Computer Cases

Welcome to a huge catalog of the best computer cases from Corsair, NXZT, Fractal Design, Rosewill, Phanteks and other top PC case manufacturers. Check out bundle deals on cases with a CPU, power supply, or motherboard at the top of the page; you’ll find computer cases of all types and form factors here.

If you are overclocking the CPU, you’ll want to check out cases for a liquid cooling system and a mesh designs that enhance airflow.

Want to show off your sick cable management? Check out PC cases with tempered glass panels that show off your handiwork and LED light RAM modules.

Interested in having a PC small enough for gaming wherever you go? Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX computer cases pack a full-on gaming rig into something small enough to put in a backpack. Less expensive than a gaming laptop by far!

Maybe you need something bigger, like room for six or eight hard drives and a dual video card setup. A full tower case is a good bet for you data hoarders.

For a media server at home (also called a HTPC), a silent case design quiets the hum of fans and noisy power supplies.

Maybe you’d like to forgo the computer case altogether and build a PC inside a desk.

Cases for PCs come in four standard sizes: Full-tower, mid-tower, mini-tower and small form factor.

Dimensions and naming convention derive from motherboard sizes. Large cases are compatible with smaller form motherboards; it doesn’t work the other way around.

PC case dimensions from large to small:

• A full tower case holds a EATX motherboard and smaller;
• A mid tower case hold a ATX motherboard and smaller;
• A mini tower case holds a MicroATX motherboard and smaller;
• A small form factor case holds a Mini-ITX motherboard.

Larger towers have a greater number of drive bays: (usually a combination that fit 3.5-inch hard disk drives, and 2.5-inch solid-state drives).

• Full – up to 13
• Mid – up to 10
• Mini – up to 6
• SFF – up to 3

Do Mini-ITX and SFF cases fit ATX graphics cards?

Full-size graphics cards may or may not fit under the clearance of a Mini-ITX or SFF computer case. Your case’s clearance measures the space between the two PCIE brackets and the side of the case or other components.

• You need 10.5 inches of clearance for GeForce GTX 1080 and other high-end desktop graphics cards.
• Cases less than 10 inches in clearance, you can find compact versions of mainstream cards, like GeForce GTX 1060 Mini or the venerable GeForce GTX 970 and Radeon 7-series for SFF.

Historically, vendors find a way to get the 70-series of the latest GeForce GTX to fit mini-ITX eventually.

Find clearance measurements on the product page of an individual PC case you’re considering.

Case Material

Cases come in steel, aluminum, hard plastic, and are usually a combination of the three. SPCC, SGCC, SECC refer to how steel cases are forged. The acronyms don’t translate well; SPCC basically means ‘commercial grade rolled carbon steel’ and SECC implies ‘electrogalvanized Zinc plating.’ Aluminum is lighter than steel, so it makes the case lighter.

Years ago, this was the only size available for a PC case. A mid-tower PC remains the standard case size for performance desktop computing despite the smaller options available.

If you are building your first PC, a mid-tower is the easiest and most flexible type of case for putting together a computer. Cable management features like Velcro straps and routing channels help keep a build looking clean and well-ventilated.

Many mid-towers are inexpensive, no-frills PC cases. A pro system builder will always opt for a cheap computer case with good airflow features—two radiator vents and three or more case fans. Ventilation is the difference between a good case and a misfit, and some of the best cases for airflow are among the least expensive.

What are the best mid-ATX cases under $75 according to Newegg customer reviews? Good place to start looking are Corsair Carbide Series, Cooler Master HAF 912, and NZXT S340.

Gaming cases are not one particular size. PC cases for gaming come in all case form factors—ATX Full, ATX Mid, Micro ATX and Mini ATX.

Manufacturers refer to gaming cases’ radical aesthetic as having ‘aggressive looks’ -- bright colors and Picasso-esque angles pwning noobs. Others have glass panels or a sleek shape with a flat black finish. Be careful with tempered glass cases if you are serious about overclocking your PC; glass tends to trap heat more than metal and hard plastic.

If you’re going full-on gamer, check out motherboards with LED lights and light-up heatsinks and case fans to trick out your rig.

Why would someone assemble a PC in huge full tower ATX case? It can be 20 inches tall, a foot wide, and over 18 inches deep! Full towers are for over the top performance builds. Plenty of room for internal drive bays, dual video cards, and elaborate CPU liquid cooling systems.

Cooling all those components takes serious airflow. A full tower supports multiple oversize 140mm case fans —some even as large as 250mm! Full size builds commonly have five or more fans total inside the case.

An air cooling setup in any sized case isn’t all about pushing maximum cubic feet per minute (CPM) rating on the system; there’s a method to the mayhem. You have to install case fans for neutral pressure inside the PC case—that helps keep dust and dirt off your components. Balancing intake power with exhaust power by adding CPMs is the general rule, along with keeping the build as tidy as possible with the cabling.

Building your own home server media center? The HPTC case size needs to fit the scheme of your home theater setup.

First consider the motherboard and number of drives; having the correct HDMI inputs is paramount for a HPTC. Then, choose a case that fits the space and style:

• For a less noticeable HPTC pick a black case.
• A flat-laying computer case complements rack-mounted theater equipment.
• For a quieter build check out fanless computer cases. A dedicated media server does not need immense CPU/GPU power like a gaming PC so cooling is less of an issue.

Compact Cases

Small is beautiful if you have limited space. You can build a powerful PC in a case the size of a shoebox. As we discussed components compatibility in the “dimensions” tab, make sure to note the clearance height of Mini-ITX and SFF cases for the graphics card.

The role of a compact computer usually isn’t ultra-performance. Portability and space efficiency primarily drive the demand for compact computers. For instance, in a recent school computer lab refresh, the IT department fit doubled the number of computers in the lab using Intel NUC SFFs in place of mid-tower PCs. You can mount SFFs behind computer monitors for a DIY approach to an all-in-one computer.

Gamers on the go may opt to build a portable gaming PC in lieu of a gaming laptop. Achieving 1080p gaming at 30 frames per second is roughly half the price using this method. The tradeoff is ease of carrying the computer. It helps to reduce the cabling using Bluetooth input devices with the compact computer.