PC Cases – Find the Ideal Case for Your Computer

PC Cases

The computer case is the most noticeable component of a gaming PC. Whether it's under the desk, next to it, in the living room, or even hanging on the wall, the case determines the appearance of every PC. A PC case can be unassuming or striking, plain or intricate. It can take the form of a small cube or even be a complete desk. It can be large or small. Cases with tempered glass and RGB lighting are particularly popular - preferably both combined. But in addition to the design and aesthetics of a computer case, there are other important factors to consider when purchasing one.

What to Consider When Buying a PC Case

When buying a case for a PC, many factors come into play. In addition to aesthetics, hardware compatibility is a primary point to consider. The easiest approach is to buy the gaming case together with the new hardware, but if you want to give your old hardware a new housing, make sure it fits in the new case. Furthermore, consider the cooling options for the hardware. If you're opting for water cooling, factors like mounting space for radiators, reservoirs, and pumps need to be considered.

• What form factor should the new case have?
• How large should the new case be?
• Which hardware will be installed?
• Case for air or water cooling?
• Case with pre-installed insulation
• Glass, RGB LED lighting, and additional features
• Desk cases, cubes, rackmounts, and benchtables
• Cases for motherboards with rear connectors

What form factor should the new case have?

The form factor specifies the size of PC components. Typically, the form factor is specified for cases, power supplies, and motherboards. Cases and motherboards come in form factors like Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, or E-ATX. Power supplies (PSUs), on the other hand, usually come in ATX or SFX formats. Depending on the size of the tower, you can install large or space-saving components.

So, if you especially want to install an ATX motherboard, the case must support this form factor. For example, a Micro-ATX case cannot accommodate an ATX motherboard, while an ATX tower (also known as an ATX Mid Tower) typically supports smaller form factors like Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX. The form factor itself provides an indication of the approximate size of a case. However, there are exceptions to the rule, with some Micro-ATX cases being larger than ATX cases, even though ATX is the larger form factor.

The most common form factors for motherboards and cases are as follows:

• E-ATX: for motherboards with dimensions of 305 x up to 300 mm (LxW)
• ATX: for motherboards with dimensions of 305 x 244 mm (LxW)
• Micro-ATX: for motherboards with dimensions of 244 x 244 mm (LxW)
• Mini-ITX: for motherboards with dimensions of 170 x 170 mm (LxW)

An ATX case must therefore accommodate a 24.4 cm wide and a 30.5 cm long motherboard. On the long side of the motherboard are the I/O panel and the PCIe slots for expansion cards such as graphics cards.

ATX cases, when combined with a corresponding motherboard, are suitable for systems with many hardware components and typically offer ample space. The ATX form factor is a widely adopted standard in PCs, and there is a huge selection of models available.

Big-Tower cases are often used for ATX motherboards or larger. They can usually accommodate older, less common form factors such as XL-ATX or server motherboards.

Mini-ITX cases are the smallest common standard for regular PCs. They are typically very compact and therefore easy to transport. Mini-ITX chassis include, among others, the so-called Home Theater Personal Computer cases (HTPC).

Micro-ATX cases represent the middle ground between ATX towers and Mini-ITX cases. They are usually smaller than Midi-Towers but predominantly offer more space for hardware and cooling than a Mini-ITX case.

How big should the new PC case be?

The form factor indicates which hardware a gaming case is compatible with. However, there are noticeable differences in size among cases of the same form factor. For example, the Singularity Computers Wraith Mini-ITX case is almost larger than the Kolink Obervatory ATX tower. The overall size of a computer case is important for several reasons; for instance, a case that is too large may not fit under the desk, while a case that is too small may make it difficult to access the front ports for the headset. Of course, the size of a PC case also determines how much hardware can be installed in it. Those who wish to accommodate many hard drives will require adequate space for them.

