Your computer case is a lot more important than you may think. Of course, it’s the component that gets the least importance during the construction process of a gaming PC because many people believe that the desktop case, however, is going to be hidden beneath the desk so there’s no need to spend or think too much on the case design, size, etc.
But, the fact is just opposite to the common belief because your desktop’s case is the place where your components will be and it also determines what you can and cannot do in the future with your computer.
It is very important to remember that the style of your gaming PC case and the way it looks is also an important aspect. It’s just like putting Lamborghini engine in the Toyota Corolla’s body and pricing it the same as the Lamborghini. Fewer people would buy it. People like the style.
We all know that heat is the worst enemy of your gaming PC. This makes it essential that the case you pick must allow optimized airflow, so every component has ample cooling. The case must have the design to allow the balanced airflow. Plus, it can’t hurt to find a PC case that has the room for a liquid cooling radiator.
However, the airflow and cooling isn’t everything that must be kept in mind while buying the best gaming PC case.. The best gaming PCs are expensive, so you don’t want your rig looking like a plain metal box, of course, no one will want it. Thus, your investment must be looking appealing from front to back. But, there are many factors that must be considered while buying a gaming PC case.
Quick Shopping Tips
Know what parts you want first – One of the most important aspects here while buying the case is to determine what you are going to place inside the case. This will help you to stay assured about the size of the case that you may expect while buying so everything fits well and doesn’t feel congested. Check the size of your components like motherboard, graphics card, and cooler and also you may want to know the number of drives you’ll want to install.
You don’t need a huge tower – The technology has changed everything. Things are smaller and smarter these days, unlike the past when computer components used to be bulky and heavy. I remember my college-time desktop having a cooler that weight 1 kilos. Currently. The computer components are designed with compact technology. So unless you are building a component-packed workstation, a normal size case will probably serve you well.
Cooling is key – As mentioned above, cooling is the most important thing to be considered while buying a gaming PC case because your system is going to throw a lot of heat, which may be harmful to your components. While buying a case, make sure to check airflow technology in the case and remember that cases with tempered-glass fronts and tops often restrict airflow. For the cases with tempered glass, you may require additional fans.
Tiny cases are tougher to build in – Of course things and computer components are getting smaller these days. However, you must make the pick smartly as buying too small (or tiny) case may be a trouble for not just the novice builders, but even for the veterans. There’s no doubt that compact builds with powerful parts are impressive and space-saving.
Choose a case that you like to keep watching – If you don’t care too much about the physical appearance of your desktop case, it’s going to be shoved under your desk. Of course, airflow is very important, but physical appearance is something that can add a lot to your gaming experience. Did you ever notice why gaming mouse and keyboards are so much appealing? Because physical appearance does matter. It may be the glass-enclosed rainbow of RGB LEDs or a simple black box with smooth lines that can make the case looking attractive and your friends will envy you for this.
To begin with our list of the best gaming desktop cases, I’d like to name the Obsidian 250D made by Corsair. Unlike the other Full Tower designs, the Obsidian 250D is a relatively compact Mini ITX case. At first glance, it seems like rather a minimal exterior design and it looks more akin to a speaker or a subwoofer rather than a computer case.
If talking about the features of Obsidian 250D, its front panel comes with two USB 3.0 ports and also features a 3.5mm audio output and mic input. One of the best parts about this gaming PC case is that it is designed to accommodate full-sized graphics cards, making it quite convenient for professional gamers. And finally, to help with the airflow, Obsidian 250D comes with two built-in fans (front and side). Additionally, it supports up to three additional fans on top of that.
Obsidian 250D comes with steel and aluminum materials, measuring 351mm x 277mm x 290mm in size. This also comes with two radiators; 1x Front 120/140mm1x Side 240mm.
The brand is not known for their computer cases, but the 250D leaves very little to be desired for those looking to build a serious Mini ITX-based gaming PC. Its ability to support full-sized GPUs makes it the right pick.
The next product we have in our list here is from the house of Cooler Master. The Elite 110 is another Mini ITX case and much more compact than Corsair’s solution. As per the design point of view, this follows the minimalistic design trend, with few details and with great focus placed on enabling optimal airflow.
It measures 260 x 208 x 280 mm in size and comes with 1 built-in fan (120mm) along with three fan mounts (one in front and two at its side panels). This also features a radiator mount at front panel (120mm). Apart from this, the front panel is conveniently placed on the side of the case, which also includes two USB 3.0 ports along with two 3.5mm jacks.
