▶Sponsor: Windows 10 Pro ($16):biitt.ly/kPBz6 What PC cases have you built in? Which cases are you excited about? Tell your story in a new comment below!
This year built systems in ASUS GT301(great portable case), ASUS GT501(good airflow), Corsair 4000D(good airflow), DeepCool CH560(good airflow). I used these for cases for builds this year due to price point, build quality and ease of installing parts. I am planning on buying a ASUS GT601 for my personal build. The ASUS GT501 is my favorite case, easy to build in. The Corsair 4000D is a close second.
Am looking at EATX cases, I have a large power supply and 7900XTX fits in my current case but oh well, will find a proper case (preferably not a fish tank). Some great sales on cases currently, but it's a lot of research for the higher end/main rig. I've built over time in Antec NX410, Musetex case (does fit the 7900XTX Merc) reused for current, and Sama Z5 for some rebuilds. Am expecting a couple Sama MATX case for a rebuild, I think that will be nice. It's hard to decide on the more premium cases. I might ask the PSU manufacturer if I keep the same components, really just want the components to all fit.
I went for the popular choice and got a Corsair 4000d airflow case. One of the nicest cases Ive ever built in. So easy to work in and it fits the TUF gaming 7900xtx no problem so all good
I have my heart set on a Lian Li LanCool 216 for a while now. Having great airflow with the 140 front fans and being not too loud has me sold at $99. I was planning to go budget but I thought that I want to keep the case for a lot longer. The Montech Air 903 Max doesn’t look too bad at $80 also.
The same thing happened to me RIGHT NOW. I was looking for case reviews and what to buy, entered UA-cam to see some reviews and this is the FIRST video on my list lol
Sorry if this got addressed and I missed it, but I think an important caveat on the "don't get cases that don't come with fans" guidance is that, if you intend to customize all your fans or use already-owned fans, it's more efficient to shop for fanless cases. In general, those in the market for high end builds will likely be dissuaded by included fans
The Montech Air 903 Max is an absolute beast! It scored extremely high in cooling performance in Techpowerup's case ranking. I would say it's definetely the best case of 2023!
Not only is the airflow good, but the material quality is very nice, lots of room to build in, and very good front panel I/O. Aesthetically it's a little boring but it really makes me wonder how they can make this case so cheap. I really do like all of Montech's offerings right now.
Just a personal recommendation: the Fractal North. It was my first time ever building a PC, and I'm not a fan of the RGB aesthetic. It was my first time every building a PC, but this case was a breeze to build in. Good airflow (and comes with two 140mm front fans), lots of places for 2.5in SSD's, three spaces for 3.5in hard drives if you need them, it supports radiators (front and top), and it's just honestly a really good quality case. However it is definitely a higher-end case, and I did indeed have to sacrifice a bit of CPU and GPU performance to make it fit my budget.
Recomended it for a friend last month and glad you had the same experiemce as me. I build the pc xD The friends plans on buying the black metal ikea desk what i think will match great, too.
Fractal Torrent is what im getting for my 2nd pc. Its a beast with air flow, Gamers Nexus love it, reviewers in general love it. Same price as Fractal North. Theyre both great, but Torrent is airflow beast! @@stephangauthier911
The Lancool 216 really is a good case. Has decent features and it's pretty easy to build in. Only other thing I needed to buy for cooling was an AIO and my system was basically ready to go once got everything in. It's a good case with a good price.
Honestly, I think case and PSU are actually the hardest thing to figure out in a build. CPU, GPU and MOBO are all tested so thoroughly online that it just comes down to desired metrics and cost. But when it came to getting a case and PSU, I had no idea what I was suppose to be looking for.
Been using the Corsair 5000D airflow. And have to say it's my favorite case. Good airflow and looks, and good temps for the GPU.and it's easy to make cable management super good. And the dark glass panel is a good touch. And with 420mm for GPUs not worried about GPU sizes. Just a great case!
I have mixed feelings about PC cases in general, especially when trying to budget for components. I feel that for some people, spending more on cases / fans / flair is important to them. It's a second kind of cool for many, and a point of pride for others. But at the same time, I get so frustrated when people severely limit their budget for something "cool" and leave much needed performance on the table. And I say this as an individual that has both skimped and overspent on cases in the past.
Yes. Ultimately I want people to be happy with their PC build and not have buyers remorse when they get a new game and it doesn't perform well. I personally spend money on aesthetics, just want to make sure people are doing so from an informed standpoint!
I agree but I can also see someone buying a super nice and cool case as a long term investment. I could see the reasoning on a first build to cheap out on components just making sure the build works and someone can actually build a computer that will boot. Then you have a high end PC case to build any future builds in now that you are confident and enjoyed PC building. When I was a noob I cheaped out on everything.. so just sayin. LOL
True. Deciding on a case is a subjective matter if u are well informed and did ur research. Unfortunately a lot of people just pick any randomly recommended one or watch old reviews and pick stuff although there might have been better or newer options/versions. Team pc builders picks seem rock solid to me. I personally bought a grey non RGB Fractal torrent cause I wanted a big case with the best airflow (180€). Its been 12 years since I bought a case so the price is fine and I expect it to last a little 😁
I think it comes down to budget. If you're building a system that has a total cost of say $600-700 then the case needs to be budget so you can put more into gpu/cpu. If say you are like me and spent $2000+ on your PC, then looks do matter at that price point. The good thing is when you are already spending that kind of coin most cases/components look good. That's why I went with Phanteks P500A 😊
I've built in a number of cases including lancool ii mesh, focus 2 and now the AP201 mesh. The ap201 mesh is my personal favorite case with all mesh design, a fair bit smaller than my lancool and temperatures are about the same despite having less intake fan support. Having support for up to 360mm rad up top is nice as well and the internal lighting has a nice look through the perforations.
This week I transferred over from a CoolerMaster MB530P to a ThermalTake Tower 500 and NEVER looking back. The Tower is a gigantic 3-sided fish tank with TONS of modularity (and it was on sale 😉)
I'd probably recommend the H7 Flow over the H6 Flow. Direct air flow from the front fans over the GPU and out the back or up through the top instead of having the fans pointed at the side of the case. Building in it is much more straightforward as well.
I've got that Montech Sky2 in white. Lovely case for 99$ Absolutely happy with it. With the RGB button on the top panel you never have to see the colors unless you choose to. Great airflow with the 4 fans and bottom, back, and top mesh panels.
Just got the DeepCool CH560 Digital and it's awesome. Really easy to work with, good cable management. Great design for air flow. Love having an extra 120 fan directly under the graphics card blowing cold air from the bottom front 140 fan onto it, it's just a fantastic design! Plus the little display at the bottom with CPU and GPU temps/usage is just cool. Really can't recommend this case enough, DeepCool has really stepped their game up recently.
I currently have an old Corsair 550D, and would like something newer and smaller that can still fit ATX and a 140mm air cooler. The problem is that so many newer cases have the power button and USB ports mounted in the top or side, which won't work with my desk.
Instead of the DF700, I recommend the DP503. It's newer, has USB 3.2 Type-C on the front panel and Amazon has it for $90. Alternatively, the P20C. Also supports USB 3.2 type C.
I also like the 4000D Airflow, my issue with it is the price and only including 2 lower quality black fans. I did enjoy building in the 5000X for our Ryzen 7000 launch video.
for those like me who don't like rgb, don't want a transparent panel (being a acrilic or glass) but just a closed, minimalist atc pc case with good airflow, good looking and for a decent price (under 100) it looks like it's quite difficult to find something.
I'm in the same boat as you, basically Fractal is the only option if you want frontal USB-C too, the Pop Air Solid is under 100 but then you have to buy a separate bracket for the Frontal USB-C.
Lian Li Lancool 216 is AMAZING case in mid-tier in my opinion, I used it in my latest build I made for my Nephew (R5 5600, RX 6650XT). The case is so high value for the money.
