Best PC Cases 2021 – 10 Top Picks for Full Tower, Micro ATX & Mini ITX

Best PC Cases 2019

Whenever the planning begins for a new build, the case is usually one of the first things to consider aside from maybe the motherboard. Which case you choose will affect cooling, what kinds of motherboards you can use, how many drives you can put in, and a number of other factors. If you’re looking for the best PC cases on the market, then you’ve come to the right place.

Below you’ll find our reviews of ten hand-picked cases. Whether you are looking for the coolest PC cases (literally or figuratively), or you just want the overall best desktop case, we have you covered with cases that each excel in their own ways. There is sure to be a case that is right for you here. Below that you can find our short buyer’s guide with some information regarding what to look for when shopping for a new PC case.

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Product
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NZXT H700i

Best Mid-tower case

NZXT H700i

  • Case Type: ATX Mid Tower
  • Dimensions: 19.4 x 9.1 x 20.3 inches
  • Weight: 27.1 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX and eATX
  • Drive Bays: Seven 2.5” bays & three 3.5” bays
Corsair Obsidian 1000D

Unlimited Possibilities

Corsair Obsidian 1000D

  • Case Type: Super Tower
  • Dimensions: 12.1 x 27.3 x 27.4 inches
  • Weight: 65 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX, eATX
  • Drive Bays: 9 drive bays for any size
NZXT H200i

Compact size

NZXT H200i

  • Case Type: Mini ITX
  • Dimensions: 14.6 x 13.7 x 8.3 inches
  • Weight: 13.2 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX Only
  • Drive Bays: Four 2.5” bays and one 3.5” bay
InWin 301

Affordable Case

InWin 301

  • Case Type: ATX Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions: 14.6 x 7.4 x 14.3 inches
  • Weight: 14.4 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX
  • Drive Bays: One 3.5” bay and two 2.5” bays
be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900

Tons of Drive Bays

be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900

  • Case Type: ATX Full Tower
  • Dimensions: 26 x 13 x 27 inches
  • Weight: 38.8 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX, eATX
  • Drive Bays: Ten 2.5” bays and five 3.5” bays
Cougar Conquer

Unique Open Air Case

Cougar Conquer

  • Case Type: ATX Mid Tower
  • Dimensions: 10 x 27 x 23 inches
  • Weight: 30.9 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX
  • Drive Bays: Four 2.5” bays and three 3.5” bays
Corsair Carbide Air 540

Astounding Airflow

Corsair Carbide Air 540

  • Case Type: ATX Mid Tower Cube
  • Dimensions: 16.3 x 13.1 x 18 inches
  • Weight: 16.3 pounds
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX, eATX
  • Drive Bays: Four 2.5” bays and two 3.5” bays
Thermaltake Core P7

Minimalist Open Air Case

Thermaltake Core P7

  • Case Type: Open Air Super Tower
  • Dimensions: Varies by layout
  • Weight: 21 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mATX, mITX, ATX, eATX
  • Drive Bays: 8 drive bays for any size drive
Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX

Optimal Cooling

Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX

  • Case Type: Small Form Factor ITX
  • Dimensions: 15.6 x 14.8 x 9.1
  • Weight: 12.6 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: ITX only
  • Drive Bays: One 2.5” bay
Corsair Crystal 570X

Tempered Glass

Corsair Crystal 570X

  • Case Type: ATX Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions: 18.9 x 20.1 x 9.21 inches
  • Weight: 22.2 pounds
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX
  • Drive Bays: Two 2.5” bays and two 3.5” bays

1. NZXT H700i

Top of the line ATX case & Best Mid-tower case

NZXT H700i
  • Case Type: ATX Mid Tower 
  • Dimensions: 19.4 x 9.1 x 20.3 inches
  • Weight: 27.1 lbs 
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX and eATX
  • Drive Bays: Seven 2.5” bays & three 3.5” bays
  • Excellent cable management
  • Built in fan and RGB controller
  • Lackluster front I/O

NZXT has made a reputation for themselves over the years for engineering some very appealing looking hardware, and this cool computer case is no different. The H700i boasts a very sleek minimalist look to it with a large tempered glass window on one side. It’s available in several colors and styles including white, black, a PUBG design, and even a Ninja design.

The front I/O is a little lacking with no USB-C ports. However, it does sport four standard USB ports, two of which are USB 3. The case comes with four 120mm fans included and offers solid airflow with ample mounting for radiators. This case is also great in regards to cable management with several unique cable channels and pre-installed cable straps.

The H700i also comes with a preinstalled hub for controlling both fans and RGB lights inside the case. The hub can be controlled using NZXT’s CAM software.

