Building a custom PC is a complex job requiring more effort and expertise than you would typically think it needs. It is a significant decision that will affect you in the days to come. There are quite a few PC cases that can take place among the best PC Cases offerings, making it very perplexing to select the correct PC case that serves all your needs. Since the custom PC cases are designed according to motherboard sizes, the motherboard selection usually decides the minimum size of the PC case you will need. Cooling performance usually determines the upper limit of the PC case size (usually, the bigger the case, the better the cooling). That is why more oversized cases are considered the best computer cases.
You would find different sizes like E-ATX(biggest), ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX(smallest) in the market. We will explain each size in detail for easier understanding. Companies also offer quite a few features like modularity, cable management, superior build quality, and aesthetically pleasing and unique designs in their best PC cases to increase the value they provide and meet the consumer’s maximum requirements. With the latest advancement in the gaming industry, the hardware demands are higher to deliver the utmost performance during gameplay. The PC case is the most fundamental component that supports it.
Here are some of the best gaming or high-performance PC cases that our experts have shortlisted for you are comprehensive research.
Quick Shopping Tips:
SIZE (ATX, MICRO ATX, AND MICRO, MINI ITX)
E-ATX: Full tower is the biggest size available, promotes the best cooling performance, and is suitable for enthusiasts and top-performance gaming rigs.
ATX: Mid tower is usually the most suitable size for most users, be it gaming or otherwise. It has provided optimum performance and cooling for most needs.
Micro-ATX: Micro ATX is usually suitable for space-conscious people with the necessary features for everyday use.
Mini-ATX: It is the smallest of all and only includes the most essential functions, and is suitable for home theatre/ entertainment PCs.
MODULARITY: Most Modern and usually the best computer cases can break up their case into smaller parts and rejoin as per the user’s inclination. It also allows complete customization for the consumers to install distinctive cooling solutions (liquid cooling or fans) and is an admirable feature for enthusiast PC builders.
CABLE MANAGEMENT: Cable management is also a well-liked feature among custom PC case builders. Most of the PC cases nowadays have transparent tempered glass screens, allowing increased visibility of the interiors. So cable management provides a streamlined look to the case and adds plenty to the aesthetics. It is achieved by provisions of holes and shrouds in the PC cases to sort the cables and hide them as much as possible.
BUILD QUALITY: The most crucial factor that will affect the longevity of your build is the build quality. With the plethora of choices available in the market today, you should always buy high-quality PC cases from well-known brands to avoid getting duped. PC cases of lesser quality are offered cheaper but have thinner metal sheet bodies that will bend or break easily and become problematic in the long run.
VENTILATION: It is the most crucial factor that will affect your body’s performance and your equipment’s life. The better the cooling, the better will be the performance of your build. It all depends on the intention of your build. Gaming or high-performance builds require extensive cooling solutions(like liquid cooling), while generalized use PCs can work with a simple fan or two.
Best PC Cases at a glance:
- Fractal Design Define 7
- Lian Li Lancool II Mesh
- Phanteks Eclipse P300A
- NZXT H400i
- Cooler Master Silencio S400
- Cooler Master Cosmos C700M
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- Phanteks Evolv Shift 2
The Best PC Cases You Can Buy Today
Fractal Design Define 7
Best High-End ATX Case
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: Mid-Tower ATX | Supported Motherboard: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX | Max Card Length: 18.4 / 12.4 inches (467 / 315mm) | Storage: (7x) 3.5", (2x) 2.5" | Included Fans: (3x) 140mm, (3x) 120mm
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Tempered glass side panels
✓ Latest USB 3.1 Gen2 support
✓ Mesh filters to prevent dust accumulation
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No sound-proofing
✗ No built-in RGB lights
Fractal Design Define 7 is an enthusiast dream come true due to its ultimate performance and superior build quality. It is offered in black, white, and grey color with clear, light tinted, or dark tinted glass versions, offering a more comprehensive variety of schemes to choose from. Moreover, it comes with an extensive 2-year warranty to provide users with complete peace of mind.
