Acquiring the finest PC case is more complicated than it seems at first. It can be intimidating for those who are not experienced to know where to begin when choosing the correct housing for their machine. Generally speaking, there are the well-liked mid-towers, complete towers, and small chassis in different sizes. Our top choices, determined by in-person testing, are listed below.
Having said that, the Hyte Y70 Touch is our top choice because of its excellent diagnostics screen, spacious build, high-end design, and other features that have earned us a perfect 5-star rating. Despite all of its positive reviews, this chassis is not inexpensive. If you’re looking for something more aggressively priced, you could be more drawn to the Asus or the Fractal Design Meshify-C Prime AP201 which are both available. You’ll find a wealth of options in our quick list, and more details further down the page.
1.Fractal Design Meshify 2
The Meshify series from Fractal Design has been around for a while, but it has always seemed a bit of an afterthought, which is somewhat reflected in the naming scheme of the original Meshify C or Meshify S2. With the most recent version, the Meshify 2, which we are examining today, it appears that this is going to change a little. This appears to position it for future numerical growth, akin to what Fractal has accomplished with the Define series. There are five variations of the Fractal Design Meshify 2 available; you can choose from varying glass tints or, if you’d like, a fully white version.
The front panel of the Meshify 2 Compact has a fractal-signature design with rounded edges that provide a geometric yet rough surface. The asymmetrical shape of the case gives it a distinctive and slightly edgy appearance, as if someone took a sheet of metal mesh and gave it a good hammering with a triangle-headed hammer.
Since the entire panel is made of metal mesh, air can easily flow through it and into the case. To help with this, two 140mm Dynamic X2 GP-14 fans from Fractal Design are positioned just behind the front panel. That’s a pleasant departure from the solid front panels of many of the more modern NZXT or Razer cases.
A sizable area of metal mesh is also included in the top panel to allow air to pass through and enter the space. Fractal Design chose to install the “front” I/O panel up here, with two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 port, separate microphone and headphone/audio-out jacks, and the like, but it’s not totally mesh like the front panel usual power and reset buttons.
The left panel of our review unit is made of tempered glass, while the panel on the right side of the case is a straightforward sheet of steel. The two cases are the same except for the absence of glass and the addition of steel panels on both sides, which is another variant of the Meshify 2 that Fractal Design provides.
2.Fractal Design Terra
For many years, Fractal Design has been renowned for producing high-quality cases. Although the brand offers many larger and Micro-ATX container options, ITX has always been a bit of a hit-or-miss affair, particularly in terms of distinctive, one-of-a-kind designs. I can think of the Era, which was a gorgeous case that had issues with heat, or the Torrent Nano, which didn’t seem like an ITX chassis. The Ridge, with its exquisitely designed front panel made of cloth and aluminum, is the one on the upside. Now, with the Terra that we are examining here, Fractal Design has created yet another distinctive design that incorporates wood and a ton of aluminum. Additionally, we get to explore the unique color variant of “Jade Green.” That said, the Terra is also available in a dark gray “Graphite” and a silver variant.
Fractal’s North PC case, with its mid-century design, garnered numerous accolades, including Tom’s Hardware’s case of the year. It follows that the company’s return to Computex with another wood-accented chassis is not surprising.
However, Fractal Design’s $179 Terra is a fairly compact 10.4-liter Mini-ITX case, unlike the mind-tower North. It’s compact and looks excellent in any of the three colors you may choose, but because of its 8.58 x 6.02 x 13.5-inch frame, you’ll need to be very selective about the components you use.
More precisely, it can accommodate graphics cards up to 2.83 inches wide and 12.68 inches long, as well as SFX and SFX-L power supplies. As usual, measure yourself before purchasing. Although the Founders Edition RTX 4080 and 4090 cards ought to fit, many partner cards will either be too large or might even exceed the case’s maximum capacity. Additionally, there are significantly less alternatives for CPU cooling, so unless you enjoy paying for performance you can’t really get, don’t expect to put a 7950X3D or a 13900K here. Later on, more on this.
Although the Terra may theoretically handle a 120mm radiator, it is limited to short (8-inch) graphics cards. The majority will prefer to use a small air cooler. Additionally, I do mean compact. The clearance for CPU coolers wavers between 1.89 and 3.03 inches, depending on how you adjust the “spine,” or the central plate that holds the Motherboard on one side and the GPU on the other.
3.Lian Li Lancool 216
For the past few years, Lian Li has gained attention mainly because of the O11, which expertly strikes a balance between ventilation and tempered glass. Other noteworthy chassis from the business include the O11D Evo, which is a transforming chassis, the tiny Q58, and the Lancool line, which was most recently represented by the Lancool III.
However, with two 160mm fans, a rotatable PCIe bracket, and a GPU fan mount, the company’s most recent case, the Lian Li Lancool 216, still manages to distinguish apart in a field of successful sister cases. I anticipated this case to cost more than most because it has so many special features. However, the Lancool 216 base model, while the RGB versions. Although it’s reasonably priced, there are several other innumerable other cases in this price range.
A mid-tower chassis that draws some design cues from the Lancool III we examined earlier this year is the Lian Li Lancool 216. In fact, it resembles that situation almost exactly at first inspection. However, several notable distinctions exist, such as the front fans. The Lancool 216 has two large 160mm fans; the Fractal Torrent, which was possibly one of the most well-liked cases of 2021, is the only other case with these spinners on the market. The Lancool 216 takes an atypical approach to cooling, and it comes with a PCIe fan mount to direct airflow towards your GPU in addition to the front fans. Soon, more on that.
