Sewerage and drainpipes portal / Trays / Rating of cases for a computer. Rating of the best PC cases

Rating of cases for a computer. Rating of the best PC cases

05.11.2021

Best Computer Case | Introduction

PC builders know that when choosing a computer case, you need to pay attention to more than just the appearance. For example, thin panels often rattle, while thicker panels are less conducive to heat dissipation, but reduce noise. Effective cooling requires good airflow, and acoustic performance is influenced by the number of fans and their shape. Over the years we have tested many cases and have compiled a list of the best models that have won our awards.

Best Computer Case | Latest updates

The middle class corpus is excluded from the tables Fractal Design Define R6 TG and added a high-end case Cooler Master Cosmos C700M.

Best Computer Case | Pivot table

	be quiet! Dark base 700	Cougar Panzer EVO RGB	be quiet! Silent Base 601	Cooler Master Cosmos C700M
Category	XL / EATX	High-End ATX	Mid-range ATX	High-end

price, rub.	12500	11800	10000	40000
Type of shell	Mid tower	Full tower	Mid-tower	Full tower
Motherboard formats	E-ATX, ATX, Micro ATX, Mini ITX	ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX	Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX (E-ATX up to 30.5 x x 27.2 cm)	Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX
Dimensions (HxWxL), mm	519 x 241 x 544	612 x 266 x 556	532 x 240 x 514	651 x 306 x 650
Space above the motherboard	31.75mm (25mm above mount bay)	40.5 mm	39 mm	78 mm
Max. card length ext.	430 mm	390 mm	449 mm (without HDD cage)	490 mm (without HDD cage)
BP format	PS / 2 up to 285 mm	Standard ATX PS / 2	Standard ATX PS / 2	Standard ATX PS / 2
Weight, kg	13,5	16,5	10,4	23,8
External Access Bays	(0) 5,25"	(0) 5,25"	No	(1) 5,25"
Internal compartments	(0) 5,25", (7) 3,5, (9) 2,5"	(2) 3,5", (4) 2,5"	(3) 3,5", (6) 2,5"	(5) 3,5", (4) 2,5"
Expanded card slots	7 + 2	8	7 + 2 vert.	8
Ports / connectors	USB 3.1 Type C, (2) USB 3.0, 3.5mm audio, fan speed, control. LED	(1) USB 3.0, (1) USB 2.0, (1) USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, 3.5mm audio	(2) USB 3.0, 1x USB, 3.5mm audio, switchable speed vent.	(1) USB 3.1 Type-C, (4) USB 3.0, 3.5mm audio
Other	Switch. valve speed	Temper. glass on 4 sides, incl. valve speed, 4 valves RGB backlit	Fan controller	Control button ARGB, switch. valve speed
Vent. on the front	1x 140 mm (2x 120/140 mm opt.)	3x 120mm Vortex RGB LED	1x 140 mm (up to 3x 120 mm or 2x 140 mm)	3x 140 mm (up to 3x 120/140 mm)
Vent. on the back	1x 140 mm	1x 120mm Vortex RGB LED		1x 140 mm (up to 1x 140 mm or 120 mm)
Vent. on the top panel	(2x 120/140 mm opt.)	-	- (3 x 120 mm)	- (up to 3x 120/140 mm)
Vent. on the bottom panel	(1x 120/140 mm opt.)	-	-	- (up to 2x 120/140 mm)
Side vent.	-	-	-
Soundproofing	-	-	10 mm acoustics foam on 4 panels	-