2. Corsair Obsidian 1000D

Massive Case for Unlimited Possibilities

Corsair Obsidian 1000D
  • Case Type: Super Tower 
  • Dimensions: 12.1 x 27.3 x 27.4 inches 
  • Weight: 65 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX, eATX
  • Drive Bays: 9 drive bays for any size
  • Enough room for two full systems
  • Excellent front I/O
  • Incredibly heavy

If you’re on the hunt for an absolutely massive computer case, then look no further than the Corsair Obsidian 1000D. This case is great for streamers who use two computers, one for streaming and one to actually run the game, since this case can fit both of those machines into one chassis and is arguably the best gaming case on the market.

This is also a great case for water cooling enthusiasts as it makes for a great space for setting up custom water cooling loops. The cavernous interior can accommodate up to a 480mm radiator, and a mind numbing 13 fans.

The major drawback to this titanic case is its sheer weight. The dual tempered glass side panels along with the glass on the front lend to this case weighing a hefty 67 lbs; and that’s without anything in it. This makes it necessary to ensure your desk is extra sturdy before setting one of these monsters up in your office or gamer cave.

The Obsidian 1000D also sports front I/O that is almost impressive as its size with two USB-C ports and four USB 3 ports.

3. NZXT H200i

Full Featured yet Compact mITX Case

NZXT H200i
  • Case Type: Mini ITX
  • Dimensions: 14.6 x 13.7 x 8.3 inches
  • Weight: 13.2 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX Only
  • Drive Bays: Four 2.5” bays and one 3.5” bay
  • Compact size
  • Water cooling ready
  • Great cable management
  • Only compatible with mITX boards

In stark contrast to the last case we looked at, the NZXT H200i is a diminutive machine designed to only accommodate mITX motherboards. This compact case is the little brother of the H700i we looked at first and sports many of the same features making it the best mini ITX case available.

The all steel frame is durable and offers impressive build quality to the sleek looking case. The tempered glass side panel lets you look inside the case to see your hardware, which is made nice and tidy with NZXT’s top of the line cable management design. The case has a number of cable channels built into the motherboard tray, as well as some pre-installed cable ties strategically placed around the case.

Much like the H700i this case comes with a built-in fan and RGB hub that allows you to easily control the lights and fans in the case. The H200i comes with two fans and flaunts some impressive water cooling capabilities for its size, able to fit up to three 120mm radiators.

4. InWin 301

Simple and Affordable Case

InWin 301
  • Case Type: ATX Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions: 14.6 x 7.4 x 14.3 inches
  • Weight: 14.4 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX
  • Drive Bays: One 3.5” bay and two 2.5” bays
  • Highly affordable
  • Great for water cooling
  • Not many drive bays
  • Lacking in front I/O

InWin is a Chinese tech company that has drawn an increasing amount of attention over recent years for their unique designs. While the InWin 301 might not be as ambitious as some of their other designs, it does have some very nice features and sports a reasonably low price tage that makes it the best budget PC case. Don’t think it is merely good in relation to its affordability, though, because this is still a good PC case on its own merits.

The front I/O panel is beautifully illuminated with LED lights making it easy to find the USB ports in the dark and giving the case a pleasant glow. That being said, the front I/O that is being illuminated is extremely lackluster with only two standard USB ports and no type C ports at all.

The case does have a large glass side panel that lets you see your hardware, but rather than swinging open like many cases, the panel detaches entirely. This makes accessing the hardware super easy, and also makes setting up water cooling nearly painless. This case supports up to 240mm radiators and has an internal layout that naturally accommodates custom loops.

5. be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900

Modular Design with Tons of Drive Bays

InWin 301
  • Case Type: ATX Full Tower
  •  Dimensions: 26 x 13 x 27 inches
  • Weight: 38.8 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX, eATX
  • Drive Bays: Ten 2.5” bays and five 3.5” bays
  • Tons of drive bays for maximum storage
  • Highly modular design
  • Power supply position is unconventional

If you have a massive games library-- or tons of movies archived-- and need as much storage space as you can get in your machine, then the be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 might be the ideal case for you. The modular design allows you to mount up to 15 SSDs or 7 HDDs inside the case.

The front of the case also has a door that opens to reveal a pair of 5.25” drives in the front. These can be switched out for more hard drives or solid state drives, or can be used for their intended purpose as disc readers and writers. This is a rare feature to find on cases these days as disc readers are quickly becoming obsolete.

Ultimately, it’s this large degree of customizability and modularity that makes this the best full tower case we looked at for this list.

The case also comes with three high quality be quiet! fans that, as the company’s name implies, are impressively silent. As such, this is one of the best quiet PC cases, at least when you take into account what’s included at purchase. If you’d prefer to utilize water cooling instead, the Dark Base Pro 900 can also fit up to a 480mm radiator.

