Best PC Cases in 2021

Table of Contents

Picking your case is one of the most exciting parts for PC builders; it’s the house for all your precious components, but more importantly, it’s the one thing everyone sees.

It’s like the avatar of the hardware world; people look at it and go, oh you’re that kind of user…

And there are so many options! To help you secure the best option at the best price possible, we put together this list of the best PC cases 2020 has to offer.

 

What Makes a Good PC Case?

Aesthetics

You’re going to spend a lot of time looking at this case, so you want to pick something that really appeals.

Do you want something small and compact to show off your building skills, or would you prefer to intimidate other gamers with a beast of a tower and tons of RGB?

Perhaps you just want a clean design with subtle RGB instead. Color, shape, and glass or acrylic panels are other things to consider.

Size

Your motherboard should roughly determine the size of PC case you need, so hopefully, you’ve already got your motherboard sorted, or know which type you want to get

The most common motherboard sizes are, from largest to smallest: ATX, mini-ATX, or micro-ITX. ATX is the most common.

Really small cases are harder to build in, so novices might want to stay away. Airflow is also more restricted. You also might want to upgrade to bigger components in the future.

On the other hand, you probably don’t need a huge tower nowadays, since things like storage and coolers are getting smaller, and multi-card setups aren’t so popular. The truly huge towers are waning in popularity, and lines are being blurred between full and mid towers.

Compatibility

It’s a pain, but you need to go through the specs, mainly to make sure everything’s going to fit comfortably.

First look at the number and size of the bays, which tend to be 2.5 or 3.5-inches. 5.25-inch bays are getting rare, so be careful if you have an optical drive. Check it’s got all the front-facing ports you need.

For cooling, check how many fans, if any, are included, and how easy you can replace them; 200mm ones are less common. Also, do they have removable filters to collect all the dust?

If you’re planning on using an additional air cooler, check the maximum cooler clearance in the specs. If you’re using liquid cooling, check the specs for the size of the radiator(s), both height and thickness.

Finally, check that the case can comfortably fit the length of your GPU, and even the length of your power supply. And remember that the case will need to use some power, especially if there’s lighting, so check your supply has enough.

 

How We Choose PC Cases

Features and Performance

You can’t tell everything from the specs with cases. How easy and practical is the case to install everything, really? Are there any weird positioning issues, and how practical is cable routing? Without test builds, you can’t really know.

Purpose

We always bear the user purpose in mind, instead of just going for the highest specs.

Value for money

PC cases vary wildly in price, so don’t spend more than you need. And the most important question is, can you get more for your money elsewhere?

 

Best Overall PC Case

NZXT H710i

>>View Price Here<<

Image source: NZXT

Form Factor: Mid tower

Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX and EATX (up to 272mm)

Dimensions: W: 230mm H: 516mm D: 494mm

Weight: 12.3 kg

Radiator Support: Front: 2 x 140mm or 3 x 120mm with Push/Pull, Top: 2 x 140mm or 3 x 120mm, Rear: 1 x 120mm or 1 x 140mm

I/O Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2, 1 x Audio/Mic

Drive Bays: 2.5”: 7, 3.5”: 2+2

PROS

  • PCle riser included
  • 4 120mm fans
  • Easy cable routing

CONS

  • HDD space not the best

This mid-sized tower is a great all-rounder for a superb price, making it the no-brainer choice for the average PC enthusiast.

The clearance inside of the chassis is excellent, with plenty of drive space, and there are several small innovative designs that make installation easy.

Cable routing is a cinch compared to most competitors of this price, with a large stylish cable slat that hides your cables, and velcro straps. This replaces the traditional grommets, and you can move this slat around or even remove it if you wish.

The glass panel is secure but easy to remove, and there’s even a metal edge to avoid fingerprints. The rear side panel is also easy and is removed by pressing a button.

It’s got a clean, premium look including the popular glass side panel, but also comes with some RGB lighting around the glass panel.

You can control this via a sophisticated ‘smart’ hub, as well as the fan speeds. It even calibrates noise and temperature using an internal microphone.

In-built cooling is excellent, with a whopping 4 120mm fans, and ample airflow through the lines of ventilation running around the edges of all sides. And installing new fans, either air or liquid is easy, as it also includes a 360mm top-mounted radiator bracket that you can remove.

It’s a definite upgrade on its excellent predecessor, the 700i, with a front panel USB-C port, and a PCle riser so you can vertically mount your GPU.

Honorable Mentions: 

Fractal Design Define 7 – a close contender that is slightly cheaper, but only 3 fans and no RGB.

 

Best Bang for the Buck PC Case

Corsair Carbide 275R

>>View Price Here<<

Image source: Corsair

Form Factor: Mid tower

Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX

Dimensions: 460mm x 211mm x 455mm

Weight: 10.14 kg

Radiator Support: 120mm; 140mm; 240mm; 280mm; 360mm

I/O Ports: 1 x Audio/Mic, 2 x USB 3.0

Drive Bays: 2.5”: 3 3.5”: 2

PROS

  • Cheap
  • Easy to install components
  • Quiet

CONS

  • Fans might not be sufficient
  • No PCle riser

This model is an improvement on its predecessor the 270R, another popular budget favorite.