I know it's not cheap, but the Fractal Torrent gives some of the best GPU cooling in the market. It's designed around having a bottom intake which is what a high wattage video card needs to stay cool.
I went with the white nv7 case for my first full tower all white high end pc build. Some of ny specs are the gigabyte aero 4090 oc, 7800x3d, 4 sticks of 16 gig white corsair vengeance ram for a total of 64 gigs at 6,000 mhz and I filled the case with fans and it is the best looking and best performing pc I have built so far.
Hi Jason, thanks for your boost my build series, learned a lot from there. In fact, the case is my largest issue right now, as I'm upgrading my all-round PC that still has an optical drive (still having a few discs, though also an external drive from the notebook) and tons of 3.5" drives (though I'm thinking about getting an NAS). Looking at the Fractal Design Define 7 or the be quiet! PureBase 600 (would prefer silent options). Don't care about glass or RGB! I'll see what your video says 😅
I got the Antec DP505 in prep for my first build. I don't have any past experience to compare it to, but what I love off that bat; A shit ton of space to work with. 2 USB 3.0 ports on the top mounted IO. Cheap, can get it for under $100. GPU support bracket 3 pre installed fans that seem good quality. Bear minimum I just need a rear exhaust fan. Lot of room for ventilation. 360mm front, 360mm top, 240mm bottom (PSU shroud mounted)
@@PCBuilderChannel Fr? Didn't know that at the time, got it last month on a deal from Amazon. Looking for it again and I only see used ones being sold so might be right about it not being available.
It is ridiculously cold straight out of the box, I decided to just spend the extra money for it and don’t regret a thing. It looks amazing aswell imo, great dust filters and everything just costs a bit more
Got a case for 30 bucks brand new ,3 100mm rgb fans included pre installed , complete front(fully open) to back airflow ,the only short comming is the top mount for the power supply but if you have a modular it is absolutely fine
I think Phanteks knocked it out the park with the NV5. It looks super premium, for 100 bucks. With 30 bucks worth of ARGB fans it is a real show stopper!
@LovepreetSinghGhuman it is so nice to work with!! You will love it. Everything just...works with it. Just used 2 of them for his and hers builds and both look fantastic.
It's an older case but the Coolermaster HAF evo test bench style case is nothing short of amazing when it comes to airflow, and is still water cooling ready with built in support and it's regularly under 70 bucks these days. It's easy to build in and move around as well.
Hi Jason Just wanted to drop this comment and say that you are an amazing person that has made immeasurable amount of positive impact on everyone who is looking into building a PC or even seasoned veterans that need a refresher or just an update. We appreciate you always
I was looking into either the Pure Base 500FX or the Lian Li Lancool 216 myself and chose the Lancool especially because of the front Panel which can be placed on the bottom left which is awesome since i put the PC on my desk . For a first time builder like myself, the case was absolutely beautiful to build in, enough space for my 4080, 2 additional p12 fans at the bottom for intake and a 360 Liquid freezer 2 at the top. Also plenty of space for Cable management. A very very good Case overall!
I went with the 500FX recently. Loved the RGB features, the included fans, and it’s been on sale for $100. Enjoy your case! I can’t wait to complete my build
(Legit question) Does a 140mm fan perform better than a 120mm? (better, more, faster airflow) Is yes then I want a case that has 2 in the front and one in the back...... That's all.
Very happy with my Q300L. Removed all mesh grilled, added feet riser on the case to make sit higher, 5 intake + 1 exhaust and they run at 20% highest I ever push them on linear fan control is 50% and it's more than enough. For budget build, top!
Still using my Black Fractal Design Refine 5, solid panels, its going on 9 years and my 3rd build(4790k/3600/5800x3d). Great case, fits my 6950x once you take out the HD tray, still stays pretty cool, but I've added 4 extra 140mm fans over the years. It might be time to go to a new case, thinking a montech sky two would look good.
Spot on. Great job again. Not everyone should be jumping on the Lian li 011 Evo. I'm using one in my current rig but using the optional mesh front panel and top USB. If doing it again I would have went with the Deepcool CH560 Digital. The thing I have noticed about Lian Li is the guility is not the same as there older cases. 10 years ago they were built to last and that is the reason when they do show up on the market they command a premium. Great job again with lots if info for the new builders. Keep it up!!
I love my hyte y40. Is it the coolest? No. Is it the quietest? Also no, but with how easy they made it to vertically mount the gpu and the looks of the case really make me love looking at my build
@@PCBuilderChannel I agree! I spent above 2k on my build and have a 4090 so looks are all I looked for, and I was ready to spend whatever on whichever case I wanted the most since my last 3 builds I ignored looks completely and went pure value, I think if they could get the case down to 100 or even 90 if would be a much more realistic option for most people
I bought the Antec DF700 off Amazon, when I got it, all the wires were wadded up inside into a rats nest and there is no wire for the front power switch. I am in the process of returning that one, came here to look for a replacement idea, lol.
Was planning to go with the lancool 216. Found a discounted lancool iii at $30-40 extra. Went with it. Already maxed out on GPU though, at least for my needs, not for my greeds. Just wanted to have a tiny bit more space, so the case could last me for eternity. CPU is a bit older, but not bottlenecking in the games that I play. Would've stuck with the 216 if I would've tried to save money.
I went with the Fractal Pop Air for my new case as it's the only modern case that still has a provision for a CD Drive in the basement. They may be obsolete for most users, however I still have a massive collection of CD's, DVDs, and BluRays that I would like to use easily and conveniently without relying on another USB accessory. Frankly, I wish more manufacturers would consider having an "optional" provision for a CD drive in the basement as it really is the cleanest location to put one, which is usually dead space, or an area for HDD's. I think the only improvement I would suggest is that the drive should be accessed from the Glass Side of the case rather than the front, as that could make room for an extra fan or larger radiator at the front of the case.
I still use a blu ray drive in my systems, just for media watching purposes. I have a good collection of DVD and Blu ray movies. If something is not on netflix or Tubi then I can just run it off the drive and out to the monitor or to the TV with a roku.
Over the summer I bought a Hyte y40 on sale for $99. It came with two non RGB fans, preinstalled in the rear and bottom. Two more 140mm fans on the side and it is fine, even with a 12700k and RX6950. At $99 I love the case, at normal price I would have went with the Montech Sky Two. I also built my wife a PC this summer in a Bitfenix Nova Mesh, in white and purple, her favorite color is purple, I really love this case, it was easy to build in, and everything seems to be very high quality, I will build in the Bitfenix case again.
Having built upwards of 30 computers in the last 5 years, I think a good case is one that meets all the prerequisites for your specific build (e.g. enough space for your GPU and your CPU tower or radiator, enough SSD trays if you plan on having more than one or two), offers good airflow, and allows for good access to everything while building. I've built in really cheap cases and in 200$+ cases, the one big difference I'll tell everyone is that cheap cases (up to 50-60$) usually are a lot less user-friendly to build in. Aside from more aesthetic things like a lack of rubber grommets or cable management bars, the cheaper cases typically also are just more of a pain to just open and access everything, and the overall build quality is a lot less refined. There's gonna be more plastic which might rattle or creak as you build, or if it's all sheet-metal it's gonna be thin and flimsy. Without name-dropping brand or model, I've used a 50$ case (from a well-known brand) earlier this year for a budget-friendly build and it had a sheet-metal frame around its tempered glass side panel, so the panel came off with the frame. Taking it off was easy enough with a single thumbscrew, but as I went to put it down somewhere and the edge of the frame slid down my hand a bit, it cut the palm of my hand because the edge was still sharp, not sanded at all. You just have to be aware that with a cheap case, building is probably going to be a pain, either by making things hard to access or having nowhere to put the cables on the backside, or by physically hurting you like the one that cut me... That said, once you get to 70-75$ cases or more, build quality is noticeably better. Once you go over 90$ or 100$, all you're paying extra for is either more space (aka just a bigger case), better materials, more RGB, more features like removeable fan/radiator brackets, or any combination of these. But personally I try to avoid cases under about 70-75$ except in ultra-budget builds (like when the client says the PC should cost as little as possible). Even for a 1000$ gaming PC I'd go with something like the Phanteks G300A or Fractal Focus 2 because I just got tired of cheap cases that make building a PC harder than it needs to be.
