SPCR

While the sound dampening materials in cases marketed for their quietness help reduce some noise, a build's quietness is mostly determined by what's on the inside. For this reason, this list is more focused on air flow rather than sound dampening materials.

Criteria
* Compactness
* Ventilation
* If it's a tower case, it should support 140mm and a medium-large air cooler.
* Build quality and aesthetic
* Value for the price

Silverstone Sugo (~$40)


Cooler Master Elite 110 (~$40)


Thermaltake Core V1 (~$50)
One of the larger cases on the list, but unique style and well ventilated.


Fractal Design Define Nano S (~$60)
One of the most well-rounded and solid choices on the list.


Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX (~$70)
May be harder to find nowadays, but it's elegant, perfectly sized.


Fractal Design Node 202 (SFX) ($80)
This is the most compact case on the list to support a video card.


Realan E-W60 (Pico) ($90)
The most compact case on this list (no video card). Aluminum. Vents on sides, back and bottom.


NZXT H200i ($125)
Most expensive choice on this list, but may be my favorite.

[quote="Derek Semeraro"]While the sound dampening materials in cases marketed for their quietness help reduce some noise, a build's quietness is mostly determined by what's on the inside. For this reason, this list is more focused on air flow rather than sound dampening materials.

Criteria
* Compactness
* Ventilation
* If it's a tower case, it should support 140mm and a medium-large air cooler.
* Build quality and aesthetic
* Value for the price

Silverstone Sugo (~$40)

Cooler Master Elite 110 (~$40)

Thermaltake Core V1 (~$50)
One of the larger cases on the list, but unique style and well ventilated.

Fractal Design Define Nano S (~$60)
One of the most well-rounded and solid choices on the list.


Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX (~$70)
May be harder to find nowadays, but it's elegant, perfectly sized.

Fractal Design Node 202 (SFX) ($80)
This is the most compact case on the list to support a video card.


Realan E-W60 (Pico) ($90)
The most compact case on this list (no video card). Aluminum. Vents on sides, back and bottom.

NZXT H200i ($125)
Most expensive choice on this list, but may be my favorite.

Thanks for this so much. I finally decided to go with the Fractal design because it seems the best fit for my needs.

Thanks so much,
Regards,
Brian.

[Mod: removed all other images to clarify post.]

Hi Brian and welcome to SPCR,

There were 2 Fractal Design cases listed (only one had a working image). Which one did you get?

As I was going to build PCs for lan parties I was confused which case to get. Chose Phanteks Enthoo Evolv as its the perfectly desgined case and fit just right according to my needs

Those NZXT H200i and Phantex Enthoo Evolv ITX share one design flaw and I would recommend against them at all cost.
Namely, while the PSU shroud looks neat, it blocks virtually all airflow to the graphics card unless you get a single slot GPU (not a chance). They basically force you to use water cooling.
Fractal Design Define Nano S narrowly mitigates this issue, but only if you get a reasonably short power supply and the graphics card has a blower cooler.

You didn't mention two possible cases that I would recommend:
1. Fractal Design Node 304. Similar size to the Silverstone Sugo, but well suited for mounting a GPU, as there is a (filtered) vent next to it.
2. Silverstone Raven RVZ (01E through 03) series. I think they are as compact as Fractal Design Node 202 that you mentioned, but with better cooling ability.