When building a new gaming PC, your chosen case will mostly determine the overall aesthetics. A PC case is also responsible for housing and cooling those expensive components. Thanks to manufacturers championing airflow and performance over the years, there has never been a better time to find the best PC case for your build. You just have to decide if you are building a standard ATX system, mATX, or mini-ITX form factor first.
Modern mid-towers can accommodate almost every component – so there are far fewer compatibility issues to worry about these days. That being said, you should always double-check the PC cases specifications to ensure that it supports your chosen motherboard size, fan configuration, radiator support, and your GPU has the clearance it needs.
Best PC Case: Lian Li O11 Vision
- Type: Mid-Tower
- Motherboard Support: E-ATX (Under 280mm)/ATX/Micro-ATX/Mini-ITX
- Dimensions: (D) 480mm x ( W ) 304mm x (H) 464.5mm
- Fan support: Side: 3 x 120mm / 2 x 140mm Bottom: 3 x 120mm / 3 x 140mm Rear:1 or 2 x 120mm
- Performs well despite all the glass
- Additional glass
- Excellent build quality from Lian Li
- As nice as the glass top panel is, you now have less radiator/ fan support
It feels like Lian Lis’s various O11 iterations have been in contention for the best PC case for years and the latest installment “Vision” is hard to pass by. Few do the fish tank as well as Lian LI and if you are still not bored with a completely uninterrupted view of the inside, this tempered glass wonder has to be high on your list. This case performs comparably to its predecessor only now there is slightly less fan/ radiator support. The addition of the top glass panel is a fine one aesthetically, solidifying this case as one of the best. Anyone looking to build in this case needs to be aware that you are likely going to be required to purchase a few case fans if you want to take full advantage of this aesthetic.
Best mid-tower PC Case: Corsair 5000D Airflow
- Type: Mid tower
- Motherboard Support: ATX / mATX / Mini ITX
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 520mm x 245mm x 520mm
- Included Fans: 2 x 120mm AirGuide
- Excellent performance
- Premium build-quality
- Stylish design
- Logical internal layout
- Spacious
- 5000X tempered glass version is aesthetically nicer, however, airflow is reduced
For performance, looks, build quality, and how easy this is to build in – the Corsair 5000D Airflow is still one of the best mid-tower cases available. The interior is well thought-out and spacious. There are modular parts to this case making it a great option for standard builds and custom loops. The tool-less design makes it very easy to build in and there is plenty at the back for cable management. The Airflow edition edges it over the 5000X for us, as it is geared more towards performance.
Best full-tower PC Case: Corsair 7000D Airflow
- Type: Full-tower
- Motherboard Support: E-ATX, ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX
- Dimensions: 600mm x 550mm x 248mm
- Included Fans: 3 x Corsair 140mm AirGuide fans
- Materials: Steel, Tempered Glass, Plastic
- Expansion Slots: 8+3 Vertical
- Maximum GPU length: 450 mm
- Case Drive Bays: 6x 3.5in & 4x 2.5in
- Radiator Compatibility: 120mm, 140mm, 240mm, 280mm, 360mm, 420mm, 480mm
- Large volume, spacious interior
- Excellent build quality and performance
- Bulky and heavy – not a massive downside but something to be aware of
Another Corsair case here – just a bigger version of the 5000D Airflow above really. Still, this is one of the best full towers on the market. We have a lot of love for the Phanteks Enthoo 719 but for similar reasons to the above model we had to go for the 7000D.
Best budget PC Case: Montech AIR 903 MAX
- Type: Mid tower
- Motherboard Support: E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Dimensions (L*W*H): 478*230*493 (mm)
- Included Fans: Front: 3 x 140mm / Rear: 1 x 140mm
- Affordable performance
- Comes with four fans and great airlfow out of the box
- Noticeably less premium than other options in this list
While not our normal go-to brand – you get quite a lot for your money here. The Montech AIR 903 comes with decent fan and radiator support and of course, the inclusion of four 140mm fans adds even more value. The build quality isn’t as good as others on this list but for a budget case with plenty of airflow, you can’t go wrong.
