The NZXT Manta mITX Case Review
by E. Fylladitakis on June 16, 2016 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Mini ITX
- NZXT
- Case
As Mini-ITX systems are moving away from the old slow systems they used to represent and are becoming more powerful with high-end hardware, they become more and more appealing to enthusiasts and gamers. Many companies design cases for Mini-ITX motherboards, with the usual design approach being the minimization of their external dimensions, as designers are striving to fit them into modern living rooms alongside gaming consoles and home cinema equipment.
Introduction
Very small Mini-ITX based cases that can hold powerful gaming systems do exist, but they do have a fair share of limitations - especially when it comes to cooling. Perhaps the most prominent example is the Fractal Design Node 202, a Mini-ITX case that rivals the size of gaming consoles and can hold a rather powerful gaming system, but with very limited cooling and power options.
NZXT is a company that took an entirely different approach with their Mini-ITX design. The company is known among gamers and enthusiasts for providing functional designs with high thermal performance. As such, the company has decided to design the Manta, a tower case reduced to fit Mini-ITX motherboards while still providing enough space for sizable air coolers and liquid cooling radiators.
| NZXT Manta | ||
| Motherboard Size | Mini-ITX | |
| Drive Bays | External | - |
| Internal | 2 × 3.5" 3 × 2.5" |
|
| Cooling | Front | 2 × 120 mm or 2 x 140 mm (2 × 120 mm included) |
| Rear | 1 × 120 mm (included) | |
| Top | 2 × 120 mm or 2 x 140 mm (none included) | |
| HDD | - | |
| Bottom | - | |
| Radiator Support | Front | Up to 240 mm or 280 mm |
| Rear | Up to 120 mm | |
| Top | Up to 240 mm or 280 mm | |
| Side | - | |
| Bottom | - | |
| I/O Port | 2× USB 3.0, 0× USB 2.0, 1× Headphone, 1× Mic | |
| Power Supply Size | ATX | |
| Clearances | HSF | 160 mm |
| PSU | 360 mm | |
| GPU | 360 mm | |
| Dimensions | 426 mm × 245 mm × 450 mm 16.77 in × 9.65 in × 17.72 in |
|
| Prominent Features | · New manufacturing technology offers unparalleled build quality · Elegant, curved steel paneling and window · Double the cable management space · Dual 280mm liquid cooling support · Kraken X61-ready with push/pull capabilities · Integrated PSU shroud for a beautifully clean build · Fully filtered, easy-to-remove intake |
|
| Price | $130 | |
Packaging & Bundle
NZXT is obviously not concerned about the looks of their packaging at all, as they ship the Manta into a plain brown cardboard box. If not for the small sticker on the side, nobody would be able to tell what is inside the packaging. Nevertheless, the box is very sturdy and the case is sandwiched between thick Styrofoam slabs, providing more than enough shipping protection.
The bundle of the Manta is very austere for a case with a $130 price tag, with the company supplying only the necessary mounting screws and hardware, a case sticker and a roll of small cable ties.
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48 Comments
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samer1970 - Thursday, June 16, 2016 - link
itx were made for compact System , not to put them inside the same size of full ATX casebigb0096 - Thursday, June 16, 2016 - link
This is repetitive at this point, but this is not an SFF case. Why did NZXT limit it to mini-ITX when it is the same size as my microATX Antec P180 Mini?A5 - Friday, June 17, 2016 - link
I also have the P180 Mini, and if I'm honest it is fairly large for a microATX case. I can't imagine the thinking behind a mITX case that's the same size.Gadgety - Thursday, June 16, 2016 - link
MiniITX at 426 mm × 245 mm × 450 mm?? What's the point? I have an HPTX, dual CPUs, with up to 7 GPU:s in a case not much larger at 489 x 230 x 505 mm.jwcalla - Thursday, June 16, 2016 - link
Continuing the recent trend of gigantic mITX cases.djayjp - Thursday, June 16, 2016 - link
There's something wrong with your lens....djayjp - Thursday, June 16, 2016 - link
It looks all warped...lolpiasabird - Friday, June 17, 2016 - link
You could just as easily buy any number of cheap MATX cases with the same amount of room. I have seen ATX cases smaller than this.NBH - Friday, June 17, 2016 - link
I love mini ITX but this case is just too large for the form factor.IMO if you go for mini ITX you are sacrificing some power due to lack of larger cooling options and expansion due to the smaller motherboard but gaining a small, quiet and fairly portable PC. This case hasn't got the small size and it hasn't got the expansion options. It seems like it's caught between a mini ITX case and an ATX case and not really working in either size.
piasabird - Friday, June 17, 2016 - link
When I build a system I might want an ITX motherboard, but I dont ever plan on purchasing a video card. However I might also want a Hard Drive an a DVD drive. I liked some of the little STX systems I have seen reviews on but I may still want a Hard Drive at least.