RGB-packed bling box? Aquarium-style glassy chassis? The right PC case makes or breaks your PC build. Here's what to look for in a new tower chassis, plus reviews of our highest-rated models.
ByJohn Burek
John Burek
Executive Editor and PC Labs Director
My Experience
I have been a technology journalist for 30-plus years and have covered just about every kind of computer gear—from the 386SX to 64-core processors—in my long tenure as an editor, a writer, and an advice columnist. For almost a quarter-century, I worked on the seminal, gigantic Computer Shopper magazine (and later, its digital counterpart), aka the phone book for PC buyers, and the nemesis of every postal delivery person. I was Computer Shopper's editor in chief for its final nine years, after which much of its digital content was folded into PCMag.com. I also served, briefly, as the editor in chief of the well-known hard-core tech site Tom's Hardware.
Read Full Bio
UpdatedDecember 19, 2023
Table of Contents
Your house, according to the legendary advice of George Carlin, is the place where you put your stuff while you go get more stuff. But a PC tower case is not just the box where you put your PC components while you earn money to buy better ones. (These days, given the cost and tight supply of many cutting-edge CPUs and graphics cards, that may not even be possible.) It mattersmuchmore than that.
If you've built your own PC in the past, you know that having the right PC case can make or break the whole process. It's not just a question of fitting the parts inside—it's easy enough to match up the motherboard size, count the bays, and make sure the chassis has the front-panel ports you want. It's the small stuff that separates a fine PC case from one that makes your build easy—or even makes it sing. That can be intangibles like cable-routing features, or the position of the power supply or the drive bays relative to the other parts. It can be the look; the case defines the identity of your PC.
Also, a PC case may be rated to accept a given motherboard—ATX, MicroATX, and so on—but that's no indication that you'll have enough room inside to build a system with ease. Clearances around the edges of the board may be tight, cable cutaways for routing wires behind the board may be scarce or ill-placed, and you may need to sacrifice drive bays to accommodate long video cards. Here's what to know when assessing PC cases.
Our Experts Have Tested 30 Products in the PC Cases Category in the Past Year
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.See how we test.
Our Top Tested Picks
Best Overall ATX Tower PC Case Jump ToDetails Best Overall ATX Midtower PC Case Jump ToDetails Best Budget ATX Tower PC Case Jump ToDetails Best Full-Tower PC Case for Massive Cooling Jump ToDetails Best Tower Case For Air Cooling Jump ToDetails Best PC Tower Case for Maximum Storage Jump ToDetails Best Tower PC Case for Quiet Running Jump ToDetails A Solid Alternative to the Fractal Design Pop XL Silent Jump ToDetails Best Full-Tower PC Case for Extreme Liquid Cooling Jump ToDetails Best Tower PC Case With a Unique Face (Wood) Jump ToDetails Best Kit Case for Kids and DIY-ers Jump ToDetails A Solid Alternative to the Montech Air 903 Max Jump ToDetails NZXT H7 Flow
Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact
Montech Air 903 Max
Corsair iCUE 5000T RGB
Fractal Design Torrent RGB
Corsair iCUE 7000D Airflow
Fractal Design Pop XL Silent
Be Quiet Dark Base Pro 901
SilverStone Alta F2
Fractal Design North
In Win Airforce
ADATA XPG Valor Air
The Best PC Tower Case Deals This Week*
- Corsair 5000D Airflow Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX Case — $124.99(List Price $174.99)
- Lian Li Lancool 205 Mesh C Mid-Tower ATX Computer Case — $108.99(List Price $137.99)
- Asus Prime AP201 Mid-Tower MicroATX Computer Case — $69.99(List Price $89.99)
- Corsair 4000D Airflow Mid-Tower ATX Computer Case — $79.99(List Price $104.99)
- Fractal Design North Charcoal Black Mid-Tower ATX Case — $139.99(List Price $149)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
- RELATED:
- Best PC Cases
- Best Mini-ITX Cases
- Best Motherboards
Best Overall ATX Tower PC Case
NZXT H7 Flow
4.0 Excellent
- Excellent cooling performance
- Good noise control
- Comprehensive dust control
- Supports dual oversize radiators
- Easy snap-on panels
- Great cable selection
- Reasonably priced
- No reset button
- No drive-activity LED
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedE-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays4
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.0 (2), USB 3.1 Type C, headphone, mic
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions7
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions7
120mm to 200mm Fans Included2
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length400 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height185 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length262 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)19.8 by 9.1 by 18.9 inches
Weight23 lbs
Delivering excellent performance at a reasonable price, NZXT's H7 Flow ATX case does such a fine job at the basics that it outshines advanced features offered by its competitors.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
NZXT H7 Flow Review
Best Overall ATX Midtower PC Case
Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact
