PC Case Buyer's Guide - PC Guide https://www.pcguide.com Practical Guides to PC & Tech at Home, Work, and Play Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:37:49 +0000 en-US https://www.pcguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PCguide-favicon-75x75.png PC Case Buyer's Guide - PC Guide https://www.pcguide.com 32 32 Best case for AMD RX 7600 XT – budget, premium, and compact https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-for-rx-7600-xt/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=293748 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 11:16:32 +0000 Best case for Nvidia RTX 4080 Super – budget, full tower, and more https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-for-rtx-4080-super/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=292554 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:21:48 +0000 Best case for RTX 4070 Ti Super https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-for-rtx-4070-ti-super/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=291772 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:07:49 +0000 Best case for RTX 4070 Super https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-for-rtx-4070-super/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=291561 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 14:09:20 +0000 Best wall mount PC case: top overall, full tower, mid tower picks https://www.pcguide.com/case/guide/best-wall-mount/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=274330 Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:44:25 +0000 Best Corsair PC case: overall, full-tower, budget picks https://www.pcguide.com/case/guide/best-corsair/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=274025 Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:46:36 +0000 Best case for RX 6800 XT: overall, high-quality, style picks https://www.pcguide.com/case/guide/best-for-6800-xt/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=273776 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 15:51:21 +0000 Best case for RTX 3080: best overall, high-quality, RGB picks https://www.pcguide.com/case/guide/best-for-rtx-3080/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=273572 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:21:13 +0000 Best PC case for 140mm fans: top overall, minimalist, mini-ATX options https://www.pcguide.com/case/guide/best-for-140-mm-fans/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=256873 Fri, 10 Nov 2023 17:20:23 +0000 Best PC case for cable management: top overall, value, Micro-ATX picks https://www.pcguide.com/case/guide/best-for-cable-management/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=256798 Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:11:30 +0000 Best cases for Water Cooling: top overall, budget and high-performance picks https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-for-water-cooling/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=240530 Mon, 09 Oct 2023 11:51:21 +0100 Best cases for Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti – 8GB and 16GB https://www.pcguide.com/case/guide/best-for-rtx-4060-ti-8gb-16gb/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=220693 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:55:21 +0100 Best cases for RTX 4060 in 2024 https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-cases-for-rtx-4060/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=209514 Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:40:52 +0100 Best Case for RTX 4060 Ti in 2023 https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-case-for-rtx-4060-ti/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=196980 Tue, 23 May 2023 18:54:07 +0100 Best mid-tower PC Case in 2023 https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/best-mid-tower-pc-case/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=191575 Tue, 02 May 2023 13:26:26 +0100 Best Full Tower Case in 2024 running two systems at once

Corsair Obsidian 1000D Motherboard Compatibility: eATX, ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Five 3.5” and six 2.5” Front I/O: Four USB 3.0, two USB Type-C, audio jacks Weight: 65 lbsView Latest DealRead Full Review

truly custom build

be Quiet! Dark Base 900 Motherboard Compatibility: XL-ATX, eATX, ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Two 5.25”, one 2.5”, and seven 3.5” or fourteen 2.5” Front I/O: Two USB type 3, two USB type 2, audio jacks Weight: 22 lbsView Latest DealRead Full Review

Best full tower case

Thermaltake Tower 900 Motherboard Compatibility: eATX, ATX, mITX Drive Bays: One 5.25”, six 3.5” or 2.5”, and two 2.5” Front I/O: Four USB type 3, audio jacks Weight: 54 lbsView Latest DealRead Full Review

RGB ring lighting

Cooler Master Cosmos C700P Motherboard compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX, eATX Drive Bays: One 5.25”, two 3.5”, two 2.5” Front I/O: One USB type C, four USB 3, audio jacks Weight: 49 poundsView Latest DealRead Full Review

Most affordable

Phanteks Enthoo Pro Motherboard Compatibility: mATX, ATX, eATX Drive Bays: Four 5.25”, six 3.5” or 2.5”, two 2.5” Front I/O: Two USB 3, two USB 2, audio jacks Weight: 29 lbsView Latest DealRead Full Review

