The Best Computer Cases 2020

[comnut]

I wish cases had dust and creepy crawly (spiders) resistance.

yes, sorry but this review reads like a car mag review of the latest superfast sports cars - they go very fast, look great, but are NOT very comfortable to sit in for a few hours!! and 'visibility', forget it..
Have a look on TopGear, trying to drive round an Italian city.. the bottom of the sportscar always got stuck on the ramp or pavement!!

"Dual Curved Glass Door, Ultra-Modular Frame and Extreme features" is this a car they are talking about??? no...

- show off your giant graphics cards, have flashy color changing lights inside, almost 3 feet high, **only** 200...
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/in-w...-80-plus-platinum-modular-powe-ca-077-iw.html
would be nicer, to complement the 2 GT3 RSin your garage... : P

** seriously though.. You want the nice range of noise-dampened-full-towers here, lots of space for stuff, and no ear-defenders needed...

Noise Dampened Full Tower Cases Available at Overclockers UK

Noise-dampened full tower cases offer the best all-round experience while reducing noise. Coming with a stage 1 noise dampening solution pre-installed and an additional a pre-cut noise reduction foam kit (stage 2) you can reduce the noise emitted from your case even further.

www.overclockers.co.uk

 

[Austinturner]

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..

Like many other people in the comments I’m a happy Fractal Define R6 customer, solid metal side panel has sound insulation inside it, overall the case is roomy and easy to build in, lots of drive space that can be configured how you like it, quiet high quality fans factory supplied, its quiet when the door is closed and has dust filters front and bottom that are easy to slide out and clean.

The only improvements I would make to the design is a bit thicker door so that air has less resistance when being pulled in by the front fans, I’ve noticed opening the front door improves cooling on the hottest of days here in Australia (when not using air conditioning) and also I would put the power buttons inside the door so the kids don’t come along and press them as often!

 

[HofyPC]

Too bad they couldnt include Best Small Form Factor case.
Of course, we know that is the Cooler Master NR200.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Many would suggest, that^ ain't helping a friend.

He didn't help him buy it or recommend it, he helped him build it.

Trying to argue a point that is moot?

 

[MaxSmarties]

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.

what is an optical drive ?

 

[madboyv1]

I'm honestly surprised that the Coolermaster NR200 did not take the best ITX case, or at least one of the runner ups. At 6 liters smaller in internal volume compared to the TU150, The NR200 can accommodate an ATX power supply if you feel like wasting the space (and know someone with a 3D printer), can mount gpu's vertically if you want to, has much greater support for both air cooling and liquid cooling, and does it between $80-100, depending on chosen options. It's the current hotness in a lot of sff groups since it's easily accessible retail availability wise compared to a lot of other coveted mini ITX cases.

 

[Dimitriid]

You guys need to remove the NZXT H1 from the list: It is literally not available for sale due to 2 separate recalls: it's a full on liability.

 

[Soulwise]

Lian Li 011 Dynamic XL is amazing.I have it.I love that the power supply is behind the case,all the heat goes directly outside,not inside the case,like other cases.I had Darkbase 900 and as a big tower,performed worse than LI 011 XL,10 degrees hoter inside the case.

 

[deanimate]

Phanteks P600S Eclipse
No RGB

Now that is a definite plus

 

[Angga B]

For those who need full atx case which has good airflow, build like a tank but still have window and has bonus of sturdy handle to lift, may I recommend: Cougar Panzer Max. Just built a TR system on it and we need it still to be somewhat portable. Can't be more happy than that.

 

[duckofdeath]

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..

I think, it has to do with the fact that computers do take up a lot of space in the room it is in. So, why not make it look better than a boring block of plastic and sheet metal? Yes, there are a lot of terrible looking RGB monstrosities out there, but, that's mostly up to the person setting it up.

 

[EdmondRC]

I have got to admit, I have a cheap horizontal mount case, and its garbage I got for like $60.00. I wish I had spent a little more, but I was able to keep it cool enough with some modifications. It's not a terrible looking case, but there is not much cord management and the fan layout could have been much better. It's not bad enough to spend $120 to replace, but it definitely would have been better to invest in a $120 case from the start.