4.5 Outstanding
- Lightweight, yet solidly built
- Attractive rumpled-metal aesthetic
- Three USB ports on front/top panel
- No RGB LEDs (a plus for some buyers)
- Reasonably priced, and includes three fans
- Easy to build in
- No RGB LEDs (a negative for some shoppers)
- No tool-free mounting system for drives
- Fifth and sixth drive mounts require optional hardware
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays2
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.1 Type C, USB 3.0, headphone, mic
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions7
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions7
120mm to 200mm Fans Included3
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length360 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height169 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length200 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)20.47 by 9.65 by 20.47 inches
Weight16.98 lbs
Fractal Design’s Meshify 2 Compact is one of the best midtower cases we’ve tested in recent years. It’s aggressively priced, distinctive in look, and a joy to build inside.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact Review
Best Budget ATX Tower PC Case
Montech Air 903 Max
4.0 Excellent
- Includes four powerful 140mm fans (three of them RGB lit)
- Six-device combo PWM fan hub/ARGB controller
- Slide-out power supply dust filter
- Lots of mounts for 2.5-inch drives
- Front-panel ports and controls exceed expectations for the price
- Uses face panel as dust filter
- Noisy at full fan speed
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedE-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays4
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.2 Type C, USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-A (2), HD Audio
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions7
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions7
120mm to 200mm Fans Included4
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length400 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height180 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length240 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorAddressable RGB
Dimensions (HWD)19.4 by 9.1 by 18.8 inches
Weight17.3 lbs
Packing RGB fans, a fan and lighting hub, side glass, and more, Montech's Air 903 Max offers value-conscious PC builders the features of a far costlier ATX case for less than $80.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
Montech Air 903 Max Review
Best Full-Tower PC Case for Massive Cooling
Corsair iCUE 5000T RGB
4.0 Excellent
- Holds up to three triple-fan (360mm) radiators
- Cable cover acts as side duct for motherboard component cooling
- Includes extra component for cleaner installation of thick front-panel cooler
- Has four Type-A USB 3 ports in addition to Gen2 Type-C
- Included RGB/fan controller supports full Corsair iCue software control
- Pricey
- Limited power supply space with lower drive cage in stock position
- Alternate drive cage placements impinge on side and/or front radiator space
- Right side panel feels a little flimsy, given case’s heft
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays4
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.2 Type C, USB 3.0 (4), HD Audio
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions9
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions7
120mm to 200mm Fans Included3
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length400 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height170 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length250 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorAddressable RGB
Included Fan Lighting ColorAddressable RGB
Dimensions (HWD)22 by 9.9 by 20.9 inches
Weight32 lbs
Corsair’s iCUE 5000T RGB includes enough advanced cooling, connectivity, and stylistic features that many high-end builders will be willing to overlook its inclusion of one flimsy side panel.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
Corsair iCUE 5000T RGB Review
Best Tower Case For Air Cooling
Fractal Design Torrent RGB
4.0 Excellent
- Exceedingly easy to build inside
- Effective use of rare top-mounted PSU
- Premium stylish aesthetic, with two tempered-glass windows
- Easy cable management
- Excellent airflow, aided by silent aRGB fans
- Supports oversize and E-ATX motherboards
- Front panel is flimsy plastic
- Feet and top panel are also plastic
- Price is high given chassis materials
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX, E-ATX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays4
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.0 (2), USB 3.1 Type C, headphone, mic
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions7
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions7
120mm to 200mm Fans Included5
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length461 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height230 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length188 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationTop
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorAddressable RGB
Included Fan Lighting ColorAddressable RGB
Dimensions (HWD)21.4 by 9.5 by 20.9 inches
Weight23.8 lbs
