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Choose the Best Case for Your Play PC

Beginner's Guide to Electronic computer Case Sizes, Compatibility, and Features to Know (FAQ)

Cases motley greatly in their quality, features, and airflow


Finale Updated: November 19, 2022

Computing machine cases move into all shapes and sizes, from little Miniskirt ITX boxes you fire fit along your lollygag elbow room TV tolerate, clear to heavy heavy towers that could probably house a dozen GPUs. In that location's also a smashing variety of varied styles out at that place, from low-key slumberer evil boxes to RGB-covered centerpieces that buy the limelight in any dimly light room. PC cases also motley in their quality, air flow electric potential, and tractability in terms of what you force out and cannot install inside. Let's go finished all the basic principle you need to know when choosing the right case for your next usage play PC.

Escort Besides: Choosing the Best CPU for Gaming/VR


Different PC Case Sizes (mITX vs mATX vs Mid vs Pear-shaped Towers)

The first affair to know near choosing a compatible PC case for your build is that your case moldiness be compatible with the motherboard you select . Motherboards interpose different sizes, technically called its 'fles broker'. The most common form factor is ATX, which is a regular sized motherboard if you will. And then you have Micro ATX (mATX), which is a bit smaller than ATX. Miniskirt ITX (mITX) is even littler than mATX. Along the other end of the spectrum you accept Extensive ATX (E-ATX), which is a wider/fatter version of ATX.

So, if you take over an ATX motherboard, which is the most common size, then you must choose a case that supports an ATX motherboard (any Mid Tower or Full Tugboat). mITX motherboards can simply be installed in mITX cases. mATX motherboards put up be installed in mATX cases, only also in some regular ATX cases too (called a Mid Tower). E-ATX motherboards only fit in certain Full Tower cases.

Don't worry if you're confused, As it's quite simple once you capture the hang of it. Basically, altogether you need to lie with is in that respect are 4 common motherboard sizes (mITX, mATX, ATX, E-ATX), and 4 standard case sizes:

  • Mini ITX Tower (supports mITX motherboards)
  • Mini Tower (supports mATX motherboards)
  • Mid Tower (supports ATX and sometimes also mATX motherboards)
  • Full Tugboat (supports ATX and sometimes also E-ATX motherboards)

Coarse Comparison of Mini ITX, Mini Tower, Middle Tower, and Full Towboa cases (not precisely to scale)

Most populate construction a gaming Microcomputer choose a Mid Tower case, as it's non too hulky but not too small. Mid Towers also have the largest range in footing of models to choose from. Only if you'Ra lacking space - peradventure you have a miniscule desk and don't want a big tugboat taking up a lot of room - acquiring a Mini Tower is fairly common. They're as wel typically cheaper than Middle Tower cases, so can be a good option for those on a tight budget (though on that point are as wel premium Mini Tower options stunned there).

Just do not confuse Miniskirt Tower cases and Miniskirt ITX cases. Mini ITX cases are a bit less common, A some of them are and so small and compact that it makes portion compatibility quite special (far to a lesser extent options), as symptomless as making installation and maintenance a trifle more difficult too. Mini ITX cases not sole require a mITX motherboard, simply potentially as wel a special SFF (Small Pattern Factor) power supply, and you North Korean won't exist healthy to fit a large graphics carte du jour. Your future upgrade options volition also be modified. Plus, in small cramped spaces where components don't have a lot elbow room to "breathe", airflow can be poor, possibly leading to higher temperatures and/or a louder PC.

If you understand the limitations, and are willing to do superfluous search on choosing the right compatible parts, Mini ITX cases can comprise great for session happening your TV cabinet if you're into lounge gaming with your PC (or for PC VR). I don't recommend them for most first-time PC builders though, as it's in the main a wad simpler and easier to function with a Mini Tower if you want to lay aside space (they're not as small, but still compact enough for to the highest degree people wanting a smaller case).

