Best PC cases for gamers in 2023

You can install up to three 120mm or two 140mm fans on the front, top, and bottom panels. There’s also space to add a single 120mm fan at the back. As for the radiator support, you can mount up to a 360mm radiator on the top, bottom, or front. While the Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO PC case doesn’t come with any pre-installed fans, you do get a front panel LED strip. This LED strip can be controlled via the motherboard software or a hub. Another interesting thing about this case is that you can move the IO ports of the case between four different locations on the case. This can be done without any tools, which makes it very convenient to customize. Notably, you can also buy a port hub as an additional accessory for the case to add more ports.

Overall, we think there’s a lot to like about the Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO PC case. It’s obviously not a perfect case for everyone, but there’s still a lot to consider. It has plenty of space for all the components, support for dual PSU mounts, a cable management bar, a modular design, and more. The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO is available in black, white, and gray color options, so pick the one that suits the overall aesthetic of your setup.

Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact

Runner-up Best PC Case for Gamers

For those who want a stealthier PC build.

The Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact is an excellent ATX case with plenty of space inside the chassis and a mesh front panel for airflow.

Motherboard Size (Max.)

ATX

Graphics Card Size (Max.)

341 mm

3.5″ Drive Slots

2

2.5″ Drive Slots

4

Power Supply Size (Max.)

200 mm

Exterior Dimensions

424 x 210 x 475 mm

Pros

• Sleek stealthy design
• Great airflow and thermal performance
• Supports up to a 360mm radiator

The Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact is one of the best mid-tower PC cases you can buy largely because of its sleek design and ability to keep all the installed internals cool. The Meshify 2 Compact PC case comes with the iconic mesh front panel with an angular design. This stylish panel provides fresh filtered air to the chassis with the help of the fans fitted on the front. The top is also a mesh panel for airflow. You get an option to choose between a solid or a tempered glass panel for the side. The front mesh panel also has a removable dust filter under it making it easier to clean. You can also remove the nylon filter for increased airflow. You get dust filters for both the top as well as the bottom panel of the case too.

Unlike our Lian Li top pick, the Meshify 2 Compact comes with three pre-installed fans out of the box. You get two 140mm Dynamic X2 fans on the front along with a single 120mm fan at the back for exhaust. You can add another 140mm fan on the front, two 120mm or 140mm fans on the top, and a single 120mm fan at the bottom. When it comes to radiators, there’s space to mount up to 360mm radiator on the front, up to 240mm radiator on the top, and two small 120mm radiators at the back and the at the bottom each. The Meshify 2 Compact also comes with cable routing space, making it easier to manage the cables inside the chassis.

The Meshify 2 Compact PC case is big enough to house a ton of components inside the chassis. You can install GPUs with a max length of up to 341mm and CPU coolers with a max height of up to 169mm. The PSU sits inside a separate compartment at the bottom along with drive bays. It’s also relatively easy to build inside the Meshify 2 Compact PC case as the top panel can easily be removed. You can easily build a high-end PC inside this chassis without worrying about the thermals. You can use both CPU fan coolers or AIO liquid CPU coolers with this case.

Source: Corsair

Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB

Best Full-Tower PC Case for Gamers

For when you need massive internal space.

The Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB is a full-tower PC case with a set of features best described as overkill. It has support for several large radiators (360mm and above) as well as tons of room for components like GPUs and SSDs.

Motherboard Size (Max.)

E-ATX

Graphics Card Size (Max.)

450 mm

3.5″ Drive Slots

6

RGB Lighting

Yes

2.5″ Drive Slots

2

Power Supply Size (Max.)

225 mm

Exterior Dimensions

600 x 550 x 248 mm

Pros

• Huge size
• Excellent thermal performance
• Plenty of fan and radiator mounts

Cons

• It’s seriously big and heavy
• Expensive

If you’re wanting to use a PC case that’s frequently used in more powerful builds by enthusiasts and seasoned system builders, look no further than the Corsair iCUE 7000X. This thing has plenty of internal space for just about anything, including the largest graphics cards and E-ATX motherboards. The iCUE 7000X from Corsair also supports up to 480mm radiators for cooling, which allows even the largest AIO liquid coolers to be installed. You can install not one, but two 480mm radiators, with an additional one on another panel. If you wanted to go down the route of a custom open-loop cooling solution, that’s also possible.

For sucking and exhausting air, the Corsair iCUE 7000X can hold up to 11 120mm fans or 7 140mm and 120mm blowers. The case also has enough clearance for GPUs and CPU coolers up to 190mm and 155mm in length respectively. Just like other popular full-tower PC cases, the Corsair iCUE 7000X is a huge chassis and you’ll need to bear that in mind when moving it around and installing hardware. It’s also relatively expensive, so be prepared for the rather steep price tag.

Source: Phanteks

Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2

Best Dual-System PC Case for Gamers

The perfect dual-system PC case for those who enjoy streaming.

The Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 is a full tower PC case with space for up to two separate builds inside. It also offers great airflow performance.