Though the plastic portions of Fractal Design's Torrent RGB disappoint, this remains an excellent oversize tower PC case with generous airflow, a best-in-class building experience, and some of the quietest fans you’ll find.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
Fractal Design Torrent RGB Review
Best PC Tower Case for Maximum Storage
Corsair iCUE 7000D Airflow
4.0 Excellent
- Spacious interior
- Three included 140mm fans, plus room for plenty more
- Dedicated fan controller
- 10 total drive mounts
- Hinged side panels
- Five USB ports on “front” (actually, top) I/O panel
- Quite heavy and cumbersome to move around
- Expensive
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedE-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays6
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays4
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.1 Type C, headphone, mic, USB 3.0 (4)
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions11
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions10
120mm to 200mm Fans Included3
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length450 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height190 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length225 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)23.6 by 9.8 by 21.7 inches
Weight43.6 lbs
Corsair’s big, pricey iCue 7000D Airflow full-tower PC case is eye-catching and cavernous. It is equipped with plenty of fans, supports the biggest liquid-cooling radiators, and has a vast side window to show off your PC parts to the max.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
Corsair iCUE 7000D Airflow Review
Best Tower PC Case for Quiet Running
Fractal Design Pop XL Silent
4.0 Excellent
- Triple intake fans included
- Sound/vibration damped panels
- Room for oversize motherboards, larger liquid coolers
- No removable front-panel dust filter
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C cable must be purchased separately
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedATX, Mini-ITX, MicroATX
External 5.25-Inch Bays2
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays3
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays5
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.0 (2), headphone, mic
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions8
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions6
120mm to 200mm Fans Included4
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length430 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height185 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length285 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)20.5 by 9.0 by 20.6 inches
Weight23.8 lbs
Fractal Design’s Pop XL Silent PC case offers a valuable feature set, generous component space, and hushed-up, air-cooled operation for right around $100.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
Fractal Design Pop XL Silent Review
A Solid Alternative to the Fractal Design Pop XL Silent
Be Quiet Dark Base Pro 901
4.0 Excellent
- Superb materials and build quality
- Light-up front-panel ports and controls
- Acoustic plugs fill unused fan mounts
- External 5.25-inch bay (for those who still need one)
- Great airflow at moderate noise levels
- Twice the price of louder competitors
- Houdini-defying latch design on bay door
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedE-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays1
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays6
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.0 Type A (4), HD Audio
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions8
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions11
120mm to 200mm Fans Included3
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length495 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height190 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length327 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)22.4 by 10.8 by 23.8 inches
Weight38.5 lbs
Big spenders with big cooling needs will thrill to Be Quiet's Dark Base Pro 901 flagship chassis. Cool thermal performance and abundant aluminum pair up in this hulking tower case, which delivers hushed operation and loads of install flexibility.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
Be Quiet Dark Base Pro 901 Review
Best Full-Tower PC Case for Extreme Liquid Cooling
SilverStone Alta F2
4.0 Excellent
- Supports up to two 480mm-format radiators
- Unique angled vertical graphics card mount
- Includes PCIe 4.0 x16 riser cable
- Triple 180mm intake fans for superior flow
- Easy access dust filters
- Wildly expensive
- Using a top radiator limits graphics card placement, mandating using the included riser cable
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedE-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays8
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays7
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (4), HD Audio
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions9
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions10
120mm to 200mm Fans Included3
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length354 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height219 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length252 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationTop
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)22.7 by 10.3 by 25.9 inches
Weight46.5 lbs
A supercar among PC cases and featuring a nifty angled graphics-card mount, SilverStone's colossal Alta F2 performs in line with its luxury cost. Just make sure you have the mother of all hardware loadouts to justify the spend.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
SilverStone Alta F2 Review
Best Tower PC Case With a Unique Face (Wood)
Fractal Design North
4.0 Excellent
- Class-leading CPU and voltage-regulator cooling
- Buyer's choice of tempered glass or mesh left panel
- Mesh version includes side-mount radiator bracket
- Supports motherboards up to 10.8 inches deep
- Walnut trim provides pleasant aesthetic
- Ho-hum temperatures around GPU
- Slightly pricier than class average
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays2
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.0 (2), HD Audio
Side Window(s)?No
PCI Expansion Slot Positions7
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions6
120mm to 200mm Fans Included2
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length355 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height170 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length280 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)8.5 by 8.5 by 17.6 inches
Weight16.9 lbs
We'd opt for the glass-panel version instead of the mesh-side model we tested, but Fractal Design's North case has all the extra cooling and aesthetics it needs to attract buyers intrigued by its woodsy front face.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
Fractal Design North Review
Best Kit Case for Kids and DIY-ers
In Win Airforce
4.0 Excellent
- Delivers the joy of assembling your chassis yourself
- Mild amount of color customization possible
- Four premium fans included
- Room for enormous motherboards, larger liquid coolers
- Low CPU and voltage regulator temperatures in testing
- No air intake filter for the power supply
- Acoustic performance could be better
- The time lost to self-assembly
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedE-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays4
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.0 (2), HD Audio
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions8
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions7
120mm to 200mm Fans Included4
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length430 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height170 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length255 mm
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)21.1 x 10.6 x 20.7 inches
Weight15.2 lbs
In Win's quirky, colorful Airforce is a useful EATX PC case for those who need massive internal space for air-cooling their desktop parts—and love putting things together, kit-style.
GET IT NOW
Learn More
In Win Airforce Review
A Solid Alternative to the Montech Air 903 Max
ADATA XPG Valor Air
4.0 Excellent
- Ultra-low price
- Full-length front dust filter
- Includes four fans
- Merely so-so cooling and acoustic performance
- Thin materials
Motherboard Form Factors SupportedATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
External 5.25-Inch Bays0
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays2
External 3.5-Inch Bays0
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays2
Front Panel PortsUSB 3.0 (2), Head/Mic Combo Jack
Side Window(s)?Yes (Tempered Glass)
PCI Expansion Slot Positions7
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions1
120mm to 200mm Fans Included3
Fan Controller Included?
Maximum GPU Length305 mm
Maximum CPU Cooler Height166 mm
Power Supply Maximum Length190 mm w/drive cage
Power Supply Form Factor SupportedATX
Power Supply Mounting LocationBottom
Internal Chassis Lighting ColorNone
Included Fan Lighting ColorNone
Dimensions (HWD)18.1 by 8.3 by 14.6 inches
Weight10.9 lbs
ADATA's XPG Valor Air ATX PC case does a fine job of packing full-size components into a midsize box at a small, small price.
Learn More
ADATA XPG Valor Air Review
Buying Guide: The Best PC Tower Cases in 2024
Why Should I Buy a Tower Case?
In our experience, tower cases tend to alleviate many of the space-related ails when building a PC. It's not rocket science why: They're simply bigger.
Most offer adequate room for cable routing and long video cards, and they should have room for enough drives, given today's per-drive capacities, to satisfy most needs short of a server's. If you have the room for one, a tower is an ideal platform for a new PC build or as a case upgrade for an existing system that's running out of room inside for drives or card expansion.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
In the last few years, we've seen some clear trends among tower cases, too. Aggressive sci-fi and mecha themes were big for a while, but that has given way to subtler aesthetics: clean designs with neutral themes and an emphasis on the quality of external materials. (That said, you still can find those out-there PC-case designs in places, if you want them.) For a while, it looked like the DIY PC-case market was shifting over entirely to a blinged-up, geeky gamer aesthetic, but the design winds have shifted a bit. Over the last few years, we've seen a major move to glass and acrylic side panels, as well as the integration of mood lighting, whether one-color or programmable RGB.
