The best PC cases may be an excellent way to showcase just how impressive your PC is without turning it on, especially if they come with a glass side panel that will display that attractive RGB lighting. However, they’re more than just for showing off all that premium power inside.
More importantly, the best PC cases will ensure that the best processors, the best graphics cards, storage, and RAM you just spent a lot of money on are kept safe, giving them a proper home. After all, the main purpose of these cases is to protect all your components, keeping them safe from dust and offering proper ventilation to keep them all cool. For future-proofing, many of these cases even provide additional space for expanding and upgrading your PC.
Whether you need something that won’t hurt your wallet or one that perfectly showcases that new Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090, there’s a case for you on this list. Round out that powerful gaming PC you just built with one of the best PC cases below.
Best PC cases at a glance:
- Corsair iCue 4000X
- Fractal Design Meshify-C
- Nanoxia Deep Silence 4
- NZXT H200i
- Phanteks Evolv Shift X
- Fractal Design Define R5
- Cooler Master H500P Mesh
- Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-04 Tempered Glass
- Antec Cube
- Phanteks Evolv X
1. Corsair iCue 4000X
The best PC case
Specifications
Form factor: Mid-tower
Dimensions: 453 x 230 x 466mm (L x W x H; 17.8 x 9.1 x 18.4 inches)
Mobo compatibility: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
PSU support: Bottom mount
I/O: Power button, reset button, USB 3.1 Type C, USB 3.0 USB-A, 1x Headphone port
Reasons to buy
+Elegant, tempered front and side panels+Excellent cable management
Reasons to avoid
–Runs slightly hotter than similar-sized cases
Corsair has managed to combine RGB lighting with elegance in their new Corsair iCue 4000X case. This mid-tower case has tempered glass for its front and side panels, allowing anyone who’s proud of their build to showcase it. And, with excellent cable management thanks to a single channel set aside behind the motherboard for routing the cables through, making a clean, good looking build is easier than ever. As a Corsair product, the case also benefits from generous RGB lighting, which can be customized and controlled through Corsair’s iCue software.
2. Fractal Design Meshify-C
The best mid-tower PC case
Specifications
Form factor: Mid-tower
Dimensions: 395 x 212 x 440mm (L x W x H; 15.6 x 8.3 x 17.3)
PSU support: ATX
I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x HD audio in/out, power button, reset button
Includes: 2 x Dynamic X2 GP-12
Reasons to buy
+Freshly designed in multiple ways+Reasonable price
Reasons to avoid
–USB 3.0 cable is too short Front–PSU dust filter is hard to remove
It is extremely rare to see any PC case that even vaguely resembles the Fractal Design Meshify-C. Given that the front of the case is entirely made of a mesh material sectioned off into an array of polygonal shapes, the Meshify-C has a unique style – without compromising on function. With two fans pre-installed, cooling is (forgive us) a breeze, even if the Meshify-C is held back by a number of obstacles.
3. Nanoxia Deep Silence 4
The best Micro ATX PC case
Specifications
Form factor: Small form factor
Dimensions: 380 x 200 x 480mm (W x H x D; 15 x 7.9 x 18.9 inches)
PSU support: ATX
I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HD audio in/out, power button, reset button, two-channel fan control
Includes: 2 x 120mm fans, 2 x modular HDD cages for up to five hard drives
Reasons to buy
+Low-noise+Onboard dual-zone fan controls
Reasons to avoid
– Not many extras
As its name suggests, the Nanoxia Deep Silence 4 has the sole purpose of being quiet as a mouse. This silence-focused case is a well-balanced Micro ATX chassis that’s affordably priced, without sacrificing room for expansion. That’s right you can fit even the biggest, most powerful graphics cards in the Nanoxia Deep Silence 4. The fact that you will never hear it go above 30 decibels is just icing on the very taciturn cake.
- This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Phanteks Evolv Shift X.
4. NZXT H200i
The best Mini-ITX case
Specifications
Form factor: Small form factor
Dimensions: 210 x 349 x 372mm (8.3 x 13.7 x 14.6)
Mobo compatibility: Mini-ITX
PSU support: ATX
I/O: 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x audio/mic, 3 x fan channels with max 10W per channel output, 1 x RGB LED port support up to 4 x HUE + LED strips or 5 x Aer RGB fans
Includes: 1 x Aer F120 Case Version top fan, 1 x Aer F120 Case Version rear fan
Reasons to buy
+Built-in Smart Device RGB control+Adaptive noise reduction
Reasons to avoid
–Slightly pricey
Every single day mini-ITX gets more popular, and closer to toppling Micro ATX. And, it makes sense – why not spring for a small computer that can get just as much work done as a full tower? NZXT’s new H-series case line manages to integrate a ton of the same features as its Micro ATX and mid-tower equivalents, with mesmerizing, built-in and smart device-controlled RGB lighting and an adaptive noise sensor that sees improvement only by way of the Grid+ V3 fan controller.