It’s no-frills, but the build is quality, installation is easy, and the interior is roomy, and can fit many standard size products.

The design is basic but doesn’t look cheap, opting for a clean, minimal style and a nice glass panel on the left side.

There’s a black or white option, and instead of glass you can also opt for an even cheaper acrylic option.  These panels are attached by proper skews, rather than thumbscrews, a nice touch.

A magnetic metal mesh filter takes up most of the top panel for airflow, and the front panel is brushed with aluminium and skips on the RGB lighting. There’s just one LED light to make the front of the chassis glow.

Installing your components is easy due to the large space and positioning, and removable HDD cage. There’s ample room behind the motherboard tray for your 2.5” drives and cables, lots of places to tie them, and it even comes with 6 zip strips to help you. The dust filters in the front and under the PSU are also easy to change.

There are only 2 120mm fans included, and airflow is a bit restricted, but it can fit 6 120mm fans and a giant 360mm radiator. It can also fit 370mm graphic cards (although this may be limited if you use a radiator in the front), and the PSU can be up to 180mm since the HDD cage is removable.

It’s extremely quiet with just the included fans.

It’s a shame no PCle riser is included, even though there’s a vertical GPU mounting location.

Honorable Mentions: 

Fractal Design Define R6 – quite a bit more expensive, but comes with 3 fans, and better liquid cooling capability.

Antec P110 Luce – very similar to the 275R, but slightly more expensive.

 

Five More Strong PC Cases

NZXT H400i

>>View Price Here<<

Image source: NZXT

Type: Mini Tower

Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX

Card Length Supported: 411mm (16.2 inches)

Storage Support: (1) 3.5″, (4) 2.5″

Included Fans: (3) 120mm

PROS

  • Looks great
  • Excellent cooling capacity
  • Easy to build

CONS

  • Fans slightly noisy at full speed
  • No front-panel USB-C ports

If your heart is set on a smaller rig, this is definitely the one to go for. 

The case gets full points for aesthetics, with a gorgeous tempered glass and steel design and 4 options to add a stylish color trim: matte black, black/red, black/blue, and black/white.

Cooling is more than adequate straight out-of-the-box. There’s 3 120mm fans included already (2 in the front and 1 in the rear). This keeps it much cooler than most competitors. However, on the flipside all those fans means things can get slightly loud at full speed. It’s still quieter than the larger H200i, though.

However, you can add up to 5: 2 140mm in the front, 2 at the top, and a 120mm in the rear.

And if you want to go liquid, you can pack a 280mm radiator in front and a 120mm in the back. All bases are covered here.

Airflow is stellar as well, with tons of perforated holes on every side.

There’s 1 RGB strip included along the top of the case. However, the H400i comes with a 2nd strip and extension cable for you to place wherever you like.

And the NZXT’s nifty Smart Device can control up to 4 RGB strips, so you can add more RGB if you wish. It can also control speeds for up to 5 fans.

Cable management is always tough at this size, but NZXT helps as much as it can with a metal bar running from top to bottom

Alas, some sacrifices must be made for size, and there’s no USB-C port on the front-panel, and also no USB 2.0 ports either. Just 2 USB 3.0 ports and standard audio jacks.

There’s also only one 3.5” drive, but up to four 2.5” drives, so bear this in mind.

 

Honorable Mentions: 

Lian Li PC-Q10 – slightly cheaper, but not as efficient.

 

NZXT H1

>>View Price Here<<

Image source: NZXT

Type: Ultra Compact Desktop

Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX

Card Length Supported: 305mm (12.01 inches)

Storage Support: (2) 2.5″

Included Fans: (1) 140mm

PROS

  • Comes with power supply and liquid cooling
  • Supports most GPUs
  • Ease of build

CONS

  • Can’t install additional fans
  • Supports only mITX motherboards

The H1 is a great mini-ITX case that comes pre-packaged as much as possible to reduce build time and cable management.

It also supports most GPUs despite its size, so despite its size, it could be a gamer’s dream.

Amazingly it comes with its own 140mm liquid cooler, which is also pre-installed and thermal performance is excellent. The only downside to this is you can’t install any additional fans.

It even comes with a 650w power supply, a PCIe riser, and a headphone/mic splitter.

Cable management, a potential nightmare in such a small chassis, is made simple by being already routed through the case.

It’s a monolith in style, solid metal except for the glass front panel. However, it’s hard to see inside the glass unless you have some lighting inside. Both side panels are open mesh, allowing excellent airflow throughout.

The top panel has one USB-C, one USB-A, an audio jack and a power switch. We’re also pleased to see the inclusion of a USB-C.

Honorable Mentions: 

NZXT H200i – another excellent option from NZXT. It’s cheaper and comes with a smart hub and RGB lighting. However, there’s poorer airflow and no cooler/power supply included.

