12 best computer cases

Of course, a case is not a necessary component for a computer to function. If you wish, you can collect all the hardware on an open stand. However, this approach has many disadvantages for the average user. Choosing a good case for assembling a PC, the user not only protects the components, but also correctly places them so that, if necessary, everything can be quickly replaced or simply removed. But the price range of such products does not allow you to immediately choose the best cases for computers. Much depends not only on the budget, but also on the requirements of the buyer. However, with our rating it will be very easy for you to choose the right model.

What to look for when choosing a PC case

One of the main criteria is the manufacturer. But in our review, you will not find mediocre companies, because each of the presented brands has earned an excellent reputation among buyers. Therefore, it is necessary to determine which case is better by other parameters:

1. Form factor... Mini, Midi, Full and Ultra Tower, as well as selected Desktop and Cube Cases. The sizes of the latter can be absolutely any. The difference between these models from the first four is that the Desktop is installed directly on the table, and the Cube Case has a nearly cubic shape. The rest have a similar appearance and are designed for a specific size of motherboards. But if micro-ATX fits into an ATX case, then it doesn't work in the opposite direction.
2. Material... Steel is the most popular now. It is quite durable and reliable, and its price is relatively low. Aluminum is another common material, but it is found primarily in premium cases. Both options (but more often steel) are sometimes complemented by tempered glass panels. This improves design but adds cost.
3. Fans... It is necessary to take into account both the number of places available for installation and the number of complete "turntables". The more there are, the more efficient the cooling will be. But initially you should find out if the power connectors on your board are enough for them.
4. Front Panel... At a minimum, there are power and reset buttons, as well as 2-3 USB ports and 3.5 mm microphone and headphone jacks. Additionally, a card reader, a fan control button, an eSATA connector and a door behind which all this is hidden to protect against dust, can be provided in the case.
5. Additionally... Lights, dust filters, soundproofing of the case, screwless mount, removable cage for hard drives - these and other things are not necessary. But they add beauty and convenience.

TOP 12 best computer cases

We decided not to categorize our PC case review. There is not a lot of sense in this, because sometimes the line between the budget and medium price categories, as well as between the medium and premium ones, is quite thin. And the manufacturer can see the top segment differently than the average consumer. So we just picked 12 great models from real owners. The corpuses are placed in the ranking by their popularity. Therefore, when choosing, it is worth lowering the position occupied by the product, first of all paying attention to the compliance of its parameters with your expectations.

1. AeroCool CyberX Advance Black

Let's start our review with a budget case from the popular manufacturer AeroCool. The CyberX model starts at just 35 $... For this amount, the buyer receives 3 × USB, among which a pair complies with the 2.0 standard, and another one - 3.0, 3-mm acrylic glass on the side wall, and a 0.6 mm thick steel case.

In the assortment of the manufacturer, you can find a similar modification without the Advanced prefix. It differs in a metal, not a transparent sidewall, and a smaller number of complete fans. But the cost of these two models is similar.

The case has two seats for 120 mm fans in the front and one similar in the back. All "turntables" are installed out of the box, but their quality corresponds to the declared value. On the front of the CyberX is a neat backlight line. Next to it is a door covering the card reader and 5.25-inch compartment.

Advantages:

• low cost;
• attractive design;
• ease of assembly;
• backlight on the front panel;
• three USB ports and an SD card reader;
• good acrylic sidewall.

Disadvantages:

• difficulties with laying cables;
• poor ventilation of the processor.

2. Zalman i3 Black

The inexpensive Zalman i3 case is presented on the market in two modifications - Edge and Widow. We consider the second option to be a better solution, since the front fans are hidden behind a mesh, and not with solid tempered glass, which reduces the cooling efficiency. Otherwise, both modifications do not differ, and they even come in completely identical boxes made of plain cardboard.

One of the key advantages of a good Zalman case is the presence of 4 built-in fans at once. Three of them are located in the front, and one more on the back wall. All "turntables" have a nice blue backlight. Two more can be installed on top near the dust filter. Also, one filter is provided for the front panel and the power supply unit. All connectors, indicators and buttons are at the top.

Advantages:

• excellent cooling;
• three dust filters;
• decent equipment;
• rubber gaskets;
• well-developed cable management;
• durable side glass;
• reobass for 6 fans.

Disadvantages:

• bright blue LED.

3. AeroCool Cylon Mini Black

The best case for building a gaming computer based on micro-ATX or Mini-ITX motherboards. The average price of the Cylon Mini is 28 $... For such a high-quality solution from the popular AeroCool brand, this is very little money. The side wall here is made of tempered glass and is fixed with 4 screws. On the front is a diagonal RGB strip. 7 modes of static and 6 variants of animated work are available for it.