Motherboard Size (Max.)

E-ATX

Graphics Card Size (Max.)

503 mm

3.5″ Drive Slots

12

2.5″ Drive Slots

11

Exterior Dimensions

240 x 580 x 560 mm

Pros

• Affordable
• Plenty of storage mounts
• Great cooling support

Cons

• Huge
• Second system limitations

The Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 is one of the largest full-tower PC cases around. We’re talking about a case that’s big enough to accommodate two PC builds inside. In addition to the primary build with up to an E-ATX motherboard, the Enthoo Pro 2 has space for a secondary ITX system at the bottom too. This type of case is perfect for power users and streamers who can greatly benefit from a dual PC setup. The Enthoo Pro 2 is also largely used as an enterprise solution as it can house an SSI EEB motherboard too. We wanted to add this case to the collection as a solid option for gamers mainly because of all the space it offers. The chassis is big enough to accommodate a fully water-cooled build, complete with a custom loop.

You can use all the space to manage cables, add water cooling components such as a pump, a reservoir, and more. One of the highlights of the Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 PC case is that it offers exceptional airflow performance. The case comes with a mesh front panel that uses Phantek’s high-performance fabric material. This mesh panel is made out of rugged and durable nylon fiber for increased airflow. The Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 is big enough to house as many as fifteen 120mm fans. There’s space to install up to four 120mm or three 140mm fans on the front. The top panel can hold up to three 120mm or 140mm fans. You can also install up to four 120mm fans on the internal side panel and three 120mm or a single 140mm fan at the bottom of the case. There’s also space to add a single 120mm or a 140mm fan at the back for exhaust.

Radiator support is also plenty inside the Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 case. You can mount up to a 480mm radiator on the front, up to a 360mm radiator on the top panel, up to a 360mm radiator on the bottom panel as well as either a 120mm or a 140mm radiator at the back. There’s also space to add an option 480mm radiator inside the chassis on the side panel. It’s safe to say that the Enthoo Pro 2 is fully kitted to house a fully water-cooled system. The case also has massive storage support. You can add as many as eleven 2.5″ SSDs and up to four 3.5″ HDDs inside the case. It’s perfect for those who’re looking to build a high-performance PC, as you can use the money saved on the PC case on other core components such as the best CPUs, motherboards, and more.

Source: NZXT

NZXT H9 Flow

Best RGB PC Case for Gamers

Go all-out with fancy RGB lighting with this showcase chassis.

NZXT H9 Flow is a premium mid-tower chassis from the reputable brand, offering a unique take on the traditional PC case design. It has ample support for water cooling, excellent thermal performance, and a gorgeous aesthetic.

Pros

• Gorgeous design
• Amazing cable management
• Excellent thermal performance

Cons

• Included fans have rifle bearings

You’d be forgiven for mistaking the NZXT H9 Flow for the Lian Li O11 Dynamic since they share a similar overall aesthetic. Many brands have attempted to copy the popular Lian Li design and NZXT went one further in adding its own spin on things. Looking at the NZXT H9 Flow, it’s clearly an NZXT chassis and follows the same language as all the other cases currently available. With considerably more internal space to work with, NZXT made sure there are ample fan and radiator mounts for more powerful gaming PC builds. In fact, you could even install up to three 360mm radiators if you’re looking to build your own open-loop solution.

Just like other NZXT-branded PC cases, you’ll be able to enjoy the absolute best cable management, especially when using a modular power supply. The included fans are rifle-bearing, which isn’t great, and there’s no RGB or fan hub controller pre-installed, which is a shame. Still, if you’re able to squeeze in countless fans, some RGB strips, and other high-end PC components into your budget, you’ll be able to create one kick-ass-looking PC inside the NZXT H9 Flow. It’ll not only look the part but be able to game for hours at a time without encountering thermal-related issues.

Source: Phanteks

Phanteks P400A

Best Budget PC Case for Gamers

An affordable PC case so you can spend more on the GPU.

An affordable case for beginners and pros alike, the P400A can house a simply remarkable amount of hardware and is so easy to live with.

Motherboard Size (Max.)

E-ATX

Graphics Card Size (Max.)

420 mm

3.5″ Drive Slots

2

RGB Lighting

Yes

2.5″ Drive Slots

2

Power Supply Size (Max.)

270 mm

Exterior Dimensions

300 x 550 x 520 mm

Pros

• Affordable
• Easy to build a PC inside
• Good thermal performance

Cons

• I/O
• Limited colling support

Buying expensive components for a high-end gaming rig significantly increases the overall budget of your build. We think the Phanteks Eclilpse P400A is an excellent value PC case for less than $100, making it the most affordable PC case in this collection. But just because the Eclipse P400A is affordable doesn’t necessarily make it a bad PC case. In fact, this budget case is just as good as many other mid-tower PC cases we’ve mentioned in this collection. You will be able to utilize either two or three 120mm fans pre-installed, depending on which version of the case you purchase. The standard model has two, while the RGB version (which we’d recommend) has three RGB fans with lighting strips.