Can't even find a cheap one with 8 HDD bays anymore. Don't really want a tempered glass build yet all of the cases nowdays have TG as a default offering.
I got my Montech Air 100 Lite Case for 37 dollars last week. I have a Micro ATX Case. I upgraded form a RedDragon Jetfire Case Full ATX to the Montech Air 100 Lite Case. Better cable management, better airflow, looks nice and works perfectly for my build. I have 2 fans but will get later just 2 more but my cpu temps never exceeds 55C and my GPU never exceeds 58C(thats if both of them are running 100% usage).
If you're an ODD-aficionado like me: Fractal Design Pop Air. I migrated my system from a bequiet Pure Base 600 to the Pop Air XL RGB and I haven't looked back. Much better to build in/easier to keep clean because it has more space on the inside and is less restrictive both WRT airflow and component-placement. Cable-management is also better and it's much easier to hide everything away. AiO "breathes" much better now and even my PCH-temps have decreased quite dramatically (from low 60s to high 40s under load), even though my GPU covers the chipset heat-spreader almost entirely. Only drawbacks that I can think of are a slightly larger footprint on my desk and a bit of added noise at higher fan-speeds due to the more open design and total lack of noise-insulation. And the fact that Fractal make you pay extra for that front-panel USB-C connector - for which you'll have to buy an upgrade-kit.
I have been using the fractal meshify 2 argb for over a year. thermals are great with the 3 140 mm fans on the front and the 120 exhaust on the rear, and you can mount a 360 aio on the ceiling where i have my liquid freezer placed. amazing all-around.
Dual chamber glass cases sell though. All manufacturers have some kind of 011 dynamic clone now. Its what buyers are spending their money on. A case that nearly no one else will see, that they'll show off to everyone who doesn't care, to impress people that don't even know what it is. But you'll tell them anyway.
I don't know what kind of prices you can find for it, but I highly recommend the Lian Li x Dan A4 H2O for someone just getting into ITX building. You can buy it with an included riser cable, and it supports up to a 240mm AiO cooler in the top of the case. The whole thing is covered in very solid, perforated metal panels that allow for great airflow, and it supports a lot of large graphics cards (including Founders Edition 4080s and 4090s for high end builds). I built my system in it because the size and construction were exactly what I need to be able to put my PC in a backpack and take it with me for work trips, along with a portable monitor and my 60% keyboard.
First off: great video. I'm building a replacement for my soon-to-be eight year old computer and your in-depth videos have been of great help, along with the Tech Deals channel. Hilariously, I was just minutes away from ordering when this video popped up in my feed. The only thing I'm missing in this video are the silent cases. I know they are a bit niche, but I have a mild sensory processing disorder coupled with almost perfect hearing, so fan noise and coil whine needs to be suppressed by all means necessary. I picked the "be quiet! Silent Base 802" for the three included 140 mm fans and the front panel fan control button. Pricier than the "Fractal Design Pop Silent", but I didn't like the front panel layout of the latter.
The Fractal Design Pop XL Air was $109 at the time I bought it during the supply chain shortage. The only catch was that if you wanted USB 3.2, you had to buy a separate cable. I had to buy my cable from Amazon Japan at the time. Both together was $150. The Fractal Design Meshify 2 XL cost $204.99 at the time of purchase. Both are excellent cases. The Pop XL comes with 3 RGB fans and 1 non RGB fan in the rear. The Meshify 2 comes with 4 non RGB fans.
I got one you missed for that list, musetex y6 just grabbed one on Amazon for 100 with 20 coupon aquarium style, 5 120 argb fans, black and white, great IO, tbh ive been hunting for a case for a bit and this one checked off all the boxes for the best price I could find it at
I'm not a fan of this advice. Remember everyone you can build in one case for years to come. Better to spend more money now on a case that will last you 3-4 builds than keep on replacing cases.
Great video topic Jason! I purchased my case first and it was on sale so I bit down on it , was the Asus Tuff GT501 came with 4 case fans for 220 in Canada I felt like that was a steal tho im sure it was simply on par with US prices 😂 Love the vids my man always answering questions i didnt know I had!
@PCBuilderChannel Thank you! I wouldn't gave made decent decisions with out you my friend! Yessir its a really sturdy and spacious case! Hopefully I can grab myself a membership before the next live ❤️ Really prefer this channel over every other PC channel I've found.
@@auntiepha8343 Thank you! I'm starting to get the money togther for the rest of my build and getting super excited! Gonna be a big day of learning and I'm so excited!
Just to add on… I have NO desire to have RGB / cut outs / windows or water cooling on my case. I’m looking for a case like what you would buy for a workstation (HP / Lenovo / Dell) . Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I love love love my Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-03 case purchased way back in 2017. It is by far the best case i've ever used. It's old and probably more "general Use" than a lot of builders have, but I haven't found a good reason to "upgrade."
One category that I'd love to see you tackle are cases without fans or with terrible fans (but otherwise great designs). As someone who's purchased Noctua fans, the quality of the included fans on a case don't really make a difference since I'll swap them out, so a focus more on the airflow qualities and design elements of the case itself would be very helpful rather than a focus on the included fans. Also did you see the Gamer Nexus benchmarks for case airflow? Seems like you might be underrating the 216 a bit. Also very suprised you made no mention of the Fractal Torrent anywhere. It's a pain to build in the smaller one (apparently, for me it was no issue), but honestly the performance is amazing.
When I was at microcenter the other day, the employee said people spend more time trying to figure out what PC case they're going to get than they do anything else.
Well i'm now "corrupted" and by Fractal Torrent compact solid and/or Fractal North, any other especially full glass feel nonsense to me. Especially with CPU aircooling in mind and with good case fans there.
I love my auros c500 glass for my Auros/Corsair AM5 build. Solid construction. Lots of room for the eatx motherboard. Plenty of rear space to fit the ssd drives, fan/rgb hubs (with one built-in), and lots of cable management options. Horizontal pcie slots can be removed and replaced with included verticle mount that also has riser cable mount attached. Compatible with Corsair shift Psu's. Can have up to 9 fans, comes equipped with 4 120mm fans, 3 with rgb rings, (which I moved to the bottom mounts for added airflow, and installed high end corsair fans in their place). Rgb Aorus logo on the front. Room for aio's. Usb c on the front io. Everything I needed for my top end build. But it was pricey at $250. It's definitely not a case for a budget build.
Well I messed up I already ordered the fractal focus g before watching but how can you go wrong for $50 I saved so much I bought a 2tb 990 pro 😊 And saved even more by getting a thermal lake smart 600w psu for only $50 Also stuffing a 240 msi aio in here just to make sure my old 3800x stays cool on its 2nd life The only regret I have is buying the $50 b450m a pro max 2 as I will no longer have my long time love of asus bios!!! Last but not least gotta have them G Skills BABY! 2800mhz nothing serious but the cl15 is untouchable IMO
Even for the more experienced people who built at least 3 or 4 PC for themselves picking a case is one of the damn trickiest part of building a PC thanks to you and mr.bear it solved for 2023 👍
Only 5,25" case is fractal design pop air which has bad airflow due to full psu cover. Shame that they almost stopped manufacturing cases for people with hdd bay and blu-ray drive.
Recently built in the DeepCool CC360 and it’s a good budget case so long as you don’t mind the look of the front with that bar. Only complaint is that the PCIe covers are break-out, so once you take them out, there’s no putting them back in.
Lian Li O11D is for custom-loop bro ... It's a nice case. But unless you got top of the line hardware and unlimited budget, it's not the case for you .. I've seen plenty of builds with 3060's in them ...