The one major flaw many people are quick to point out with this case, which you’ll quickly be familiar with if you read any reviews, is that the power supply is recessed for some reason, and requires a pass-through cable, which can be a bit of a hassle.

6. Cougar Conquer

Unique Open Air Case for Optimal Cooling

Cougar Conquer
  • Case Type: ATX Mid Tower
  • Dimensions: 10 x 27 x 23 inches
  • Weight: 30.9 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX
  • Drive Bays: Four 2.5” bays and three 3.5” bays
  • Open air design keeps temperatures low
  • Unique look
  • Weak front I/O
  • Difficult to build in

Some people love having something that stands out and truly looks like no other. If that sounds like you, then the Cougar Conquer might be right up your alley. This unique case looks more like a jet fighter than a PC case. This is even put to use as it’s designed to offer greater airflow.

The unique design does have its drawbacks, however, as a lot of people find this case to be a bit difficult to build in. Beauty is pain, I suppose.

The steel case has mounting points for radiators on the top and glass panels on both sides. This allows you to see your cable management and drives in the back while also seeing your GPU and motherboard from the front.

7. Corsair Carbide Air 540

Cube Case with Astounding Airflow

Corsair Carbide Air 540
  • Case Type: ATX Mid Tower Cube
  • Dimensions: 16.3 x 13.1 x 18 inches
  • Weight: 16.3 pounds
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX, eATX
  • Drive Bays: Four 2.5” bays and two 3.5” bays
  • Great airflow
  • Includes large high quality fans
  • Takes up lots of desk space

Next, we’re looking at another case with a somewhat abnormal design, but this time it’s a cube-shaped case from Corsair. Most people will know Corsair for their fans and cooling products, with the latter being the focus of this case.

The case is a cube because it uses an almost air tunnel-like design to offer optimal airflow to the hottest parts of your PC: the GPU and the CPU. This case’s intakes are designed to allow air to flow freely straight through these vital areas of your PC, providing them with cool air in the process. The Carbide Air 540 comes with three large 140mm fans which are protected with magnetic air filters to keep the inside of your case clean.

The case has a large glass window on one side, as well as a couple of drive bays in the front near the I/O to allow for CD drives to be installed. These bays can also be used for hard drives if desired. The I/O that these drives are next to is disappointing, to say the least, with only two USB ports, neither of which are even USB 3.

8. Thermaltake Core P7

Minimalist Open Air Case

Thermaltake Core P7
  • Case Type: Open Air Super Tower
  • Dimensions: Varies by layout 
  •  Weight: 21 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mATX, mITX, ATX, eATX
  • Drive Bays: 8 drive bays for any size drive
  • Very easy to build in
  • Open airflow design
  • Ideal for water cooling
  • Does not protect your hardware

The Thermaltake P-series of cases is a unique line of very open-air cases that sport a minimalist design. If you took all the side panels off of a normal computer case and stripped it down to just the motherboard tray and a piece of tempered glass, you would more or less end up with the Thermaltake P-series. This minimalist design makes this easily the best airflow case for a build that needs tons of cooling capacity.

While there are several configurations in this series of cases, including a small form factor, we’ve decided to hone in on the most interesting offering: the P7. This massive case is the absolute best option for airflow and water cooling. It is designed with a central piece that holds your motherboard and most of your hardware along with two side pieces that unfold like a trifold board.

These side panels can each accommodate a 480mm radiator, and the open nature of this case enables the user to create some truly awe-inspiring custom water cooling loops. The case can be laid out in a number of ways and even mounted on a wall allowing for tons of customization options in how you display your hardware. This is the ideal case for someone who really wants to show off their gaming rig.

9. Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX

Small Form Factor Case Designed for Optimal Cooling

Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX
  • Case Type: Small Form Factor ITX
  • Dimensions: 15.6 x 14.8 x 9.1
  • Weight: 12.6 lbs
  • Motherboard Compatibility: ITX only
  • Drive Bays: One 2.5” bay
  • Designed for water cooling
  • Excellent cable management
  • Only has one 2.5” drive bay

If you’re planning a small form factor case, but don’t want to sacrifice cooling, then the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv makes a great choice. Every element of this case from top to bottom was designed with optimal water cooling in mind. For starters, the power supply is tucked underneath a shroud that also acts as a cable management area to make as much room as possible in the main area of the case for water cooling.

On top of the PSU shroud is a mounting point for a reservoir for a water cooling loop. At the top of the case are recessed radiator brackets that prevent even thick radiators from interfering with tall RAM modules. The case even comes with some pre-installed velcro straps to aid in clean cable management for that smooth airflow.

