Retro-Style mITX Computer Case - 8.57L - No Extra Hardware Needed

This tiny SFF PC has retro style, but room for modern components, and assembles without any extra hardware (aside from four screws to mount the motherboard, and four screws to mount the PSU). All pieces assemble by sliding into joinery to hold the entire case together!

At only 8.57L (274mm length x 136mm width x 230mm height, not including small protrusions when assembled), this case is smaller than most SFF cases, but is still able to support taller CPU coolers than most, and larger SFX power supplies! Images in the gallery compare the size to a 12oz can, and to the Cooler Master MasterBox NR200 (20.3L), which should give a good idea of the size

So, why did I make this? To fit a bunch of random parts I had into a case that would fit with some retro accessories I have and be able to run emulators such as MAME. Since this is designed around weird hardware I had in storage, your mileage may vary with how useful it is to you.

Support/Compatibility

• Mini ITX (mITX) motherboards

• SFX PSUs (not SFX-L)

• CPU coolers up to ~110mm tall

• Single-slot low-profile PCIe card (this means old, low-power, and OEM GPUs)

• 1x 120mm slim (15mm thick) fan for front intake

• 2x 60mm fans as rear exhaust (optional)

• Right-angle PSU connector/extenders (in this case I used one from an old Cooler Master eGPU enclosure)

• Low-profile MX style key switches for front power and reset buttons

• 5mm LEDs for power and activity lights (optional)

Recommended Print Setup

• PLA can be used for the outer pieces, in the example I used Jessie PLA Beige-500

• Outer pieces should be printed on a smooth build plate with as fine of a layer height as possible for best results. Support should be enabled in your slicer settings but it will only be used for a few overhangs.

• Inner case parts should be printed using a more temperature resistant material, such as ABS, ASA, or PC

• Inner case parts should be printed with extra infill and wall layers for strength and rigidity. These can be printed on any build plate. Support should also be enabled for these

• A few of the pieces are optional to print;

  • 35in_Cover is a 3.5" bay cover designed to look like a floppy drive, other blanks may fit, check before using them

  • Side_NoVent is a version of the side panel with no holes if the CPU fan doesn't make use of the side ventilation

  • VGACover is an optional piece that can hold the VGA connector of a GPU that has a removeable VGA port for low-profile use.

Assembly Instructions

(These instructions mostly follow the order of pictures in the gallery to follow along)

1. Print all pieces you need, remove any supports and perform any finishing you need

2. Assemble the front panel:

   1. Insert the 120mm slim intake fan by sliding it in from the bottom, then attaching it with fan screws to the front panel

   2. Insert low-profile mx switches into the holes for the buttons from the front side. Make sure they click into place before attaching the keycaps

   3. Put any 3.5" blanks or inserts into place by pushing them in from the front until they snap into place (in the prototype example I had to use hot glue but the final will fit properly)

   4. Solder lead/connector wires to the switches to be used as power and reset buttons

   5. (Optional) If you are using LEDs, solder wires to the legs before hot gluing them into the case. It is recommended you use electrical tape or heat shrink tubing to insulate the wires. A small resistor 1k ohm or less can be attached to the cathode to dim the LED. Make sure you keep track of which wire is the anode and cathode!

   6. (Optional) If using 60mm rear fans, install them now, screwing in the screws from the rear of the case

3. Assemble the motherboard:

   1. Using the motherboard box or other suitable surface, mount the CPU, CPU cooler, RAM, and SSD following the instructions in your motherboard manual

   2. Attach the IO shield to the back of the inner case part, pressing it firmly into place from the inside

   3. slide the motherboard into place, press it back into the IO shield and attach it with four screws to the standoffs in each corner

   4. Using four case screws, attach the PSU to the PSU holder on the inner case part

   5. Connect the cables from the PSU to your motherboard as directed in the PSU and motherboard manuals

   6. If your PSU extension has a socket to mount, attach it to the back screws (make sure the holes are properly spaced for your extension, the spacing was changed between my prototype and the final version after I broke my print... oops)

   7. Bring in the front panel, and using your motherboard's manual, attach the front fan, power button, reset button, and (optional) power and activity LEDs

   8. Insert your GPU or other PCIe device into the motherboard PCIe socket

   9. If your PSU has a VGA port that can be separated from the GPU when using the low-profile bracket, unscrew the securing screws from the VGA port, insert it into the VGA cover, then screw the screws back in to secure the port in place. This cover can be put in the hole next to the fan holes and the PCIe hole from the rear

   10. Secure your PCIe device by inserting the PCIeHolder from the rear with the rounded edge facing right, then turn it 90 degrees clockwise to lock it into place

4. Assemble the case:

   1. Starting with the top, insert the guides into the holes in the inner case as shown, then press it down and make sure all the dovetails lock in place

   2. Repeat this with the bottom piece

   3. Attaching the front may be easier with the case rotated so the back of the motherboard is sitting down on the surface. Insert the flanges of the front panel into the slots in the top and bottom pieces of the case and press them together

   4. The back side panel is also easier to attach while the case is up. Rotate the piece so that the ridges on the edge will line up with the ridges on the bottom panel, the aesthetic lines should go straight from the front, then diagonal up towards the back of the case. Start by placing the back side panel a few centimeters towards the top of the case before pushing it in towards the center of the case, the dovetails should line up with the guides in the inner case and the front. Once the dovetails are in the guides, slide the back panel down towards the bottom of the case to lock the dovetails in

   5. Once the back panel is in place, rotate the case onto the back side, then line up the side panel with the guides on the inner case and the front. Again, this should start a few centimeters towards the top of the case to get it lined up. Then push the side panel down towards the bottom of the case to lock it into place

5. Optional extras:

   1. Attach CPU or other promotional stickers to the front panel

   2. Attach feet to the bottom of the case, there are holes to act as guides for attaching rubber adhesive feet or for attaching your own optional feet

Handling Instructions

This case is thin and will (most likely, unless you have a really cool and expensive metal printer) be made of plastic. Sudden drops and impacts will shatter this case easily. Since this case also has no hardware keeping the panels on, extra care must be used when moving or otherwise handling it. It is recommended to pick up the case from the bottom, with one hand on the rear and one hand on the front, and NO hands touching the sides. The side panels will lift off easily, which makes for easy access for adjustments or maintenance, but will also cause the case to slip out of your hands if not handled correctly, or fall apart entirely as the panels are holding each other together.