 

Corsair Obsidian 1000D

>>View Price Here<<

Image source: Corsair

Form factor: Full-tower

Dimensions: 693 x 307 x 697mm (L x W x H; 27.3 x 12.1 x 27.4 inches)

Mobo compatibility: Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX, E-ATX (12 x 11 inches)

PSU support: Bottom mount

I/O: USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C x 2, USB 3.0 x 4, fan speed and RGB control buttons, audio in/out

PROS

  • Crazy cooling capacity
  • Incredibly modular
  • Dual-system

CONS

  • Expensive
  • Big/heavy

This monster of a case is for the most extreme of enthusiasts who brook no compromise.

It’s a high-end dual-system full-tower ATX case, meaning you can actually big two separate rigs in here – imagine, the perfect gaming rig and streaming rig together in one big case.

It’s got massive cooling potential, with room for thirteen 120/140mm fans (eight front, three top, two rear). Or, if you prefer liquid cooling, which you probably do at this price, it can house up to four radiators: two 480mm on the front, one 360mm at the top, and a 280mm at the back.

The top and front fan mounts are easy to install, with rails to slide them in and out.

Made of steel and aluminum, it’s extremely aesthetic, featuring tempered glass on the front and side panels.

Each system has its own RGB-lit front-panel with one USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C.

Storage capacity is crazy, with five 3.5” and size 2.5” bays.

It’s compatible for both EATX and Mini-ITX motherboards.

We also really like the french-style doors on the side panel for ease of build and hiding all your cables.

Of course, it comes with its own smart hub, a Commander Pro which works with Corsair RGB light strips and LED fans.

Honorable Mentions:

Phanteks Enthoo Evolv X – there’s no real direct competitor of the 1000D, but Phanteks offers a dual-system in a smaller mid-tower case.

 

Corsair Crystal 680X

Image source: Corsair

Form factor: Mid tower

Motherboard Support: ATX, M-ATX, mini-ITX

Dimensions: 23mm x 344mm x 505mm

Weight: 11.58kg

Radiator Support: 120mm, 140mm, 240mm, 280mm, 360mm

I/O Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x HD audio/Mic, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C

Drive bays: 2.5″: 7 3.5″: 3

PROS

  • Great aesthetics
  • Dual-chamber design
  • Impressive storage

CONS

  • No PCIe riser

 

This is our pick for a premium mid-tower case, packed with features and a quality build.

This slightly unusual-looking case is made of two-thirds tempered glass, and one thirds steel. It comes in black or white. Tinted tempered glass is elevated above large airflow openings.

It has a dual-chamber design, which means heat-generating components are kept separate from the cooler components (PSU and hard drives).

Cooling is impressive, with 3 included fans, and the 680X can fit either eight more at 120mm size or seven at 140mm size.

It features a USB Type-C slot at the front, along with a pair of USB 3.0 ports.

GPUs can be up to 330mm and these can be mounted vertically, although a riser isn’t included.

Storage is flexible, with room for three 3.5” hard drives and four 2.5” SSDs.

You don’t have to worry about the size of your PSU either, as this can fit one up to 225mm.

Installation is easy, with magnetic latches at the front and hinges on the glass side panel.

Honorable Mentions: 

Lian Li Lancool One – slightly cheaper, but less quality of build

Cooler Master Silencio S400

Image source: Cooler Master

Type: Mini Tower

Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX

Card Length Supported: 319mm (12.56 inches)

Storage Support: (4) 3.5″, (4) 2.5″

Included Fans: (3) 120mm

PROS

  • Affordable
  • Extremely quiet
  • Good build quality

CONS

  • No Type-C
  • Not the best at cooling

The Silencio S400 is a great budget MicroATX option for those who want a smaller build without breaking the bank. It’s got some pretty unique features.

One is the big focus on silence, hence the name. It went through extensive noise testing during the design process, and sound dampening material, like foam and vinyl, has subsequently been put in all the right places.

This includes a sound-damping vent cover on the top panel, although this can be removed for better ventilation. Overall, it was near silent in testing.

There’s two USB 3.0 ports on the front panel, but no Type-C sadly.

You can install up to 5 120mm fans, which isn’t bad at all. You’ll probably need this, as cooling with just the installed fans definitely isn’t as good as competitors, peaking at 66°C in one test.

Unusually, there’s a 5.25” bay for an optical drive.

Power supplies up to 220mm can easily be installed.

And you can actually open the case via a swing-door on the front panel.

Honorable Mentions: 

Antec P101 Silent – has a similar price and offering.

Which PC Case Should I Buy?

Our pick for the best all-rounder goes to NZXT H710i. It’s got a great mid-range price, and it’s mid-tower size and ease of installation makes it perfect for most.

If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, the Corsair Crystal 680X is a premium mid-tower with a nice dual-chamber design.

Users on a budget might want to try the affordable mid-tower Corsair Carbide 275R.

But if you want to go all-out and all-big, the Corsair Obsidian 1000D is the top dog in the PC case world, a full-tower with a dual-system for 2 separate rigs under one roof.

For those who want a small footprint, NZXT H400i is the best Micro-ITX case, or if you’re on a budget, the Cooler Master Silencio S400.

And finally the smallest of all, NZXT H1 makes for a truly excellent mini-ITX case.

Silent PC Review is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More