What's also shifted: thedefinitionof a tower case. "True" towers—with huge banks of drive bays and bodies more than 20 inches tall—are still around, but the lines have blurred between these and larger mid-tower chassis, which tend to lie in the 18-to-20-inch height range. But even these are seeing their own splintering and hazy categorization: Just about all mainstream big cases, for example, have eliminated front-facing 5.25-inch drive bays altogether, assuming that buyers won't be opting for internal optical drives anymore. These really minimal cases were a subclass of their own a few years ago but are now the norm, not the exception. As 5.25-inch bays have vanished, the really large towers have fallen out of favor with many buyers who aren't doing elaborate modding or liquid cooling.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
With Nvidia's "Ampere" (RTX 30 Series) cards the toast of the video-card world for the last few years, SLI has become even less likely an option for the bulk of users; only the ultra-expensive GeForce RTX 3090 can be paired up in SLI (technically, "NVLink"), and the cost for two of them is eye-popping. With today's decided shift to using just one video card, more moderate-size towers have been in the offing for most folks, but with a late-breaking twist: The latest GeForce RTX 40 Series cards in the "Ada Lovelace" line, headed by the titanic, enormously thick GeForce RTX 4090, are making the case for big towers again at the absolute high end.
Of course, you can still build out a PC with more than two older cards in an AMD CrossFireX arrangement (or using legacy Nvidia cards). But AMD is de-emphasizing CrossFireX, too. So, giant tower cases with slot positions to take four double-wide video cards are best considered a niche within a niche, though users of GeForce RTX 4080s and RTX 4090s may need three slots or even four for just one card, depending on the card design!
Picking the right tower PC case for your build or upgrade is a complex interplay of the parts you have, the parts you may install someday, and the space you have available to stash the chassis itself. Here's a brief rundown of the things to look for before we get deep into our favorites. (Also, for a primer on PC-case lingo, check outBuying a PC Case: 20 Terms You Need to Know.)
Motherboard Compatibility: ATX and More
Most towers, by definition, will support ATX-form-factor mainboards. If you're looking to install a smaller MicroATX or Mini-ITX motherboard, a tower may not be the right choice. (That is, unless you know you need a tower's wealth of drive bays, and you have the means to connect a heap of drives via that smaller board's Serial ATA ports or a controller card.)
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Larger tower cases may support additional form factors that are bigger than ATX, such as XL-ATX or Extended ATX (EATX). These are mostly seen in server-grade boards and one-off high-end consumer enthusiast/flagship models. Motherboards, especially, for AMD's and Intel's high-end desktop (HEDT) classes of processors, like the Ryzen Threadripper, tend to come in these oversize form factors due to extra RAM slots and the bigger actual CPU dies they host.
Support for these form factors are an indication that the case will be big; if you don't need that kind of size, steer for an ATX-max case.
CPU Cooler, Graphics Card, and PSU Clearance
First, think about CPU coolers: If you're using liquid cooling in your PC, this won't be an issue, but if you're using an elaborate air-cooler that has a tall heat sink and fan assembly on top (performance coolers from companies like Noctua are what we're talking about), you'll want to measure the height of the cooler involved. PC case makers typically list the maximum cooler clearance on the case's spec sheet—check it if you're air-cooling. (More on liquid-cooling in a moment.)
(Credit: Michael Sexton)
As for video cards, this is a simple length measurement. Depending on the case design, the longest video cards—typically high-end ones measuring more than 11 inches front to back—may bump up against the drive bays or other case structure in front. If you're using a monster video card, keep an eye on this spec.
A few years back, we saw the emergence of some highly able "short board" versions of Nvidia's Pascal (GTX 10 Series), Turing (RTX 20 Series), and now Ampere (RTX 30 Series) cards. (Check in with card makers like Zotac, MSI, and Gigabyte; they tend to offer the occasional short design.) AMD's card partners, to a much lesser extent, have followed suit, but we haven't seen any short-board versions of RTX 40 Series cards yet. (Not by a long shot!) That means you can put a powerful but compact card into a relatively trim chassis with less regard for length issues.