	Riotoro CR500 TG	NZXT H400i	NZXT H200i	Deepcool quadstellar
Category	Budget ATX	MicroATX	Mini-ITX	Designer

price, rub.	5300	8500	8500	29000
Type of shell	Mid tower	Mini tower	Mini tower	Full tower
Motherboard formats	ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX	Micro-ATX / Mini-ITX	Mini-ITX	Full tower
Dimensions (HxWxL), mm	435 x 270 x 453	393 x 210 x 421	349 x 210 x 372	483 x 493 x 538
Space above the motherboard	39 mm	38 mm	25 mm	-
Max. card length ext.	320 mm	411 mm	325 mm	380 mm
BP format	PS / 2 up to 180 mm	PS / 2	PS / 2 / SFX	Standard ATX PS / 2 up to 300mm
Weight, kg	6,6	7,6	6	15.4 kg
External Access Bays	(0) 5,25"	(0) 5,25"	(0) 5,25"	(0) 5,25"
Internal compartments	(2) 3,5", (2) 2,5"	(1) 3,5", (4) 2,5"	(1) 3,5", (4) 2,5"	(8) 3.5 ", (2) 2.5" in storage module + (3) 2.5 "in chassis
Expanded card slots	7	4	2	8 + 6
Ports / connectors	(2) USB 2.0, (1) USB 3.0, (1) 3.5mm audio		(2) USB 3.0, (1) 3.5mm audio	(2) USB 3.0, (1) 3.5mm audio
Other	Two LED 120mm vent.	-	-	LED backlight, control via software and controller. vent.
Vent. on the front	3x 120 mm (2x 120 mm LED fan included)	2x 120 mm (2x 140 mm)	(2x 120mm or 2x 140mm)	6x 120 mm (4x 120 mm fan included)
Vent. on the back	1x 120 mm (1x fan included)	1x 120 mm	1x 120 mm	1x 120 mm (1x fan included), 2x 80 mm (opt.)
Vent. on the top panel	-	- (2x 120 mm or 2x 140 mm)	1x 120 mm	-
Vent. on the bottom panel	-	-	-	-
Side vent.	-	-	-	2x 120 mm
Soundproofing	-	-	-	-

First of all, decide what exactly you need. Of course, appearance is very important, but before you pay attention to it, you need to decide what kind of motherboard, video card and cooling system, as well as how many and what drives you will install in your new case. The dimensions and configuration of the models depend on this, among which you have to choose the right one.

Chances are you don't need a full-size tower. Systems with multiple graphics cards have lost their relevance, drives are becoming more capacious and miniature, especially in the case of M.2 SSDs, and cooling systems are even more efficient. Therefore, you no longer need to buy a huge full-size tower, unless you plan to cram it with components to the eyeballs and use it as a workstation, or you just like its appearance and wide upgrade possibilities.

Cooling is key, especially in compact enclosures or configurations with a large number of components. Airflow management of components is extremely important, especially if they are powerful and concentrated in a small space. Before buying, be sure to decide on a cooling system and remember that cases with front and top panels made of tempered glass often restrict air flow and you may need to install additional fans.

Assembling a system in a compact package is challenging. Especially if you have little experience - although professionals also have difficulty placing components in miniature Mini-ITX cases. Of course, such systems with powerful fillings look impressive and save space, but assembling them takes patience and time. Double check the dimensions of the components before purchasing a compact case.

Choose a case that looks good to you. There are people who simply do not care about the appearance of the system unit or who push it deep under the table, but in all other cases it will be constantly present in the peripheral vision. So buy a case you really like - whether it's a glass tower with lots of RGB lighting, or a simple black box with straight lines and lots of USB ports on the top panel. There really is a choice, and there are really many offers.

Best Computer Case | Best XL / EATX case - be quiet! Dark base 700

ADVANTAGES

Good temperature conditions
Great appearance
Built-in backlight
Tempered glass side panel
Low noise level
Excellent filter system

LIMITATIONS

High price
Only two 140mm fans (for the price you want three)

VERDICT

Be quiet! Case Dark Base 700 plays in a league of its own. At first glance, this is just another model with a glass side wall, but upon closer examination it becomes clear how much time and effort went into its construction. A more versatile and high-quality case is not easy to find.

Alternative: Thermaltake View 71 TG

Best Computer Case | Best High-End ATX Case - Cougar Panzer EVO RGB

ADVANTAGES

Excellent temperature conditions
Four fans included
Integrated fan controller
Impeccably quiet
Spectacular RGB lighting
Four tempered glass panels
USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port
Good build quality
Robust design

LIMITATIONS

High price
Panels collect fingerprints
Not a full-fledged E-ATX format

VERDICT

The Panzer EVO RGB is a fantastic model with enough tempered glass and RGB lighting to please the most hardcore gamer. Excellent temperature conditions plus a full set of premium features guarantee this case a success with overclocking enthusiasts.