It consists of a two-layer interior, one ‘open’ and the other ‘storage.’ The open layout is similar to different mid-tower ATX layouts having a pair of HDD mounts below the PSU with multiple SSDs attached along with the motherboard. You can mount as many as 14 HDDs in the storage layout by installing additional mounts available within the box, plus data hoarders or workstation purposes.
As far as cooling is concerned, fractal design is covered by providing two 140mm or three 120mm fans. Moreover, the top panel also consists of ventilation holes for additional cooling. The inside of the top panel and the fan windows also include a mesh filter to prevent dust accumulation inside the case and keep it squeaky clean. It is one of the best computer cases in the high-end segment available in the market today.
Lian Li Lancool II Mesh
Best Mid-Range ATX Case
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: Mid Tower ATX | Supported Motherboard: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX | Max Card Length: 15.1 inches (384mm) | Storage: (4x) 2.5-inch (3x) 3.5-inch | Included Fans: (2x) 140mm, (1) 120mm
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Finished see-through interior
✓ Built-in cable management system
✓ PWM controlled Fans for excellent cooling performance
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No sound-dampening
✗ Design is not much appealing
Lian Li is famous for its brushed aluminum premium build cases, but they were expensive as hell. So Lian Li introduced steel painted cases while retaining the same build quality known for and launched the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh. It is the high-performance variant of the original Lancool II with a front mesh for more excellent cooling.
The case also consists of 3 PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) fans for superior cooling and noise control. The standard variant doesn’t have any RGB lighting, but if you opt for the RGB fan variant, you will miss out on the PWM controller, so choose wisely. Both case sides have tempered glass panels that allow complete interior visibility, so cable covers are provided for cable management to provide a cleaner look.
Lancool II mesh is no short of storage space either. Three 3.5 inch and two 2.5 inch HDDs can be installed below the PSU and beside the motherboard tray. Furthermore, two more HDDs (2.5inch) can be installed alongside PSU if needed. The front panel doesn’t have a dust filter to promote better airflow so that it will accumulate dust inside the case, but that is a choice that has to be made in favor of better cooling performance.
Phanteks Eclipse P300A
Best Budget ATX Case
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: Mid Tower | Supported Motherboard: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX | Max Card Length: 355mm (14 inches) | Storage: (2x) 3.5" (1x) 2.5" | Included Fans: (1x) 120mm ARGB
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Superior thermal performance
✓ Provision of up to three 140mm/120mm fans
✓ Minimalist design with the excellent build quality
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No handles for transportation
✗ No dust filter on front and top
Phanteks Eclipse P300A is the performance variant of the Eclipse P300 offered by the famous deutch manufacturer Phanteks. Although the RGB lighting has been removed from the front panel in favor of the mesh, you won’t miss it with the added thermal performance. Since only one fan is provided out of the box, you may need to buy others separately.
The case’s thermal performance is primarily attributed to its one large 1200rpm fan installed and provision of three more 120mm or 140mm fans on the top and front panels. The front panel can also fit a 240mm radiator if you are into liquid cooling and need a top-performing machine. The air filter is only provided at the bottom so that some dust accumulation may be expected.
The case build is very sturdy and neat. You will find only the essential items in this case with tempered glass on the side for aesthetics. The front panel includes multiple USB 3.0 ports and audio ports, but the USB 3.1 type-C port is missing, though very few people use it at the moment. This is one of the best pc cases we have reviewed and turned out to be our best budget segment winner.
NZXT H400i
Best MicroATX Case
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: Mini Tower | Supported Motherboard: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX | Max Card Length: 411mm (16.2 inches) | Storage: (1x) 3.5", (4x) 2.5" | Included Fans: (3x) 120mm
REASONS TO BUY
✓ GPU Clearance Up to 411mm
✓ Adaptive Noise Reduction technique
✓ Water-cooling for both AIO and custom loop
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No bottom fans
✗ A bit louder fan under full load
NZXT H400i is a micro-ATX case that is one of the best computer cases for space savers without compromising on expandability and feature set. Amazingly it supports multiple GPUs, several HDDs, numerous RAM slots, and plenty of other features in a small form factor providing excellent value for the consumers.