(Credit: John Burek)
The power supply unit (PSU) is the last element to consider. Almost all tower cases will make use of an ATX form-factor power supply, as opposed to the compact SFX and SFX-L form factor used in some compact cases. The main spec to pay attention to is the power supply's physical length. Some cases mandate a maximum length that can fit without interference; this is less common in towers than in more compact cases, but it is still worth paying attention to before you buy.
(Credit: Michael Sexton)
Also worth looking into, but hard to discern from simple spec sheets: the reach of the eight-pin or four-pin CPU power cable. In a few really big tower cases, it's difficult or impossible to stretch this cable to the max to reach a far-flung CPU power port on the mainboard. An extender may be required. This is where reviews of cases, detailing their nuances and quirks, come in.
Drive Bays and Front-Panel Ports
The drive-bay equation is pretty straightforward: You need as many 2.5-inch, 3.5-inch, or 5.25-inch bays for SSDs, hard drives, or optical drives as you have drives, plus an allowance for future ones you might install. Many tower cases these days have dedicated bays for 2.5-inch drives (primarily for solid-state drives) and 3.5-inch drives; in most, the 3.5-inch bays also support smaller 2.5-inch drives via differently positioned screw mounts.
Note that, as we mentioned above, most cases, even big ones, are doing away with 5.25-inch bays altogether, under the assumption that optical drives are now passé. If you need an internal DVD or Blu-ray drive in your build, be aware of that as you shop. Also, most big cases now favor mounting spots for large liquid coolers instead of the big banks of 3.5-inch hard drive bays that cases of the past often featured. Expect two to four 3.5-inch bays for hard drives in most towers these days.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Front-facing ports, on the other hand, don't vary too much among recent tower cases. The usual mix is a pair of USB 3.0 ports, possibly a pair of USB 2.0 ports, and headphone and mic jacks. Make sure your motherboard has the proper mixture of headers for the ports on the chassis. That's usually not a problem, though some really old motherboards may not have the 20-pin connector for USB 3.0 front-panel ports. A few cases may have four USB 3.0 ports and thus require two USB 3.0 headers to connect them all; many boards have just one such header. You may need an adapter to hook up the second set to a USB 2.0 header—be warned. (It will run at slower USB 2.0 speeds.)
(Credit: Molly Flores)
One hit-or-miss feature in current PC cases is support for front-panel USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports. Chassis and motherboard makers have agreed on a header connector forUSB Type-C, and the header connections are on most late-model motherboards. Some chassis will have a single USB Type-C port that interfaces with these Type-C headers, but you may need an adapter to bridge things for a while between these ports on a chassis and your motherboard. Neither case makers nor motherboard vendors tend to bundle these, and not all new boards have a Type-C header, which is quite different from the 20-pin USB 3.0 connector.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Cable Routing
This is a tough area to assess outside the context of a review and actually building a PC into the case in question. It comprises two key areas: cutaways in the motherboard tray for running cables behind the case's tray, and clearance behind the (usually) right-side panel. The latter is often ignored, but it's important. Running thick cables such as the 24-pin main power-supply cable behind the right panel can be tricky if you don't have enough room, and it needs to crisscross other cables.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
As a result, you'll want to pay close attention to our test build experiences to see how cable jockeying shakes out with a given case. Some cases will come with nicely pre-routed case cables or Velcro restraints to control cable excess, or have well-placed niches in which to stash extra-length or unused cables. A few, such as the Razer Tomahawk ATX, even have interior covers behind the motherboard tray to collect and cover up messy cables, allowing a clean view into both sides of the case through side-panel glass.
(Credit: Michael Sexton)
Liquid Cooling and Air Cooling
If you mean to install liquid cooling for your processor or graphics, you'll want to examine the specifications for the size of radiator (or radiators) you can install. You'll find two aspects here: the radiator's thickness, and the overall radiator length, measured in millimeters.