I think about 1 out of every 3 boost my build videos has one in them where it's become a huge money pit. And I'm not even picking on it, I get those builds sent to me all the time!
The timing was spot on with this one😂 I'm just about to order the components for my first PC build at 54 😊 Aiming at a budget gaming build which could be upgraded in the future. Any coments on the components I've selected so far would be greatly appreciated. I've been gifted a I3 12100F so that's the CPU sorted, a Gigabyte B760 Gaming x DDR5 mother board, Corsair Vengeance 4800MHz ddr5 ram (2 x 16gb), acer predator bifrost arc a770 16gb gpu and Corsair 1tb pci 4 nvme ssd. Power supply and case yet to be decided but the case is nearly sorted after I watch this again😊 Thanks in advance for any advice and loving your channel Jason.
I would've got the H6 flow instead of the H7, if it existed a year ago when I did my build! H7 is great case but it only has two really crummy DC fans with it.. why NZXT? Everyone (including me) is just gonna replace them instantly!
I like the df700 flux. I just got a df800 cause...it looked amazing IMO. Plus good included fans and some good building features for $90. Couldn't argue with it. It did cost me those fancy rubber grommets to route my cables through. A sacrifice I am willing to make.
i got the lian li and no problems here. Oh and remember guys you can always get the parts you want a bit later plus they could become a blackfryday super deal!
A case isn't about any technical data - it's about what you like best: My first “real” case was the COOLER MASTER PRAETORIAN 730 in spring 2006. Completely aluminum, I haven't seen a nicer case to date (ok, that's a matter of taste) - I'm still a little bit in love with it. Times have changed - Sweden used to stand for beautiful women + good tennis players, today it means great housing. If you understand what I mean...
I literally just bought the Antec Performance 1 FT W. I watched a LOT of reviews and it matched my needs while being a really great case and at $120 on Black Friday sale it was a no brainer. I really, really wanted the Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO but you can't get the white one without jumping through hoops and buying it from some sketchy reseller.
I can't fault the Corsair 7000D airflow, a tonne of room although the inner 'door' is a waste of metal. The 420mm rad support on top able to fit a push-pull config is what makes it for me.
I still have the NZXT Noctis from 2016. It is a little bit on the getting hot inside, but running AIO leaves the GPU breath just a little bit better. I have a 7800x3d + X670E Steel Legend + 32gb RAM + 7900 XTX Nitro+. I tried the Noctua D15 Black, but I just installed the Nitro+ 360 AIO cooler. The Noctua was cooling the CPU and it was very silent, even with only one fan running. The AIO makes more noise (the fan profile is a bit on the aggressive side), but I don't mind as the GPU also makes a lot of noise at 3000 rpm. The difference between the two cooling solutions is the GPU temperature, I get the GPU 3-4 degree or so cooler on the hotspot (max 81 compared to even 87 sometimes) which makes a difference in gaming performance. The CPU had better performance running the Noctua (thanks to the offset mounting bracket included in the package). If I had a better airflow and more spacious case, but also better isolating (for the GPU noise) I would have stuck with Noctua. The price was the same at around 110 euro. Back to cases, cable management and the overall CLEANESS of the case is worth considering, but a big factor many people don't take into consideration is the noise. Many cases don't provide very good sound dampening and they are very noisy. The H440 had multiple foam layers which made a huge difference in the noise department, while being even worse on the airflow. I went for the Noctis as it was cheaper and available. It was a decent choice, but I would have invested more into a better case. Case is definitely something many people overlook and this video was spot on. I like your videos as you provide very budget friendly advice.
Cool...I just started watching this channel to figure out what to replace my 7 year old Dell disappointment with. I was leaning towards a system integrator, but decided to do my first PC build in 19 years. I was hesitating about which case to get. The Phanteks G500 is at the top of my list and now you mentioned you have it in this video, so thay must be a sign from above to get it 😀
hi jason in the mid range section of the video,which one would you chose: Montech Atx Montech Air 903 Max-70 euros Lian Li Lancool 216-79 euros Phanteks Eclipse G360A-82 euros this are my options,im very confused! thank you
I wanted to a get a Pop mini air, I love how space efficient it is! Only con: wish it supported 280mm rads Regular Pop Air has that support, yet feels kinda big Perhaps it's better for airflow and GPU clearance anyway as i don't think i would have had 2-2.5 inches of clearance with a Sapphire 7800 XT in it.
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What PC cases have you built in? Which cases are you excited about? Tell your story in a new comment below!
This year built systems in ASUS GT301(great portable case), ASUS GT501(good airflow), Corsair 4000D(good airflow), DeepCool CH560(good airflow). I used these for cases for builds this year due to price point, build quality and ease of installing parts. I am planning on buying a ASUS GT601 for my personal build. The ASUS GT501 is my favorite case, easy to build in. The Corsair 4000D is a close second.
Am looking at EATX cases, I have a large power supply and 7900XTX fits in my current case but oh well, will find a proper case (preferably not a fish tank). Some great sales on cases currently, but it's a lot of research for the higher end/main rig. I've built over time in Antec NX410, Musetex case (does fit the 7900XTX Merc) reused for current, and Sama Z5 for some rebuilds. Am expecting a couple Sama MATX case for a rebuild, I think that will be nice. It's hard to decide on the more premium cases. I might ask the PSU manufacturer if I keep the same components, really just want the components to all fit.
I have a massive gpu and want to vertically mount it. It's the EVGA FTW3 3070ti. Is there a great case option I should keep an eye on?
I went for the popular choice and got a Corsair 4000d airflow case. One of the nicest cases Ive ever built in. So easy to work in and it fits the TUF gaming 7900xtx no problem so all good
I have my heart set on a Lian Li LanCool 216 for a while now.
Having great airflow with the 140 front fans and being not too loud has me sold at $99.
I was planning to go budget but I thought that I want to keep the case for a lot longer.
The Montech Air 903 Max doesn’t look too bad at $80 also.
How does he always upload videos the same time as when I'm looking for them
I'm looking over your shoulder. RIGHT. NOW. :)
He's in the walls 👁
Ikr, I was looking for a case just yesterday and SBAM, here it is
The Cat Cabal... Anywhere with something that can knocked down, they can see you.
The same thing happened to me RIGHT NOW. I was looking for case reviews and what to buy, entered UA-cam to see some reviews and this is the FIRST video on my list lol
Sorry if this got addressed and I missed it, but I think an important caveat on the "don't get cases that don't come with fans" guidance is that, if you intend to customize all your fans or use already-owned fans, it's more efficient to shop for fanless cases.
In general, those in the market for high end builds will likely be dissuaded by included fans
Sir what case is best for ASRock Nova motherboard, and suprim liquid X 4090 GPU? Thanks in advance.
The Montech Air 903 Max is an absolute beast! It scored extremely high in cooling performance in Techpowerup's case ranking. I would say it's definetely the best case of 2023!
can a big card like the 4090 strix fit in there? it looks very small for that isn't it??
@@samxware It has a lot of room and can fit up to 400mm cards... it's a very good sized case.
I spent $70 for Montech Air 900 case and it’s crazy good and spacious. I didn’t get the RGB cause I don’t care for RGB. Great brand!
for the price*
Not only is the airflow good, but the material quality is very nice, lots of room to build in, and very good front panel I/O.
Aesthetically it's a little boring but it really makes me wonder how they can make this case so cheap. I really do like all of Montech's offerings right now.
Just a personal recommendation: the Fractal North.
It was my first time ever building a PC, and I'm not a fan of the RGB aesthetic. It was my first time every building a PC, but this case was a breeze to build in. Good airflow (and comes with two 140mm front fans), lots of places for 2.5in SSD's, three spaces for 3.5in hard drives if you need them, it supports radiators (front and top), and it's just honestly a really good quality case. However it is definitely a higher-end case, and I did indeed have to sacrifice a bit of CPU and GPU performance to make it fit my budget.
