The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best PC Cases Buyer’s Guide – Fall 2024

The Best PC Cases Buyer’s Guide – Fall 2024

By Ari Altman | Published October 8, 2024 | Updated October 8, 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 Fall 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!)

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

  • Click to Buy
    Case –

    Cooler Master NR200

    $83
    This amazing case is one of a kind. Coming in at 18 liters, it has space for just about every component you could imagine, and looks fantastic too! That includes a huge GPU, a variety of powerful cooler options, and an SFX-class PSU.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case has been around a while, but still sets the standard for value, compatibility, and performance.
  • SilverStone SG16
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    SilverStone SG16

    $88
    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

    This case comes in around the same price as the NR200 above, and requires the use of smaller video cards, but the pay off is a much smaller volume. If you care about desk space and don't need an uber-gaming rig, this is a great choice!
  • A4
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    LIAN LI A4-H2O X4 Silver @Newegg

    $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

  • Cooler Master Q300L
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Cooler Master Q300L

    $40
    Offering loads of style and performance for the price, the Q300L is by far the best buy in its price class. It features a mesh front panel, a 120mm rear fan, and slick magnetic dust filters on both the top and front. For style, it has a transparent side panel, providing a great look inside the chassis.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This may well be the least expensive case from a major brand on the market!
  • Asus Prime AP201
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Asus AP201 White Mesh

    $75
    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.

ATX Models

  • Lancool 207
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Lian Li Lancool 207 @Newegg

    $85
    Lian Li established itself as the leading PC case manufacturers in the early 2000s, and after a quiet spell, it has come out to dominate the market yet again. The 207 is an example of how Lian Li proves enhanced performance does not need to cost more, it just needs to be designed right! With dual 140mm ARGB fans in front and dual bottom-mounted 120mm fans, a position enabled by a novel new power supply mounting system, this case offers a great light show, but more importantly, it offers superior airflow to anything else in its price range.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case's trick is moving the power supply to the front. That may seem like a small thing, but it radically improves cooling!
  • 3500X
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Corsair 3500X ARGB

    $95
    Corsair has always been on the cutting-edge of case design, and the 3500X represents the latest innovations, including a glass-enclosed “fishbowl” design for a perfect view of your components, along with behind-the-board cable compatibility, which is being phased in over time with new motherboards. With the potential to be virtually “cable-free”, this case is very “component-forward”! And it allows for a huge variety of fan and radiator positions for maximum airflow!

    The Guru’s Tip

    While Corsair doesn't typically play the value game, with the 3500X, it uses non-proprietary ARGB fans to save on cost, and in so doing actually undercuts many lesser-known competitors. This case is a true bargain!
  • Lian Li Lancool 216
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Lian Li Lancool 216 Black

    $100
    The Lancool 216, which traces its heritage back to the trailblazing Lancool gaming cases of the early 2000s, is simply amazing for the price. You get dual 160mm (not 120mm or 140mm!) ARGB fans in the front, along with a 140mm fan in the rear, meaning this system has more cooling power than some cases that cost twice the price. To make the case even better, Lian Li equips it not only with mesh in the front, but mesh on the lower panels, so you can mount upward-facing fans on the PSU shroud to keep your GPU ice cold with a constant stream of fresh air. Simply put, Lian Li is making every other manufacturer look bad by offering premium cases at a budget-friendly price!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case isn't radically different from its competitors, but it brings together all the right features at a rock-bottom price, making it the best value among premium cases.
  • 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!
  • 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!