H400i offers complete dust protection with its dedicated dust filter on the sides. For better cooling, a large 120mm fan can be installed, and the provision of DIY liquid cooling is also provided for custom builders. The case offered excellent airflow and thermal performance in our benchmarks, although noise levels were a bit louder but within limits.
An RGB lighting strip is installed near the top for colorful and vibrant aesthetics. Being a small case, cable management is not the best but is provided as much as possible with specially designed cable channels and does the job satisfactorily. With limited high-quality micro-ATX cases available in the market, this case surely ticks all the right boxes and does a pretty good job.
Cooler Master Silencio S400
Best Budget MicroATX Case
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: Mid Tower | Supported Motherboard: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX | Max Card Length: 319mm (12.56 inches) | Storage: (4x) 3.5", (4x) 2.5" | Included Fans: (3x) 120mm
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Reversible front door
✓ SD card slot included
✓ Sound-damping for low noise operation
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port
✗ Slightly higher internal temperature than normal
Manufacturers are always finding new methods to make their cases as silent as possible without compromising their thermal performance. Cooler Master Silencio S400 is one perfect example of this. It is a mid-tower case with an optimum balance between noise reduction and cooling performance and provides excellent value for money with its feature-rich build.
The thermal performance of this case is satisfactory, although not exceptional. It packs two 120mm fans, one on the front and one on the back, that does all the heavy lifting under heavy loads. That’s not all, and it supports other installations of three 120mm fans on the top, two on the front and one on the rear, and radiator support up to240mm.
Silencio S400 is not low on features. It packs a 5.25-inch drive bay just inside the front door to be used for optical drives etc. It has dust filters in all the key areas to reduce dust accumulation and sound damping covers on the doors and the top, making it a perfect companion in a noise-free environment. It is one of the best computer cases you can find on a tight budget.
Cooler Master Cosmos C700M
Best High-End Showcase PC Case
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: Full Tower | Supported Motherboard: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, (E-ATX support up to 12 x 10.7 inches) | Max Card Length: 490mm (19.3 inches) | Storage: (5x) 3.5" (4x) 2.5" (+ 5x converted from 3.5) | Included Fans: (4x) 140mm
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Handles for easy transportation
✓ The fan speed and ARGB control buttons
✓ Exceptional and smooth design in three colors
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Quite Heavy at 52lbs
✗ No lock on the side panels
If you ever wanted a pc case that fulfills all your needs and wants and then some, then you would never be disappointed with the Cooler Master Cosmos C700M. Its higher-than-normal price tag is entirely justified when you look at the premium style it carries and the plethora of features it provides.
It is a vast beast made of steel chassis with aluminum and tempered glass exterior, illuminated with RGB lighting making it the center of attention in any setting. The case is fully ventilated with holes cutouts on all sides except the tempered glass doors. All the air inlets are dust filter-covered to prevent dust entry. It comes preinstalled with three 120mm fans with the provision for nine more. Its thermal performance is beyond doubt exceptional.
The case can hold up to eight expansion slots and five HDD and four SSD drives. It also has the latest USB Type C and multiple 3.0 ports and provides installing customized liquid coolers and radiators. This case is undoubtedly an enthusiast’s dream come true and delivers genuinely exceptional performance and swag and is one of the best high-end custom pc cases you can find right now. All these qualities make it prominent among the best computer cases.
Fractal Design Meshify 2
Best Case for High-End Rigs and Workstations
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: Mid-Tower ATX | Supported Motherboard: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX (285 mm) | Max Card Length: 467mm (18.4 inches) | Storage: (11x) 3.5" (6 brackets included), (4x) 2.5" (2x brackets included) | Included Fans: (3x) 140mm
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Detachable PSU cable shield
✓ Removable dust filters included
✓ Offers six 3.5"/2.5" Universal drive mounts
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No external bays
✗ No built-in RGB lighting
With the increase in processing demands on CPUs and GPUs, especially on high-performance rigs, heat dissipation has significantly increased. This requires a pc case with truly exceptional thermal performance, just like Fractal Design Meshify 2. The front mesh design allows massive airflow to cool the case’s internals and maintain the temperature within limits even under the heaviest loads.
