Most modern PC cases are designed to make building and upgrading a breeze. Not only that, you get a lot more for your money now, including RGB lighting and built-in fan controllers.
If you're thinking of upgrading your PC or making room for larger components, a gaming PC case should be your starting point.
To get you started, here are some of the best PC cases you can buy today.
The Cooler Master Cosmos C700M is packed full of features, offering a future-proof gaming PC case with its modular design and expandability.
Although the price tag is high, the excellent thermal performance, RGB lighting, and liquid cooling support definitely make it justifiable.
For those who have some experience with PC builds, the Cooler Master Cosmos C700M ticks the boxes for enthusiasts but may prove a challenge for beginners due to how the motherboard layout needs to be reconfigured.
- Multiple layouts
- Graphics card mounting (vertical and horizontal)
- Addressable RGB lighting
- Brand: Cooler Master
- Material: Tempered Glass, Aluminum
- Motherboard Size (Max.): Mini ITX, Micro ATX, ATX, E-ATX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.): 490mm (w/o 3.5-inch HDD BRK), 320mm (w/ 3.5-inch HDD BRK)
- 3.5" Drive Slots: 4 built-in plus a spare
- RGB Lighting: Yes
- Fan Controls: Yes
- Viewing Window: Yes
- Liquid cooling support
- Expandable
- Modular design
- Includes GPU riser
- Expensive
The Fractal Design Meshify 2 screams brilliance with its thoughtful design and superior interior, ideal for more advanced builds and high-end rigs.
Everything about this case is easy to work with, from the detachable front filter to the open and interchangeable design.
You can pack many components into this gaming PC case, making it a solid choice for high-end gaming or even as a server. Rather than providing an entirely new design, the Fractal Design Meshify 2 has refined what's already out there and made it excellent.
The real decision is whether you need the extra room it offers for cooling or hard drives.
- Detachable front filter
- Superlative storage
- Entire top can be removed
- Brand: Fractal Design
- Material: Steel
- Motherboard Size (Max.): E-ATX (max 285 mm)/ ATX / mATX / Mini-ITX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.): Storage layout: 315 mm Open layout: 491 mm (467 mm w/ front fan)
- 3.5" Drive Slots: 6 included, 14 positions total + 1 multibracket
- RGB Lighting: No
- Fan Controls: No
- Viewing Window: Yes
- Excellent interior
- Great cooling performance
- Easy to work with
- Too mayn features for smaller builds
The Phanteks Eclipse P300A is a solid gaming PC case for those new to building gaming PCs or looking for an affordable upgrade due to its easy-to-use and straightforward nature.
Considering the price, the airflow is excellent, offering an airflow-optimized design for less. However, the case only ships with one fan, so it's recommended to add another to cool the GPU.
Under load, the case does kick out a lot of noise, and there's no RGB included to balance out the unwanted sound with attractive lights. But, for beginners, this is an affordable mid-tower case with a lot of potential.
- Full-metal mesh front panel
- Magnetic dust cover
- Vertical GPU ready
- Brand: Phanteks
- Material: Steel Chassis, Tempered Glass Window
- Motherboard Size (Max.): ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX, E-ATX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.): 355mm
- 3.5" Drive Slots: Two
- RGB Lighting: No
- Fan Controls: No
- Viewing Window: Yes
- Very affordable
- Easy to work with
- Good airflow
- Loud under load
- Only includes one fan
The be quiet! Dark Base 700 is an ingenious gaming PC case that offers almost silent fans and excellent thermal performance.
Many people may initially look at this case and think it's just another tempered glass case, but it's so much more. The high-performance enclosure offers various solutions to store your components, like the PSU shroud and modular HDD slots.
If it's space you're after, you'll find this case a breeze to build with, keeping your gaming PC setup neat and tidy while enjoying the noise dampened vents. There's also room for up to seven additional fans.
- Modular HDD slots
- Silent Wings 3 fans
- Dual rail fan controller
- Brand: be quiet!
- Material: Tempered Glass
- Motherboard Size (Max.): E-ATX (30.5 x 27.5cm) / ATX / M-ATX / Mini-ITX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.): 286mm (11.2 inches)/430mm (16.9 inches with HD cage removed)
- 3.5" Drive Slots: 7
- RGB Lighting: Yes
- Fan Controls: Yes
- Viewing Window: Yes
- Embedded lighting
- Very low noise
- Aesthetically pleasing chassis
- Only two 140mm fans included
The Lian Li Lancool II Mesh RGB offers high-performance at a low cost, ideal for a new or upgraded gaming PC. In terms of building capability, this case is a breeze to work with, making it easy to simplify cable management through its thoughtful interior.