The purpose of a chassis also influences its size. Those seeking a small form factor PC for the office or living room will find corresponding mini-cases, some of which can even be attached to the VESA mount of a monitor. For dual systems or workstations, a mid-tower or even a big tower is generally recommended. Whether one wants to install air or water cooling also affects the size when purchasing a new case.

What hardware and cooling solution should be installed in the case?

When assembling a high-end gaming PC or workstation, appropriate cooling and the right case are essential. Due to the high heat output generated by a high-end gaming system with a processor around 250 watts TDP and a graphics card around 450 watts TDP, the case must provide enough space for a large CPU cooler or water cooling.

The Phanteks Enthoo Evolv X, for example, can accommodate a CPU cooler with a height of 190 mm. This means that virtually any air cooler can be installed in this mid-tower case. Additionally, the case comes with two 140 mm fans in the front and one 140 mm fan at the rear. This configuration provides airflow to both the CPU cooler and the graphics card (GPU).

For an airflow case, it's important to have enough open space in the front to allow air to be drawn into the case by the fans. Some towers feature airflow from the bottom to the top, utilizing the chimney effect.

Cases designed for water cooling should also have good airflow and provide mounting spaces for radiators. For instance, the Lian Li O11Dynamic XL can accommodate up to three large 360 mm radiators and still have room for a large reservoir. Alternatively, a custom distro plate from Lian Li can be mounted next to the motherboard.

In principle, any airflow case can be used for water cooling, especially with an all-in-one liquid cooling solution, as long as there is sufficient space for a radiator. While the height of the CPU cooler is not a concern in a water cooling case, attention should be paid to the depth of the GPU monoblock.

PC Case Features: USB Ports, RGB Lighting, Tempered Glass, Noise Dampening

Many gaming PC towers offer special features. Among the most popular features are RGB lighting and tempered glass. Tempered glass, or toughened glass, is often used for side panels and sometimes for the front of the case, with tempered glass side doors being the highest quality. With RGB lighting, a distinction is made whether the RGB LEDs are mounted directly on the case or the fans. Some providers have products on the market that represent a combination of fan lighting and RGB case. In addition, there is a distinction between normal LED products, RGB LED products, and variants with digitally addressable RGB LEDs (ARGB, D-RGB).

For those who place special emphasis on the noise level of their computer, silent cases with pre-installed damping can be used. Some silent cases also offer integrated fan controllers that can be manually controlled via switches on the I/O panel or automatically regulated via fan headers on the motherboard. Some cases are also equipped with fan hubs, where multiple fans can be controlled via a header on the motherboard.

Almost all cases have USB ports on the I/O panel in addition to a power button and audio jacks. While USB 2.0 is slowly being replaced by USB 3.0 as the standard, the USB Type-C port is especially popular. This flat, reversible connector can be internally connected to the motherboard via USB 3.0, USB 3.1, or USB 3.2. Some motherboards offer internal USB headers with Thunderbolt support, which can be output via a corresponding, rare USB port on the case. A few cases also have a front HDMI output, which can be used to connect VR headsets to a graphics card with an internal HDMI port or to pass cables through to the regular video outputs.

Unconventional PC Cases

While traditional PC cases follow a standard tower or cube design, some enthusiasts prefer more unconventional options that stand out from the crowd.

One unique approach is using open-air cases, which lack traditional side panels and instead rely on a frame-like structure to hold components. These cases offer excellent airflow and showcase internal hardware, making them popular among enthusiasts who want to display their builds.

Another alternative is desk PC cases, which integrate the PC components directly into a desk chassis. These cases offer a sleek and integrated solution, minimizing clutter and maximizing desk space. They often feature built-in cable management and ample room for customization.

For those who prefer a retro aesthetic, retrofitted objects like old gaming consoles, vintage radios, or even briefcases can be repurposed into unique PC cases. These one-of-a-kind creations add personality and style to any setup.

Ultimately, unconventional PC cases offer a chance for builders to express their creativity and individuality while still providing functionality and performance.