The Best PC Cases Buyer’s Guide – Winter 2023
Upgrade 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 2023, there’s one theme that rises above all others, and it’s airflow, which translates directly into higher performance! Sure, glass and RGB lighting are still a thing, but the most innovative manufacturers have shown that you can have these things and good cooling too! In fact, we’re seeing some high performance tower cases move away from RGB entirely, although for now, we’re still listing RGB models, as it gives you the choice to light up your system or go dark when you want to.
By the way, when it comes to performance, just as important as the case design are the fans used for case cooling, and we’ve conducted the most extensive case fan testing in the review industry to help you set up the best possible cooling for your case. Definitely check out our case fan reviews (in our case reviews section) and our cooler and case fan buyer’s guide.
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
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SilverStone SG16
$87Coming 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.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!
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IN WIN Chopin Max w/ 200W PSU
$122The 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!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.
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LIAN LI A4-H2O X4
$156Lian 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!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
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Cooler Master Q300L
$40 The Guru’s TipThis case has been replaced in the Cooler Master lineup with a v2 model, but the discount on this model is simply amazing, making it by far the best value among any PC case on the market... until it sells out!
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SilverStone PS15 Pro
$75 The Guru’s TipGiven the way the video card market has changed over the past few years, namely the end of dual-card setups, mATX cases like this one offer a great alternative to standard ATX towers.
ATX Models
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Phanteks G360A
$90 The Guru’s TipIn addition to being an amazing value, this case has the fit and finish that only Phanteks can provide. Building in a Phanteks case always feels like a premium experience.
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Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB
$100 The Guru’s TipThe big 160mm fans in the front of this case really set it apart from competitors!
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Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic Evo
$190 The Guru’s TipThis 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 "greenhouse" look of the system. Want a more traditional build? Then just go for the cases we list above or below!
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be quiet! Shadow Base 800 FX ARGB White
$170 The Guru’s TipThis is a big, no-nonsense, high-performance case for serious PC builds!
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Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO
$500 The Guru’s TipIf you want the most innovative, most stylish, and best performing case on the market, this is the one!
Mini-ITX Models
Micro-ATX Models