Recomended it for a friend last month and glad you had the same experiemce as me. I build the pc xD
The friends plans on buying the black metal ikea desk what i think will match great, too.
I've used the North Mesh in a build for a grandson. I was very pleased with it. Great case for air cooling.
Noisy case tho. But awesome air flow and aesthetics
Fractal Torrent is what im getting for my 2nd pc.
Its a beast with air flow, Gamers Nexus love it, reviewers in general love it.
Same price as Fractal North.
Theyre both great, but Torrent is airflow beast! @@stephangauthier911
The Lancool 216 really is a good case. Has decent features and it's pretty easy to build in. Only other thing I needed to buy for cooling was an AIO and my system was basically ready to go once got everything in. It's a good case with a good price.
W
Honestly, I think case and PSU are actually the hardest thing to figure out in a build. CPU, GPU and MOBO are all tested so thoroughly online that it just comes down to desired metrics and cost. But when it came to getting a case and PSU, I had no idea what I was suppose to be looking for.
We actually just dropped our Best PSU 2023 video last week so check that out too!
Just search the psu tier list for the specific model you're interested, if it's tier c and above, you're good
Been using the Corsair 5000D airflow. And have to say it's my favorite case. Good airflow and looks, and good temps for the GPU.and it's easy to make cable management super good. And the dark glass panel is a good touch. And with 420mm for GPUs not worried about GPU sizes. Just a great case!
Same. I do love me some Fractal cases though - shipping times were just a no-go for me this time around.
I went with the 4000D Airflow, but I think I will upgrade to the 5000 in the future. That cable space is too good.
I have mixed feelings about PC cases in general, especially when trying to budget for components. I feel that for some people, spending more on cases / fans / flair is important to them. It's a second kind of cool for many, and a point of pride for others. But at the same time, I get so frustrated when people severely limit their budget for something "cool" and leave much needed performance on the table.
And I say this as an individual that has both skimped and overspent on cases in the past.
Yes. Ultimately I want people to be happy with their PC build and not have buyers remorse when they get a new game and it doesn't perform well. I personally spend money on aesthetics, just want to make sure people are doing so from an informed standpoint!
I agree but I can also see someone buying a super nice and cool case as a long term investment. I could see the reasoning on a first build to cheap out on components just making sure the build works and someone can actually build a computer that will boot. Then you have a high end PC case to build any future builds in now that you are confident and enjoyed PC building. When I was a noob I cheaped out on everything.. so just sayin. LOL
I agree … just a box for parts to keep the kat off it!😁
True. Deciding on a case is a subjective matter if u are well informed and did ur research. Unfortunately a lot of people just pick any randomly recommended one or watch old reviews and pick stuff although there might have been better or newer options/versions. Team pc builders picks seem rock solid to me.
I personally bought a grey non RGB Fractal torrent cause I wanted a big case with the best airflow (180€). Its been 12 years since I bought a case so the price is fine and I expect it to last a little 😁
I think it comes down to budget. If you're building a system that has a total cost of say $600-700 then the case needs to be budget so you can put more into gpu/cpu. If say you are like me and spent $2000+ on your PC, then looks do matter at that price point. The good thing is when you are already spending that kind of coin most cases/components look good. That's why I went with Phanteks P500A 😊
I've built in a number of cases including lancool ii mesh, focus 2 and now the AP201 mesh. The ap201 mesh is my personal favorite case with all mesh design, a fair bit smaller than my lancool and temperatures are about the same despite having less intake fan support. Having support for up to 360mm rad up top is nice as well and the internal lighting has a nice look through the perforations.
I want the AP201 so baaad 😭😭😭 ur comment was helpful thank u!
Sir what case is best for ASRock Nova motherboard, and suprim liquid X 4090 GPU? Thanks in advance.
This week I transferred over from a CoolerMaster MB530P to a ThermalTake Tower 500 and NEVER looking back. The Tower is a gigantic 3-sided fish tank with TONS of modularity (and it was on sale 😉)
I'd probably recommend the H7 Flow over the H6 Flow. Direct air flow from the front fans over the GPU and out the back or up through the top instead of having the fans pointed at the side of the case. Building in it is much more straightforward as well.
I overspend in my Lian Li O11 mini snow white. It's been 10 years since my last build and I wanted to splurge and I really love the look and size.
If you enjoy it then it was a good purchase! I just want to make sure people make the best decision for them.
@@PCBuilderChannel Thanks Jason! The rest of the parts I got from your awesome recommendations. Love your videos!
I've got that Montech Sky2 in white. Lovely case for 99$ Absolutely happy with it. With the RGB button on the top panel you never have to see the colors unless you choose to. Great airflow with the 4 fans and bottom, back, and top mesh panels.
Just got the DeepCool CH560 Digital and it's awesome. Really easy to work with, good cable management. Great design for air flow. Love having an extra 120 fan directly under the graphics card blowing cold air from the bottom front 140 fan onto it, it's just a fantastic design! Plus the little display at the bottom with CPU and GPU temps/usage is just cool. Really can't recommend this case enough, DeepCool has really stepped their game up recently.
i got ch560 non digital and ls720 se (aio) and i love both
Yes we love it too!
Still got the legacy Corsair Graphite 760T White. Lovin' it ever since I built with it and bought the last "new" one in 2022!
I don't like to admit it but your point about internal DVD drives is very true and it hurts a little...
What's missing is a case between $70-140 where it's great airflow, no windows and relatively quiet, and has 5-7 hdd spaces for 3.5"
I've had the Lian Li Lancool 216 for about a year now, and it's been a great case. I would highly recommend it. 👌
I currently have an old Corsair 550D, and would like something newer and smaller that can still fit ATX and a 140mm air cooler. The problem is that so many newer cases have the power button and USB ports mounted in the top or side, which won't work with my desk.
Instead of the DF700, I recommend the DP503. It's newer, has USB 3.2 Type-C on the front panel and Amazon has it for $90. Alternatively, the P20C. Also supports USB 3.2 type C.
Great choices. My personal favorites are Fractal Pop Air and Corsair 4000D.
I also like the 4000D Airflow, my issue with it is the price and only including 2 lower quality black fans. I did enjoy building in the 5000X for our Ryzen 7000 launch video.
for those like me who don't like rgb, don't want a transparent panel (being a acrilic or glass) but just a closed, minimalist atc pc case with good airflow, good looking and for a decent price (under 100) it looks like it's quite difficult to find something.
I'm in the same boat as you, basically Fractal is the only option if you want frontal USB-C too, the Pop Air Solid is under 100 but then you have to buy a separate bracket for the Frontal USB-C.
Still bought the Lian Li O11 Dynamic Evo in white. It's the bomb.
Lian Li Lancool 216 is AMAZING case in mid-tier in my opinion, I used it in my latest build I made for my Nephew (R5 5600, RX 6650XT). The case is so high value for the money.
I know it's not cheap, but the Fractal Torrent gives some of the best GPU cooling in the market. It's designed around having a bottom intake which is what a high wattage video card needs to stay cool.
It’s like having a mini fridge as a tower straight out of the box I love it. And the psu hub on the top makes it so roomy and clean looking
I went with the white nv7 case for my first full tower all white high end pc build. Some of ny specs are the gigabyte aero 4090 oc, 7800x3d, 4 sticks of 16 gig white corsair vengeance ram for a total of 64 gigs at 6,000 mhz and I filled the case with fans and it is the best looking and best performing pc I have built so far.
@@BrodyStag i know.
Hi Jason, thanks for your boost my build series, learned a lot from there.
In fact, the case is my largest issue right now, as I'm upgrading my all-round PC that still has an optical drive (still having a few discs, though also an external drive from the notebook) and tons of 3.5" drives (though I'm thinking about getting an NAS).
Looking at the Fractal Design Define 7 or the be quiet! PureBase 600 (would prefer silent options).
