HRM Sofware: Best Cases

There's far more to consider than aesthetics when choosing a case. Good airflow is king when it comes to keeping things cool, and noise levels can be affected by everything from the number of fans to the shape of the fan mounts. Fortunately, we've already tested a bevy of cases over the years, and have prepared this awards showcase as a quick summary of the best models.

Extended ATX cases are required to hold motherboards up to 13" deep (front-to-back). Though such motherboards still fit within the 12" north-to-south confines of ATX, many of these cases are also compatible with the eight-slot XL-ATX form factor.

Bigger isn't always better, as many builders don't actually need a bunch of drive bays or slots to hold all their equipment. Mini-ITX fits the performance of a standard tower into compact spaces such as home theaters and small desks, and some of these compact units even have carrying handles for easy transport to gaming events (LAN parties).

MORE: All Case Content

October 2016 Updates

New contributing writer Avery Little broke into reviews with the sturdy and stylish Dark Base Pro 900 full tower, while Chris Miconi returned to the fold with an award-winning PC-Q34 mini-ITX cube. Meanwhile, Cooler Master's MasterBox 5 and Zalman's Z9 Neo mid-towers were picking up Recommended and Approved awards for providing readers with quality and performance at an extra low price.

Cooler Master and Corsair switched things up a little with mid-tower cases that provide the cooling space of a full tower. The MasterCase Pro 3 accomplishes this by using a Micro ATX motherboard, while the extra-wide Carbide Air 740 gets there by mounting the power supply and drive trays behind the motherboard tray. Both received our stamp of approval.

MORE: Best PC Builds

MORE: How To Build A PC

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Best Cases

NZXT Phantom 410

Review

$99.99 Newegg

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

20.5" x 8.7" x 21.4"

Space Above Motherboard

1.25" (without top fan)

Card Length

10.8"

Weight

20.8lbs

External Bays

3 x 5.25"

Internal Bays

6 x 3.5", 6 x 2.5" (shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

7

Front Fans

1 x 120mm (supports x 140mm, 2x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1 x 120mm

Top Fans

1 x 140mm (supports 2x 140/120mm)

Left Fans

✗ (supports 1x 140/120mm)

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗/✗/✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Cooler Master MasterBox 5

Review

$69.99 Newegg

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

18.7" x 8.7" x 19.7"

Space Above Motherboard

1.0"

Card Length

16.3"

Weight

16.1 lbs

External Bays

✗ (2x Flex Holes 5.25")

Internal Bays

2x 3.5", 2 +2*x 2.5" (Shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

7

Front Fans

1 x 120mm (supports 2x 140 / 3x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1x 120mm

Top Fans

✗

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗ (2x 120mm)

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗/✗/✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Fractal Design Define S

Review

$99.99 Newegg

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

18.3" x 9.2" x 21.0"

Space Above Motherboard

1.8"

Card Length

16.8" (w/fan)

Weight

18.2lbs

External Bays

✗

Internal Bays

3x 3.5", 2x 2.5" +3(Shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

7

Front Fans

1x 140mm (supports 3x 120/140mm)

Rear Fans

1x 140mm (supports 1x 120mm)

Top Fans

✗ (supports 4x 120mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

Asphalt (Right-Side) / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Enermax Ostrog GT

Review

$74.99 Amazon

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

20.1" x 9.5" x 19.5"

Space Above Motherboard

1.5"

Card Length

11.0"

Weight

16.9lbs

External Bays

3 x 5.25"

Internal Bays

8 x 3.5" / 2 x 2.5"

Card Slots

8 + 1

Front Fans

2 x 140mm

Rear Fans

1 x 120mm

Top Fans

✗ (supports 2 x 140/120mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗/✗/✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Fractal Design Define R4

Review

$109.99 Amazon

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

18.3" x 9.1" x 21.1"

Space Above Motherboard

1.2"

Card Length

12.1"

Weight

25.6lbs

External Bays

2 x 5.25"

Internal Bays

8 x 3.5", 8 x 2.5" (shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

7 + 1

Front Fans

1 x 140mm (supports 2 x 140mm)

Rear Fans

1 x 140mm (supports 1 x 140/120mm)

Top Fans

✗ (supports 2 x 140/120mm)

Left Fans

✗ (supports 1 x 140/120mm)

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

Foam/Cloth/Foam

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Bitfenix Pandora ATX

Review

$149.00 Amazon

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

20.2" x8.0" x 22.2"

Space Above Motherboard

2.5"

Card Length

16.3"

Weight

21.9 Pounds

External Bays

✗

Internal Bays

4x 3.5", 4 +4*x 2.5"

Card Slots

7

Front Fans

1x 140mm (3x 120 / 2x 140mm)

Rear Fans

1x 120mm

Top Fans

✗ (3x 120 / 2x 140mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Corsair Carbide Air 740