1. Corsair Obsidian 1000D

Massive case for running two systems at once Motherboard Compatibility: eATX, ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Five 3.5” and six 2.5” Front I/O: Four USB 3.0, two USB Type-C, audio jacks Weight: 65 lbs Can fit two full systems Tons of tempered glass Incredibly heavyCheck Price on AmazonThe Corsair 1000D is a monstrously large case that flaunts some unique capabilities, including the ability to house two full systems. On the main motherboard tray, you can mount practically anything up to an eATX motherboard, while on the PSU shroud you can build an entire second mITX system. This includes a second power supply, second I/O, everything.This is nearly the largest PC case on our list and is very spacious even with two full computers worth of hardware inside. All this space can be put to good use though with room for up to 18 fans or two 480mm radiators. This staggering level of cooling makes this arguably the best full tower PC case for water cooling enthusiasts and overclockers alike.Setting up all of these fans is made even easier thanks to the telescoping fan and radiator mounts. These mounts are large plastic racks that slide in and out of the front and top of the computer and allow easy access to mounting points for fans and radiators. The 1000D also offers excellent cable management with a spacious three chamber design for easy access to cable runs behind the motherboard tray.Finally, this case is also probably the best looking full tower gaming case thanks to the tempered glass panels on the front, both sides, and top. All this glass allows this case to truly shine-- quite literally-- when in the hands of an equally excessive RGB fan. That being said, the massive amount of glass and steel cause this case to weigh a whopping 65 pounds, so make sure you have a sturdy desk to put this beast on. And remember to lift with your knees.

2. be Quiet! Dark Base 900

Modular case for a truly custom build Motherboard Compatibility: XL-ATX, eATX, ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Two 5.25”, one 2.5”, and seven 3.5” or fourteen 2.5” Front I/O: Two USB type 3, two USB type 2, audio jacks Weight: 22 lbs Highly customizable modular design Lots of drive bay options No side panel window Power supply on a passthroughCheck Price on AmazonWhile some people may be in the market for an ATX full tower case to ensure they have the best gaming setup on the block, others need it to get real work done. These large cases often lend themselves to editing workstations that have to do a lot of rendering. If this is the case for you, then the be quiet! Dark Base 900 is a productivity powerhouse.This case is highly modular and allows for all sorts of internal layouts and configurations. There is even the ability to completely remove the motherboard tray, flip it around, and make a PC with an inverse layout (graphics cards at the top). Even the power supply can be top mounted if so desired.This modular design offers tons of flexibility and storage space options. The back of the motherboard tray has a single mounting point for a 2.5” drive and there are an additional seven drive bays included with the case. Each of these can hold either a 3.5” drive or two 2.5” drives for a potential total of 15 solid state drives. This would be great for potential media center PCs or home servers.be quiet! also lives up to their name with this case including three of their impressively quiet Silent Wings 3 fans. The case is also generally designed to reduce noise with its specially designed intakes.Moving on to this case’s weak points, you’ll notice it doesn’t have any window on the side panel, which is a little disappointing. Also, the power supply uses a strange recessed pass-through mechanism that, while not necessarily difficult to install, does seem unnecessary and will add about 10 minutes to the build process.

3. Thermaltake Tower 900

Best full tower case for water cooling Motherboard Compatibility: eATX, ATX, mITX Drive Bays: One 5.25”, six 3.5” or 2.5”, and two 2.5” Front I/O: Four USB type 3, audio jacks Weight: 54 lbs Tons of space Excellent water cooling support Unusual layoutCheck Price on AmazonThe Thermaltake Tower 900 is hands down the biggest PC case on our list and sports a unique layout. Rather than being shaped like a normal computer case that has a window on the side, the Tower 900 looks more like a high-tech mini fridge that has tempered glass on the front and sides.This unique layout lets you have easier access to your hardware when all the glass is off and also does an excellent job of showing off what's inside. This massive case has enough room for an eATX board, vertically mounted graphics cards, and two full water cooling loops.There are mounting points in the front of the case for two separate reservoirs while their pumps can be stored in the cable management area underneath. Meanwhile, in the cable management area in the back, there is room for up to two 560mm radiators. This is by far the most radiator space of any case we’ve seen. In fact, radiators this size are pretty hard to come by.That being said, the case’s radiator capacity depends on how many drives you need as many of the drive bays are also in this rear cable management area, and will need to be removed in order to fit 560mm radiators.