Then there's Full Towers, which are the largest cases along the market, but loosely unnecessary for most people unless you'ray collection a system with a ton of components such as a wheel of a dozen granitic drives, a amply fleshed out water system cooled gaming PC, quadruplicate optical drives, surgery if installing an supererogatory large graphics card. Full Tower cases tail end besides embody easier to do line management. Simply unless you know that you demand a Full Hul case you should probably just stick to a Mid Tower (or Mini Predominate if you're tight happening space), as there are umpteen that have plenty of room to work with.



How to Choose a Case with Corking Airflow

Since modern gaming is strenuous software system that demands a lot from PC computer hardware (mostly your artwork card and CPU), the airflow of your PC build is an important consideration. The more powerful your PC, the to a greater extent important of a consideration it becomes. Internal components such as your CPU tank plays a key role in how hard-hitting airflow bequeath be inside your scheme, simply your choice of estimator case is a big factor as well. Specifically, the design of the case, and whether or not it encourages rich movement of air from outside the case, done the inside, and out the back.

This flow of air from the front to the back of the Personal computer is the most common air flow configuration, but keep in mind some cases work in other ways so much as from the back or as to the front or top (though less common). Knowing if a subject is well designed for effective airflow is a matter of reading trusted expert reviews such as Gamer's Link simply to public figure one (World Health Organization do a great chore reviewing cases for airflow, but also for haphazardness and whole quality/features). You'll find that most of the best airflow cases feature a mesh front panel, instead of a solid panel (which allows the front fans more easily get gentle wind in from outside the eccentric).

The front mesh panel of the Corsair 275R Airflow (pictured flop) allows for break cooling than the standard 275R (larboard) with its solid front line panel

Just some other pivotal feature to look for when choosing a good case for air flow is the add up, size, and calibre of the fans included with the type. You can almost alwaysadd additional fans to a PC case though, so if a particular encase doesn't go with enough fans out the box, or if those fans are of double-bass or average quality, that doesn't immediately rule out aforesaid case as a good option. The specs of a case will always leaning how many and which size fans you bum add connected.



How Many Fans Does a Gaming PC Case Motive?

Not everyone can be daunted buying and instalmen extra fans in their PC - the contraption of having a nice set of pre-installed fans in a case is always discriminate. If that sounds the likes of you, operating theatre if you are interested in adding fans to your casing but are provision how many you take, this section is for you.

Generally, most cheap or mid-tier sort of computer cases will send with 1 OR 2 pre-installed fans. Upper middle-tier up and high-end cases can come with 3, 4, or steady more in much instances. But do how many fans do you need? On that point's no single one size fits all answer, and it depends happening how powerful your gaming PC is, how many of your internal components could use about extra bare blowing their way, whether your case is well designed for air flow in the first shoes, how hot your elbow room is, and so on.

But to paint a very broad brush here to give you a general overview, for most budget to mid-range play PC builds, you are likely to be fine with just 2 fans - 1 in the front (sucking cool air in) and 1 in the back (blowing the air out). For more high-end gaming PC builds, you'll want to consider 3 fans as a minimum (typically 2 in the front, and 1 in the back). Anything much 3 fans is either a luxury, only required for very powerful high-close machines that need every extra bit of cooling they bathroom get, or something people do if they want a net ton of RGB fans.



Other Things to Look for When Choosing a PC Case

Let's go over any other features and spectacles to be aware of when pick the right case for your gaming PC.

  • Style: Many cases have a vaporous side jury (often made of tempered surgery acrylic resin glass) that shows off your internal components. If you neediness to constitute healthy to see into your instance, you plain need to choose ace that has a windowpane wish this, but if your Personal computer will live under your desk it's not a have that matters, and you may be able to lay aside a trifle money by choosing a case with a cubic side panel design (closed conception).
  • Look Venire USB Ports: Cases come with varying amounts of front-facing USB ports for easy access (found on either the front or the top of the case). If you postulate a certain come of front USB ports, and/or if they need to be USB 3 (or USB-C), don't forget to check the case specs. OH, and if your case has a USB C port on the front panel, you indigence to choose a motherboard  that has a USB-C figurehead header (not to be confused with rear USB-C connections connected a motherboard).

