Best Cases

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There's far more to consider than attractive looks when choosing a case. Good airflow is key when it comes to keeping your components cool, and noise levels can be affected by everything from the number and type of fans you use, to the shape of the fan mounts. We've tested an abundance of cases over the years, and have prepared this awards showcase as a quick summary of our favorite models.

DIYPC DIY-TG8-BR (ATX)

DIYPC styled this steel PC case with three red LED fans and red highlights in several locations. Promo Code: EMCPWES27.

Was $99.98. Is Now $34.99. See details on Newegg
Corsair Carbide SPEC-05 (ATX)

Corsair's Carbide SPEC-05 case is a fairly inexpensive solution that comes with a single 120mm fan. It also comes with one free Corsair AF120 fan with purchase.

Was $59.99. Is Now $26.99. See details on Newegg

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Best PC Cases

March 12th Update: added the Riotoro CR500 (earned a 2018 Editors’ Choice award), the Silverstone Redline Series RL06 and FSP CMT510, and removed several older cases.

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Extended ATX cases are required to handle motherboards up to 13" deep (front-to-back). Though such motherboards still fit within the 12" north-to-south confines of ATX, many of these cases are also compatible with the eight-slot XL-ATX form factor.

Bigger isn't always better, as many builders don't actually need a bunch of drive bays or slots to hold all their equipment. Mini-ITX fits the performance of a standard tower into compact spaces such as home theaters and small desks, and some of these compact units even have carrying handles for easy transport to gaming events (LAN parties).

Smaller motherboards can always be installed in larger cases - e.g. Mini-ITX simply utilizes four of the mounting holes from the standard ATX specification. Yet the reverse is sometimes also true, as many ATX cases are designed to hold so-called “oversized ATX” motherboards. Often mislabeled as E-ATX, these motherboards technically fall short of the actual 12" x 13" Extended ATX specification. Therefore, we recommend that prospective buyers of any “oversized ATX" motherboards look at the photos, descriptions and measurements of any ATX case before making a purchase.

Best XL/EATX Cases

Rosewill Nighthawk 117

Pros
  • Six USB ports
  • Eight drive cages
  • Three front bays
  • Top-loading drive dock
  • A full list of traditional features
Cons
  • Room for only one long radiator, at 2x140mm or 2x120mm
Verdict

Naysayers from the circle of big-liquid fanatics will be the Nighthawk 117's biggest challenge in the enthusiast market, followed by those who don't like lights and those who don't like windows. But if you're looking for the widest array of well-priced features in a mid-sized full tower that has both lights and a side window, the Nighthawk 117 appears to be an unbeatable value.

$149.99Amazon

Thermaltake View 71 TG

Pros
  • Exceptionally low temperatures among glass-paneled cases
  • Eight standard expansion slots
  • Additional double-slot supported by optional riser cable
  • Supports triple-fan radiators on top and front
  • Effective dust filter placement on top, front, and bottom
  • Hinged side panels help prevent dropped glass
Cons
  • Top and front filters are a pain to install
  • Bottom filter is rear-only accessible
  • Minor flaws in panel peg placement and threading
  • Weighs 42 pounds empty
Verdict

The View 71 from Thermaltake offers unrivaled performance among glass-paneled cases, for users with the strength to lift it, the money to pay for it, and the patience to deal with its minor manufacturing flaws.

$149.99Amazon

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Best XL-ATX Cases

Corsair Carbide Series Air 740

Pros
  • Powerful stock cooling
  • Supports three large radiators
  • Quick SSD mounts
  • Enough room for EATX motherboards
Cons
  • Somewhat noisy
  • No bottom air filter
  • Flimsy right-side panel
Verdict

The Carbide Air 740 is an unusual find for builders who want to mount three large radiators. Other buyers will want to compare its features and price to other designs before making their purchase decisions.

$149.99Newegg

Corsair Carbide Clear 600C

Pros
  • Quiet design
  • Great finish
  • Concealed double 5.25" drive bays
  • Space for two large radiators
  • Eight expansion slots
  • Screw-free SSD and HDD installation
  • Compact 18.3" depth
Cons
  • Somewhat costly
  • Front-panel 2x 140mm radiator installation may require the removal of one (of only two) 3.5" bays
Verdict

Corsair's Carbide Clear 600C provides great looks and noise reduction for buyers who want to fit two large radiators and up to four graphics cards within a compact 18.3" depth.