Meshify 2 is a case that packs all the essential firepower a person needs without extra bells and whistles that are usually not required and is meant to deliver consistent performance without breaking your bank. It comes preinstalled with three 120mm fans and has provision for four more. You will never have to worry about cooling ever.
It packs the latest USB type C and dual USB 3.0 ports along with a PWM fan controller hub. It can house up to 4 HDD internally, and for extreme storage freaks, this number can go up to 11 3.5 inch HDD using the accessories provided with the case. Meshify 2 is a minimalist design among the custom pc cases with a functional feature set and is the best case for high-end rigs and workstations.
Phanteks Evolv Shift 2
Best Mini-ITX Case
SPECIFICATIONS
Form Factor: ITX Tower | Supported Motherboard: Mini-ITX | Max Card Length: 335mm (13.2 inches) | Storage: (1x) 3.5" (2x) 2.5" | Included Fans: (1x) 140mm
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Supports up to two 120mm AIOs
✓ Compact design suitable for space savers
✓ Support bigger GPUs like RTX 3070 and 3080
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No reset button
✗ No USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C port
Though Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 is the smallest (mini-ITX) case, we recommend it is in no way the least performing. Its smaller footprint allows you to place it in smaller workspaces and carry it around easily. Moreover, to supplement it, Pahntechs is providing an ultralong five-year warranty with the case.
The case furnishes a brushed aluminum finish at the front and back with a tempered glass panel on the sides. There are three buttons on top RGB mode, RGB color, and power, while the bottom holds dual USB 3.0 ports. The case packs a single 140mm fan for cooling, but if you need more cooling, you can opt for the ‘air’ variant, which has vented panels on the sides instead of tempered glass.
The top and bottom air intakes are packed with dust filters to prevent dust entry. One main highlight of this case is its ability to hold more giant graphic cards like RTX 3080, but you may want to opt for the ‘air’ variant if you plan on high-performance GPUs to remove that excess heat. This is one compact case with all the proper functionality and balanced performance, making it one of the best mini-ITX cases you can find among the best custom pc cases.
Conclusion
With technological advancements expanding as we speak, searching for the best PC cases is a never-ending contest. Though we have shortlisted some of the most delicate custom pc cases you can acquire today; the final decision rests with you to match them with your requirement. If money is not a problem and you want one of the best pc cases with everything you can think of, then Cooler Master Cosmos C700M undoubtedly is the winner. It has the most outstanding design and style coupled with ultimate thermal performance and feature set that you can never stop admiring.
On the other hand, if you want a fully functional pc case with the necessary features and a reasonable price tag, then go for the Phanteks Eclipse P300A. It offers all the essential features set like a USB 3.1 port, multiple HDD and SSD drive bays and superb cooling performance, and a minimalist design that doesn’t take too much space. It all comes down to your needs and taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best PC Case brand?
Although many manufactures offer superior quality pc cases, when it comes to the best, the Cooler master is no doubt a notch further than the competitors. The launch of Cooler Master Cosmos C700M has surpassed other brands in build quality, modern design, and feature set.
What PC case has the best airflow?
Usually, the cases with ample interior space, clear air pathways, and more giant fans provide better airflow than others. Lian Li Lancool II Mesh has one of the best air-flow among the other cases, thanks to its three 120mm fans mounted on the front panel and the meshed design to promote even more excellent airflow.
Are expensive PC cases worth it?
It depends on the user’s choice. Usually, a lesser expensive pc case will get the job done and fulfill most of your needs. The expensive pc cases generally have premium design and offer top-of-the-line features that raise their appeal and ultimately their price. Still, they are usually for the enthusiast and not for the masses. A case like Fractal Design Meshify 2 will get the job done without breaking the average users’ bank.
What is the best budget PC case?
Phanteks Eclipse P300A is undoubtedly the best budget pc case due to its basic feature set and modest price tag. The case build is excellent and neat. You will find only the most necessary items in this case with tempered glass on the side for aesthetics and above-average thermal performance.