Review

$149.99 Newegg

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

20.0" x 13.3" x 16.9"

Space Above Motherboard

2.8"

Card Length

13.1" (w/fans)

Weight

19.5 lbs

External Bays

✗

Internal Bays

3 x 3.5", 4 x 2.5" (3 shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

8

Front Fans

2 x 140mm (supports 3x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1x 140mm (supports 1x 120mm)

Top Fans

✗ (supports 2x 140/120mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗/✗/✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Lian Li PC-Q34

Review

$79.99 Lian Li

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

13.0" x 8.9" x 9.8"

Space Above Motherboard

N/A

Card Length

8.6"

Weight

4.1 lbs

External Bays

✗

Internal Bays

2x 3.5", 2x 2.5"

Card Slots

2

Front Fans

✗

Rear Fans

✗

Top Fans

✗

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗/✗/✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Zalman Z9 Neo

Review

$79.99 Amazon

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

19.3" x 8.1" x 19.0"

Space Above Motherboard

N/A

Card Length

16.54"

Weight

21.4 lbs

External Bays

2 × 5.25"

Internal Bays

2 x 3.5", 2 x 2.5"

Card Slots

8

Front Fans

2 x 120mm (supports 2x 140mm)

Rear Fans

1x 120mm

Top Fans

2 x 120mm

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗/✗/✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Cooler Master MasterCase 5

Review

$109.99 Amazon

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

21.6" x 9.3" x 20.7"

Space Above Motherboard

1.5" (Expandable)

Card Length

11.6"-16.2" (w/o Center Cage )

Weight

23.0lbs

External Bays

2x 5.25"

Internal Bays

2x 3.5" (Expandable), 2x 2.5" (Expandable) +2 (Shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

7

Front Fans

1x 140mm (supports 3x 120/140mm)

Rear Fans

1x 140mm (supports 1x 120mm)

Top Fans

✗ (supports 2x 120/140mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Zalman Z11 Neo

Review

$84.99 Newegg

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

20.7"x10.4"x20.9"

Space Above Motherboard

1.5"

Card Length

11.1" (16.6" w/o Center Cage

Weight

17.3lbs

External Bays

1x 5.25"

Internal Bays

8x 3.5", 1x 2.5"

Card Slots

7

Front Fans

1x 120mm (supports 2x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1x 120mm

Top Fans

1x 120mm (supports 2x 120/140mm)

Left Fans

1x 80mm

Right Fans

1x 80mm

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗/✗/✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Rosewill Nighthawk 117

Review

$149.99 Amazon

Type

Full Tower

Motherboard Support

E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

23.3" x 9.2" x 22.5"

Space Above Motherboard

0.8" (w/Fans)

Card Length

13.3" (18.3" w/o Center Cage)

Weight

27.2lbs

External Bays

3x 5.25"

Internal Bays

8x 3.5" (8x 2.5" shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

10

Front Fans

2x 140mm (supports 2x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1x 140mm (supports 1x 120mm)

Top Fans

2x 140mm (supports 2x 120mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Corsair Carbide Clear 600C

Review

$149.99 Amazon

Type

Full Tower

Motherboard Support

E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

21.2" x 10.3" x 18.3"

Space Above Motherboard

2.2" Downward

Card Length

14.6"

Weight

21.5lbs

External Bays

2x 5.25"

Internal Bays

2x 3.5", 3x 2.5"

Card Slots

8

Front Fans

2x 140mm (supports 2x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1x 140mm (supports 1x 120mm)

Top Fans

✗ (On bottom, up to 3x 120 / 2x 140mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Phanteks Enthoo Evolve ATX Tempered Glass Case

Review

$190.00 Phanteks

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

20.7" x 9.8" x 20.0"

Space Above Motherboard

0.6"

Card Length

16.5"

Weight

28 Pounds

External Bays

✗

Internal Bays

5x 3.5" (+3 optional), 2x 2.5" (+5 shared on 3.5" tray, +1 optional)

Card Slots

7

Front Fans

2x 140mm (supports 3x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1x 140mm (supports 1x 120mm)

Top Fans

✗ (supports 3x 120 / 2x 140mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Azza CSAZ-GT 1

Review

$139.99 Amazon

Type

Full Tower

Motherboard Support

HPTX, XL-ATX, E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

25.6" x 9.8" x 24.5"

Space Above Motherboard

2.2"

Card Length

14.6"

Weight

30.0lbs

External Bays

9x 5.25"

Internal Bays

5x 3.5" (by 5.25" Adapter Tray), 5x 2.5" (shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

9

Front Fans

1x 90mm

Rear Fans

1x 120mm

Top Fans

1x 230mm (supports 4x 120mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

1x 120mm (supports 2x 120mm)