$149.99Amazon

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Best EATX Cases

Cooler Master MasterBox 5

Pros
  • Low cost
  • Good cooling performance
  • Good acoustic performance
  • Room for oversized motherboards
Cons
  • Few feature enhancements
  • Few drive bays
  • Lacks an eighth expansion slot
Verdict

The MasterBox 5 from Cooler Master provides the best performance value we’ve seen in over a year.

$69.99Newegg

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Best ATX Cases

BitFenix Aurora

Pros
  • Lowest-priced case to include tempered-glass side panels
  • Great manufacturing quality
  • Four USB Ports
  • Integrated SSD Lighting Controller
  • Supports dual two-by-140mm radiators
Cons
  • Not enough included fans for mainstream air-cooled configurations
  • Built-in front-panel dust filter will require frequent compressed-air cleaning
Verdict

Poor dust filter design and a paucity of included fans justify the Bitfenix Aurora’s exceptional price. Buyers who were planning to add their own fans will still find a glass-paneled case bargain, as long as they can tolerate the dust filter inconveniences.

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BitFenix Pandora

Pros
  • Room for two 3x 120mm radiators
  • user-configurable front-panel logo display
Cons
  • No fan hub (Riotoro) or manual controller (Corsair)
Verdict

Fitted with a unique configurable logo panel, the Pandora ATX’s value rises from mediocre to above-average for builders who need space for two large radiators.

$149.00Amazon

Cooler Master MasterCase 5

Pros
  • High quality materials
  • modular interior
  • secondary 2x 120mm radiator mount on front
  • strong carrying handles
Cons
  • Primary (top panel) radiator mount, which is standard on the Pro 5, must be purchased separately for the lower-model MasterCase 5
  • Designed for radiators, the mesh front panel lets too much noise escape from fan-cooled internal components
  • Both version lack an eighth expansion slot to support bottom-slot graphics cards.
Verdict

The MasterCase 5 is a great case for liquid-cooled system builders who want the flexibility to place additional components, such as reservoirs and pumps, more conveniently. Users who want to add a top-panel radiator can choose between purchasing the upgrade or buying the MasterCase Pro 5.

$108.83Amazon

Fractal Design Define C

Pros
  • Radiator support
  • Price
  • Front pull-filter for bottom panel inlets
  • Noise-damped pop-out top cover with included magnetic mesh replacement
  • Small size
Cons
  • Included fans provide mediocre performance
Verdict

Kudos to Fractal Design for fitting two large radiator mounts within the relatively small dimensions of its Define-C. Had it been just a little cheaper or included just one more fan, it may have won a higher-level award.

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Fractal Design Define S

Pros
  • Thick, well-fitting steel panels
  • five hidden drive trays
  • support for two triple-fan radiators
  • superbly low price
Cons
  • No eighth expansion slot
  • no space for oversized motherboards
Verdict

The Define S is solid and attractive enough to hold an “Ultimate Liquid Cooling” build. Unfortunately, it’s not designed to hold “Ultimate Performance” parts such as 10.5” to 10.7” deep motherboards or four-way SLI that might need an “Ultimate Liquid Cooling” configuration. “Extreme” builders able to live within the confines of standard ATX and seven expansion slots will find equally extreme value in its low $70 price.

$99.99Newegg

Fractal Design Meshify C

Pros
  • Simultaneous support of triple-fan radiator on front and dual-fan radiator on top
  • Front, top, and bottom fan filters
  • Front removal of bottom panel filter
  • Good overall performance
Cons
  • Doesn’t support 10.6”-deep “Enthusiast” oversized motherboards
  • Triple-fan radiator installation requires removal of 3.5” drive cage
  • Comparative value stalemate
Verdict

The Meshify C provides glass-sided-case buyers good quality and enhanced liquid cooling support at a comparatively average price.

$89.99Newegg

FSP CMT510

Pros
  • Very quiet
  • Good thermal performance
  • Triple tempered-glass side panels
  • Includes four 120mm LED fans
  • Aggressive price
Cons
  • Front glass is easy to drop
  • Cheap filters
  • Fingerprint magnet