If you’ve ever dreamt of building a high-performance PC that you can stash in your backpack, you’re in luck. Say hello to the XTIA XPROTO MINI, a micro case straight out of China, designed for those of us obsessed with Small Form Factor (SFF) builds. Whether you’re low on desk space or just like the idea of a PC that can tag along to your next LAN party, this tiny powerhouse is turning heads—and not just because it’s as pretty as a CNC-milled aluminium case can be.
I’ll admit, I had been on a bit of an SFF hiatus, having switched back to the beastly ATX form factor. But after spotting a Reddit post about the XTIA XPROTO ITX, my inner SFF enthusiast was reignited. Naturally, I took to Taobao for a bit of window shopping. Initially, I had my eye on a small case from Metalfish, but a friend convinced me to check out the XPROTO MINI. One look at its sleek, open-frame design, and I was sold. Sure, the price was a tad on the spicy side, but it came with a PCIe 4.0 riser cable, so who was I to argue?
The Components: Tiny But Mighty
When the XPROTO MINI finally arrived (quite quickly, in fact—a week from China), I’d already prepped the components. I went with the MSI Z590I Unify motherboard. At nearly £300, it wasn’t cheap, but they threw in an all-in-one cooler for free, so that soothed the sting a bit. Pair that with an Intel i5-11400—which I managed to nab for a steal, £20 below market price—and we’re cooking with gas. Oh, and the Thunderbolt 4 expansion port? Absolutely essential for a Razer fan like me, even if it did set me back another £300. But hey, it’s Thunderbolt 4.
For storage, I slapped in a Samsung 980 Pro Gen4 1TB SSD, because in a world where speed is everything, why settle for less?
Cooling, however, was a bit of a puzzle. The mesh cover on the XPROTO MINI means the CPU cooler height is limited to 5 cm, so I opted for the Thermalright AXP90 X47 Black—small, efficient, and just the right size.
Power Supply and GPU Fun
Now, about that power supply. I went with the FSP FX500G, a Flex ATX unit that arrived well-packaged in a box no bigger than two packs of Double A paper. Inside, everything was beautifully organised, down to the last screw. After installing the PCIe 4.0 riser, I popped the power supply in, and thanks to custom soft cables, cable management was a breeze.
Then there was the INNO3D RTX 3060. This card was a bit of a nightmare—not the card itself, mind you, but the fact that the XPROTO MINI has a strict 22 cm GPU length limit. After realising that my dream GPU, the MSI RTX 3060 AERO ITX, simply wasn’t available, I had to settle for laying the INNO3D horizontally. Not the end of the world, but it was definitely a surprise. For those wanting a vertically mounted GPU, consider the EVGA RTX 3060/3060TI XC Gaming instead.
First Impressions and Performance
After getting everything installed and wired up, I powered on the machine. No fireworks, thankfully—it booted up perfectly, and I was impressed with how well the XPROTO MINI handled such a dense build. Once the system was up and running, it integrated seamlessly with Razer’s software, and that was a huge win in my book.
Compared to my old Corsair 5000D AIRFLOW, the size difference was jaw-dropping. The XPROTO MINI is so small you could chuck it into a small travel bag and head out the door. This is exactly what I’d been craving—a portable PC that doesn’t skimp on performance.
So, What’s the Appeal of Micro Cases Anyway?
Now, if you’re wondering why anyone would bother with a micro case, let me break it down. First off, space. Not all of us live in sprawling country estates; some of us are city dwellers with desks the size of a tea tray. Micro cases like the XPROTO MINI are ideal for compact setups, whether in a flat, office, or gaming den.
And don’t think for a second that size means sacrificing performance. These cases can house some serious hardware. The XTIA XPROTO MINI, for instance, is designed to support powerful CPUs, GPUs, and storage options like the PCIe 4.0 drives. It’s all about getting desktop-level performance without the bulk.
There’s also the customization factor. The clean, minimalist design of micro cases makes them a blank canvas for enthusiasts who want to create a system that not only works well but looks the part too. That sleek CNC-milled aluminium frame on the XPROTO MINI? Absolutely gorgeous. Finally, there’s the growing community. SFF builds are becoming a bit of a cult phenomenon, with enthusiasts flocking to online forums to share tips, mods, and build advice. Companies are taking notice, releasing cases that cater to this very niche, very passionate crowd.
The Verdict: Is the XPROTO MINI Worth It?
Yes, the XPROTO MINI is expensive, and yes, there are limitations—like the GPU length and reliance on a Flex ATX power supply. But if you’re serious about SFF builds, this case is a real contender. It’s portable, stylish, and can handle a high-performance build with ease.
So, if you’re a gamer, a content creator, or just someone who loves the idea of a tiny PC that can outperform some full-sized desktops, the XTIA XPROTO MINI might just be the case you’ve been waiting for. It’s a small case with a big attitude, and it could be the perfect fit for your next build. Just make sure you double-check those GPU dimensions!
🔗Click here to view my original blog post in Chinese.