As well as the installed fans, you’ll be able to add another two 120mm or 140mm fans up top and a single 120mm blower on the rear panel. This case is designed with AIO cooling in mind with the front panel being able to hold up to a 420mm radiator. The top panel is only able to handle a 280mm radiator. You can use a GPU with a maximum length of up to 420mm, which is ample for even today’s largest graphics cards. Likewise, you have plenty of space for taller air coolers. The PSU sits behind a shroud that is built in and shields your cable mess from being seen through the glass, making this chassis a good choice for the price.

Source: Lian Li

Lian Li Air Mini O11

Best Compact PC Case for Gamers

The smaller chassis with big component support.

The Lian Li Air Mini O11 is a smaller, airflow version of the bigger Dynamic O11 full-tower PC case.

Pros

• Compact size
• Easy to build a PC inside
• Striking design

Cons

• Restricted internal space

The Lian Li O11 Air Mini is essentially a smaller version of the regular O11 Dynamic PC case. This particular case is perfect for those who don’t have a lot of space in their setup. It’s also worth pointing out that the Air Mini PC case is a case with a mesh front panel for better airflow. One of the best things about the O11 Air Mini PC case is that it comes with three pre-installed fans. This is the only Lian Li O11 case that comes with pre-installed fans out of the box. The O11 Air Mini comes fitted with two 140mm PWM fans on the front along with a 120mm PWM at the rear. Additionally, there’s space to add up to three 120mm or two 140mm fans on the top as well as the bottom panel too. You can also install two more 120mm fans on the side.

Despite the small form factor, the O11 Air Mini is perfectly viable to be used for a water-cooled system too. You can install plenty of radiators inside the case without having to deal with any clearance issues. There’s space to mount up to 280mm radiator on the front along with a 240mm radiator each on the side as well as the bottom panels. You can install an E-ATX, Micro-ATX, or Mini-ITX motherboard inside. You install a GPU with a max length of up to 362mm and CPU coolers with a max height of up to 170mm. The Air Mini case also comes with up to seven expansion slots, allowing you to install even the most modern GPUs out there on the market. As for the front panel IO ports, the case offers two USB 3.0 ports, a USB 3.1 Type C port along with audio ports.

The Lian Li O11 Air Mini is available in black and white color options, so you can pick the one that matches the overall aesthetic of your setup. The Air Mini isn’t exactly a small form factor PC case. It’s smaller than a lot of other ATX cases on the market, but you might want to look somewhere else if you’re strictly looking for a Mini-ITX case. This is still very much a compact ATX and we think it can be used even for a high-end gaming rig without having to worry about any thermal issues.

Source: NZXT

NZXT H210i

Best ITX PC Case for Gamers

Save desk space by building a more compact gaming PC.

Like NZXT’s bigger cases, just smaller. Stylish, high-quality, easy to build in and not too expensive, either.

Motherboard Size (Max.)

Mini-ITX

Graphics Card Size (Max.)

325 mm

3.5″ Drive Slots

1

2.5″ Drive Slots

3+1

Exterior Dimensions

349 x 210 x 372 mm

Pros

• Compact size
• Easy to build a PC inside
• Striking design

Cons

• Limited colling support
• Restricted internal space

There’s yet another NZXT case in our collection and that’s the impressive NZXT H210i. It’s an older chassis but still offers exceptional build quality and premium features for the price. It’s limited by supporting Mini-ITX motherboards only, but if you’re wanting the most compact chassis without sacrificing too much elsewhere, this is about as good as you can get. You can install a pair of 120mm fans and up to a 240mm radiator on the front panel, as well as a few blowers up top and in the rear of the H210i. It’s not going to win awards for the best thermal performance, but you shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping your CPU cool.

The restrictions also apply to the size of the graphics card you’re able to use. With support for up to 325mm cards, you could conceivably squeeze an RTX 40 series GPU inside the H210i with a little wiggle room to spare. There are only two PCIe slots available so if the graphics card is slightly larger than two slots, it won’t fit. The case makes up for this with built-in support for NZXT CAM software, as well as an included RGB and fan controller. You’ll be able to hide all your unwanted cable mess behind the motherboard tray and shrouds, utilizing NZXT’s excellent cable management. It’s one of the best traditional ITX cases on the market right now.

How to buy the best gaming PC case

We chose the Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO as the best PC case for gamers as it ticks all the right boxes. It’s flashy, has plenty of cooling support for more powerful systems, allows for overclocking with water-cooling solutions, and even has a unique striking design. You won’t be disappointed with the installation process of your dream PC inside this chassis. Should you want something a little more subtle, the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact is a brilliant piece of kit.

Source: Lian Li

Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO

Best PC Case for Gamers

Our top case for gamers looking to build a PC.

The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO PC case is a solid mid-tower cabinet with lots of customization options and plenty of space.