The Best Computer Cases 2020

[kiwigraeme]

Add another person for The refine R7- I built last year with the R6 - all white , no glass - with USBc on front .
I think it has a WAF factor ( not too big or garish ) - use to have a monstrous Lian Li case before my R4 - which I am now typing on ( the R4 ) .

I will transfer over my BR/DVD reader to my new build sometime & my bigger drives . I rip music and the odd movie - not sure if new drive readers have same quality - I can rip all but the most scratch CDs .

They are just simple to build with , nice and solid and quiet

saying that - they aren't that cheap - but they are excellent quality

 

[EClyde]

I have a Phanteks case. Easily the least aggravating to work with.

 

[grumblguts]

Not one of them has a fan blowing directly over the vrm on main board.
all garbage every last one of them.

https://imgur.com/QXkqIfU

https://imgur.com/C52fL2I

https://imgur.com/DX54IUO

 

[imdarkbreeze]

Those massive CPU fans look terrible.

I built a system for my younger cousin with an Asus Hero motherboard, 9900K, EVGA 240 mm AIO and EVGA 850G3 PSU in a Phantek. Dumped his fan for


The fans take up way too much space compared to a liquid cooler, run louder and dustier.

He’s overclocked his CPU to 5GHz and is much happier now.

None of this makes any sense at all. Air coolers are QUIETER, not louder, than most AIO coolers that are even moderately capable. And CPU air coolers don't introduce anymore dust into the case than you'd have with an AIO. Intake fans introduce dust, and it doesn't really matter if they are strictly intake fans, or intake fans mounted on a radiator, they still pull air into the case and air has dust in it.

Has nothing to do with whether the CPU is air or water cooled.

Just nonsense really.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

None of this makes any sense at all.

It makes perfect sense. And that's what we did. And the results we got were excellent while the space inside the tower is left open.

 

[Thrackerzod]

I've never liked case windows and I really wish the RGB LED fad would die out, it's so tacky. Someday maybe we'll look back on these cases the same way we look back at orange shag carpeting in the 70s.

 

[Wizwill]

I've been building computers for 25 years. I've been modding things for a whole lot longer. Since I was a wee lad I've always "customized" The things in my life to suit my needs. Headlights that actually worked on my bicycle, engine power and shaved chrome looks for my first car, suspension modifications for handling on every motorcycle I've ever owned, software tweaks to suit my workflow, custom kitchens to fit the cook and work vans with intuitive tool storage and workable living arrangements when I traveled and worked as a carpenter.

I fail to see how a glass panel and flashing neon lights add to the utility of a computer but I never was much for coon tails and mudflaps.
I belabor the point I'm sure by mentioning once again that I am not a gamer. Would it be possible to have one review or product overview that specialized in performance rather than "game worthy". there was not a single case in your recent review of computer cases that didn't have a glass panel on the side.

There are still enough standard power users out here who would appreciate a power user slanted review once in a while..

 

[OptimumSlinky]

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer PC cases with the external drives bays for installing optical drives. Some of these chasses look cool; however, I can't get past the windowed side panels. They appear fragile as if staring at them for too long will break them.

I went with the Fractal Define R6 with USB-C in gunmetal for this reason: I still have the optical installed, available behind the door whenever I need to rip an old CD or something.

 

[sac39507]

Lian Li is still not updating their cases to include a separate chamber for the PSU. The single compartment design seems so outdated.

 

[10thDmenxn]

The ONLY case on the entire list that is a truly a great case is the Lian Li 011 Dynamic XL. Everything else is either crap, or just barely acceptable. It's amazing to me how little innovation has gone into cases over the last three to four years, considering how much innovation has gone in to most other aspects of enthusiast computers.

 

[poohbear]

C'mon guys, no category for quietest case?? That's the biggest metric a lot of us use when buying a case.

 

[Capaill]

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer PC cases with the external drives bays for installing optical drives. Some of these chasses look cool; however, I can't get past the windowed side panels. They appear fragile as if staring at them for too long will break them.