4. Cooler Master Cosmos C700P

Flashy case with tons of RGB Motherboard compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX, eATX Drive Bays: One 5.25”, two 3.5”, two 2.5” Front I/O: One USB type C, four USB 3, audio jacks Weight: 49 pounds RGB ring lighting Premium and durable construction Not many drive bays Very expensiveCheck Price on AmazonIf a massive full tower computer case sitting on your desk just isn’t eye-catching enough, there is a way to increase the gaudiness of your build. It comes in the form of the most important acronym in PC gaming: RGB.The Cosmos C700P from Cooler Master is probably the single most radiant full tower case on the market thanks to its two tempered glass windows and built-in RGB lighting around the top and bottom of the case.At the top of the case next to the I/O are a couple of buttons for changing the light color and animation as well as fan control. From the button on the top of the case, you can either set your fan curve to high for things like gaming or low for nice quiet Netflix watching.Despite its impressive looks, this case does have some major downsides. The Cosmos C700P is made from mostly aluminum and glass which give it a premium and durable feel, but adds significantly to the cost. Also, this case is extremely lacking in storage capacity, only able to take up to four drives; there are some SFF cases that can accommodate more than that. The case has extra room for more bays, and Cooler Master does sell additional drive cages separately, but these are actually very difficult to find and are often sold out.

5. Phanteks Enthoo Pro

Most affordable full tower case Motherboard Compatibility: mATX, ATX, eATX Drive Bays: Four 5.25”, six 3.5” or 2.5”, two 2.5” Front I/O: Two USB 3, two USB 2, audio  jacks Weight: 29 lbs Very affordable Includes 2 powerful fans Very plain designCheck Price on AmazonIf you’re on the hunt for the best cheap full tower case then we recommend taking a look at the Phanteks Enthoo Pro. This case is by far the most affordable on our list and boasts features that are usually only seen well above its price point.For the price, the cooling is very impressive. The case comes with a single huge 200mm fan in the front as well as a 140mm fan in the back. Together these produce ample airflow to cool just about any component you could plan to put into this case, even multiple graphics cards.This case also has room for plenty of water cooling and can fit up to four different radiators of up to 360mm. The case has an overall plain brushed aluminum looking finish but there is an upgraded version with a side panel window for only a few bucks more.

How to Pick the Best Full Tower Case for Your Needs

Picking a full size tower to house your hardware gives you significantly more freedom than smaller cases. These king-sized cases are designed to accommodate very large motherboards referred to as eATX or sometimes even XL-ATX.Unlike regular ATX motherboards and some of the other smaller standards, these terms don’t have a precise meaning but rather simply indicate that these boards are a step up even from ATX. The advantages of these massive boards usually include more PCI-E and RAM slots. This means these cases really lend themselves to workstation type computers that can utilize multiple graphics cards while rendering and which eat up tons of RAM as a result.There are a lot of things to consider though before buying a full tower case, so let’s look at a few of the most important things to keep an eye on when shopping for a full tower case.

Cooling

As you might expect, full tower cases are often preferred by water cooling enthusiasts. The spacious interiors of the cases make it easy to find room for large reservoirs, pumps, and radiators and the more open airflow make cooling much easier in general.Cases like the Corsair 1000D are great for those who plan to use air cooling on their equipment thanks to its excellent airflow paths and ability to hold up to 18 fans. While practically all the cases on this list are more than ready for water cooling loops, the best example of this would be the Thermaltake Tower 900.This case can host two separate water cooling loops and even has room for up to two massive 560mm radiators. This is easily enough cooling to get some impressive overclocking done as well.

