[Hardware]Best PC Cases 2020: Our Tested Picks for Your New Build

[Revo]

 

 

When it comes to finding the best PC case for you, there’s a lot to consider. First and foremost you have to consider airflow. Keeping your hardware cool (whether it's a high-end system with one of the best graphics cards or just a basic PC with a cheap CPU) and noise levels as low as possible is paramount to good system performance and your own peace of mind. There’s a lot to consider when choosing the best PC case, even in that small facet of case design. A mass of variables affect it, from the number of included fans (and total fan mount locations), to sound dampening material and overall shape and design, the list is long. 

And then there’s size. Are you looking for a cupboard-sized super tower, or a shoe-box-like ITX chassis? Choose the best PC case for you and it’ll serve you well through multiple builds, plus save some hard-earned cash in the long-run. That said, with hundreds of available chassis models and variants, where do you even start? Well, you’re in the right place.  You'll find a list of the best we've tested in varying categories below. But first, here are a few tips to steer your case buying in the right direction.

Cyber Monday Deals
Cyber Monday shopping season is upon us and we're sure to see some worthwhile deals on cases, if you're holding out for a new house for your hardware. Be sure to keep an eye on our Best Cyber Monday Tech and PC Hardware Deals page not only for sales on cases but also on CPUs, SSDs and other internal components. Our current favorite case deal is the Fractal Design Meshify C for $69, reduced from $89.
Quick Shopping Tips
Figure out what parts you have/want first. Aesthetics are important, but before you get to that, you’ll want to know what motherboard, graphics card, and cooler you’ll be using, plus how many drives you’ll want to install. This will dictate the size and shape of the cases you should be considering.
Cooling is key, especially in small cases or with lots of components. Airflow is important in choosing the best PC case, especially when it comes to high-end components in tight spaces. Check our cooler reviews for our cooling test results before buying, and remember that cases with tempered-glass fronts and tops often restrict airflow and may require additional fans.
Choose a chassis that you like to look at. Unless you don’t care about aesthetics at all and are going to shove your new system far under your desk, it's likely to spend lots of time in your peripheral vision. Don’t forget to check airflow and that your parts will fit. But after that, find something that appeals to you visually, whether that be a glass-enclosed rainbow of RGB LEDs, or a simple black box with smooth lines and lots of top-mounted USB ports. There are tons of case options out there. You should take the time to find one that appeals to you visually.
Best PC cases at a glance:

1. Fractal Design Define 7
2. Lian Li Lancool II Mesh
3. Phanteks Eclipse P300A
4. Fractal Design Meshify 2
5. NZXT H400i
6. Cooler Master Silencio S400
7. NZXT H1
8. Cooler Master Cosmos C700M
9. be quiet! Dark Base 700
10.  Phanteks Enthoo Pro II
A dual-layout (open or extra storage) interior, vented top panel, dedicated water cooling fill port under the top filter, and a Nexus+ 2 PWM fan hub add to the Define 7's extremely solid construction and top-notch fit/finish to make it a sure hit with performance enthusiasts. If you're looking for top notch performance with a strong feature set, the Fractal Design Define 7 is worth the money.