5. Phanteks Evolv Shift X
The best home theater PC case
Specifications
Form factor: Small form factor
Dimensions: 170 x 650 x 274mm (W x H x D; 6.7 x 26.1 x 10.8 inches)
Mobo compatibility: Mini-ITX
PSU support: SFX, SFX-L, ATX (160mm max)
I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, power button, RGB button
Includes: 2 x 140mm fan, 1 x power supply cover, 1 x pump bracket, 2 x SSD bracket, 1 x PCIe x16 Riser cable, 1 x 8-pin CPU extension cable
Reasons to buy
+Plenty of room for beefy components+One-of-a-kind aesthetic
Reasons to avoid
– Massive for Mini-ITX
When you first look at the Phanteks Evolv Shift X, it looks more like a sound bar than one of the best PC cases, but this helps it vanish into any living area or studio setup. It’s flexible to the point that it looks natural placed under a TV as it does on a desk, next to one of the best gaming monitors. It may only be compatible with a Mini-ITX motherboard, but the Phanteks Evolv Shift X offers tons of space for components and liquid cooling loops. If this case is a little large for your preference, you can get the smaller Phanteks Evolv Shift for easier management.
6. Fractal Design Define R5
The best silent PC case
Specifications
Form factor: Mid-tower
Dimensions: 232 x 451 x 521mm (W x H x D; 232 x 451 x 521 inches)
PSU support: ATX
I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, audio in/out, power button with LED, HDD activity LED, reset button
Includes: 2 x Fractal Design Dynamic GP14 140mm fans, velcro straps
Reasons to buy
+User-friendly (and handsome) design+ Affordable price
Reasons to avoid
– Definitely not tool-less
Fractal Design wins again with the Define R5, yet another mid-tower case with a gorgeous aesthetic. The metallic and blue LED-lit face of this case is simple, yet elegant, and is accompanied by noise dampening materials throughout its interior. In spite of the detachable ModuVent panels and drive trays not being toolessly accessible, it’s incredibly easy to build a system inside of the Fractal Design Define R5, plus it’s not as expense as you’d expect from a PC case with such a pretentious name, either.
7. Cooler Master H500P Mesh
The best high airflow case
Specifications
Form factor: Full-tower
Dimensions: 544 x 242 x 542mm (L x W x H; 21.4 x 9.5 x 21.3 inches)
Mobo compatibility: Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX, E-ATX (12 x 10.7 inches)
PSU support: Bottom mount, ATX PS2
I/O: USB 3.0 x2, USB 2.0 x2, Audio in & out (supports HD audio)
Includes: 2x 200 x 25mm RGB fan, 1x 140 x 25mm fan
Reasons to buy
+Great airflow+Gorgeous RGB lighting
Reasons to avoid
–Not as big as other full towers
Cooler Master is kind of known for, well, cooling things – and the Cooler Master H500P Mesh is evidence of how it got there. This beautiful RGB-packed case has plenty of room for airflow, even accommodating up to 360mm radiators on the top and front for when you really want to take your cooling to the next level. Add on top of that the RGB lighting and tempered glass side panel and you have the potential to build something beautiful with this case. Go for it.
8. Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-04 Tempered Glass
The best budget PC case
Specifications
Form factor: Mid-tower
Dimensions: 492 x 201 x 433mm (L x W x H; 19.4 x 7.9 x 17 inches)
PSU support: ATX
I/O: 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x headphone port, 1 x microphone port, power on button, reset button
Includes: 1 x 120mm LED front fan
Reasons to buy
+ Attractive price + Very aesthetic
Reasons to avoid
– Only includes 1 case fan
If you’re looking to save a few bucks, while still getting one of the best PC cases, look no further than the Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-04 Tempered Glass. Not only does it have plenty of space for airflow, it also has a deceptively large amount of space for future expansion, meaning that even at this low price point, you won’t have to worry about fitting a full-sized graphics card. And, when you’re done building, the tempered glass side panel will allow you to show off your handiwork.
9. Antec Cube
The best PC cube case
Specifications
Form factor: Small form factor
Dimensions: 365 x 250 x 460mm (H x W x D; 14.4 x 9.8 x 18.1 inches)
PSU support: ATX
I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, I/O button, audio in/out
Includes: 1 x 120mm rear exhaust fan mount
Reasons to buy
+Ample space for power and cooling+Integrated fan controller
Reasons to avoid
–Wildly expensive–Less than satisfactory performance
The Antec Cube is without a doubt the best PC case for you Razer fans out there. While Razer hasn’t made its own desktop PC (not yet, anyway), you can build a Mini-ITX gaming PC, pretending it’s a razer product. You see, Antec partnered with Razer to bring its signature green-infused flare to the Cube, a small form-factor chassis. Complete with a deceptively high amount of space for future expansion, the Antec Cube is also compact enough to travel with.
10. Phanteks Evolv X
The best dual-system PC case
Specifications
Form factor: Mid-tower
Dimensions: 240 x 520 x 510mm (W x H x D; 9.45 x 20.5 x 20.1 inches)
PSU support: E-ATX
I/O: 1 x Thunderbolt 3, 1 x Mic, 1 x Headphone, 1 x Reset button, RGB mode button, RGB color button
Includes: 3 x Premium 140mm fans
Reasons to buy
+Attractive +Plenty of space
Reasons to avoid
–Expensive
Who says dual-system builds have to be in a hulking full-tower case? The Phanteks Evolv X takes dual-system compatibility and squeezes it into a mid-tower. Even with that second Mini-ITX motherboard installed, there’s plenty of room for E-ATX motherboards and power supplies, and ample cooling. It is pricey for a mid-tower case, but with all this functionality, it kind of has to be. It’s thanks to all of these high-end features that the Phanteks Evolv X is one of the best PC cases around today.
Comments are closed.