The thickness spec is to ensure that the radiator, its fans, and other hardware do not interfere with components on the mainboard because of overhang. The length is usually expressed as a multiple of the standard-size fans you install (which are, in most cases, 120mm or 140mm). So, you'll typically see specs for mounting a 120mm-, 240mm-, or 360mm-long radiator unit. Match up what the case can accept with what you plan to install. Huge 360mm radiators are one of the main reasons old-school, really big towers still exist.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
As for air-cooling, how many fans are included in the case and how many you can install are two different things entirely. In most tower chassis, you will get at least a couple of pre-installed fans; additional ones are cheap, so we wouldn't make the fan count a deal breaker. (If you're doing liquid cooling, you may need to remove some of the installed fans, anyway, to make room for the radiator hardware you need to mount.) That said, be mindful of the sizes of fans that are included and supported. Replacements for nonstandard sizes like the 200mm whoppers used in some of the largest or widest towers are harder to come by than more standard 120mm and 140mm fans.
And then you have fan filters. Anyone who has dismantled a tower PC that's been in service for some years knows about the dust, the dust, the eternal dust: caked on the case's fan filters, rolling around inside the case in dust bunnies, and clotted on the fan blades. Better that it be caught in a cleanable filter: Look for removable filters over the intake fans (usually, the fans on the front) and over the power-supply intake (not the exhaust), which will be on case bottom or top.
(Credit: Thomas Soderstrom)
So, Which PC Case Should I Buy?
Once you choose your case, check out our roundups of thetop graphics cards overall, thebest graphics cards for 4K gaming, andour top-rated M.2 solid state drives. These are the most likely parts you'll be shopping for next. We've outlined our latest-favorite PC cases below, with an eye to ease of build and attractiveness. (Or, if you prefer to skip the build process altogether, take a look at our top-performing prebuiltdesktop PCsorgaming PCs.)
Compare SpecsThe Best PC Tower Cases in 2024
Our Picks | NZXT H7 FlowSee It$179.99 at Amazon | Fractal Design Meshify 2 CompactSee It$299.18 at Amazon | Montech Air 903 MaxSee It$79.00 at Amazon | Corsair iCUE 5000T RGBSee It$349.99 at Amazon | Fractal Design Torrent RGBSee It$271.98 at Amazon | Corsair iCUE 7000D AirflowSee It$209.99 at Amazon | Fractal Design Pop XL SilentSee It$99.99 at Newegg | Be Quiet Dark Base Pro 901See It$290.45 at Amazon | SilverStone Alta F2See It$879.99 at Amazon | Fractal Design NorthSee It$129.00 at Fractal Design | In Win AirforceSee It$210.00 at Amazon | ADATA XPG Valor Air |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Editors'Rating | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.5Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | 4.0Editor Review | Editors' Choice 4.0Editor Review |
Motherboard Form Factors Supported | E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX, E-ATX | E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | ATX, Mini-ITX, MicroATX | E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX | ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX |
External 5.25-Inch Bays | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Internal 3.5-Inch Bays | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
External 3.5-Inch Bays | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Internal 2.5-Inch Bays | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Front Panel Ports | USB 3.0 (2), USB 3.1 Type C, headphone, mic | USB 3.1 Type C, USB 3.0, headphone, mic | USB 3.2 Type C, USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-A (2), HD Audio | USB 3.2 Type C, USB 3.0 (4), HD Audio | USB 3.0 (2), USB 3.1 Type C, headphone, mic | USB 3.1 Type C, headphone, mic, USB 3.0 (4) | USB 3.0 (2), headphone, mic | USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.0 Type A (4), HD Audio | USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (4), HD Audio | USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.0 (2), HD Audio | USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.0 (2), HD Audio | USB 3.0 (2), Head/Mic Combo Jack |