The foremost panel of the Meshify C, featuring 2x USB 3.0 ports


  • Optical Drive Bays:If you'ray installment an optical drive in (DVD operating theater Blu-ray push on), you volition deman a case that has a 5.25 inch tug bay. Not entirely cases come with one, as these years modality drives are optional when construction a PC (since everything is digital nowadays).
  • SSD/HDD Drive Bays: Cases come with varying amounts of entrepot bays/slots. Thither are 2.5 edge bays for holding SSDs (Solid Country Drives) and 3.5 inch bays for HDDs (older, longstanding Hard Phonograph record Drives). Any half-decent forward-looking showcase should have enough of either for your necessarily, but if you're instalmen a high sum of money of storage drives than check the case eyeglasses. Keep in creative thinker some cases have SSD slots hidden behind the motherboard tray area.
  • Tool-inferior Design: You'll notice some cases list something along the lines of "tool-less innovation" in their product specs, which only means that you don't need a screwdriver in order to remove and Re-attach the side panels and can you can brawl so simply with past using the included thumb screws with just your workforce (the case's depot bays mays also let a tool-less design too). This isn't a must-have characteristic but it is handy for quicker and easier assembly (and maintenance).
  • Cable Management:One factor that may equal important to you when choosing a good Microcomputer case (dependent on how untold you care about keeping your build pleasant and well-kept) is determination out from reviews whether a encase is well-heeled to execute cable management with. Cases that are easier to work with than others when it comes to managing cables will have plenty of holes on the case's motherboard tray to feed cables through with when wiring functioning your system, as well every bit space behind the motherboard tray (or elsewhere inside the case) where you can neatly gather cables away from sight. Some cases go the extra mile and provide pre-attached Velcro straps that make bundling cables put together quick and cushy (instead of having to add straps or twist/cable ties yourself). Along the other end of the spectrum, a case that is bad for cable management will typically have little to no extra room hind end the motherboard tray and/or little to no holes on the tray itself for feeding cables.
  • Subject Incarnate: The actual material your lawsuit is ready-made of affects the total durability and quality, as well as its voltage for cooling your system. Cheaper cases be given to be made of plastic which ISN't all that long-lived for the long draw, but happening a tight budget it might be your only alternative. Higher quality cases are made of metals such every bit aluminum or steel, which are overmuch amended for lastingness. You can incu out which materials a pillow slip is successful of within its spec sheet.
  • Dust Filters: Much cases stimulate a dismissible dust filter or ii, which helps to catch dust from entering your system (dust build-leading is not good and will lessen flow of air effectiveness all over time). This is handy if your PC lives in a dusty environment, or if you make a cat or 2 snooping around as I do right now. The downside is that dust filters can limit airflow a wee, though if you clean them often IT shouldn't be a problem (run them low water and let them dry every few weeks or months depending along your usage levels). Overall, dust filters are not absolutely all-important, but a handy bonus to have.

One of the 3 ready to hand dust filters on the Meshify C


FAQ

How Much Should You Expend on a Personal computer Case?

If you want to be American Samoa cost-efficient as possible and wear't care to get the fanciest looking at case with luxury features so much as assembled-in RGB fans and high-lineament tras panels, you can find plenty of good cheap cases desirable for most middle-orbit gambling PCs between the $50 and $80 range (United States Dollars). For high-remnant gaming builds sporting powerful components that require the best flow of air setup, you nates find many great options between the $80 to $120 mark. Spending anything more than that on a computer case is unessential (overkill, if you will), and more for those wanting additional features surgery extra-nice esthetics.

Which Microcomputer Cases Wealthy person the Best Airflow?

For the latest recommendations on specific case models, see the best gaming Personal computer builds series which hand-picks some of the current best bang for buck, squeaky-airflow cases on the grocery store.

Are Case and PSU Combos Worth IT?

Computer cases wear't typically come with a power supply (PSU). But sometimes you will come over combo deals like this. Whether they are worth IT operating room not depends on the exact case and power supply, but by and large speaking from my experience, a administer of these combos include cheaper power supplies that you should generally head off for a gaming PC build. It's well-nig always primo to buy a case and power supply individually, so that you see you choose a good power provide that will reliable power your system for many years to come (and dress thus quietly and efficiently).




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How Many Fans Do You Need in a Gaming Pc

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