One of the most popular cases according to reviews from real customers comes complete with all the necessary screws, a tool for unscrewing the mounting bushings on the board and a small set of cable ties. The Cylon Mini is equipped with several dust filters, one of which is on top. There are also power and reset buttons, indicators, audio connectors, as well as a pair of USB ports, one of which complies with the 3.0 standard.

Advantages:

• high-quality layout;
• tempered glass on the side;
• attractive design;
• implementation of RGB backlighting;
• the perfect combination of cost and opportunity;
• very affordable cost.

Disadvantages:

• only one 80 mm fan;
• there is no dust filter in front.

4. Deepcool Matrexx 55 Black

Today, the Chinese company Deepcool is one of the most popular in its segment. The demand for its products is only growing every year, which is not least due to the high competitiveness of the manufactured components. For example, Matrexx 55 is an impeccable manufacturer's case in a combination of price and quality. It will cost the buyer only 42 $, not yielding in capabilities to more expensive analogs.

This model is distinguished by a strict but elegant design. This makes it an excellent choice for workstations and gaming systems. Matrexx 55 is offered in three modifications. We have the simplest version on our review. If you need customizable lighting, choose the ADD-RGB model. The Deepcool Matrexx 55 ADD-RGB 3F also includes three 120mm CF fans.

Advantages:

• reasoned price tag;
• glass front and side;
• ease of assembly;
• neat backlight line;
• dust filter on top;
• suitable for liquid CO.

Disadvantages:

• modest delivery set.

5. Deepcool Kendomen Titanium

Immediately consider another model from a company from the Middle Kingdom. Kendomen is a classic case with good cooling. The kit includes five 120mm fans at once, two of which are in the front, and two more on top under high-quality dust nets. The good news is that the filters can be quickly removed for cleaning.

The Kendomen model is available in several modifications, which differ only in the backlight color. Their cost and equipment are completely similar.

The side wall is partially transparent here, which allows you to admire the complete components. USB ports and audio jacks are located on the front of the case. There are three buttons above them, one of which is responsible for controlling the fans. To produce a quality Kendomen case, Deepcool chose 0.7 mm steel, which provides a good margin of safety for the entire structure.

Advantages:

• 5 complete fans;
• adequate price tag;
• ease of assembly;
• the ability to install water cooling;
• cost for its characteristics;
• two illumination options are available;
• fast fan control.

Disadvantages:

• quality of plastic elements.

6. Thermaltake Versa H18 CA-1J4-00S1WN-00 Black

An inexpensive solution for a compact gaming system. It will house mATX and Mini-ITX boards, as well as video cards up to 350 mm long, which is quite good. The best computer case in its category will cost about 32 $... For this amount, the manufacturer also offers a complete 120 mm fan. The user can independently set three more 140 mm each.

Despite its compact size, a water-cooled, monitored enclosure can be used. For the "turntable" installed at the top, the manufacturer has provided a dust filter that is fixed with magnets. Another one is at the bottom under the power supply. The PSU itself, by the way, is located under a special casing, which is very good considering the presence of a viewing window on the side wall.

Advantages:

• compact size;
• excellent build;
• low cost;
• 3-year warranty;
• elaborate design;
• three USB connectors;
• dust filters.

Disadvantages:

• standard fan;
• plexiglass quality.

7. Cooler Master N200 (NSE-200-KKN1) w / o PSU Black

Another popular small case, but this time from the Taiwanese company Cooler Master. We are reviewing a modification of the NSE-200-KKN1, which uses a standard metal side wall and has three USB ports, one of which is 3.0. You can also buy the model NSE-200-KWN1 with tempered glass or NSE-200A-KKN1 with two USB 3.0.
The case has a strict design, so it is suitable for office and home PCs, as well as an entry-level gaming machine. The main material here is steel. It is durable and well finished. The same can be said for plastic elements. The scope of delivery includes 2 case fans 120 mm, which can be expanded with three more.

Advantages:

• CO modification options;
• quality of materials;
• well-designed ergonomics of the internal space;
• an excellent combination of cost and capabilities;
• laconic appearance;
• acoustic ergonomics.

Disadvantages:

• the noise of complete "turntables".

8. Fractal Design Define Nano S Black Window

The Define line is the main one for the manufacturer Fractal Design. It combines the best practices of the company. Initially, the series focused only on standard ATX-format motherboards. Then there were modifications for the micro-ATX motherboards, and after a little more time, solutions for Mini-ITX were added to the list. Nano S belongs to this category. To buy a Fractal Design case, prepare to give at least 70 $.

The Define Nano S is also available in a classic design without a side window. Many buyers find this solution more successful, and it can be found on sale a little cheaper than the Window modification.

This is a rather big cost, but it is fully justified.Perfect build quality, large dust filters on the top and bottom, reservoir mounts and liquid cooling pumps are all hard to find from competitors for the same price. The delivery set is also not bad, because it contains a pair of strips for mounting the CBO, six ties, an adapter (from one to two connectors) for fans, and a large set of screws.