Alternative: NZXT H700i

Best Computer Case | Best High-End Case - Cooler Master Cosmos C700M

Best Computer Case | Best Design Case - Deepcool Quadstellar

CONTENT

Gaming computers must be of high specification and performance. Compliance with this rule will ensure excellent realism of the virtual world. On the other hand, such PC components are relatively bulky by computer standards, and their operation is accompanied by the release of thermal energy in large volumes. Therefore, the cases of gaming computers have special requirements and functionality that can provide and provide the user with the ability to build such a PC.

Classification of computer cases

Before drawing conclusions about the best case model for a gaming computer, you should familiarize yourself with all its modifications. Such an approach to the issue will help determine the basic requirements and characteristics that this component of the entire computer architecture must meet. There are two main types of enclosures:

Attention! Cases with compact dimensions cannot be used for assembling gaming computers. The small amount of internal space will not allow installing a powerful processor, video card and the necessary cooling system to remove the large amount of heat that these components emit.

In turn, the classic type of corpus is divided into several subtypes:

Mini-Tower. System units of this class are designed for the Mini ATX form factor, the dimensions of which are 170x170 mm.
Middle-Tower. The internal space of such cases allows you to install a Micro ATX motherboard, its dimensions are 244x244 mm.
Big-Tower. They are designed to accommodate ATX motherboards, the form factor of which is 305x244 mm.
Full-Tower. This computer case was designed for "motherboards", which are manufactured in the EATX form factor and have overall dimensions of 305x330 mm.
Super Full Tower or Ultra Tower. The largest type of vertical computer cases. Its internal space allows you to mount a motherboard in the XL-ATX form factor with dimensions of 345x262 mm.

Another component, in addition to the motherboard, which determines the type and, accordingly, the size of the system unit is its location. It is selected depending on the power consumption of the two main energy-intensive components of the PC: central and.

Advice. Some computer case models come with a built-in power supply. When buying such products, one should take into account its power, which may be slightly lower than the declared value by the manufacturer. This is done for marketing purposes or by unscrupulous manufacturers.

Basic requirements for the selection of enclosures

When choosing a system unit for assembling a gaming computer, you must take into account the basic requirements and selection criteria. This approach to this issue will allow you to purchase a PC case model that will meet all the stated preferences and necessary characteristics for stable and reliable PC operation and possible overclocking in the future.

Cooling system

Modern video cards have high capacities, which is inherently associated with the release of thermal energy in large volumes. Even passive cooling combined with an integrated fan is already able to deal effectively with this problem. In addition, high-performance processors also "add fuel to the fire", as evidenced by massive heatsinks and coolers that remove and dissipate the generated heat into the internal space of the system unit. In this regard, in most cases it is necessary to install additional fans inside the case, which will remove the heat generated by the computer components into the environment. Their size and number depends on the performance and power consumption of the entire computer architecture.

Based on the foregoing, there are certain criteria that will help you choose the best option for a cooling system for a system unit:

Number of fans. The presence of a large number of coolers is not always justified and leads to unnecessary expenses and the appearance of unnecessary extraneous noise and vibration. They, in turn, negatively affect the comfort of spending time at the computer and the gameplay.
Air directions. Installed coolers must remove accumulated heat in one direction and the air flow must maintain its integrity throughout the entire route. The multidirectional vortexes created by the fans will break up the heated air flow and their efficiency will be reduced to zero.
Cooler dimensions. Dimensional fans have large blades, which have high performance and efficiency, with minimal energy consumption. But here it should be borne in mind that they create a greater level of noise and vibration, so each consumer should look for their golden mean.

Advice. You can completely move away from the air and go to a liquid cooling system, but you should take into account its very high price.

