Buying Guide
The Best Mini-ITX Cases by GPU Clearance
Three PC cases compared, from the NR200P V2 to the Terra, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
In an ITX case, graphics card clearance decides which cards fit. Every pick supports Mini-ITX, ordered by listed GPU clearance.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: max GPU length, largest radiator and motherboards come from each maker's published specs; a missing largest radiator is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Longest GPU Clearance
Cooler Master NR200P V2
The longest GPU clearance here (357mm).
Best for: Buyers who put GPU clearance first.
Our take Check price for Cooler Master NR200P V2 (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Fractal Design Mood
A 180mm top fan.
Best for: Buyers who want 180mm top fan.
Our take Check price for Fractal Design Mood (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Fractal Design Terra
The top of this price range, adding an 8mm-thick aluminium front.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Fractal Design Terra (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The longest GPU clearance here (357mm). | Buyers who put GPU clearance first. | Check price for Cooler Master NR200P V2 (opens in a new tab) |
| A 180mm top fan. | Buyers who want 180mm top fan. | Check price for Fractal Design Mood (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding an 8mm-thick aluminium front. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for Fractal Design Terra (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Longest GPU Clearance1 of 3
Cooler Master NR200P V2 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NR200P V2 is the easiest way into small form factor: 18.25 litres, a 357mm GPU limit and a top 280mm radiator position.
Best for
- Buyers who put GPU clearance first.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: needs an SFX power supply.
Why we like it
You choose glass or a vented steel side panel, but it needs an SFX power supply. It lists support for GPUs up to 357mm and top radiators of 240 or 280mm, and it accepts SFX power supplies only. Nothing else here matches its 357mm GPU clearance; the Mood comes closest at 325mm.
You also get bottom-to-top airflow from a 120mm bottom fan. The NR200P V2 takes 280mm radiators; mind RAM height. SFX power only in the NR200P V2.
Boards: Mini-ITX. It cost the least of the 3 picks at the time of writing, with the Mood the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max GPU length: 357mm
- Largest radiator: 280mm
- Volume: 18.25L
- Motherboards: Mini-ITX
- PSU type: SFX only
- Front USB-C: Yes
Pros
- A compact 18.25L footprint
- A front USB-C port
- Choice of tempered glass or vented steel side panel
- Bottom-to-top airflow from a 120mm bottom fan
Cons
- Needs an SFX power supply
Also Consider2 of 3
Fractal Design Mood on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Mood hides its hardware behind fabric and cools it with a single 180mm top fan.
Best for
- Buyers who want 180mm top fan.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: a 325mm GPU limit rules out many triple-fan cards.
Why we like it
It takes a 325mm GPU and a 280mm radiator, but air coolers stop at 114mm. The fabric enclosure slides off for access, and the case includes a PCIe 4.0 riser, a 180mm top fan, room for a 280mm radiator and CPU coolers up to 114mm tall. On GPU clearance it sits mid-pack at 325mm: the NR200P V2 comes in at 357mm, and the Terra comes in at 322mm.
It also offers a fabric-wrapped exterior. GPU limit in the Mood: 325mm, before front fans. The Mood takes 280mm radiators; mind RAM height.
Boards: Mini-ITX. It was priced above the NR200P V2 and below the Terra at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max GPU length: 325mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 114mm
- Largest radiator: 280mm
- Fans included: 1
- Motherboards: Mini-ITX
Pros
- 180mm top fan
- PCIe 4.0 riser in the box
- Fabric-wrapped exterior
- GPU clearance of 325mm, ahead of the Terra
Cons
- A 325mm GPU limit rules out many triple-fan cards
- A 114mm cooler limit means a low-profile cooler or an AIO
- Only 1 fan in the box
Premium Pick3 of 3
Fractal Design Terra on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Terra wraps a small build in anodised aluminium and walnut, with a stepless spine that shifts 30mm between CPU and GPU space.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: a 322mm GPU limit rules out many triple-fan cards.
Why we like it
It takes 322mm graphics cards and has a 20Gbps USB-C port. It fits GPUs up to 322mm in 10.4 litres, and a sliding central wall gives 30mm of layout flexibility. The walnut front is FSC-certified.