Advantages:

• great appearance;
• both USB 3.0 ports;
• large quick-detachable filters;
• the presence of sound insulation;
• high quality materials and components;
• stock of space for laying cables;
• two quiet fans included;
• rubberized cable holes.

9. COUGAR Panzer-G Black

Of course, we could not ignore the products of the COUGAR company, which are very popular among professional gamers and amateurs. The Panzer-G looks luxurious due to the use of tempered glass not only from the side, but also from the front and even from the top. It has a thickness of 4 mm, is easy to remove and is successfully tinted to match the color of the entire body. An excellent case in terms of reliability is equipped with three 120 mm fans. They are located in front and are equipped with backlighting, the intensity of which depends on the speed of rotation. Additionally, the user can install 2 more "turntables" of the same size and a pair of 140 mm ones. Cooling and dropsy radiators are also supported. Overall, this is a perfect case at a reasonable price. 97 $.

Advantages:

• support for video cards up to 425 mm;
• glass on the sides, top and front;
• three fans with red illumination;
• good equipment;
• stylish appearance;
• cheaper than analogs from competitors;
• flexible dust filters with magnets.

Disadvantages:

• glass prevents air currents.

10. Thermaltake Core V51 TG CA-1C6-00M1WN-03 Black

The top three starts with a real masterpiece in terms of design - the Core V51 from the Thermaltake brand. The modification of the Riing Edition, which has a stylish light green color, looks especially interesting. True, it is extremely difficult to find it on sale (even abroad).

For cooling, the Core V51 comes with a pair of 140mm fans in the front and one 120mm fans on the back. Also inside there are two bays for 5.25-inch devices and a basket for 5 drives, where you can install HDD and SSD without using additional tools. But keep in mind that the length of a video card with a basket is limited to 310 mm, when without it the allowable size reaches 480 mm.

Also in the reviews, the Thermaltake case is praised for the presence of rubber pads on the holes for the cables. The manufacturer provides an official 3-year warranty for the Core V51. The best price for a Taiwanese brand computer case is 105 $.

Advantages:

• excellent design and high-quality assembly;
• tempered glass side wall;
• durable and thick metal was used in the manufacture;
• basket for installing drives;
• excellent roominess;
• two USB 3.0 connectors in front.

11. Fractal Design Define XL R2 Black Pearl

And once again, the review noted the best company in computer cases, Fractal Design. We decided to place Define XL R2 in second place only because video cards longer than 330 mm cannot fit into it, and good gaming adapters are usually larger. But otherwise it is the perfect Full Tower solution.

The case comes with three 140mm fans. Additionally, Define XL R2 can be equipped with 4 more similar "turntables".

The design of this model is made in the style characteristic of the manufacturer. He is stern but attractive. There are also no complaints about the build quality and acoustic insulation, so the Define XL R2 case is perfect for a quiet computer. Many buyers will appreciate the presence of 4 USB ports on the front panel in this model, two of which comply with the 3.0 standard.

Advantages:

• convenience of cable management;
• many connectors in the front;
• thoughtfulness of design and assembly;
• excellent sound insulation;
• the variability of the cooling system;
• regular reobass and 9 expansion slots.

Disadvantages:

• few complete fans for their price;
• the thickness of the steel sheet at the top.

12. Thermaltake Core X71 TG CA-1F8-00M1WN-02 Black

Rounding out the TOP of computer cases is the best solution for the modern gamer - Thermaltake Core X71. The prefix "TG" in the name indicates the use of tempered glass in the construction. It is located on the left, occupying only part of the side wall. Below is a large closed compartment for installing the power supply. On the left, right and bottom, it has dust filters. Another mesh is at the top of the case.

The dimensions of Thermaltake Core X71 are quite impressive. So, the height of this model reaches almost 70 centimeters. The width and depth of the case are 250 and 511 mm, respectively. There are three complete 140 mm fans. Additionally, the buyer can install up to 7 more "turntables", including 200 mm. Also, the case allows you to install video cards up to 420 mm and coolers up to 180 mm.

Advantages:

• four USB ports in front;
• number of places for fans;
• official warranty for three years;
• many dust filters;
• support for two power supplies;
• long front panel cables.

Disadvantages:

• complete fans are not very quiet;
• mounting drives is not the most convenient.

Which computer case is better to buy

Low-power home and office PCs do not require advanced options. It is enough to purchase models from AeroCool or Zalman to get the required minimum for reasonable money. If your requirements are a little higher, but the budget is still limited, then take a closer look at Deepcool or the compact Nano S model from Fractal Design. We also included excellent gaming models in the rating of the best computer cases. Most of all we liked the solutions from Thermaltake. However, the Germans from COUGAR and the Swedes from the already mentioned Fractal Design showed themselves well.