Don't care about glass or RGB!
I'll see what your video says 😅
finally, i want to build a new pc and i still dont know which case i should buy. This video was perfekt timing
I read your mind! :)
Perfekt
*cough* Corsair 4000D Airflow *cough*
@@auntiepha8343*cough* over priced *cough*
I have a Corsair 4000D, I spent $90 on it. And it doesn't seem I'll ever replace it.
I got the Antec DP505 in prep for my first build.
I don't have any past experience to compare it to, but what I love off that bat;
A shit ton of space to work with.
2 USB 3.0 ports on the top mounted IO.
Cheap, can get it for under $100.
GPU support bracket
3 pre installed fans that seem good quality. Bear minimum I just need a rear exhaust fan.
Lot of room for ventilation. 360mm front, 360mm top, 240mm bottom (PSU shroud mounted)
Good case, I don't think it is available anymore in the US.
@@PCBuilderChannel Fr? Didn't know that at the time, got it last month on a deal from Amazon. Looking for it again and I only see used ones being sold so might be right about it not being available.
Surprised there's no mention of the fractal design torrent line at the high end. I know they're a bit more expensive, but the thermals are top tier.
It is ridiculously cold straight out of the box, I decided to just spend the extra money for it and don’t regret a thing. It looks amazing aswell imo, great dust filters and everything just costs a bit more
Got a case for 30 bucks brand new ,3 100mm rgb fans included pre installed , complete front(fully open) to back airflow ,the only short comming is the top mount for the power supply but if you have a modular it is absolutely fine
I think Phanteks knocked it out the park with the NV5. It looks super premium, for 100 bucks. With 30 bucks worth of ARGB fans it is a real show stopper!
That's the case I'm gonna use. As my first pc
@LovepreetSinghGhuman it is so nice to work with!! You will love it. Everything just...works with it. Just used 2 of them for his and hers builds and both look fantastic.
@brandonr.2807 what fans did you use. I'm thinking about using the new Phanteks D30 black.
Absolutely love Phanteks. They are easily my favorite case brand. That said, they do often tend to be more on the expensive side. But it's quality.
@LovepreetSinghGhuman the deep cool 120 fans were on sale during prime day so that's what we went with. Matched that aio
It's an older case but the Coolermaster HAF evo test bench style case is nothing short of amazing when it comes to airflow, and is still water cooling ready with built in support and it's regularly under 70 bucks these days. It's easy to build in and move around as well.
Had this in my old computer and loved it. Definitely a great case!
Can I use MSI mag forge 112r in my budget build with msi Mobo and msi psu please reply
8:44 if someone still wants a dvd drive in 2023 ( like I do), then the fractal design pop air rgb does exactly that, and under 90€.
Yes true!
I was literally just looking at PC cases all day today and you uploaded. Thank you!
Glad I could help!
@@stevieC11Hanworth Yes it is!!
Montech air 903/max are great cases. Building in a black air 903 max thus month.
Hi Jason
Just wanted to drop this comment and say that you are an amazing person that has made immeasurable amount of positive impact on everyone who is looking into building a PC or even seasoned veterans that need a refresher or just an update. We appreciate you always
I was looking into either the Pure Base 500FX or the Lian Li Lancool 216 myself and chose the Lancool especially because of the front Panel which can be placed on the bottom left which is awesome since i put the PC on my desk . For a first time builder like myself, the case was absolutely beautiful to build in, enough space for my 4080, 2 additional p12 fans at the bottom for intake and a 360 Liquid freezer 2 at the top. Also plenty of space for Cable management. A very very good Case overall!
216 is a great case
I went with the 500FX recently. Loved the RGB features, the included fans, and it’s been on sale for $100. Enjoy your case! I can’t wait to complete my build
(Legit question)
Does a 140mm fan perform better than a 120mm?
(better, more, faster airflow)
Is yes then I want a case that has 2 in the front and one in the back...... That's all.
140mm fan will have about 20% more airflow and be quieter doing it than a 120 mm fan.
140mm x2 in front fans and 140mm rear fan will work great.
@@auntiepha8343 thank you so very much! i really appreciate it!
YOU ROCK!!!
@@stevieC11Hanworth ok thanks!
@@stevieC11Hanworth Kool
Very happy with my Q300L. Removed all mesh grilled, added feet riser on the case to make sit higher, 5 intake + 1 exhaust and they run at 20% highest I ever push them on linear fan control is 50% and it's more than enough. For budget build, top!
Still using my Black Fractal Design Refine 5, solid panels, its going on 9 years and my 3rd build(4790k/3600/5800x3d). Great case, fits my 6950x once you take out the HD tray, still stays pretty cool, but I've added 4 extra 140mm fans over the years. It might be time to go to a new case, thinking a montech sky two would look good.
Spot on. Great job again. Not everyone should be jumping on the Lian li 011 Evo. I'm using one in my current rig but using the optional mesh front panel and top USB. If doing it again I would have went with the Deepcool CH560 Digital. The thing I have noticed about Lian Li is the guility is not the same as there older cases. 10 years ago they were built to last and that is the reason when they do show up on the market they command a premium. Great job again with lots if info for the new builders. Keep it up!!
I love my hyte y40. Is it the coolest? No. Is it the quietest? Also no, but with how easy they made it to vertically mount the gpu and the looks of the case really make me love looking at my build
I also love that case (and have one) but it's too expensive and doesn't come with any included fans. Hopefully Hyte makes some changes.
@@PCBuilderChannel I agree! I spent above 2k on my build and have a 4090 so looks are all I looked for, and I was ready to spend whatever on whichever case I wanted the most since my last 3 builds I ignored looks completely and went pure value, I think if they could get the case down to 100 or even 90 if would be a much more realistic option for most people
I bought the Antec DF700 off Amazon, when I got it, all the wires were wadded up inside into a rats nest and there is no wire for the front power switch. I am in the process of returning that one, came here to look for a replacement idea, lol.
Was planning to go with the lancool 216. Found a discounted lancool iii at $30-40 extra. Went with it. Already maxed out on GPU though, at least for my needs, not for my greeds. Just wanted to have a tiny bit more space, so the case could last me for eternity. CPU is a bit older, but not bottlenecking in the games that I play. Would've stuck with the 216 if I would've tried to save money.
I just want you to be happy with what you get, whatever that is! Glad you are enjoying your PC case!
A little disappointed you didn’t mention the Iqunix ZX-1 or Formd T1 which I think are hands down the best itx cases.
I went with the Fractal Pop Air for my new case as it's the only modern case that still has a provision for a CD Drive in the basement. They may be obsolete for most users, however I still have a massive collection of CD's, DVDs, and BluRays that I would like to use easily and conveniently without relying on another USB accessory.
Frankly, I wish more manufacturers would consider having an "optional" provision for a CD drive in the basement as it really is the cleanest location to put one, which is usually dead space, or an area for HDD's. I think the only improvement I would suggest is that the drive should be accessed from the Glass Side of the case rather than the front, as that could make room for an extra fan or larger radiator at the front of the case.
Thinking of getting the Corsair 4000D Airflow, since it looks cool and is on sale, is this a good case?
Very good video as always btw.
Good case but typically not good value. Only comes with 2 lower quality fans and there is a lot of good competition.
Corsair 4000D is an excellent case. DO EET!!!
@@PCBuilderChannel I agree, but sadly many good cases are very overpriced in my market and it's currently on sale.
I still use a blu ray drive in my systems, just for media watching purposes. I have a good collection of DVD and Blu ray movies. If something is not on netflix or Tubi then I can just run it off the drive and out to the monitor or to the TV with a roku.
Over the summer I bought a Hyte y40 on sale for $99. It came with two non RGB fans, preinstalled in the rear and bottom. Two more 140mm fans on the side and it is fine, even with a 12700k and RX6950. At $99 I love the case, at normal price I would have went with the Montech Sky Two. I also built my wife a PC this summer in a Bitfenix Nova Mesh, in white and purple, her favorite color is purple, I really love this case, it was easy to build in, and everything seems to be very high quality, I will build in the Bitfenix case again.