Appearance and flexibility of access

Many PC case companies present their products for gaming use in a catchy and challenging design. Experienced players and most experts do not recommend chasing only a beautiful "wrapper" of the system unit. Indeed, often in pursuit of a bright and non-standard appearance, manufacturers sacrifice the volume of internal space, ease of installation and fastening of all components of a personal computer.

Also, in some models of the system unit, in order to provide quick access to the components of the PC, it is necessary to unscrew several "dozen" bolts. To select a case with an optimal comfort / design ratio, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

the minimum number of bolts will provide quick access and ease of installation, and the sled fastening system will be an ideal option;
the presence of USB connectors and sockets on the front side will increase the comfort of use;
the thickness of the walls of the case should be 0.7 - 1.5 mm, such a structure will have a high level of rigidity and significantly reduce vibration;
the presence of special standard fasteners for the wires will ensure their reliable fixation, and they will not interfere with the air flow.

When choosing a case for a gaming computer, you should also pay attention to the presence and location of compartments for installation, an optical drive, and a power supply. The ability of the system unit to support several types of motherboard mounting increases its versatility. Following all the recommendations and observing the basic requirements, you can choose the best case model for your gaming computer.

How to choose a PC case: video

The case is designed to accommodate all computer components: motherboard, processor, memory, video card, hard drives, optical drive, power supply and various expansion cards. It has mounts for all these devices, buttons for turning on and restarting the computer, indicators of its operation, additional connectors and a cooling system (fans and vents).

The most common are Midi-Tower chassis, suitable for ATX and smaller motherboards (Mini-ATX, Micro-ATX). They are great for most computers.

For an office computer (documents, the Internet), it is most profitable to purchase a case complete with a 400-500 W power supply. Among the quality PSU cases available on the market, I recommend AeroCool, Cooler Master, Zalman, Chieftec, Xigmatek, and ASUS (Vento). In this case, the most inexpensive type AeroCool CS-1101 with a 500 W PSU is suitable.
Computer case AeroCool CS-1101 500W Black

For an entry-class gaming computer (Core-i3 or Ryzen-3 + GTX-1050/1060), you can also take a case complete with a 500-600 W power supply of the same brands. As a minimum option, you can consider the AeroCool V3X with a 600 W PSU.
Computer case AeroCool V3X Advance Devil Red Edition 600W

For a work or gaming computer of the middle class (Core-i5 or Ryzen 5 + GTX-1070), it is better to take a separate and separate case. The best in terms of price / quality ratio are AeroCool, Zalman and Cooler Master cases. One of the most successful inexpensive Zalman Z1 models (Black and Neo).
Computer case Zalman Z1 Black

For a powerful professional or gaming computer (Core-i7 or Ryzen-7 + GTX-1080), it is advisable to take a larger case. It will accommodate a long graphics card, a powerful cooler or water cooling system and will provide better ventilation. Recommended brands are AeroCool, Zalman, NZXT, Cooler Master, Thermaltake. Again, I recommend AeroCool Aero-800 as a minimum option.
Computer case AeroCool Aero-800

2. Case without power supply

3. Case with power supply

If you are building an office or home computer, you can save money and buy a good case complete with a power supply.

3.1. Power supply power

Cases for office and home computers can be supplied with power supplies with a capacity of 300-600 watts. In small cases for media centers, the power supply unit can be as little as 100-250 watts, which is quite enough for watching video, but clearly not enough if you want to install a powerful video card in order to play on the TV screen.

For an office computer, a 400 watt power supply is sufficient. For a home multimedia computer, the power supply should be 450-500 watts. For a powerful gaming computer, at least 600 watts is desirable.

3.2. Power supply calculation

The power supply can be calculated manually. To do this, you need to find the power consumption of all computer components on the manufacturers' websites and add them up. To this amount you need to add 15-30% for higher reliability and elimination of voltage drops during peak loads, to which video cards react very painfully.

But there is a more convenient way! The calculation of the power supply unit can be done using a special program "Power Supply Calculator". It also allows you to calculate the required capacity of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS or UPS).

The program works on all Windows versions with installed "Microsoft .NET Framework" version 3.5 or higher, which is usually already installed by most users. Download the program "Power Supply Calculator" and if you need "Microsoft .NET Framework" you can at the end of the article in the section "".