Drive Bays

Another big reason people use full tower cases is for their superior storage capacity. If you have a media center or home server where you store tons of movies, games, or other files, then a full tower case could be an excellent expansion option if you find you are often running out of space.There are typically three types of drive bays you’ll find on a case. 5.25” bays are for things like CD readers and even floppy disk readers. 3.5” bays are for more traditional hard drives that are a bit slow but offer excellent value for the amount of space they have. 2.5” bays are typically for solid state drives, which are much faster but significantly more expensive.If you’re looking for a case that offers tons of drive space, then the be quiet! Dark Base 900 is an excellent option. It is highly modular which lets you easily adjust the layout of the case to suit your needs, but by default, it comes with seven drive cages. Each of these cages can hold either one 3.5” drive or two 2.5” drives. This alone easily gives you enough for 14TB+ of storage plus expandability is supported with the purchase of even more drive cages.

Front I/O

The last thing to touch on is the ports available at the front of the case, or front I/O (in/out). Depending on your setup and needs this might be more or less important for some people but it is important to take a look at before making your final choice.There are three main ports to look for. USB 2 is an older form of USB port that can only handle 480Mb per second of data transfer. This this is fine if you only plan to plug mice or keyboards in, but it is not ideal for those who often transfer files onto and off of thumb drives or cameras(like in the case of a editing workstation computer).USB 3, on the other hand, can handle speeds of up to 5Gb per seconds. This is more than 10 times as fast as USB 2 and is much better for transferring any kind of HD files between devices.Finally, the most modern cases and devices will have USB type-C which is a different connector than older USB ports, but can transfer files at a blazing 10Gb per second and is the best choice for people with new Android phones that already use this type of port.]]> https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-full-tower/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=2124 Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:25:48 +0100 Best PC Cases Under $100 In 2024 https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-under-100/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=21092 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 18:04:46 +0100 Best Open Air PC Cases in 2024 1. Thermaltake Core P3

Pros

Clean, industrial look, great for building eye-catching systems Full support for liquid cooling Sturdy Can double as a test bench

Cons

PSU cage not that great No support for directional airflowThermaltake is one of the industry’s bigger manufacturers of PC cases. With a lot of industry know-how and a team of talented designers, they always manage to refine and improve the PC case concept, challenging the competition with bold designs and feature-packed products. The Thermaltake Core P3 is a great choice for anyone who’s looking for an industrial look, and open-air bench, and a feature-packed middle-tower with good cable management options and semi-modular design. The overall aesthetic is great for people who are looking for a PC case that’s meant for eye-catching builds and with the ability to upgrade to a tempered glass panel, you’ve got everything you’re looking for in an open-air case.As an open chassis, the Thermaltake Core P3 is built for liquid cooling enthusiasts. With the ability to house up to a 420mm radiator or a water pump for a custom loop, you have everything you need to hit record clockspeeds in your benchmarks. Speaking about benchmarks, the Core P3 can double as a budget-friendly test bench, giving you the ability to quickly swap out components, an ideal choice for someone who’s starting a review channel or publication, or for retail workers who constantly try to come up with balanced, value-oriented builds. In terms of features, the Core P3 delivers beautifully. It comes equipped with a PCIe riser cable, giving you the ability to showcase your GPU. The side panel is acrylic, but you can upgrade to tempered glass for an extra fee. Since it’s built for liquid cooling, the chassis doesn’t support directional airflow, something that might be problematic if you’re planning on using it as a test bench. The three 120/140mm fan slots are meant to be used to mount a radiator, so you want to invest in an overclockable CPU and motherboard. The case is well built, the chassis’s weight (around 10 kilograms or 22 pounds) ensures stability, the only part that’s a bit wobbly being the PSU. For maximum compatibility, try opting for a Thermaltake PSU for this build.Cable management is easy enough. The case features strategically-placed grommets for you to route your cables, keeping everything neat and sleek. That being said, there are no tie-points in the back of the chassis, but the 5-centimeter enclosure should provide you with plenty of space to work with to keep a pleasing aesthetic. Features: Supports up to 5 SSDs and 4 HDDs 8 expansion slots Comes with PCIe riser Supports 3x140mm Fans or 1x420mm Radiator 2 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 Audio In/Out

