The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best PC Cases Buyer’s Guide – Spring 2024

The Best PC Cases Buyer’s Guide – Spring 2024

By Ari Altman | Published April 13, 2024 | Updated April 13, 2024

NorthUpgrade to the Best PC Cases, Not Just Popular Ones!

Here at The Tech Buyer’s Guru, we’ve reviewed dozens and dozens of PC cases over the years, so at this point we know the best PC cases when we see them. In this guide, we list our top 10 picks on the market today. Rather than segment them into arbitrary categories like best $50 case, $60 case, $70 case and so on, we simply picked the cases that we think best represent the state of the art in the PC industry. In total, we have five compact ITX and micro-ATX cases, and another five mid- and full-tower ATX cases. We’re pretty sure that if you want a new case, you’ll find a perfect option among our picks.

Spotting Not Just the Latest Trends, but the Latest Good Ones!

For Spring 2024, we’re seeing an increasing number of cases that move away from RGB lighting as their main design feature, adding unique uses of glass, mesh, aluminum, and even wood. Sure, RGB lighting is still a thing, but the most innovative manufacturers have shown that you can have this and other features too! In fact, we’re seeing some high performance tower cases move away from RGB entirely. Speaking of performance, if you want to upgrade the airflow of your case, definitely check out our cooler and case fan buyer’s guide for the best fans to improve airflow (hint: they are not the same fans you should put on a cooler!)

Another important change coming to case design is the advent of a new motherboard cabling standard, which places all connectors on the back of the board. This requires completely new case designs, with cutouts (and space) for cables to be connected in the typically narrow section of the case where the side panel attaches. This has multiple benefits: a much cleaner main interior compartment, better airflow, and a simpler building and upgrading process. Because this standard was just launched at CES in January 2024, there are only a few options on the market so far, and we’ll highlight when our case picks have this design feature.

Final Thoughts

Unlike a lot of other categories of PC components, cases can be used in multiple systems over time, making them a very good place to invest in the best you can afford. With that said, we’re seeing more rapid advancement of PC case design than ever before. This includes new USB connectivity standards, new fan standards, and new layouts to account for the move from big drives to tiny M.2 drives, and from compact externally-exhausting GPUs to huge, high-TDP, open-air GPUs that dump a lot of hot air into your system. So while you may want to keep a case for two or three generations, it may not be in the interest of your own sanity!

As always, to support continued development of these guides, please use the Amazon product links we provide to purchase any case we recommend. This provides TBG a small commission at no cost to you.

Mini-ITX Models

  • SilverStone SG16
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    SilverStone SG16

    $85
    Coming in at just 13 liters despite impressive component compatibility and exceptional airflow, the SG16 stands alone. There are smaller “kick-started” cases out there, but they often come with a whole lot of “gotchas”, one of which is always an exorbitant price! The SG16, on the other hand, is a value-packed option designed by the biggest name in the ITX industry, SilverStone. It has 120mm fan mounts front and rear (almost unheard of in this size-class), and it can fit video cards up to 10.8″ long.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Unlike the older SG13 that we used to recommend, the SG16 does not need a separate adapter to use properly-sized SFX power supplies. The adapter is built right into the case!
  • InWin Chopin Pro
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    IN WIN Chopin Max w/ 200W PSU

    $101
    The Chopin Max takes everything we loved about the Chopin Pro and “maxes” it out by adding another 7mm of CPU cooler clearance. Sounds like a small change, but it means DIYers can now use AMD’s CPU lineup and their included Wraith Stealth coolers. This was honestly something we had been wanting for years, because AMD’s budget CPUs and especially their coolers are so much better than Intel’s! Carried over from the Pro model is the impressive 200W Gold-rated power supply space for dual 2.5″ drives, and a gorgeous aluminum exterior, which gives this case a seriously-premium look!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case cannot be beat when it comes to building an elegant, ultra-compact, high-performance system. Just keep in mind that there are handful of Intel CPUs that will exceed the limit of its power supply, so you'll probably be better off with an AMD model.
  • Lian Li Dan A4
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    LIAN LI A4-H2O X4

    $155
    Lian Li has taken its design expertise and one-upped the entire Small Form Factor case industry with the A4-H20. It teamed up with the ITX design specialists at Dan Cases to create the A4-H20, which as the name suggests, supports liquid cooling despite coming in at an impossibly-small 11 liters. It uses a sandwich-style layout, putting the GPU behind the motherboard, while making room at the top of the case for a liquid cooler up to 240mm in size to exhaust all the system’s hot air. And take note: the X4 edition of this case includes a high-quality PCIe Gen 4-capable riser cable to ensure full bandwidth to the latest video cards!