3.3. Power supply configuration and location

Pay attention to the types and number of power supply connectors. As for its location, it can be top or bottom.

The bottom position of the PSU is considered to be more progressive, but in general it does not matter. But if you are purchasing a large case without a power supply and its location is provided in the lower part of the case, then choose a power supply with longer wires, otherwise they may be connected with a stretch.

4. Hull price

I do not recommend buying a case that costs $ 30-40. In this case, you will end up with a bad case with a very bad power supply. Cases with more or less normal power supplies start at $ 50. Power supplies in these cases are inferior to analogs that are sold separately, but are still better than the cheapest models and are quite suitable for an office or not very powerful home computer.

5. Case manufacturers

Some manufacturers produce only cases without power supplies, some only with power supplies, and some both.

5.1. Chassis manufacturers without power supplies

If you are planning to purchase a power supply separately, then a high-quality case from one of the most popular manufacturers: Chieftec, Cooler Master, Thermaltake will be a good addition to it.

Not so long ago, well-known manufacturers of components for enthusiasts entered the market of computer cases: Corsair and Zalman, which I also recommend.

If you are looking for a more economical, but still good quality case, take a look at the brands: AeroCool and Antec.

It is worth noting that there is an obvious division between brands in terms of price, when the cases of one brand were only expensive, and the other was only cheap. Therefore, when choosing a case, you can consider cases from all manufacturers listed here.

5.2. Power Supply Chassis Manufacturers

If you decide to purchase a case complete with a power supply, then a case from Cooler Master or AeroCool would be a good choice.

A more economical, but quite acceptable option would be to purchase a body of brands: Foxconn, FSP, InWin.

6. Types and sizes of enclosures

Computer cases are divided into horizontal (Desktop) and vertical (Tower). But both of them can be of different sizes.

6.1. Horizontal enclosures

Previously, horizontal enclosures were used mainly in offices to save space, and monitors were installed directly on them.

Now such cases can be found in some supermarkets, but they are mainly used to assemble multimedia centers that can be located in a TV stand.

Horizontal enclosures are of the following types:

Slim-Desktop - slim body
Full-Desktop - Standard Case

6.2. Vertical enclosures

For the assembly of modern computers, mainly vertical cases are used. Usually they are installed on a special stand or just on the floor.

Vertical enclosures are of the following types:

Micro-Tower - Miniature Case
Mini-Tower Low Legacy Enclosure
Midi-Tower is the most common format
Full-Tower - Large Gaming PC Case
Super-Tower - extra large chassis for powerful computers and servers

For office and home computers, it is best to use the most versatile Midi-Tower cases. For powerful gaming computers that accept large graphics cards and coolers, it is advisable to use the more spacious Midi-Tower or Full-Tower cases. They are better organized for the placement of components and ventilation.

7. Form factor of motherboard

The case, depending on the size, can accommodate motherboards of different sizes. Typically, Midi-Tower cases can accommodate ATX or smaller motherboards (MicroATX, Mini-ITX). In Mini-Tower cases, you can install a motherboard no more than MicroATX, and in cases for Mini-ITX multimedia centers. Full-tower cases can accommodate large E-ATX and XL-ATX motherboards.

All cases have mounts for supported motherboard formats. What form factors of motherboards are supported by this or that case must be indicated on the website of the seller and manufacturer of the case.

For office and home computers, I recommend purchasing a case that supports ATX motherboards, even if you are purchasing a smaller motherboard. This will provide more options for choosing a motherboard in case of replacement, as well as installing larger components and better ventilation in the case.

If you are building a gaming computer with a large powerful video card, then you must take into account its length, otherwise it may not fit into the case. You can find out what the maximum length of a video card is supported by the case on the website of the seller or manufacturer.

9. Cooling system

9.1. Fans and vents

Old cases were equipped with 80 mm fans. This solution can still be found in some cheap models. It is desirable that the rear panel of the case provide for the installation of a 120 mm fan, as it is quieter and more efficient. One fan usually comes with the case and in most cases this is sufficient, but if necessary, you can install additional ones.

