Small form factor computing has come a long way in the last several years, with Mini-ITX motherboards featuring USB 3.0 ports, 6-channel or better audio, and support for enthusiast CPUs and PCI-E graphics cards. SFF cases, on the other hand, have more or less lagged. Antec sent us its ISK110 VESA, a Mini-ITX case that goes a long way toward changing our minds.
This case is amazingly small, measuring just 8.7 x 3.1 x 8.4 inches (HxWxD). If you’re the type who would rather have the computer completely out of sight, then you’ll appreciate the VESA mounting bracket that Antec bundled in. You can mount the bracket onto the back of a TV or monitor to get it completely out of the way. According to Antec, this case is ideal for corporate builds, kiosks, and digital signage, but we can also see this system working well in entertainment centers for HTPCs.
If you’re more inclined to show off your PCs (like we are), then you’ll be glad Antec included a stand, which is angled slightly back to give the case a proud stance. Four rubber feet make sure you won’t scratch up the surface of your desk or TV stand. The fully assembled case feels incredibly sturdy, and its industrial aesthetic will look just as attractive beside to your TV or near your monitor. The case features a steel inner frame surrounded on three sides by plastic panels, the front of which is silver. The front panel sports a power button, power and HDD LEDs, mic and line out jacks, and a quartet of USB 2.0 ports. The top panel consists of a plastic frame and a large metal mesh vent designed to help with cooling such crowded parts. Under the motherboard tray, you’ll find a bracket that supports a pair of 2.5-inch SSDs or hard drives.
The top edge of the case features an internal DC-DC power converter, which connects to an external 90- watt notebook-style power supply. In addition to the 24-pin motherboard power connector, the internal cable bundle consists of a pair of SATA power connectors, a 4-pin CPU power connector, and a lone 4-pin Molex connector. That’s not enough juice to run a discrete graphics card with much gaming ability, but any modern Intel or AMD CPU with integrated graphics will be more than adequate for most general computing tasks.
The ISK110 VESA is another example of Antec’s solid craftsmanship, and we’re happy to call this one of the better Mini-ITX cases we’ve ever tested. If small is your thing, then the ISK110 VESA should be on your short list.
ISK110 VESA
$94.95
Antec
www.antec.co