All in all, the Elite 110 by Cooler Master is a highly compact and well-made case, specifically designed for the maximum airflow while taking not too much of your space. Its positive points include efficiency, appearance, and overall build quality and the price tag is also very impressive, making it the right pick even for the beginners. Of course, it’s not an ideal choice for the high-end gaming PCs but it performs more than admirably in the mid-range.
This one is fist case here which may be termed as the more spacious cases. The N200 comes from Cooler Master is a stylish micro ATX case. This has been smartly designed with techniques that adhere to Cooler Master’s general design philosophy and the company employs the recognizable meshed front for good airflow.
The appearance of the power button and the front panel connectors on the protruding vertical bar make it look really appealing while separating the buttons from the front mesh. If talking about the cooling facility, the N200 comes with three XtraFlo fans which are pre-installed in the case, two on the front and one on the rear of the case. Apart from this, the N200 also comes with 1 radiator mount of 2400mm size. It also supports multiple fans two at the front panel one at the rear, one at top and at the side panel.
Additionally, it also comes with water-cooling technology, making it a great value to your money while building a gaming PC.
The N200 is a complete package which comes with clean looks and functionality, all available at the modestly-priced tag. Although the water-cooling technology isn’t impressive, using additional coolers can get the job done to keep your motherboard calm while you enjoy your gaming.
This is another product in the list of the top gaming PC desktop cases from the house of Corsair. Its crystal series 570X follows a similar design philosophy as the MasterBox Lite 3.1, but with some major differences.
One of the most impressive parts about this desktop case is that its front, top, and both sides consist of fully transparent tempered glass, making it looking really appealing and something that is designed especially for the professional gaming enthusiasts.
When it comes to the functionality, the 570X comes with three built-in fans at the front panel measuring 120mm. In addition to it, this also offers three additional fan mounts (2 on top and 1 at the rear panel of the case). If you need more radiators on your desktop PC, then N200 may be the right pick as it comes with three radiator mounts (1 at the front, 1 on top and 1 at the rear side of the panel.
Corsair has made sure to take advantage of its advanced cooling technology with enough airflow facility.
NZXT maybe not as much as renowned and recognized the brand as Cooler Master or Corsair, but this company offers a huge range of computer related products and components. This Los Angeles-based company recently launched H440, which is a perfect example of their design philosophy: minimal, clean, and efficiently blending a black or white base.
There are many ways that the NZXT H440 is different from other mentioned on the list and one of them is its interior. This model greatly facilitates cable management and keeps the HDD/SSD separate from the main components which help them achieve their minimalist aesthetic.
As per the features, this model comes with four built-in cooling fans (3 at front panel and 1 at rear panel). Additionally, it also offers five fan mounts (2 at front, 2 on top and 1 at the rear panel).
All in all, the H440 is a great case as it offers a combination of the superbly-built clean exterior with a highly manageable interior. Along with this, the H440 also offers more than enough options for air or liquid cooling expansion. You may feel it quite heavy as numerous metal parts are made with metal materials and the interior design choices can make it become quite cramped. It offers convenient cable management solutions with a plenty of space at the interiors for the extensive cooling experience.
When talking about the large gaming desktop cases, Thermaltake Core V51 is a must to mention here as this is large enough to accommodate all your desktop components while looking visually appealing too. One look at Core V51 and it becomes evident that you’re dealing with a very performance-oriented case. It comes with appealing meshed front, curved front edges and the transparent side-panel.
If talking about the features, the Core V51 comes with three built-in fans (2 at front panel and 1 at rear panel). Apart from this, your case also comes with additional 9 fan mounts (3 at front, 3 at top, 1 in the rear and 2 on the bottom). And if you need a radiator mount, you get 4 with Core V51. In simple words, this case offers plenty of expansion space, making it the right pick for those who love enjoying their games with no disturbance at all and aim to keep their PC components safe from the damage due to heat.
And if you need some additional space to store your large-sized hard drive or have a jumbo size motherboard, then Core V51 may be your best pick without spending too much money on a case.
Conclusion
So, go ahead and explore the best gaming PC cases available online, but it is essential to consider all the mentioned points to make a smart pick so you are never disappoint from your choice.