From one of the biggest names in PC building, Corsair offers the Corsair Carbide Series Air 540. As the name suggests, the Carbide Series Air 540 was designed with airflow and cooling in mind. It includes dual chambers to deliver cooler air to all the components inside — CPU, GPU, motherboard, and memory. Not only does it have the dual chambers for increased cooling capabilities, but it was also designed with advanced cooling in mind.

My only real complaints with this case are relatively small in the grand scheme on things. Getting to the dust cover — the only dust cover included — requires removal of the top panel and front panel to access it. This is a bit more work than a lot of cases have when it comes to accessing dust filters. Secondly, the feet are fairly small and the case sits super low to the ground, so it might be better to put it on the desk rather than carpeting.

Even with these few very small issues in mind, they don't do nearly enough things negative to the case to prevent it from reaching the top of the list as the best over small ATX case on the market. With all of the cooling features kept in mind in conjunction with the tool-free design, quieter than normal operation, and the flush-mount glass panel, the Corsair Carbide Series Air 540 is the best overall option on the market!

If you’re looking for a great computer case for your PC build but you’re on a bit more of a budget, the CoolerMaster MCB-Q500L MasterBox might be the perfect option for you! Even though this computer case is touted as a small ATX case and is even smaller in size than the top-ranked Corsair unit above, the CoolerMaster is fully capable of supporting standard ATX with its compact size. 

This is done with the efficient placement of all of the mounting hardware inside the case, allowing for larger motherboards and PSUs to be installed in such a small case. Don’t think this case can only be used for standard ATX components, however. With the CoolerMaster MasterBox, you can mount Micro ATX and Mini-ITX hardware as well as the standard form factor ATX. All you need to do is mount the PSU differently to allow for necessary ventilation and voila!

As can be expected from a more budget-friendly case, it isn’t without its fair share of issues— although nothing too major where it detracts from the case being a great option. The most prominent issue that I’ve had with this case is the acrylic side panels being easily scratched. As for myself, I can be a bit less careful at times and acrylic is not very forgiving when it comes to being a bit reckless. This shouldn’t be an issue for someone that’s more careful with the case though than I am. Secondly, it’s a bit tough to imagine getting a 3.5” HDD into the allocated location, but thankfully I only used a 2.5” drive so I didn’t have to fiddle with it.

For the price, the CoolerMaster can’t be beaten. Not only do you get the compact design, but you also get easily changeable magnetic dust filters, fan and radiator support for additional cooling needs, and dedicated space for cable routing to get the most out of your cable management. If you’re on a budget and looking to buy a new computer case for your build, this option from CoolerMaster should easily make your shortlist of options!

If you’re a fan of devices designed to be as slim as possible for aesthetic reasons, look no further than the Thermaltake Core G3 case for your next PC build. The Core G3 was designed to be the slimmest case on the market that is still capable of offering support for standard ATX (and smaller) motherboards. With a width of only 120mm (only about ~4.7 inches!) across its front panel, it’s about as slim as a computer case can get!

Other than its incredibly slim design, the Thermaltake Core G3 was engineered with performance and customization in mind. With performance in mind, the Core G3 was designed to add extra water-cooling to the case with the ability to add in radiators and AIO liquid coolers as you wish. Thermaltake boats that this case was designed with performance in mind as the added cooling can offer you the ability to play 4K and virtual reality games with no fear of overheating.

This case is also highly customizable. First and foremost, you can actually choose to place the case vertically or horizontally depending on your own spacial needs and how you want it to look. Incidental to this is the modular design which allows you to reorganize the interior and mount components in a way that best suits your build. 

Overall the Core G3 is a fantastic case, but it isn’t without its drawbacks. Firstly, this is a reverse ATX case, meaning that the see-through panel is on the right of the case (when looking at it from the front) and the motherboard mounts upside down. For those of us who like to look into the case after a build (all of us, right?), this case would need to be placed on the left side of your desk, opposite of most. Secondly, there isn’t any real cable management incorporated into the design, but it can be worked around.

With everything in mind, the Thermaltake Core G3 is a great case, and you won't find a better slim case out there. Especially not one that's able to offer the same form factor support like this one while being this slim!

If you're in the market for a computer case and you want to have something different from what everyone else typically goes with, you may want to consider the CoolerMaster HAF XB EVO. The box-like design of this case will make your build stand out among your friends while offering additional benefits as well.

The "HAF" in the name stands for "high airflow", which is possible due to the unique design of the case. With this design, fans can be strategically placed to allow for optimal airflow through the case to keep the temperatures on all of your components as low as possible during use.