The case is somewhat basic to look at compared to other gaming PC cases and very heavy to move. However, it's built to last, and if you're not too fussed on design and an ultra-sleek look, the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh ticks all the boxes.
- Optimized airflow with mesh panels and honeycomb vents
- Built-in ARGB fans
- Brand: Lian Li
- Material: Tempered Glass
- Motherboard Size (Max.): E-ATX(width: under 280mm)/ATX/M-ATX/ITX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.): 384mm
- 3.5" Drive Slots: 3 x 3.5-inch HDD/2.5-inch SSD
- RGB Lighting: Yes
- Fan Controls: Yes
- Viewing Window: Yes
- Affordable
- Three included fans
- Brilliant cable management
- USB-C costs extra
The Fractal Design Define 7 gaming PC case has a dual-layout interior with a vented top panel, allowing for open or extra storage. This case offers a robust set of features for performance enthusiasts, making it great value for money.
Although it doesn't offer RGB lighting, which can often sway a PC case purchase, it does provide generous space for large motherboards, so it ticks the boxes for being future-proof.
The superlative storage means you can install up to 14 HDDs with four dedicated SSDs mounts alongside it. The case also comes with five front USB ports, which include USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C with fast charging.
- Tempered glass window
- Multibracket
- Integrated cable guides with Velcro
- Open layout
- Brand: Fractal Design
- Material: Industrial sound-damped steel
- Motherboard Size (Max.): E-ATX (max 285 mm)
- Graphics Card Size (Max.): Storage layout: 315 mm - Open layout: 491 mm (467 mm w/ front fan)
- 3.5" Drive Slots: 6 included, 14 positions total
- RGB Lighting: No
- Fan Controls: No
- Viewing Window: None
- Great thermal performance
- Low noise and water cooling support
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
- No RGB lighting
The Cooler Master Silencio S600 offers a sleek and minimalist design for less. As the name suggests, this gaming PC case boasts quiet operation by leveraging sound dampening sheets and a damped front panel door.
Although it offers reduced noise, the case doesn't provide the best thermal performance meaning temperatures may spike if you push your components too far.
Perhaps you're after a budget gaming PC case with reliable build quality and interchangeable features like the reversible front door and optional tempered glass side panel. In that case, the Cooler Master Silencio S600 is hard to say no to.
- Sound dampening material
- Reversible steel door
- Option for tempered glass side panel
- Brand: Cooler Master
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Motherboard Size (Max.): Mini ITX, Micro ATX, ATX
- Graphics Card Size (Max.): 398mm
- 3.5" Drive Slots: 4
- RGB Lighting: No
- Fan Controls: No
- Viewing Window: No
- SD card slot
- Great build quality
- Quiet operation
- No USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
- Thermal performance isn't the best
FAQ
Q: Is One Fan Enough for a Gaming PC?
Not really. Although many modern gaming PC cases offer decent airflow and cooling systems, one fan isn't enough to keep all of your components cool, especially when under load. If your graphics card has fans, it's still recommended to have at least two fans for your gaming PC case.
Q: How Do I Choose a Gaming PC Case?
You'll need to weigh up your requirements and assess your experience in building gaming PCs. Some cases make building or upgrading your gaming PC a breeze, offering easy and tidy cable management. Some cases can be more complicated to build with as they provide a lot more flexibility and can be overwhelming for beginners.
You'll need to design what you want to use your gaming PC case for; high-end and high-performance games will require more airflow and cooling and may even need more room for larger GPUs.
Q: Why Do PC Cases Have No Optical Drive?
Most modern PC cases won't include an optical drive slot as optical discs are far less common than they use to be. It's much simpler to download files onto flash drives, which are more accessible. However, that's not to say that PC cases don't have optical drives as many still do, or they have the option to include one if you prefer.
Q: Are PC Cases Repairable?
PC cases tend to be more flexible and versatile than they once were, meaning PC case parts can be interchangeable or even replaced if something breaks. For example, if a tempered glass panel is damaged, it's relatively easy to find a replacement and fit it yourself.
However, due to how quickly PC component technology is evolving, it's often more economical to purchase an entirely new PC case to house your new components.
This is because components can differ in size, and PC cases need to be sufficient in several areas to ensure your computer's smooth running, like cooling or room for expansion, for example.