2. In Win D-Frame

Pros

DIY design for hardcore enthusiasts Supports water cooling, either partial or full custom loop Versatile  Beautiful, unique design

Cons

Can’t double as a test bench since the components aren’t easily-accessible once the build is finishedAre you still living in 2019? I ask because this next case is ripped straight out of a Mad Max movie. The In Win D-Frame steel motorcycle open-air case is the ideal pick for the PC enthusiast who likes an extra shot of adrenaline. This here’s is the big boy’s league. We’re pretty sure you can find a review for it in Petrol Head Weekly. Jokes aside, the In Win D-Frame has a lot of personality and character as far as PC cases go. The first thing that you’ll be faced with is assembling the case yourself. Oh yes, In Win ships all of the components, some tools, and you have to put them all together. Branded as a hybrid between technology and art, it’s one of the most unique PC cases money can buy. If the DIY part of the PC discourages you, fear not. In Win has thoughtfully labeled each bag of components, the labels corresponding to the very comprehensive instruction manual. The aluminum frame allows the chassis to be sturdy while keeping it relatively lightweight. To add to the sturdiness, In Win has included shock absorbant rubber feet that you place in strategical points, giving the chassis more stability. Why would you want to own such an eccentric PC chassis? Well, obviously, bragging rights and style points. The In Win D Frame functions like any other open-air case. It can be displayed in both vertical and horizontal positions, allowing you to install the motherboard and GPU to fit your particular aesthetic. Water cooling is supported, if not encouraged, the interior providing you with ample opportunities to go for a custom loop. If water cooling isn’t your thing, you’ll be glad to know that this case, unlike the Thermaltake Core P3, supports directional airflow.The dual tempered glass side panels are customized to fit the chassis, giving the case a very pleasing, automotive-like aesthetic. Overall, we unanimously agree that In Win has managed to create a beautiful blend of technology and art in the form of the D Frame. Features: 8 expansion slots Modular design and the ability to install the motherboard at a 90-degree angle 1 x 5.25-inch bay 3 x 3.5-inch bays 2 x 2.5-inch bays Supports 3 x 120mm fans or 360mm radiator

3. Cougar Conquer

Pros

DIY design for hardcore gamers Supports both air and water cooling Plenty directional air cooling options

Cons

Very specific aesthetic Cable management not greatWhile In Win spoke to the minds and souls of automotive enthusiasts, the Cougar Conquer is obviously targeted towards hardcore gamers. As eccentric as the In Win D Frame, the Cougar Conquer is another unique take on the open-air chassis. With an aesthetic that invokes futuristic, cyberpunk imagery, you’ll either love it or hate it.The Conquer is another DIY type case since you’re going to have to install all of the parts yourself. The motherboard mount is designed to be at an angle, giving you a unique look to go with the case’s overall gamer-oriented design. This case is flashy, which might be impractical for business use, so we will only recommend it if you’re planning on building a gaming-oriented build. The shield-like outer skeleton provides you a lot of fan-mounting spots, opening up a lot of options for good air intake. While the pre-installed fans would point out that Cougar aims this to be an air-cooled case, their branding features a custom loop, something that you might want to invest in with such a case.In terms of modularity, there isn’t really a lot going on, which might be disappointing to some of you. The entire body is made using aluminum, making for a sturdy and relatively lightweight chassis, without factoring in the two 5mm-thick tempered glass panels. Cable management is kind of awkward, but we’re confident that it won’t affect the overall look of your build too much.Features: 7 expansion slots 3 x 3.5-inch bays 4 x 2.5-inch bays 3 x 120mm fans preinstalled (5 x total) Futuristic look 2 x USB 3.0 Audio In/Out