Some more expensive cases may have additional fans in the front, side, top, and even bottom of the case. There may also be multiple vents. These cases are designed primarily for high-performance gaming computers and offer a reasonable placement of quiet fans. For ordinary home computers, extra holes, especially in the top case cover, can lead to excess dust and sometimes even spill something into them.

The housings can also have dust filters, which is generally good, but requires regular cleaning or replacement, otherwise they will only interfere with cooling. In principle, they can be removed at any time or replaced with homemade ones.

The front panel of the case (front or side) can have various connectors for connecting external devices. It is desirable that on the front panel of the case there are 2 USB connectors and 2 audio connectors for connecting headphones and a microphone.

How convenient the location of the connectors will be for you depends on where and how the system unit will stand.

11. External bays

Almost all chassis have 1 to 4 external 5.25 ″ optical drive bays. If you plan on installing multiple such devices, such as a Blu-ray drive and a cheaper DVD-RW drive for your day-to-day work, then take a look. Also, these compartments can be used to install control panels for various additional devices. Usually one such compartment is sufficient, but it is still desirable that there are several of them.

The chassis can have 1 or 2 external 3.5 ″ bays, which were previously used for installing a drive. Now they are not needed, but if there is such a compartment, then a card reader for reading memory cards or an additional socket with some other connectors can be installed in it. But this is usually not needed.

12. Internal compartments

Most chassis have 4-6 internal 3.5 ″ bays for conventional hard drives. Usually this is enough, but if you plan to install several disks, then keep in mind that it is advisable to install them after one, i.e. leave an empty compartment between them. Moreover, if the case is small, and the video card is long, then it may interfere with the installation of the second disk, or they will have to be placed end-to-end one on top of the other.

Some, mostly compact enclosures, may have 2.5 ″ bays that can accommodate an SSD or laptop hard drive. In standard cases, you will have to purchase a special mount for this.

The most modern and well-thought-out enclosures have one common 5.25 ″ rack with the ability to mount different disks in arbitrary places. For this, additional mounting frames are used, into which 3.5 ″ or 2.5 ″ discs are inserted. This frame can be installed anywhere on the rack, which is very convenient. But, such cases are more expensive and are intended mainly for professional and gaming computers.

13. Slots for expansion cards

Cases for ATX motherboards usually have 7 slots for expansion cards, MicroATX format - 4 slots, which corresponds to the number of corresponding connectors on these motherboards. Smaller or larger enclosures may have a different number of slots. Usually this is not a problem, but keep in mind that the number of slots in the case should be at least the number of slots on the motherboard.

14. Case design

Various decorative elements can be used in the construction of the case. The case can have a front door that covers all or part of the front panel, under which there can be an optical drive, a power button, additional connectors. This makes the appearance more aesthetic, but the use of elements behind the door is extremely inconvenient, since it will constantly have to be opened.

One of the side covers of the housing can have a transparent window. These enclosures are mainly for the enthusiast. If the system unit is assembled from powerful beautiful components, wires do not stick out anywhere, additional illumination inside the case is used and it stands in a conspicuous place, then all this may look interesting.

As far as the backlit fans are concerned, while it looks good at first glance, it can be annoying to those around you. Think about where and how the system unit will stand and in which direction the light will go. He shouldn't hit anyone in the eyes, especially in the dark.

15. Body material

Most of the cases have a steel frame and a front panel made of plastic or a combination of plastic with metal mesh.

The thickness of the frame metal can be different. In cheap cases, this is usually 0.4-0.5 mm, such metal bends easily and the case can rattle. It is better to choose cases with a metal thickness of 0.55-0.8 mm.

Some of the more expensive housings are made of aluminum. Aluminum cases have a more solid appearance, but this has little effect on its other indicators.

16. Body color

As for the color of the case, the most versatile are black or black-silver cases, as they go well with other computer devices, modern household appliances and the interior.

But the most important thing is that you like the case. Then looking at it and pressing the power button you will get an aesthetic pleasure.