Having built upwards of 30 computers in the last 5 years, I think a good case is one that meets all the prerequisites for your specific build (e.g. enough space for your GPU and your CPU tower or radiator, enough SSD trays if you plan on having more than one or two), offers good airflow, and allows for good access to everything while building. I've built in really cheap cases and in 200$+ cases, the one big difference I'll tell everyone is that cheap cases (up to 50-60$) usually are a lot less user-friendly to build in. Aside from more aesthetic things like a lack of rubber grommets or cable management bars, the cheaper cases typically also are just more of a pain to just open and access everything, and the overall build quality is a lot less refined. There's gonna be more plastic which might rattle or creak as you build, or if it's all sheet-metal it's gonna be thin and flimsy.
Without name-dropping brand or model, I've used a 50$ case (from a well-known brand) earlier this year for a budget-friendly build and it had a sheet-metal frame around its tempered glass side panel, so the panel came off with the frame. Taking it off was easy enough with a single thumbscrew, but as I went to put it down somewhere and the edge of the frame slid down my hand a bit, it cut the palm of my hand because the edge was still sharp, not sanded at all. You just have to be aware that with a cheap case, building is probably going to be a pain, either by making things hard to access or having nowhere to put the cables on the backside, or by physically hurting you like the one that cut me...
That said, once you get to 70-75$ cases or more, build quality is noticeably better. Once you go over 90$ or 100$, all you're paying extra for is either more space (aka just a bigger case), better materials, more RGB, more features like removeable fan/radiator brackets, or any combination of these. But personally I try to avoid cases under about 70-75$ except in ultra-budget builds (like when the client says the PC should cost as little as possible). Even for a 1000$ gaming PC I'd go with something like the Phanteks G300A or Fractal Focus 2 because I just got tired of cheap cases that make building a PC harder than it needs to be.
Can't even find a cheap one with 8 HDD bays anymore. Don't really want a tempered glass build yet all of the cases nowdays have TG as a default offering.
I got myself fractal meshify 2 and it is simply beautiful and ice cold
I got my Montech Air 100 Lite Case for 37 dollars last week. I have a Micro ATX Case. I upgraded form a RedDragon Jetfire Case Full ATX to the Montech Air 100 Lite Case. Better cable management, better airflow, looks nice and works perfectly for my build. I have 2 fans but will get later just 2 more but my cpu temps never exceeds 55C and my GPU never exceeds 58C(thats if both of them are running 100% usage).
Jason this is just what I needed! Hi Ambrosias! Did Ambrosias really go as a polar bear on Halloween?
Hello! He went as the Black Panther :)
@@PCBuilderChannel Are you sure? He emailed me and said he borrowed Chris Hemsworth's fat suit from the Marvel movies. Have a good day!
If you're an ODD-aficionado like me: Fractal Design Pop Air. I migrated my system from a bequiet Pure Base 600 to the Pop Air XL RGB and I haven't looked back. Much better to build in/easier to keep clean because it has more space on the inside and is less restrictive both WRT airflow and component-placement. Cable-management is also better and it's much easier to hide everything away.
AiO "breathes" much better now and even my PCH-temps have decreased quite dramatically (from low 60s to high 40s under load), even though my GPU covers the chipset heat-spreader almost entirely.
Only drawbacks that I can think of are a slightly larger footprint on my desk and a bit of added noise at higher fan-speeds due to the more open design and total lack of noise-insulation. And the fact that Fractal make you pay extra for that front-panel USB-C connector - for which you'll have to buy an upgrade-kit.
I have been using the fractal meshify 2 argb for over a year. thermals are great with the 3 140 mm fans on the front and the 120 exhaust on the rear, and you can mount a 360 aio on the ceiling where i have my liquid freezer placed. amazing all-around.
Dual chamber glass cases sell though. All manufacturers have some kind of 011 dynamic clone now. Its what buyers are spending their money on. A case that nearly no one else will see, that they'll show off to everyone who doesn't care, to impress people that don't even know what it is. But you'll tell them anyway.
I don't know what kind of prices you can find for it, but I highly recommend the Lian Li x Dan A4 H2O for someone just getting into ITX building. You can buy it with an included riser cable, and it supports up to a 240mm AiO cooler in the top of the case. The whole thing is covered in very solid, perforated metal panels that allow for great airflow, and it supports a lot of large graphics cards (including Founders Edition 4080s and 4090s for high end builds). I built my system in it because the size and construction were exactly what I need to be able to put my PC in a backpack and take it with me for work trips, along with a portable monitor and my 60% keyboard.
Noise is one of my top priorities. Want to get appropriate cost case that is lowest noise for it’s budget range.
First off: great video. I'm building a replacement for my soon-to-be eight year old computer and your in-depth videos have been of great help, along with the Tech Deals channel.
Hilariously, I was just minutes away from ordering when this video popped up in my feed.
The only thing I'm missing in this video are the silent cases. I know they are a bit niche, but I have a mild sensory processing disorder coupled with almost perfect hearing, so fan noise and coil whine needs to be suppressed by all means necessary.
I picked the "be quiet! Silent Base 802" for the three included 140 mm fans and the front panel fan control button. Pricier than the "Fractal Design Pop Silent", but I didn't like the front panel layout of the latter.
I have the be quiet! Pure Base 500DX Black and I absolutely love it.
The Fractal Design Pop XL Air was $109 at the time I bought it during the supply chain shortage. The only catch was that if you wanted USB 3.2, you had to buy a separate cable. I had to buy my cable from Amazon Japan at the time. Both together was $150. The Fractal Design Meshify 2 XL cost $204.99 at the time of purchase. Both are excellent cases. The Pop XL comes with 3 RGB fans and 1 non RGB fan in the rear. The Meshify 2 comes with 4 non RGB fans.
I got one you missed for that list, musetex y6 just grabbed one on Amazon for 100 with 20 coupon aquarium style, 5 120 argb fans, black and white, great IO, tbh ive been hunting for a case for a bit and this one checked off all the boxes for the best price I could find it at
I'm not a fan of this advice. Remember everyone you can build in one case for years to come. Better to spend more money now on a case that will last you 3-4 builds than keep on replacing cases.
Great video topic Jason! I purchased my case first and it was on sale so I bit down on it , was the Asus Tuff GT501 came with 4 case fans for 220 in Canada I felt like that was a steal tho im sure it was simply on par with US prices 😂 Love the vids my man always answering questions i didnt know I had!
Congrats on the build! Nice case, similar to the HAF style that cooler master pioneered but ASUS did a good job with that one.
@PCBuilderChannel Thank you! I wouldn't gave made decent decisions with out you my friend! Yessir its a really sturdy and spacious case! Hopefully I can grab myself a membership before the next live ❤️ Really prefer this channel over every other PC channel I've found.
Congrats!! ASUS GT501 is one of the best cases ever built!! 👍
@@auntiepha8343 Thank you! I'm starting to get the money togther for the rest of my build and getting super excited! Gonna be a big day of learning and I'm so excited!
Just to add on… I have NO desire to have RGB / cut outs / windows or water cooling on my case. I’m looking for a case like what you would buy for a workstation (HP / Lenovo / Dell) . Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I love love love my Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-03 case purchased way back in 2017. It is by far the best case i've ever used. It's old and probably more "general Use" than a lot of builders have, but I haven't found a good reason to "upgrade."
great list, what about the bequiet pure base 500 dx or fractal north, you not recommend it?
Not great from a value standpoint but if you don't mind spending more on looks both are great cases.
One category that I'd love to see you tackle are cases without fans or with terrible fans (but otherwise great designs). As someone who's purchased Noctua fans, the quality of the included fans on a case don't really make a difference since I'll swap them out, so a focus more on the airflow qualities and design elements of the case itself would be very helpful rather than a focus on the included fans.