Our Verdict

The artist in me would have you buy the In Win D Frame, but the utilitarian in me will definitely recommend the Thermaltake Core P3. All three of these chassis function in the same way, but the simplicity and cleanliness of the P3 are really what makes it (ironically) stand out. With partial modularity, full support for water cooling, and a nice industrial look, this case is perfect for building an eye-catching rig without any compromise. The only downside this case has is the lack of directional airflow, but we recommend you at least invest in an AIO, if not a custom water cooling loop.]]> https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-open-air/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=7363 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:41:08 +0100 Best Budget PC Case in 2024 – our top cheap picks available today Excellent cooling

InWin 101 Case Type: ATX Mid Tower Dimensions: 18.9” x 17.5” x 8.7” Weight: 16.4lbs Motherboard Compatibility: ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Two 3.5” and two 2.5”View Latest DealRead Full Review

Powerful airflow

Fractal Focus G Case Type: ATX Mid Tower Dimensions: 19” x 11” x 21” Weight: 13.8 lbs Motherboard Compatibility: ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Two 3.5”, one 2.5” and two 5.25”View Latest DealRead Full Review

Compact ATX case

Corsair Carbide 200R Case Type: ATX Mid Tower Dimensions: 16.9” x 8.3” x 19.5” Weight: 13.3 lbs Motherboard Compatibility: ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Four 3.5”, four 2.5”, and three 5.25”View Latest DealRead Full Review

Best Budget Mini ITX case

Thermaltake Suppressor F1 Case Type: Mini Tower Dimensions: 10.9” x 10.2” x 12.6” Weight: 7.1 lbs Motherboard Compatibility: mITX Drive Bays: Two 2.5” and two 3.5”View Latest DealRead Full Review

Best under $50

Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L Case Type: Mini Tower Dimensions: 15” x 9.1” x 15.2” Weight: 1.06 lbs Motherboard Compatibility: mATX Drive Bays: one 3.5” bay and two 2.5 SSD” baysView Latest DealRead Full Review

1. InWin 101

Best case for aesthetics and water cooling Case Type: ATX Mid Tower Dimensions: 18.9” x 17.5” x 8.7” Weight: 16.4lbs Motherboard Compatibility: ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Two 3.5” and two 2.5” Appealing minimalist design Tempered glass side panel Excellent cooling Does not include any fansCheck Price on AmazonAdmittedly, looks are subjective, but it’s hard to find a case that looks better than the InWin 101 at this price point. It comes in a couple of colors-- black or white-- and has integrated LED accents that can be blue, pink, or red. This minimalist case actually has a pretty premium feel thanks to the toolless tempered glass panel on the side, which is pretty much unheard of in a budget case like this.The internal layout of the case is interesting and makes it stand out, even among much pricier cases. For starters, there is a GPU bracket to help prevent your graphics card from sagging which can help extend the life of the card and your motherboard.Additionally, the power supply is designed to be top mounted in this case, which is unusual these days but actually allows for better airflow to your power supply. This also helps keep the heat of your PSU away from more temperature sensitive components.Perhaps the most surprising thing is just how water cooling friendly this case is. It can fit a 120mm radiator in the rear, a 240mm radiator on the side opposite the tempered glass, or a massive 360mm radiator in the bottom. This thoughtful design and cooling capacity make this easily the best budget ATX case on the market.