Much like every other airflow-focused case available, the Lancool 2016 has nearly full mesh on the front. The lackluster thermal performance of the Lancool III was one of my complaints. Though they belong to the same case family, the 216’s cooling system is very different from the Lancool III’s, as testing will reveal.
The new Lian Li casing has a respectable IO: Power, a reset button, two USB 3.0 Type-A and one USB Type-C connector, as well as an audio combo jack, are all included. Additionally, the RGB controller may be positioned by moving the IO to the lower left corner of the casing, a design cue reminiscent of the O11D Evo. Yes, the RGB controller—is the only way to change the RGB on the 160mm fans. I understand Lian Li’s desire to reach the desirable. However, it seems like the firm is dangling a crucial component of the case in front of you like a carrot on a stick by charging an additional $15 for an RGB controller box At least you also get two extra USB-A ports if you opt for the controller. But of course then your motherboard will need two spare headers.
4.Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB
Initially, I would want to mention that using the 4000X RGB brought back memories of Corsair’s early years, specifically the Obsidian series. With its angular case feet, sleek lines, and front paneling, this case is somewhat reminiscent of the Obsidian. In terms of size, I would classify this as a typical mid-tower—basically the same as the be silent! Pure Base 500DX, which means that it is a standard size—neither big nor little. All versions will come in black or white, however I think the white design with the grey accents looks particularly well. Not only are the PCIe slots grey, but the entire front panel and the foot are as well.
Today, we’ll be closely examining a PC case from Corsair’s recently released 4000 Series of enthusiast PC cases, which includes the 4000D, 4000D AIRFLOW, and 4000X RGB cases. The Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB Case is under evaluation. The 4000x RGB is one of the three models that has toughened glass added to it. It also has RGB lighting, with three 120mm SP RGB ELITE AirGuide fans that each have eight individually controllable RGB LEDs and an iCUE Lighting Node CORE controller.
Three CORSAIR AirGuide RGB fans are included with the unique and adaptable CORSAIR iCUE 4000X RGB mid-tower ATX chassis, which boasts outstanding cooling capabilities and simple cable management.
The front of the chassis of the 4000X RGB has a tempered glass panel that conceals three fans. The front of the 4000D will be covered by either a meshed front panel on the 4000D Airflow or a solid metal slab. It will come with two non-RGB fans. The cases are the same from one another except from those distinctions. Therefore, the 4000X will be the main emphasis of this study; however, don’t worry, we’ll also provide testing data for the 4000D Airflow.
5.Shadow Base 800 FX
Perhaps only its Austrian neighbor, Noctua, can match the German company be quiet! (henceforth referred to as Be Quiet) in the PC construction industry for quiet cooling. If you exclude the hoodies and keycaps, Noctua has largely stuck to the market for fans and air coolers, but Be Quiet also offers additional items that you could find useful for being quiet, like as cases, power supplies, and liquid coolers.
The newest case from Be Quiet, the Shadow Base 800 FX, costs $220 and includes plenty of RGB, good airflow, and some sound-dampening foam. The firm also provides a non-FX model that sells for $170 and reduces the integrated fan count from four to three if illumination is not a concern for you. Both models are not close to the affordable end of the mid-tower case spectrum.
Given the name of the brand and the fact that most airflow cases are at least somewhat noisy, it may seem strange that the Shadow Base 800 FX is an airflow-focused mid-tower. To keep things quiet, the back side panel has a sheet of sound-dampening foam, indicating that the manufacturer didn’t forget its roots.
The Shadow Base 800 FX has a filtered mesh front panel with two columns of RGB lights, and its design is somewhat conventional. It really doesn’t stick out that much; it doesn’t look horrible. However, the 800 FX’s performance and the contents of the box really won me over. Four 140mm 4-pin Light Wings fans are included with the case, allowing you to effortlessly modify the speed and RGB.
Despite the fact that this is a mid-tower, Be Quiet is providing ample cooling support: Fans or radiators measuring 420 mm each can be positioned at the top or front of the case. One 120 or 140 mm fan may be mounted on the back of the casing.
The Shadow Base 800 FX chassis contains fan cut-outs at the bottom, even though it does not have side fans as is currently popular. To add fans there, all you have to do is remove the hard drive cage.
Two 3.5-inch mechanical drives or four 2.5-inch SSDs can be stored in the Be Quiet Shadow Base 800 FX. The drives are positioned in the hard drive cage or behind the motherboard tray, which is a very conventional arrangement. Considering that the back side panel of this case has a sheet of foam, I was a little taken aback to discover that it can accommodate 3.5-inch hard drives behind the motherboard tray. However, that might lessen the sound of a mechanical drive.
conclusion
Decide which parts you want or already have first. Prioritizing appearances should come after deciding on the motherboard, graphics card, cooler, and number of installed SSDs. The size of the cases to be considered will depend on this.
Cooling is essential, particularly for little cases. When selecting the ideal PC case, airflow is crucial, particularly for high-end components placed in constrained areas. Before making a purchase, read through our reviews of coolers to see the outcomes of our cooling tests. Keep in mind that cases with glass tops and fronts may require additional fans due to airflow restriction.
Select a chassis that catches your eye. Most of the time, your preferred case will be in your peripheral view. Remember to verify the airflow and that your parts will fit. But after that, find something that appeals to you visually. Take the time to find a case that appeals to you visually. If you want to show off your case’s internals, a case like Hyte’s Y60 with its panoramic glass is certainly appealing. But know that generally speaking, the more glass found on a case, particularly in the front, the warmer your system is likely to run.