going to blow your mind. But, it's still not the worst and pretty much what to expect from a sub-$50 case. As long as you're not expecting rubber grommets and tons of space, the MasterBox Lite 3.1 won't disappoint.

Build quality is good for such an inexpensive case. The only complaint I have is the acrylic side window is pretty easy to scratch, but that's more of an issue with acrylic rather than the case itself. If that's something that worries you, check out the MasterBox Lite 3.1 TG as it comes with a tempered glass side panel, as opposed to acrylic.

Airflow is good. It's not the greatest, but it's good enough for all hard drives. Again, it's a sub-$50 case and it's hard to expect mind-blowing performance. It's worth noting that the Lite 3.1 only comes with a single 120mm fan mounted in the rear.

When it comes to size, the Lite 3.1 will support up to a 158mm cooler and a 380mm (15 inch) GPU. It'll support a 240mm radiator in the front no problem.

A cool little feature that the Lite 3.1 has is its customizable trim. It comes with 3 options out of the box (red, black, white) but Cooler Master has released the schematics for the trim so you can easily 3D print your own, assuming you have access to a 3D printer.

The Good
  • Inexpensive
  • Looks great
  • Customizable trim
  • Big side window
  • Tons of GPU clearance
  • Good overall build quality
The Bad
  • Not the greatest cable management
  • Side window is easily scratched
  • Only comes with a single 120mm fan
Specs

Form:
Micro-ATX
Dimensions: 
17.9" x 8.1" x 11.8" (L x W x H)
Weight:
8.7lbs
Max GPU length:
380mm (15")
Max CPU cooler height: 
158mm
Front panel:
1x USB 2.0 | 1x USB 3.0 | Audio in/out
Fan support:
3x 120mm (1 included)
Radiator support:
120mm | 240mm
Power supply: 
Bottom mounted | ATX | 160mm

5.Vivo CASE-V06

The Vivo CASE-V06 is an awesome budget-level mATX case. I use it in some of my builds and have never been disappointed.

It comes in at a small price and delivers big results. There are 2x 120mm fans included and mounted in the front of the case, both lit with blue LEDs that cannot change color (non-RGB). This is both good, and bad at the same time since there's no dedicated exhaust fan from the factory - your best bet is to take a fan from the front and mount it at the rear of the case to blow the hot air out.

Managing your cables in the V06 isn't the greatest, but it's definitely not the worst out of any PC case. It's nothing to write home about, but it'll get the job done.

The build quality is a little cheap as you would expect from a sub-$50 case, but it's also passable. As long as you're not tossing your desktop across the room you shouldn't have any issues with parts breaking, etc.

Airflow in the V06 is pretty great for such a compact case. There's room for a total of 5 fans (2x 120mm in the front, 2x 120mm on top, 1x 120mm in the rear) as well as room for certain 120mm/240mm liquid cooling radiators.

In terms of size, the V06 is rather compact but it can fit both 160mm CPU coolers and 330mm (13 inch) GPUs. It may have trouble fitting in multiple hard drives. It also comes with 4 expansion slots.

All-in-all, for under $50 Vivo's CASE-V06 isn't going to blow anyone's mind, but as a PC case it'll do its job.

The Good
  • Inexpensive
  • Comes with 2x 120mm fans
  • Good airflow
  • Easy to build with
The Bad
  • Cheap materials
  • Cable management is slightly below average
  • No 5.25" drive bay
  • Only MATX & MITX motherboards, no ATX
Specs

Form:
Micro-ATX
Dimensions: 
15.9" x 7.8" x 16.6" (L x W x H)
Weight:
6.6lbs
Max GPU length:
330mm (13")
Max CPU cooler height: 
162mm
Front panel: 
2x USB 2.0 | 1x USB 3.0 | Audio in/out
Fan support:
5x 120mm (2 included)
Radiator support:
120mm | 240mm
Power supply: 
Bottom mounted | ATX | 160mm

Points to consider for your MATX

To get the absolute best case for what you plan on doing, you should take the following points into consideration. Failing to do so could result in you picking a case that does not support the components in your build.

Size: What size of case do you need/want? Is an mATX case going to support your goals for your build? Or are you going to need a bigger case to support your dual graphics cards?

Cooling: What kind of cooling are you going to install? Are you going to run a thick air cooler, or do you need space for a big liquid cooling radiator? You will find the max CPU cooler sizes and radiator support listed under the specs for each case in this list.

GPU clearance: How much room will you need for your graphics card to fit? Some cases will support any graphics card, but the cheaper options might be more limited in the size of GPU they can fit.

5.25" drive bays: Most modern cases have been leaning away from including 5.25" drive bays for optical drives, fan controllers, and other 5.25" accessories. If you need a drive bay, double check that your case includes one.

Budget: If you're only building a $500 PC, it wouldn't make sense to blow $100+ on your case. Same goes with building an expensive PC, it wouldn't make sense to put it into the cheapest computer case you can find. Instead, you should try to find a good balance point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is mATX better than ATX?

mATX is better than ATX if you are on a budget. It is more affordable and lets you have a great build, but ATX cases have more slots, VRMs, and have a wider variety of looks so that you can find one that you like.

Is a micro ATX good for gaming?

A micro ATX (mATX) is good for gaming. They have similar power connectors to ATX, which is a bigger version of a micro ATX, or mATX. You can build a good gaming PC with both a mATX and ATX. MATX tend to be cheaper and are a better bang for your buck.

Is micro ATX worth it?

Micro ATX is worth it because they are quite affordable compared to ATX but deliver a lot of power. They have a little less utility since they have less PCIe slots and don’t overlook as well, but they are great options for gaming.

What does mATX stand for?

mATX stands for micro ATX, which is a kind of PC case - similar to an ATX case but smaller as the name suggests. mATX cases are more affordable and smaller than ATX while having less slots and are a fraction less powerful.

Conclusion

There you have it, my list of the top 5 best Micro-ATX cases to use for a gaming PC. There are dozens if not hundreds of possible cases you could use, so I hope my list helped you narrow down your decision from potentially overwhelming to something a little easier.

Whether you're going for a flashy case with a big tempered glass window to show off all of your RGB lighting, or you want something a little more minimalist, there is definitely a case out there for you. It all comes down to what you want to see on your desk every day. 

Have any suggestions? Is there an amazing mATX case that I overlooked? Let me know in the comment section! 

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Kelly Kuhlmeyer
Kelly Kuhlmeyer
January 3, 2020 3:21 am

Love the site. I followed your $550 build for my kids and bought everything but the case. The recommended case was Thermaltake Versa H15 SPCC Micro ATX Mini Tower Computer Chassis CA-1D4-00S1NN-00.

They want the lights etc. I checked out your best cases under $100 and became confused since the too 5 didnt include the Versa 15. I’m new to this and hope you could recommend a case or two with color lights etc. In Norway where selection is limited.

Thanks for all the help.

Dave
Dave
July 26, 2019 4:42 pm

It would have been helpful to list the number of size of drive bays

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