Best mini-ITX PC Case: Cooler Master NR200P V2
- Type: Mini-ITX
- Motherboard Support: Mini ITX (Max size: 170x180mm)
- Dimensions: 372 x 185 x 292mm
- Included fans: 1x 120mm
- Multiple colorways
- Performs well for size
- Included vertical GPU mount
- Not the smallest ITX case
- Can be a tricky build for first timers
It can be hard to select the right Mini-ITX case with so many SFF options but we feel Cooler Masters’s latest iteration of the NR200P is a solid choice. Visually stunning, with reasonable performance for its size, you can build a pretty substantial mini PC into this case. There a quite a few colorways to choose from and the addition of the tempered glass window gives you something quite pretty for the desktop. Despite being a bit cramped inside, this is still relatively quite easy to build in and you can vertically mount your GPU too.
Best Super-tower PC Case: Corsair Obsidian 1000D
- Type: Super tower
- Motherboard Support: E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, SSI EEB
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 695.96 x 307.34 x 693.42mm
- Included Fans: 4 included, supports 13 total
- Incredible fan and radiator support
- Can fit a dual system
- Shrouded in smoked tempered glass
- All that glass adds some serious weight
- This is only going to suit very specific enthusiast-level builds
Corsair’s Obsidian 1000D is an iconic super tower shrouded in smoked tempered glass. The size and weight (60lbs) of this case are off the charts, with an overall stellar build quality. A major selling point behind the 1000D is its ability to have both an E-ATX and Mini-ITX system inside concurrently. Originally marketed as a “streaming” solution this monster can accommodate any motherboard up to the likes of SSI-EEB.
Cooling is no issue inside here, with up to 18 fan mounts and room for 4 x 480mm radiators! The case features a built-in Commander PRO and lighting controller to give you out-of-the-box control over the appearance of your system.
Best dual-chambered PC Case: HYTE Y70 Touch
- Type: Mid-tower
- Motherboard Support: ITX, mATX, ATX, EATXf
- Dimensions: 470 x 320 x 470 mm
- Included fans
- Great performance
- Amazing aesthetics
- Touchscreen is a welcomed addition
- Includes vertical mount for GPU
- A bit more fiddly to setup
The HYTE Y60 caught the eye of system builders everywhere upon release and the new and improved Y70 may have just pipped its older sibling at the post. The cases are more or less the same, however, the new Y70 features a massive LCD touchscreen. This enclosure may be yet another fish tank but it is regarded as one of the best, plus you get an included color-matched luxury PCIE 4.0 x 16 riser cable – bargain.
Best open-air PC Case: Cooler Master MasterFrame 700
- Type: Open-air frame/ test bench
- Motherboard support: Mini-ITX, mATX, ATX, E-ATX, SSI-EEB
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 702 x 306 x 410mm
- Included fans: N/A
- Open air provides excellent airflow
- Can be setup as a test bench or coffee table style
- Limited component protection
- Very bulky
- Prone to dust build up
Open-air PC cases are a bit of an acquired taste ranging from outrageously bulky to tiny. We have decided to go for the MAsterFrame 700 which can be setup in a couple of ways. The standard way to use this case is like a testing bench, however, the inclusion of a tempered glass panel gives this case a bit of a coffee table vibe. This won’t be for everyone but in terms of quality for the price – it is a solid case.