Most windowed side panels these days use tempered glass. You'll have a hard time breaking or scratching them.
I have a Phanteks Enthoo Pro M case. It has great air-cooling and 1 external ODD bay which I intended to use with an old internal DVD drive but I didn't like that it was so visible through the side window. I bought a cheap external USB DVD drive instead which I think is the better option because it gets used so rarely. Any other use of the ODD bay would be ok as fan controllers or displays or extra ports don't have much depth and you could hide the cables.

 

[David Matthews]

For the SFF crowd, I'd also recommend the Ncase M1, Dan A4, and Phanteks Evolv Shift Air.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Vanity of vanities; all is vanity...well, maybe not. I like mounting PSU with all that weight down low and 5.25" and 3.5" bays are nice to have. A vote for easy to clean screens and filters. I'll skip the flashing LEDs and the tempered glass cutouts.

 

[Red999]

Motherboard should be place in left panel that pcie slots will be on top of cpu socket.
In that way, gpu's heavy cooler will lie on top of it's pcb instead of hanging onto it.
Recent Asus Radeon problem shows that is not great to make heavy cooler hanging onto gpu pcb.

 

[madboyv1]

LOOOOOOOL I had not realized Lian-Li was still updating the TU line... I remember when the Ruggedized PC-Q08 came out (the TU-200) and I just sat there scratching my head... it still looks silly but at least a lot cleaner and appears easier to build in/maintain than it's predecessor.

I'm not sure if I had said anything last time but the NZXT H200i/H210i is practically a micro ATX case that mounts ITX. It has it's place and niche, but usually the point of building ITX is get around that sub 20L case size, optimizing space where you can (and in some cases to extremes).

Like David Matthews mentioned, you've got cases like the Ncase M1, Dan A4, and additionally the Streacom DA2, and Sliger has a couple ITX cases, all of which worth looking at too. and arguably better choices. The NZXT H1 is a pretty great option actually if you're okay with buying the whole kit (as there is no other option).

Unfortunately some of the more coveted ITX cases out there are limited run (example: Louqe Ghost S1), preorder on hold (FormD-T1 ), or already sold out (the Velka 3/5) so I understand why none of those are not on the list.

 

[money]

My DeepCool Matrexx 55 Mesh is the best bang for buck.

 

[Squid Surprise]

I love the Corsair cases... I have the 900D - which is crazy huge, but really easy to work with. The only problem is that it weighs a TON!

I can only imagine that the 1000D is even heavier...

 

[MasterMace]

Lot of builds spending extra on a case is a luxury they cannot afford. Care to include a $50 and under category?

 

[neeyik]

I love the Corsair cases... I have the 900D - which is crazy huge, but really easy to work with. The only problem is that it weighs a TON!

I can only imagine that the 1000D is even heavier...

I just updated my case and really wanted the 900D, but there’s just not enough room on my office desk for it. Went for the 680X instead, which is nicely enough, but just doesn’t have the space I really need. Dang it, I need to update my desk/office/house ?

 

[Squid Surprise]

I just updated my case and really wanted the 900D, but there’s just not enough room on my office desk for it. Went for the 680X instead, which is nicely enough, but just doesn’t have the space I really need. Dang it, I need to update my desk/office/house ?

Wow... never even considered putting the case on my desk... WAY too big for that... it used to sit under my desk - but my legs kept hitting it... so got an extra long Display Port cable and have it beside my desk far enough away not to hit me... mouse/keyboard are attached to the monitor instead, and it works nice

 

[neeyik]

Hmm, never thought about using my monitor's USB ports for the mouse & keyboard. Hmmmmmm....

 

[Athlonite]

Hmmm there's nothing there that makes me want to throw out my Silverstone RV03

 

[Squid Surprise]

Hmm, never thought about using my monitor's USB ports for the mouse & keyboard. Hmmmmmm....

The only flaw is that if you turn off your monitor but have a second screen (like a 65” TV or projector), you need another keyboard and mouse...

 

[madboyv1]

Hmm, never thought about using my monitor's USB ports for the mouse & keyboard. Hmmmmmm....

Another option would be a separate USB hub. If you're using it mainly for keyboard/mouse/flash drives you can even get by with a bus powered hub.