10. Corsair Crystal 570X

Tempered Glass on All Sides

Corsair Crystal 570X
  • Case Type: ATX Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions: 18.9 x 20.1 x 9.21 inches
  • Weight: 22.2 pounds
  • Motherboard Compatibility: mITX, mATX, ATX
  • Drive Bays: Two 2.5” bays and two 3.5” bays
  • Four tempered glass panels
  • Water cooling friendly
  • Not very many drive bays
  • Difficult to fit some hardware in

If you’ve just built a custom PC, then you’re probably going to want people to see your hard work. For this, there is no other case like the Corsair Crystal 570X. This case has not one, not two, not even three, but four tempered glass panels. The front, top, and both sides of the case sport crystal clear glass to show off your hardware. I hate to say more is better, but when you’re looking for the best tempered glass PC case, more tempered glass kind of is better.

The 570X comes with three RGB fans that shine through the tempered glass and offer some customizability. Up to six fans can be put in the case in total, and there is room for up to a 360mm radiator in the front of the case. That being said, the case is rather cramped once a motherboard, RAM, and GPU have been installed, so getting large radiators to fit can be a bit of a hassle.

While this case doesn’t offer the same RGB control out of the box that the NZXT H700i does with its hub, its three RGB fans paired with being almost entirely tempered glass makes this the best RGB case in our eyes.

How to Pick the Best PC Case for your Needs

In many ways, the case is the backbone of your PC build so picking the best gaming PC case
for you is important. While there is a lot to consider– more than we can reasonably talk about here– we’ve gathered the most important factors to look at when shopping for a new case. After all, what starts as the top PC case on your list, might best computer case.

Case Type, Motherboard Compatibility, and You

After you’ve selected a CPU (often the first part of a PC build), you’ll need to get a compatible motherboard. And when you do, you’ll need a case that is big enough to fit, and which has the proper mounting support for, the motherboard you choose.

There are a number of different case sizes out there which are uniform so that consumers know what cases can use what types of motherboards and how large that case is, etc. However, while there are some popular types of cases, there isn’t a single set of industry standards.

The most popular cases are ATX Mid-tower and ATX Full-tower with some smaller sizes also being popular, like the Mini ITX or the Small Form Factor ITX (SFF ITX). There are also less common types, like Super towers (been larger than Full-towers).

Small form factor cases usually fit mITX or ITX motherboards. These small motherboards have fewer RAM and PCIe slots. This limits them to usually one graphics card meaning that small form factor cases that use these kinds of motherboards might not be ideal for workstation builds that might need tons of RAM or multiple GPUs.

ATX is more or less the standard when it comes to motherboard layouts and has ample RAM and expansion card space for most builds. eATX is a non-standardized motherboard size and the exact dimensions and specs vary from board to board so be sure to cross check your case with your motherboard when buying these. However, these are only for the most hardcore builds, so you’ve been warned. Both ATX and sometimes even eATX will fit into mid-tower cases, while any motherboard will fit into a full tower or “super tower” case.

Drive Bays

Drive bays determine how many drives your build can potentially have, and therefore how much storage your rig will be capable of. Typically there are three sizes of drive bays:

  • 2.5-inch bays are for SSDs (solid state drives)
  • 3.5-inch bays are for HDDs (traditional hard drives)
  • 5.25-inch bays are for CD/DVD drives; they are nearly extinct in modernity

Cooling

Arguably the most important thing to address when picking a PC case is cooling. While this is hard to quantify, there are a few things you can look at when looking at how well a given case will be able to cool your hardware.

For one, how open the case is can determine how well your PC parts will be able to breathe. Cases like the Thermaltake P7 or the Cougar Conquer will offer exceptional airflow and will allow all the components on your motherboard to get fresh air.

The number of fans a given case can accommodate will also affect cooling. Some cases like the Obsidian 1000D can hold an insane amount of fans, which in turn will push tons of air through the case to help keep everything operating at a good temperature.

If you plan to water cool your rig, then making sure you pick a good case for water cooling is obviously essential. Most cases these days have specially designed mounting points for water cooling equipment, but can often only hold radiators of a particular size. Also, some cases can only fit AIO water coolers and do not have the internal space needed for the reservoir and pump of a custom water cooling setup.

Front I/O (In/Out)

The last thing to pay close attention to is the front I/O. This is the different inputs and outputs that are present on the front of the case. All of the cases on this list, and most computer cases in general, have headphone and microphone jacks on the front.

In addition to this, you’ll want to look at what kind of USB ports and how many there are on the case. Some cases only have two USB 2.0 ports on the front. For some this is enough, while for others a more modern front I/O is demanded.

If you’re looking for the best I/O possible, then make sure you have USB type C and USB 3.0 ports on your case, as these are faster and more up to date than USB 2.0 ports.