Best mesh PC Case: ASUS Prime AP201
- Type: Small tower
- Motherboard Support: Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Dimensions: 460 x 205 x 350 mm (LxWxH)
- Included Fans: 1x Prime 120mm
- Materials: Steel
- Expansion Slots: 4 full height
- Maximum GPU size: 338mm long
- Case Drive Bays: 4 (1x 2.5″, 3x 2.5″/3.5″ combos)
- Radiator Compatibility: 120mm, 140mm, 240mm, 280mm, 360mm (top)
- Excellent airflow and performance thanks to mesh panels
- Sleek and compact design
- mATX so not suited for those looking to build mini systems
- Tricky build for first timers
As far as smaller cases go, the ASUS AP201 is one of the best. Furthermore, it is basically entirely mesh, giving your system a decent amount of access to air. Visually the case may seem basic but its sleek style is actually favoured. This will look superb on any desktop, with glimmers of RGB shining through making it particularly eye-catching.
Honorable PC Case mentions
There is seemingly an endless list of great PC cases to choose from, below we will showcase a few of those that could easily slot into this list.
- Phanteks NV5/ NV7– Phanteks take on the fish tank market and as expected – has great quality and performance.
- Corsair 4000-series– Similar to the 5000-series, only smaller and more affordable – these will make any PC look amazing.
- Antec Performance 1 FT– Antec has come back with a bang over the last year or so, with multiple great PC Cases.
- Thermaltake CTE C750– A quality dual-chamber PC Case with plenty of cooling support.
- Fractal Design TERRA– An interesting SFF/ Mini-ITX case design that will look incredible on any desktop.
The best PC cases have good airflow
Aside from a few specific use cases such as watercooling, the best PC case is often the best airflow PC Case. Airflow is one of the most crucial factors in a good case – giving your system as much fresh air as possible. The case usually works in tandem with case fans, sufficiently cooling the ambient temperature of the internals.
Our CPUs and GPUs feature cooler and heat sinks but we want as much cool air going to these components as possible. You are going to want to avoid cases with completely closed fronts in favor of mesh panels and fan/ radiator support. Sufficient airflow will keep your components happy and performing as expected – which is all we want.
You may think well why not just opt for an open-air case? Well, you are right in thinking that the open nature provides the components with an unrestricted airflow. The issue is that you don’t really need unrestricted airflow and the additional downsides of dust build-up and limited component protection means a standard PC case is the recommended way to go.
PC case sizes explained (ATX, mATX, mITX)
PCs come in all shapes and sizes and this is down to something called “form factor”. Certain components, like a PC case, come in various form factors to satisfy the needs of everyday consumers. When it comes to PC cases, you will find the larger models support almost everything but as you get smaller, support becomes limited.
Form factors at a glance:
- SFF: This form factor is one of the smallest, often featuring a mini-ITX motherboard and SFF PSU. Smaller than this would be custom PCBs such as Raspberry Pi.
- Mini-Tower: Similar to the above, however, you will find a bit more room for airflow and building.
- Micro-Tower: mATX or Micro ATX motherboards will fit inside these cases. These are smaller than a full-size PC and tend to support mini-ITX too.
- Mid-Tower: This is the most common PC case size, favored for its practicality and performance. These can support ATX and larger motherboards, all the way down to mini-ITX.
- Full-Tower/ Super-Tower: Giant towers that can fit any motherboard and system configuration. These are ideal for dual systems or elaborate custom loops.
The easiest form factors to build in are the bigger ones, with mid-tower taking the biscuit. Full-towers are also pretty easy to build in but their sheer mass makes them slightly less convenient than a mid-tower. As you dive into the SFF / mini-ITX PC cases things start to get a bit tricky, with limited space and cable management options.
PC Case FAQs
Yes, a decent case with sufficient airflow is all you need. This will ensure your components receive cool air and perform as expected.
Technically open-air cases have restricted access to cool air so yes. That being said the cons outweigh the benefits of an open-air case and we recommend a standard model.
In summary
As long as you choose a case that fits your components inside with great airflow – you can’t go wrong. There are numerous options for the best PC cases, with such a variety in size, materials, and features. We have tried to cover all possible needs above no matter if you’re after a mid-tower fish tank, a premium super tower, or a bog standard budget chassis.