Not only was this case designed with optimal airflow in mind, but it is also made for builders like you and me. Due to the removability of the motherboard tray and HDD cages, the installation of these parts is easier than ever. Not only is the motherboard easier to install than ever, the CoolerMaster HAF can support up to, and including, standard ATX units while also allowing for the use of Micro ATX or even Mini-ITX. This means it's a great case no matter what types of components you're planning on using.

Due to the innovative box-like design, the biggest problem I had with this case was the limited space on the inside. It’s not so limited that everything isn’t going to fit or anything, but it required a bit more care and precision when installing everything and routing the cables — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Secondly, there aren’t any dust filters on the openings on the top or the sides which is a bit strange, but nothing to make this case a bad option.

Overall, the CoolerMaster HAF XB EVO is a great option for anyone looking to build a new PC. As one last bonus, this case comes with sturdy built-in handles on the side, making it easier than ever to move your system anytime you need to!

If you’re interested in another innovative design when it comes to computer cases, the SilverStone Technology Home Theater Computer Case (HTPC) may be right up your alley. The design of the case is made to look like part of your home theater or TV/entertainment system to fit right in and not be an eyesore no matter where you mount it. Not only is it a sleek design that looks great, but it also has its own slew of features built right in.

First and foremost it is designed to have as much airflow as possible going through the case. It even takes this a bit further and is designed specifically to keep a positive pressure inside the case. This means that the pressure is higher inside the case than the surrounding environment, so dirt and dust have a harder time getting into the components while promoting efficient cooling.

It’s sleek and compact design is also the root cause of its biggest issues. Due to the compact size, it’s difficult to get many large components to fit inside the case easily, but with a bit of care and precision, you should get able to get all of the components inside. When I was using this case for a build, I did have to buy some extra SSD PCI brackets to get the SSDs to mount where they can be properly cooled, but that was no big deal. 

Once you get all of the components inside, however, the case looks and performs great. The cooling capabilities of this case make it perfect for any 4K or virtual reality gaming system and you won’t play in fear of overheating and parts failing. It will also look amazing sitting there and can seamlessly tie into any part of the room without sticking out like a sore thumb.

Anyone in the market for a great looking case that is sure to turn some heads should consider the darkFlash Micro ATX case. This case is offered in a few different color options including the standard black and white but also a rarely-seen pink color and my personal favorite, a gorgeous mint green. These color options are not often seen on computer cases and can add that extra bit of flair to your next build. 

The best design feature of this case is the door opening design on one of the side panels. The side that has the tempered glass panel — which itself is a great feature for viewing the inside of your build — rides on hinges for easy opening and closing. It’s held closed by magnets to ensure it stays closed when you aren’t working on it but makes the case incredibly easy to access when you are!

The darkFlash Micro ATX was designed to be used for Micro ATX motherboards, but it is also compatible with Mini-ITX units to give you a bit more freedom. Its space-efficient design has allocated areas for your power supply, motherboard, SSDs, CPU, GPU, and fans/radiators to make your build as easy as possible.

While it is a great overall case, there is one main minor issue that is worth mentioning with this darkFlash unit. Not only are there plenty of color options, but there are also front panel options. Each color can come with either a mesh front panel or a solid front panel. The issue with the solid front panel is that it restricts a lot of the airflow inside the case which can potentially lead to other issues down the road.

With that in mind, this option from darkFlash is a great choice for your next PC build, but I would recommend going with the mesh front panel option just for a bit more peace of mind with the airflow!

Rounding off our list of the top seven small ATX cases available is another option from SilverStone Technology, this time with their FARA B1 case. This case was specifically designed with looks and airflow in mind, both of which are obvious just by looking at it. Prominently displayed on the front of the case is the SilverStone Technology logo which illuminates when the case is powered up. The front panel is also clearly designed to improve the intake airflow as both sides are constructed with a mesh design to allow for more air to enter in.

This case includes one rear-mounted 120mm fan to get the airflow going right away, but the case also supports additional cooling as needed so you can keep your components at the perfect operating temperature. The FARA B1 also includes the space and mounts for one 3.5” HDD or two 2.5” SSDs, with the ability to add expansion slots as necessary for serious PC builders.

The biggest issue with this case is the construction quality due to the seemingly very thin metal that it is made out of. When I was handling this case it seemed a bit more flimsy than most other cases that I’ve used, and it would bow and flex a bit more than normal with light pressure applied to it. This is nothing major as long as you never set anything heavy on your case or don’t move it a lot, but it’s worth keeping in mind while shopping.

Overall, the SilverStone Technology FARA B1 is a great case that will provide you with plenty of space and cooling capability to build the perfect PC you’ve been dreaming of, just don’t expect the highest quality construction for the price. One last bonus of this case is that it, like many others on this list, includes a tempered glass side panel so that you can easily peer inside and see the beauty of what’s powering your PC!