 

[Mugsy]

How about "Best case for users who still have front panel devices" like USB card readers & expansion boxes, and BD burners?

Not everyone has abandoned front drive bays for the clutter of a half-dozen external enclosures.

 

[AmigaInside]

No love for full-tower cases?

 

[derekwalters56]

That's not old fashioned, that medieval!!!! That's pre-pyramid's kind of thinking... Lol! Bays???? Optical drives???? Lol. For what??? I can't think of a single reason to have an external bay or an optical drive. NONE! Thus I haven't had either in forever... Seriously man, all joking aside, update your thinking. You are living in prehistoric mindsets of computing. It's in your best interests to do some research. Cheers!

Wow, you're overhype ADD post gave me a headache. 2 things 1. I have built with 3 seperate 240 AIOs, and while it looks nice, a Noctua (all black) will give you more than enough to overclock to 5.0ghz and I usually have 2 1700rpm intake and 2 1700rpm exhaust with the best Noctua that fits, and I get negative pressure so that no air is inside the machine for longer than 0.75 seconds. Keeps CPU's and GPU's icy. My ftw3 3080 runs at 90% of it's full levels, and I've never hit 70 degrees. It hovers at 67-68.
2)"update your thinking"? how update someone updates your face. I like a mini atx as well as the next guy, but my home rig that I use for everything, gaming, workstation, media streamer, and constantly have more things going on than I want, I know people that LOVE my YIFY DVD's and when I can find them, the BR's. If you want your system to be the coolest in school, get one that's locked up tight on all edges. Run your fans and AIO the CPU and GPU. Hell, I'm such a minimalist that I started getting pissed running sata cables, so my rog strix b550 has 2TB NVME, with the choice to put another one when I need my space. Makes for a clean *** build.
Bonus 3) Whoever was busy getting hard over putting together a world class machine, let me know how much that 9700K set you back. I ran a Ryzen 5 3600 for a few months and it was better than expected. My main man the 7 3700X was a fun ride. Now my machine is future proof, 3950X running at 4.2, knowing I can get 4.5 if I push it, I have a feeling I won't be bottlenecking there for quite a while.

And...you're welcome.

 

[Ludak021]

4 screws to remove side panel is a 2 screw step down from 1990s cases. No thanks. No screws or one screw - for me at least, you keep screwing with those 4 eye sores on the side.
Also, screw those prices. I used to get super light LianLi aluminum side cases before RGB madness, now you get d**k for that money and 25kg of metal sheets that give you a headache when you need to move your, now 30kg, PC.

NZXT 710i seems like the best buy in all classes (since it's a bit taller than average mid-tower) save for the class of people that need a really big case for..whatever (go with biggest Lian Li 011 Dynamic you can find).
AIO on top of the case - great idea, unless you plan to use GPU that disperses 200+ W into your case that will now go up to heat up your CPU, RAM, VRMs etc. I don't care what Tech Jesus says, mounting them in front is the best way, nets you at least 10C lower CPU temps. Use 360 rads, or 240/280 that you can lift up to have higher point than the pump on the CPU (god forbid if you use those AIOs that have pumps in rads o.O Go back to air cooling).

 

[m3tavision]

Lian Li 011 Air <-----

For the rad lover in you.

 

[Verrm]

I just don't understand why you're ignoring SFF cases. I understand you might not want to dig into a ton of them for the sake of shortness of already-big article, but they deserve at least a mention or separate SFF category. There are soo much GREAT miTX cases out there like: SSUPD Meshlicious, Xtia Xproto, Cooler Master NR200P, FormD T1, Velka 5 etc.. It might not be an SFF-focused portal, and HUB might not be SFF channel, but still - you're not watercooling-oriented or dual-system too and yet you feature Cosmos C700M or Obsidian 1000D. You're ignoring a whole type of cases here, which is unacceptable.