Also did you see the Gamer Nexus benchmarks for case airflow? Seems like you might be underrating the 216 a bit. Also very suprised you made no mention of the Fractal Torrent anywhere. It's a pain to build in the smaller one (apparently, for me it was no issue), but honestly the performance is amazing.
When I was at microcenter the other day, the employee said people spend more time trying to figure out what PC case they're going to get than they do anything else.
Phanteks G500A is the best case I've ever used. If they stop offering it, I'll keep the one I have until it falls apart.
Well i'm now "corrupted" and by Fractal Torrent compact solid and/or Fractal North, any other especially full glass feel nonsense to me.
Especially with CPU aircooling in mind and with good case fans there.
I love my auros c500 glass for my Auros/Corsair AM5 build.
Solid construction.
Lots of room for the eatx motherboard. Plenty of rear space to fit the ssd drives, fan/rgb hubs (with one built-in), and lots of cable management options.
Horizontal pcie slots can be removed and replaced with included verticle mount that also has riser cable mount attached.
Compatible with Corsair shift Psu's. Can have up to 9 fans, comes equipped with 4 120mm fans, 3 with rgb rings, (which I moved to the bottom mounts for added airflow, and installed high end corsair fans in their place).
Rgb Aorus logo on the front.
Room for aio's.
Usb c on the front io.
Everything I needed for my top end build. But it was pricey at $250. It's definitely not a case for a budget build.
Acrylic can be scratched, but it also doesn't shatter.
Well I messed up I already ordered the fractal focus g before watching but how can you go wrong for $50
I saved so much I bought a 2tb 990 pro 😊
And saved even more by getting a thermal lake smart 600w psu for only $50
Also stuffing a 240 msi aio in here just to make sure my old 3800x stays cool on its 2nd life
The only regret I have is buying the $50 b450m a pro max 2 as I will no longer have my long time love of asus bios!!!
Last but not least gotta have them G Skills BABY! 2800mhz nothing serious but the cl15 is untouchable IMO
Even for the more experienced people who built at least 3 or 4 PC for themselves picking a case is one of the damn trickiest part of building a PC thanks to you and mr.bear it solved for 2023 👍
Only 5,25" case is fractal design pop air which has bad airflow due to full psu cover. Shame that they almost stopped manufacturing cases for people with hdd bay and blu-ray drive.
Recently built in the DeepCool CC360 and it’s a good budget case so long as you don’t mind the look of the front with that bar.
Only complaint is that the PCIe covers are break-out, so once you take them out, there’s no putting them back in.
Jason can you do a video about good rgb fans and aio coolers.
I have really difficult time finding inverted case for left side build. 99% of them are made for right side builds.
Lian Li O11D is for custom-loop bro ...
It's a nice case. But unless you got top of the line hardware and unlimited budget, it's not the case for you ..
I've seen plenty of builds with 3060's in them ...
I think about 1 out of every 3 boost my build videos has one in them where it's become a huge money pit. And I'm not even picking on it, I get those builds sent to me all the time!
@@PCBuilderChannel Because every single post on 9Gag where they show their setup has that case.
It's become a more viral disease than Covid
The timing was spot on with this one😂
I'm just about to order the components for my first PC build at 54 😊
Aiming at a budget gaming build which could be upgraded in the future.
Any coments on the components I've selected so far would be greatly appreciated.
I've been gifted a I3 12100F so that's the CPU sorted, a Gigabyte B760 Gaming x DDR5 mother board, Corsair Vengeance 4800MHz ddr5 ram (2 x 16gb), acer predator bifrost arc a770 16gb gpu and Corsair 1tb pci 4 nvme ssd. Power supply and case yet to be decided but the case is nearly sorted after I watch this again😊
Thanks in advance for any advice and loving your channel Jason.
You're usually rather thorough, but wish you mentioned which had front ports for USB3.2
I would've got the H6 flow instead of the H7, if it existed a year ago when I did my build! H7 is great case but it only has two really crummy DC fans with it.. why NZXT? Everyone (including me) is just gonna replace them instantly!
I like the df700 flux. I just got a df800 cause...it looked amazing IMO. Plus good included fans and some good building features for $90. Couldn't argue with it. It did cost me those fancy rubber grommets to route my cables through. A sacrifice I am willing to make.
Thanks for sharing!
TY! Built my son his first PC and went with the Montech case. $40 at Microcenter!
i got the lian li and no problems here. Oh and remember guys you can always get the parts you want a bit later plus they could become a blackfryday super deal!
A case isn't about any technical data - it's about what you like best:
My first “real” case was the COOLER MASTER PRAETORIAN 730 in spring 2006. Completely aluminum, I haven't seen a nicer case to date (ok, that's a matter of taste) - I'm still a little bit in love with it.
Times have changed - Sweden used to stand for beautiful women + good tennis players, today it means great housing. If you understand what I mean...
I literally just bought the Antec Performance 1 FT W. I watched a LOT of reviews and it matched my needs while being a really great case and at $120 on Black Friday sale it was a no brainer. I really, really wanted the Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO but you can't get the white one without jumping through hoops and buying it from some sketchy reseller.
I can't fault the Corsair 7000D airflow, a tonne of room although the inner 'door' is a waste of metal. The 420mm rad support on top able to fit a push-pull config is what makes it for me.
I still have the NZXT Noctis from 2016. It is a little bit on the getting hot inside, but running AIO leaves the GPU breath just a little bit better. I have a 7800x3d + X670E Steel Legend + 32gb RAM + 7900 XTX Nitro+. I tried the Noctua D15 Black, but I just installed the Nitro+ 360 AIO cooler. The Noctua was cooling the CPU and it was very silent, even with only one fan running. The AIO makes more noise (the fan profile is a bit on the aggressive side), but I don't mind as the GPU also makes a lot of noise at 3000 rpm. The difference between the two cooling solutions is the GPU temperature, I get the GPU 3-4 degree or so cooler on the hotspot (max 81 compared to even 87 sometimes) which makes a difference in gaming performance. The CPU had better performance running the Noctua (thanks to the offset mounting bracket included in the package). If I had a better airflow and more spacious case, but also better isolating (for the GPU noise) I would have stuck with Noctua. The price was the same at around 110 euro.
Back to cases, cable management and the overall CLEANESS of the case is worth considering, but a big factor many people don't take into consideration is the noise. Many cases don't provide very good sound dampening and they are very noisy. The H440 had multiple foam layers which made a huge difference in the noise department, while being even worse on the airflow. I went for the Noctis as it was cheaper and available. It was a decent choice, but I would have invested more into a better case.
Case is definitely something many people overlook and this video was spot on. I like your videos as you provide very budget friendly advice.
Cool...I just started watching this channel to figure out what to replace my 7 year old Dell disappointment with. I was leaning towards a system integrator, but decided to do my first PC build in 19 years. I was hesitating about which case to get. The Phanteks G500 is at the top of my list and now you mentioned you have it in this video, so thay must be a sign from above to get it 😀
Love to hear it, good luck with the build! If you build it, it will run! Thanks for watching and glad we could help :D
Gotta love how exited Jason gets in his videos lol he’s like a kid when it comes to PC gear 😃🩶
hi jason in the mid range section of the video,which one would you chose:
Montech Atx Montech Air 903 Max-70 euros
Lian Li Lancool 216-79 euros
Phanteks Eclipse G360A-82 euros
this are my options,im very confused!
thank you
What country in Europe those prices?
I wanted to a get a Pop mini air, I love how space efficient it is! Only con: wish it supported 280mm rads
Regular Pop Air has that support, yet feels kinda big
Perhaps it's better for airflow and GPU clearance anyway as i don't think i would have had 2-2.5 inches of clearance with a Sapphire 7800 XT in it.
is it just me or does he upload exactly what we want at the time we need it. Thanks for helping us😙
Absolutely, so happy this is working out! And thank you for watching.