Compact Micro-ATX case (2024)

I used a Sama IM01 case for a small home server and later used a second one for a desk top build. It was the smallest case I could find that fit an mATX board and was pretty cheap.

Looks like I can resurrect this thread.
I am getting rid of HDDs for SSDs and won't need a case with an entire HDD compartment with two bays or something.
I just need to be able to mount four U.2 SSDs with a fan blowing on them.
The board is micro-ATX.
What I definitely need is a case that's as dust proof as humanly possible, because the server obviously runs 24/7.

Aren't U.2 SSDs basically 2,5"? Should mount into any kind of whatever adapter out there, shouldn't they?

Looks like I would have to buy some sort of adapters to mount 2,5" drives in the 3,5" cages in the Node 804, because the 2,5" mount locations suck and I wouldn't be able to mount a fan anywhere near them. I might as well buy a new case instead, but I haven't had any luck finding anything similar or smaller. There's the Thermaltake Core V21, but it's even bigger, which sucks.

I have a Jonsbo V9 and quite like it. For U.2 mounting I would build some kind of a combination of cage and air-shroud that stands on top of the bottom fan that's nearer to the front. So the fan would directly blow fresh air around the SSDs which were mounted with their connectors oriented towards the top of the case. I can not say anything about its dust proofness, because I generally remove all filters for better airflow. If this case should be somehow to small, there's the Jonsbo D30. It hat 4x 2.5" mounting points, but for U.2 I would do the same as described above because of cooling.

NCASE M1 is not mATX. Also discontinued for a couple years now.

There's a new variant it seems. It's still the only product they have on their, a little chaotic, website. And it clearly says m-ATX there.

Looks like the M1 EVO is a fork of the original project and has gotten considerably larger. Doesn't appear you can buy it currently however.

Hi, l am also looking for an m-atx case with as many as possible 3.5" hdd positions. Is there any better than the node 804 which can hold 6 drives?

I had the U3. It is quite nice because you can fit larger CPU heatsinks (the other models are way to limited in that regard in my opinion). The U3 has got spare volume at the bottom (just lay an SSD there or tie it to the grill) and in the top of the front (probably only double sided tape will help here)

Having read (parts of) the thread again I think you won't find a decent combination of U.2 cooling and dust proof in any of those. I guess you should think again about the Jonsbo V9 again. In my current homeserver I use a FDM printed shroud to have one 80mm fan cool 2x U.2 and 1 BCM57414 (fits 2 NICs). This shroud works wonders and makes my server dead silent. In the V9 you can easily use the front-most bottom 120mm fan to mount a 4x 2.5" bracket/shroud to it.

Who said anything about U.2?

Oh? This must be an old thread then. I never bought any, I guess it was an idea I ditched early on. I have 3x2,5" SSDs in the server now.

What the heck is 2,5" M.2 ? ;D