    The Guru’s Tip

    You may wonder why any other ITX gaming case can even survive on the market given that the A4 is both among the smallest while offering tremendous GPU and AIO support. The answer is simple: in addition to being fairly expensive, this case isn't for beginners. It takes a lot of skill to get all the cables and hoses sorted.

Micro-ATX Models

  • Asus Prime AP201
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Asus AP201 White Mesh

    $70
    This compact, ultra-stylish case from Asus truly stands out for its elegance and performance. The case is wrapped in mesh, comprising 57,000 precision-machined 1.5mm holes, which give it great airflow along with a unique industrial look. While we think the white color enhances its aesthetics, it’s also available in black.

    The Guru’s Tip

    There's really no better case available if you're looking for a compact, professional case with great component compatibility.
  • 2500X
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Corsair 2500X White

    $160
    Corsair has always been on the cutting-edge of case design, and the 2500X represents an absolute watershed moment – the very first case designed for use with behind-the-motherboard cabling. This takes the “fishbowl” aesthetic that has become popular in the industry to the next level, allowing you to showcase your components and nothing but your components. No cable mess at all! And being a micro-ATX case, it’s much more compact, meaning a small footprint and less dead space in your system – that makes it very “component-forward”! And of course, with tremendous bottom-to-top airflow potential, your system will stay extremely cool while looking great!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case case can be used with traditional micro-ATX motherboards, or the handful of new cutting-edge boards that use the behind-the-board cable standard.

ATX Models

  • XT Pro
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Phanteks XT Pro Ultra

    $90
    Phanteks has been producing fantastic cases for years, but with the XT Pro Ultra, it has done something truly astounding: it has delivered an ultra-high airflow case at an ultra-low price. Equipped with four retail-grade 140mm ARGB fans plus a mesh front panel, this case is a veritable wind tunnel, while also delivering great looks. And with Phanteks, you’re always guaranteed great quality too!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case supports the modern "behind the board" cable setup. Thus it can be used with either traditional ATX boards or those with cable connectors on the rear.
  • Fractal North
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Fractal Design North White

    $140
    The North is a true watershed product for the professional case market. Designed for designers, with a nod to mid-century themes thanks to the wood slat front grille, this PC case will look great anywhere, and is perhaps the harbinger of the next big trend as RGB lighting’s potential has been tapped out! This case also offers plenty of space and quiet operation, thanks to the two included 140mm front fans. All in all, you’re getting an amazing enclosure for a seriously-pro PC!

    The Guru’s Tip

    Fractal Design proved it had earned the "design" in its name when it released the North - in a market awash in RGB lighting, the most classic of building materials has made a comeback!
  • bequiet Shadow Base 800FX
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800 FX ARGB

    $180
    The Shadow Base 800 FX is a thoroughly modern case, packing in the very best in design advancement to produce class-leading performance and silence. There’s no other case that can match it. Plus it has great customizable looks, thanks to the built in ARGB light strips plus the four Light Wings 140mm ARGB fans, which are also a key ingredient in this case’s chart-topping cooling!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This is a big, no-nonsense, high-performance case for serious PC builds!
  • Lian Li 011
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic Evo

    $190
    Lian Li put itself back on the enthusiast map after years of relative anonymity when it launched the immensely-stylish 011 Dynamic, which offered glass panels arranged to provide an unparalleled view of the interior of the system. The 011 Dynamic Evo is a further refinement of the design, with a larger interior volume plus classy integrated RGB effects on the front panel. And with radiator and fan mounts on the bottom, top, rear, and sides, it’s also an airflow champ!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case does not include fans, and we recommend you add three 120mm fans to the bottom, a 120mm in the rear, and use liquid cooling for your CPU, mounting the radiator on top. This setup will provide immense airflow while preserving the "fish bowl" look of the system. Want a more traditional build? Then just go for the cases we list above or below!
  • MSI MEG Prospect 700R
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    MSI MEG Prospect 700R

    $380
    Arguably the most advanced case ever made, the Prospect 700R from MSI is simply astonishing. With dual hinged tempered glass doors on both sides and four 140mm ARGB fans and a mesh front panel for extreme airflow, it already has most cases beat for looks and performance. But what really sets this case apart from everything that has come before it is the built-in 4.3″ touchscreen control panel on top, allowing you to monitor and control practically every aspect of your PC’s performance!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case put MSI firmly on the map, showing that the long-time motherboard and video card manufacturer could do more than make great internal PC components - it had style too!

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