On GPU clearance it trails the group at 322mm, while the NR200P V2 comes in at 357mm. GPU limit in the Terra: 322mm, before front fans. Boards: Mini-ITX.
Worth noting too: 8mm-thick aluminium front. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Mood the nearest cheaper option. GPU clearance is its weakest area, and the NR200P V2 covers it better at 357mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max GPU length: 322mm
- Motherboards: Mini-ITX
- Front USB-C: Yes
Pros
- A front USB-C port
- 8mm-thick aluminium front
- 30mm of stepless adjustment between CPU and GPU space
- Walnut wood front panel
Cons
- A 322mm GPU limit rules out many triple-fan cards
- GPU clearance trails the NR200P V2 (357mm)
- No published largest radiator size
How We Chose These Mini-ITX Cases by GPU Clearance
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up three cases on GPU clearance, largest radiator size, motherboards and front USB-C from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the NR200P V2 to the Terra, state GPU clearance and motherboards and share Mini-ITX motherboards.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Terra gives no largest radiator size; the Mood gives no front USB-C.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the NR200P V2 ($50 to $100) to the Terra ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Mini-ITX Case by GPU Clearance
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
GPU clearance
Here GPU clearance runs from 322mm on the Terra to 357mm on the NR200P V2. The NR200P V2 is the pick for GPU clearance.
Setup checks
GPU limit in the NR200P V2: 357mm, before front fans. GPU limit in the Mood: 325mm, before front fans. GPU limit in the Terra: 322mm, before front fans.
Features beyond the spec table
The NR200P V2: bottom-to-top airflow from a 120mm bottom fan. The Mood: a PCIe 4.0 riser in the box. The Terra: 30mm of stepless adjustment between CPU and GPU space.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the NR200P V2; $150 to $250 buys the Mood and the Terra at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Buyers who put GPU clearance first: the NR200P V2. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the Terra.
How to Choose a Mini-ITX Case by GPU Clearance
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put GPU clearance first | NR200P V2 | The longest GPU clearance here (357mm) |
| Buyers who want 180mm top fan | Mood | A 180mm top fan |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | Terra | The top of this price range, adding an 8mm-thick aluminium front |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The NR200P V2 leads on GPU clearance at 357mm, ahead of the Mood at 325mm. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Case | Max GPU length | Largest radiator | Motherboards | Front USB-C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NR200P V2 | 357mm | 280mm | Mini-ITX | Yes |
| Mood | 325mm | 280mm | Mini-ITX | Not listed |
| Terra | 322mm | Not listed | Mini-ITX | Yes |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The NR200P V2 was the lowest-priced pick and the Terra the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cases |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | NR200P V2 |
| About $150 to $250 | Mood, Terra |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the longest GPU clearance: the NR200P V2 or the Mood?
The NR200P V2 leads at 357mm, with the Mood at 325mm. The Terra is at the other end of this group with 322mm.
Is the Terra worth paying more than the NR200P V2?
On the figures both makers state, it adds little. It does not win everywhere: the NR200P V2 still leads on GPU clearance (357mm). The NR200P V2 was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if a feature outside the spec sheet matters to you.
What makes the NR200P V2 the Longest GPU Clearance?
It earns the label for the longest GPU clearance here (357mm). It suits anyone who put GPU clearance first.
Which of these cases have front USB-C?
The NR200P V2 and the Terra have it. The maker of the Mood doesn't say.
What should I check before buying the Mood?
GPU limit in the Mood: 325mm, before front fans. The Mood takes 280mm radiators; mind RAM height. In this guide it ranks second of 3.
Beyond the specs, what sets the NR200P V2 and the Mood apart?
The NR200P V2: a choice of tempered glass or vented steel side panel. The Mood: a 180mm top fan. The Terra: an 8mm-thick aluminium front.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the NR200P V2, chosen for the longest GPU clearance here (357mm). Look at the Mood for a 180mm top fan and the Terra for the top of this price range, adding an 8mm-thick aluminium front if those matter more to you.
Read the PSU type; many ITX cases need SFX.