Side Window(s)? | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) | No | Yes (Tempered Glass) | Yes (Tempered Glass) |
PCI Expansion Slot Positions | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
120mm or 140mm Fan Positions | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
120mm to 200mm Fans Included | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Fan Controller Included? | ||||||||||||
Maximum GPU Length | 400 mm | 360 mm | 400 mm | 400 mm | 461 mm | 450 mm | 430 mm | 495 mm | 354 mm | 355 mm | 430 mm | 305 mm |
Maximum CPU Cooler Height | 185 mm | 169 mm | 180 mm | 170 mm | 230 mm | 190 mm | 185 mm | 190 mm | 219 mm | 170 mm | 170 mm | 166 mm |
Power Supply Maximum Length | 262 mm | 200 mm | 240 mm | 250 mm | 188 mm | 225 mm | 285 mm | 327 mm | 252 mm | 280 mm | 255 mm | 190 mm w/drive cage |
Power Supply Form Factor Supported | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX |
Power Supply Mounting Location | Bottom | Bottom | Bottom | Bottom | Top | Bottom | Bottom | Bottom | Top | Bottom | Bottom | Bottom |
Internal Chassis Lighting Color | None | None | None | Addressable RGB | Addressable RGB | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
Included Fan Lighting Color | None | None | Addressable RGB | Addressable RGB | Addressable RGB | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
Dimensions (HWD) | 19.8 by 9.1 by 18.9 inches | 20.47 by 9.65 by 20.47 inches | 19.4 by 9.1 by 18.8 inches | 22 by 9.9 by 20.9 inches | 21.4 by 9.5 by 20.9 inches | 23.6 by 9.8 by 21.7 inches | 20.5 by 9.0 by 20.6 inches | 22.4 by 10.8 by 23.8 inches | 22.7 by 10.3 by 25.9 inches | 8.5 by 8.5 by 17.6 inches | 21.1 x 10.6 x 20.7 inches | 18.1 by 8.3 by 14.6 inches |
Weight | 23 lbs | 16.98 lbs | 17.3 lbs | 32 lbs | 23.8 lbs | 43.6 lbs | 23.8 lbs | 38.5 lbs | 46.5 lbs | 16.9 lbs | 15.2 lbs | 10.9 lbs |
Where to Buy | $179.99 at Amazon | $299.18 at Amazon $109.99 at Newegg | $79.00 at Amazon | $349.99 at Amazon | $271.98 at Amazon $229.99 at Newegg | $209.99 at Amazon $259.99 at Corsair | $99.99 at Newegg | $290.45 at Amazon | $879.99 at Amazon | $129.00 at Fractal Design | $210.00 at Amazon $203.65 at Walmart |
Like What You're Reading?
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Sign up for other newsletters
Further Reading
The Best PC Cases for 2024
ByJohn Burek
How to Build a PC: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide
ByJohn Burek
If You're Moving to a New PC, This Tool Will Save You Hours
ByStackCommerce Team (Sponsored)
NASA Uses Space Lasers to Communicate With the ISS
ByEmily Price
ISPs Claim US Government's Plan of $30 Internet Is Unrealistic
ByEmily Price
Apple Agrees to First Union Contract Deal for US Retail Employees
ByEmily Price
TikTok Reportedly Collected US Users' Opinions on Gun Control, Abortion, More
ByEmily Price
1 Day Left: Microsoft Office at $25
ByStackCommerce Team (Sponsored)
TRENDING
{X-html Replaced}
Editors' Choice
About John Burek
Executive Editor and PC Labs Director
I have been a technology journalist for 30-plus years and have covered just about every kind of computer gear—from the 386SX to 64-core processors—in my long tenure as an editor, a writer, and an advice columnist. For almost a quarter-century, I worked on the seminal, gigantic Computer Shopper magazine (and later, its digital counterpart), aka the phone book for PC buyers, and the nemesis of every postal delivery person. I was Computer Shopper's editor in chief for its final nine years, after which much of its digital content was folded into PCMag.com. I also served, briefly, as the editor in chief of the well-known hard-core tech site Tom's Hardware.
During that time, I've built and torn down enough desktop PCs to equip a city block's worth of internet cafes. Under race conditions, I've built PCs from bare-board to bootup in under 5 minutes.
In my early career, I worked as an editor of scholarly science books, and as an editor of "Dummies"-style computer guidebooks for Brady Books (now, BradyGames). I'm a lifetime New Yorker, a graduate of New York University's journalism program, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Read John's full bio
Read the latest from John Burek
- The Best RGB Keyboards for 2024
- The Best PCI Express NVMe Solid State Drives (SSDs) for 2024
- The Best SSDs for Upgrading Your Laptop in 2024
- The Best Mechanical Keyboards for 2024
- The Best All-in-One Computers for 2024
- More from John Burek