2. Fractal Focus G

Powerful airflow with included fans and filters Case Type: ATX Mid Tower Dimensions: 19” x 11” x 21” Weight: 13.8 lbs Motherboard Compatibility: ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Two 3.5”, one 2.5” and two 5.25” Side panel window Comes with two included fans Three air filters Internal header cables are very shortCheck Price on AmazonThe Fractal Focus G is probably the king of airflow since the entire front, top, and bottom of this case are made from a breathable mesh that lets air flow freely into and out of your case. Good airflow is important for keeping your parts cool and running their best, especially in builds that have dedicated graphics cards that throw off a ton of heat.Don’t worry about dust though, because the massive breathable surfaces are protected by air filters that prevent dust from making its way into your case. While the Focus G comes with two 120mm fans included, it can accommodate up to six fans and a variety of radiators. Fractal has designed this case to be capable of accommodating high profile CPU coolers as well, which nicely compliments the overall high airflow design of this case.The side panel features a plastic window; tempered glass would’ve been nice, but this is a budget case. The front of the case has two 5.25” drive bays, which dates this case somewhat since disks have largely become obsolete.The top and front hosts the I/O, with the latter being a weak point as it only includes a single USB 2.0 and a single USB 3.0. Unfortunately, the header cable in the case for this anemic I/O are also very short causing this case to be a bit of a hassle to set up with some motherboards.

3. Corsair Carbide 200R

Compact ATX case with tons of storage space Case Type: ATX Mid Tower  Dimensions: 16.9” x 8.3” x 19.5” Weight: 13.3 lbs Motherboard Compatibility: ATX, mATX, mITX Drive Bays: Four 3.5”, four 2.5”, and three 5.25” 11 drive bays Highly customizable and configurable No air filters or fans includedCheck Price on AmazonIf you often find yourself running out of storage space on your computer due to an ever-expanding library of games, movies, and music then the Corsair Carbide 200R is probably the best cheap pc case for you. This case has an incredible amount of storage space for its price and size with a total of 11 drive bays.The drive bays include four 2.5” bays, four 3.5” bays, and three 5.25” bays. This should allow most people to store their Steam library, plenty of movies, or enough music to last a lifetime. The case is also very easy to build in with an almost entirely toolless design. Corsair claims that the only time you’ll need a screwdriver during the building process is to put the motherboard in.If you don’t plan to take full advantage of the various drive bays, then you still have plenty of viable configuration options. Depending on the number of drives, you can outfit the 200R with as many as eight fans, as well as a number of different radiator configurations. While you can obviously get a lot of airflow in this case, it’s not nearly as breathable as the something like the Focus G.This case, like others on this list, really falls apart once you look at the lackluster front I/O with only two USB ports, a microphone jack, and a headphone jack. That being said, the variety of drive bays and customizable layouts makes this the best budget mid-tower case for those looking for maximum storage capacity.

4. Thermaltake Suppressor F1

Mini ITX case for small form factor builds Case Type: Mini Tower Dimensions: 10.9” x 10.2” x 12.6” Weight: 7.1 lbs Motherboard Compatibility: mITX Drive Bays: Two 2.5” and two 3.5” Compact cube form factor Good airflow for the size Only Uses ITX motherboardsCheck Price on AmazonFor those who are small form factor enthusiasts on the hunt for a cheap computer case, we suggest the Thermaltake Suppressor F1. At this price, It’s hard to beat the features and capabilities of this powerful, yet tiny case.The F1 is a simple cube-shaped mITX case that boasts large grills on each of the magnetic side panels and a plastic window on the top that lets you see your hardware.Cooling can be a major issue for small cases since with so many hot parts being stuffed into a small space. To combat this, there are several places where you can use large fans. Moreover, remember that both side panels have large grills for airflow, and conveniently around the GPU and CPU coolers at that.The front can take a large fan or radiator. In fact, the case comes with a 200mm fan included pre-installed into the front.

5. Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L

Best PC case under $50 Case Type: Mini Tower Dimensions: 15.2” x 9.1” x 14.9” Weight: 1.06 lbs Motherboard Compatibility: mATX Drive Bays: one 3.5” bays and two 2.5" SSD bays Under $50 Striking mesh dust filter Good space for the size A lot of plastic Minimal storage optionsCheck Price on AmazonSo when you are paying less than $50, even in a budget round-up there are going to need to be corners cut with your build.One that you won't have to contend with with this offering from Cooler Master is you can somehow still fit a full-size ATX PSU within it's svelte form factor.It's wider and taller than a regular mATX case, the side panel is acrylic rather than glass and can scratch easily if you aren't careful, but we reiterate - it costs less than 50 bucks so corners will be cut.Another novelty is that you can position the IO ports in any of six places. Just be aware to to use some of the options you will need an unsupplied USB extension cable.Airflow isn't fantastic but if you are in the market for something like this it's unlikely you will be filling it full of GTX 2080Tis running in SLI. Not that you could - but it does still take a decent sized GPU.Overall this is a good option if cash is king and you keep your expectations well balanced.

How to Pick the Best Budget PC Case for Your Needs

The PC case you pick determines a number of things about your build. Because of this, when searching for the best budget computer case it’s important to know what your priorities are when shopping for a budget computer case. Let’s take a look at a couple of the things you might focus on while browsing cheap gaming PC cases.

Performance

If you’re interested in getting the most performance out of your system, like in the case of gaming, then you’ll almost definitely want one of the mid-tower form factor cases on our list. This means any of the first three, either the InWin 101, the Corsair Carbide 200R, or the Fract Focus G.These mid-tower cases can fit full-size ATX motherboard, which have more expansion slots for things like graphics card, as well as more space for RAM modules. ATX motherboards are pretty much the industry standard in a majority of computers and can be used for anything from simple home computers all the way to pretty beefy workstations. The ability to accommodate multiple GPUs and tons of RAM make it suitable for heavier tasks like intensive rendering or 3D modeling.The latter two cases in our roundup use either mATX or mITX motherboards which will have fewer PCIe slots and fewer RAM slots. This lack of expandability makes them less than ideal for workstation use, but a single GPU is enough in most systems to play pretty much any game on the market today.In addition, the two smaller cases will not be able to fit all the hardware you might want. Longer graphics cards will not have enough clearance to fit into these cases, and even some CPU coolers can be too tall to fit.

Cooling

Cooling plays into the performance of a system, but is important enough in other ways to be worth mentioning on its own. Better airflow and cooling in your case will lead to higher, more stable performance for both your GPU and CPU, and will also improve the lifespan of your hardware.If you plan to try and use water cooling in your build, then consider the InWin 101. This case has tons of mounting options for radiators and is the only case we looked at that can accommodate a 360mm radiator.The Fractal Focus G is probably the best option for those planning to use air cooling as the top, bottom, and front of the case are entirely made from breathable mesh that also acts as an air filter.

Storage

The potential storage of a given case is determined by the number of drive bays it has. There are generally three types of drive bays: 2.5”, 3.5”, and 5.25”. 2.5” bays are generally used for solid state drives, which are high-speed drives but have less capacity while being significantly more expensive. 3.5” bays are used for more traditional hard drives that are slower than SSDs, but offer much more capacity and are significantly more affordable. 5.25” bays are usually used for things like CD players or even floppy disk drives. So, these do not usually add to your system’s actual storage.If you’re looking for a budget case that offers as much storage as possible, we recommend the Corsair Carbide 200R. This case has four 2.5” bays and four more 3.5” bays for an incredible eight drive capacity. That is a bit overkill, though, and if you buy larger capacity drives to start with, then you really shouldn’t need upward of 8 drive bays.

I/O Ports

I/O stands for inputs and outputs, and refers to the various jacks and USB ports you will find on the front of pretty much any computer case. Depending on how you use your computer and your setup you’ll want to look for different things.While USB type-C is the most modern USB connector on the market, none of the cases in this price range have this as an option. There is however several USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports on these cases. USB 2.0 is an older protocol and is mostly used for mice and keyboards. USB 3.0 boasts significantly faster data transfer, so look for these if you frequently move files to and from flash drives.]]> https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-budget/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=1813 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:28:41 +0100 Best Airflow PC Case in 2024 https://www.pcguide.com/pc-case/guide/best-airflow/ https://www.pcguide.com/?p=20965 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 14:59:21 +0100