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Rosewill B2-Spirit

Review

$199.99 Newegg

Type

Full Tower

Motherboard Support

XL-ATX, E-ATX, ATX, MicroATX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

26.2" x 9.9" x 25.6"

Space Above Motherboard

3.5" (2.5" w/Fans)

Card Length

15.9"

Weight

37.8lbs

External Bays

4x 5.25"

Internal Bays

13x 3.5", 13x 2.5" (shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

10

Front Fans

2x 140mm

Rear Fans

1x 140mm (supports 1x 120mm)

Top Fans

1x 230mm (supports 3x 120/140mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Cooler Master MasterCase Pro 3

Review

$99.99 Amazon

Type

Mid Tower

Motherboard Support

MicroATX, Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

19.9" x 9.3" x 18.8"

Space Above Motherboard

2.5"

Card Length

14.6"

Weight

20.1 lbs

External Bays

✗

Internal Bays

2x 3.5", 2 +2*x 2.5" (Shared on 3.5" tray)

Card Slots

5

Front Fans

1 x 140mm (supports 2x 140 / 3x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1x 140mm (1x 120mm)

Top Fans

✗ (2x 120/140mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗/✗/✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Fractal Design Define Nano S

Review

$69.99 Newegg

Type

Mini Tower

Motherboard Support

Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

13.54" x 7.99" x 16.22"

Space Above Motherboard

1.2" (30.48mm)

Card Length

12.4" (315mm)

Weight

11.02lbs (windowless version) / 9.92lbs (window version)

External Bays

✗

Internal Bays

2x 3.5", 4x 2.5"

Card Slots

2

Front Fans

1x 140mm (supports 2x 140mm or 2x 120mm)

Rear Fans

1x 120mm

Top Fans

✗ (supports 2x 140mm or 2x 120mm)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Cougar QBX

Review

$54.99 Newegg

Type

Mini Tower

Motherboard Support

Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

10.24" x 7.01" x 14.49"

Space Above Motherboard

1.25"

Card Length

13.78"

Weight

9.8lbs

External Bays

1x Slim ODD

Internal Bays

1x 3.5", 4x 2.5"

Card Slots

One, Double Width, Full Height

Front Fans

1x 80mm (Not Included)

Rear Fans

1x 90mm

Top Fans

2x 120mm (Not Included)

Left Fans

1x 120mm (Not Included) or 120mm Radiator with 120mm fan or 240mm radiator with 1x 120mm fan

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
Lian Li PC-Q10

Review

$129.99 Newegg

Type

Mini Tower

Motherboard Support

Mini-ITX, DTX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

10.9" x 8.1" x 13.2"

Space Above Motherboard

1.5"

Card Length

10.6"

Weight

5.0lbs

External Bays

1x Slim ODD

Internal Bays

2 x 3.5" (or 3x x 2.5")

Card Slots

2

Front Fans

✗

Rear Fans

1 x 120mm

Top Fans

✗ (supports 1x 120mm | 1x 120/240mm ext.)

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

CPU Cooler Height

N/A

Power Supply Format

N/A

Front Panel

N/A

USB 3.0

N/A

USB 2.0

N/A

Audio

N/A

Fan Control

N/A

Other

N/A

Bottom Fans

N/A
NZXT Manta

Review

$139.99 Amazon

Motherboard Support

Mini-ITX

Dimensions (HxWxD)

16.77" x 9.65" x 17.71" (426mm x 245mm x 450mm)

Space Above Motherboard

1"

Card Length

14.29" (363mm)

CPU Cooler Height

6.3" (160mm)

Power Supply Format

PS/2 / SFX, up to 14.29" (363mm)

Weight

15.87lbs (7.2kg)

External Bays

✗

Internal Bays

2x 3.5", 3x 2.5"

Card Slots

2

Front Panel

blank

USB 3.0

2

USB 2.0

✗

Audio

Head/Mic

Fan Control

Built in, up to 7 fans, 30W total power, controlled by CPU PWM signal

Other

I/O Panel and Logo LED On/Off

Front Fans

2x 120mm

Rear Fans

1x 120mm

Top Fans

✗

Bottom Fans

✗

Left Fans

✗

Right Fans

✗

Dampening (Front/Side/Top)

✗ / ✗ / ✗

Type

N/A

Smaller motherboards can always be installed in larger cases — e.g. Mini-ITX simply utilizes four of the mounting holes from the standard ATX specification. Yet the reverse is sometimes also true, as many ATX cases are designed to hold so-called “oversized ATX” motherboards. Often mislabeled as E-ATX, these motherboards technically fall short of the actual 12" x 13" Extended ATX specification. Therefore, we recommend that prospective buyers of any “oversized ATX" motherboards look at the photos, descriptions and measurements of any ATX case before making a purchase.

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