Review on 🖥️ Fractal Design Core 500 Mini Tower Computer Case - Mini ITX - Enhanced High Airflow and Cooling - Includes 1x 140mm Silent Fan - Brushed Aluminium - Water-Cooling Compatible - Black by Jason Wesley

This was my first mini-ITX build and while there were some fairly minor issues I am very happy with the finished product. Firstly, building in an SFF case like this is quite tedious compared to building in a tower, but I really appreciate the thought that went into this layout and the cramped spaces, I don't think space was really wasted. For starters, you can place a decent CPU cooler here. This was one of the main reasons I chose this one and it pays off. Thanks to a cooler I was able to install (I use air) my CPU stays at a crisp 42-45 degrees when gaming. GPU on the other hand. Well, let's just say it struggles a bit with airflow despite having direct air access through the mesh side panels. This is not overheating (usually 65-75 degrees in games), but it is more than in other cases. However, this is not so important. This GPU is just over 10 inches, by the way, and even with the semi-modular power supply I still had room for cables, although it was certainly tight in that corner. Speaking of wiring. Much luck. The best you can do is try to keep them off center so as not to impede airflow, but at least you don't have to face them. I love that you have so many storage options and even an optical drive. I'm old fashioned and actually put one in my build. It has an optical drive, an SSD, and a hard drive - perfect for a media center/HTPC, which I'll probably use primarily, although it will also play games. My few minor complaints relate mainly to how tight some of the screws were (risk of them coming loose here, so be careful) and how painful it is to put the outer shell back on (no problem taking it off). .But the finished product is hard to beat. The form factor is great and the layout flexibility is fantastic. I mean, you can get an optical drive, full-size GPU, and full-size CPU cooler with everything else, and I just haven't found another case that lets you do that at this size. This case is *perfect* for HTPC builds and also great for desktop or living room gaming. In this space you can really build a powerful, fully functional machine. For the price, it was an easy purchase for me and I don't regret it, although the finish was a bit disappointing at times.