Hello everyone! Today we will talk about the best computer cases. Many people underestimate the importance of this element of the PC configuration, but the entire cooling of the computer, and therefore the operating temperatures of its components, largely depends on the chassis. To make the video as useful as possible, I added both office-home and gaming models to the top, among which both fans of the original design and connoisseurs of a practical approach will find solutions to suit their tastes.
Ten of the coolest PC cases
A desktop computer case is not only its outer shell into which all the hardware is attached, but also an active cooling system, which can be supplemented with a cooler control unit, liquid cooling and a docking station for hard drives.
A PC case should not look like a faceless box, so when choosing such a device, a person always pays attention to the appearance, for example, the presence of neon lighting or, conversely, its absence. This article presents to your attention the ten most popular case models from different manufacturers, which have the most efficient cooling systems with the ability to control coolers and space for installing a water pump. We have based our rating on price and will start with the cheapest model.
1. Zalman Z9 Plus Black (RUR 2,500)
MidiTower steel case of medium size (173x432x490), designed for motherboards in the ATX/mATX form factor with a maximum long video card: 290 mm. The device is equipped with a control unit with four 120x120 mm built-in and two additional coolers of 120x120 and 140x140 mm, which are purchased separately. It is possible to install a liquid cooling system. The case has one 3.5-inch external and five 3.5-inch internal bays, as well as one 2.5-inch and three 5.25-inch bays plus seven expansion slots.
On the front panel you will find four USB ports, headphone and microphone inputs, as well as an LCD display that can display the temperature of the processor or video card, depending on the selected connection. Among the features worth noting are the blue neon lighting and the lower location of the power supply. The disadvantages are the disposable aluminum strips on the back of the case and the average quality of the fans.
2. GIGABYTE GZ-G1 Plus w/o PSU Black (RUR 2,800)
MidiTower case for motherboards in the ATX/mATX form factor with a control unit that regulates the rotation of the built-in 80x80 mm cooler and three 120x120 mm coolers. There is no window or neon lighting on the side wall, like the Zalman Z9 Plus Black, but the body itself is made of 0.6 mm steel, and the internal compartments look quite reliable. There is also a standard place for the power supply at the bottom and there is the possibility of installing liquid cooling.
There is no LCD screen on the front panel, but there are two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. The number of bays is impressive: one 3.5-inch external, seven 3.5-inch internal, one 5.25-inch and seven expansion slots. The only drawback is the cheap plastic finish, but otherwise this is a pretty decent budget case.
3. FOX 9606GR 550W Black/green (RUR 3,000)
The steel MidiTower with a case thickness of 0.5 mm for motherboards in the ATX/mATX form factor is equipped with a 550 W power supply located at the bottom. The device can accommodate a video card with a maximum length of 283 mm, has six 3.5-inch internal bays, combined 2.5-inch and three 5.25-inch slots for equipment. The 3.5" and 5.25" bays feature screwless mounting. The control unit is designed for three built-in 120x120 mm and three additional coolers: one 120 mm on the bottom and two on the HDD cage. It is possible to install a liquid cooling system.
On the front panel: one USB 3.0, three USB 2.0, a card reader, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. The model is equipped with green lighting for front coolers and a side viewing window. No particular shortcomings were noticed in the case.
4. Chieftec LF-01B w/o PSU (RUR 3,100)
The MidiTower case, which can accommodate motherboards of the ATX/ mATX form factor, has five built-in and three additional coolers measuring 120x120 mm, which can be controlled using a special unit. The 0.6mm thick steel case has no window on the side and includes one external 3.5-inch, four 3.5-inch and two 5.25-inch bays. The device also has a docking station for hard drives. It is possible to install a liquid cooling system.
On the front panel there are four USB ports, including two USB 3.0, headphone and microphone inputs, and a HDD activity indicator. An excellent case that copes with its responsibilities perfectly, but there is one drawback - installing internal 3.5-inch drives across with connections on the right makes screwless mounting of drives absolutely useless, since in order to disconnect/connect the drive you need to remove it, which in itself is for This case is difficult, the right cover. In other words, if the case is under the table, then in the niche of the table you need to disconnect all the wires, pull out the case, remove both covers and only then remove/insert the disk with a slight movement of your hand.
5. GMC H200 Phoong w/o PSU Black (RUR 3,300)
MidiTower case for motherboards in the ATX/mATX/Mini-ITX form factor with a control unit that regulates the rotation of five built-in fans measuring 120x120 mm and one additional 120 mm cooler that can be installed below. There is blue neon lighting for the front fans. Maximum height of the processor cooler: 158 mm, length of the video card - 360 mm. It is possible to install a liquid cooling system.
There is no LCD screen on the front panel, but there are two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. Now about the number of compartments: seven 3.5-inch internal, two combined 2.5-inch, three 5.25-inch and seven expansion slots. Provides screwless mounting in 3.5 and 5.25 inch bays. Among the features worth noting is the presence of a docking station for hard drives, a proprietary Cool Booster fan for cooling the included video adapter, and a switchable backlight.
6. Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black (RUR 5,000)
The steel computer MidiTower case for motherboards in the ATX/mATX form factor allows you to install a video card with a maximum length of 452 mm, has six 3.5-inch, four 5.25-inch and two 2.5-inch combined compartments. The fan control unit controls the rotation of three 120mm and one 200mm built-in cooler; It is possible to install three additional 140 mm fans or liquid cooling. There is a screwless mount in the 3.5 and 5.25 inch bays.
On the front panel there are two USB 3.0, a FireWire port, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. As a result, we have a body for those who care primarily about build quality and thoughtful design. It looks strict and fits perfectly into the appropriate interior.
7. Antec P280 Black (RUR 5,300)
The steel FullTower case with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm is suitable for motherboards in the ATX/mATX/Mini-ITX form factor and allows you to install a video card with a maximum length of 330 mm with a maximum CPU cooler height of 170 mm. Has a front door, but lacks a window on the side wall. There are six 3.5-inch, three 5.25-inch and two 2.5-inch combo bays, as well as nine expansion slots. The fan control unit controls the rotation of three 120 mm and four additional 120 mm fans, which can be installed in the front and on the HDD bay. There is screwless mounting in 5.25-inch bays. Liquid cooling can be installed.
On the front panel: two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. Among the features, it is worth noting the presence of blue neon lighting and support for XL-ATX motherboards. In general, you can build almost any gaming computer.
8. NZXT Phantom Black (RUR 5,600)
The FullTower case is suitable for motherboards in the ATX/mATX/EATX form factor, video cards with a maximum length of 350 mm. It has a front door, but lacks a window on the side wall. There are seven 3.5-inch, five 5.25-inch (with manual latches) and two 2.5-inch combo bays, as well as seven expansion slots. The fan control unit controls the rotation of three 120mm and one 200mm fans. There is additional space for a cooler with dimensions of 140x140 mm, which can be installed on top. Installation of liquid cooling is possible.
It's worth noting that USB 2.0, the eSATA port, and the headphone and microphone jacks are on the top, so be careful when planning your installation location.
9. Cooler Master Silencio 650 (RC-650-KKN1) w/o PSU Black (RUB 6,700)
Strict in all respects, the FullTower case is suitable for motherboards in the ATX/mATX form factor and video cards with a maximum length of 434 mm. The steel front-door device has seven 3.5-inch, two 5.25-inch (screwless) and two 2.5-inch combo bays, as well as seven expansion slots. There is also a docking station for hard drives. The fan control unit controls the rotation of three 120mm coolers. There is additional space for a 120mm fan on the bottom and on the HDD cage, as well as a 120/140mm cooler on top. Installation of liquid cooling is possible.
Among the features worth noting are two adapters for installing 2.5-inch devices into 3.5-inch bays, as well as the DualBoot HDD Switch system, which is used to switch between different OSes when loading the PC. It’s a rather controversial feature that few people use, and the design itself, as they say, is a favorite. In general, the case is for those who do not care about appearance, but rather good sound insulation, which the device has.
10. Lian Li PC-A77F Red (RUR 11,500)
The all-aluminum FullTower case with support for ATX/mATX/EATX motherboards allows you to install a video card with a maximum length of 365 mm with a maximum CPU cooler height of 175 mm. The device has twelve 5.25-inch bays and 8 expansion slots with screwless fastening. There is a control unit for four 120 mm coolers. Liquid cooling is also possible.
On the front panel at the top there are four USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA connector, as well as microphone and headphone jacks. The color of the case is red, as is the color of the neon backlight, but for some reason the power indicator is blue, although white would look better. Among the features, it is worth noting support for CEB motherboards, as well as the ability to replace nine 3.5-inch bays with six 5.25-inch bays.
Verdict It's hard to please everyone, so when choosing a PC case, carefully study its internal space, and before that, think carefully about what you want to equip it with. For example, the models presented here can be divided into three categories. The first, which includes Zalman Z9 Plus Black, GIGABYTE GZ-G1 Plus w/o PSU Black, FOX 9606GR 550W Black/green and Chieftec LF-01B w/o PSU, is an inexpensive but practical class of MidiTower cases that will suit people who love the combination of a spectacular look with good cooling, which can always be improved. However, people who are more meticulous in assembling a PC will not be satisfied with this class of cases, since it suffers from the use of cheap materials.
The second category of devices - GMC H200 Phoong w/o PSU Black, Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black, Antec P280 Black - is designed to meet the needs of all those in need of effective cooling of computers. It has a more discreet look, good quality coolers and the presence of the necessary ports on the front panel. Such cases will be dedicated hard workers that can be pushed into a niche in the table and forgotten. But the third category combines stylish design, excellent sound insulation and effective cooling. Thus, NZXT Phantom Black can give a head start to any fashionable Thermaltake, and will give you a lot of space to implement the most extraordinary productive system, while the stylish Lian Li PC-A77F Red will help you easily turn your computer into a home server. You decide. However, all expensive cases have one significant drawback - unnecessary equipment, which increases the final price and makes installation of hardware more difficult. A striking example is Cooler Master Silencio 650 (RC-650-KKN1) w/o PSU Black with DualBoot HDD Switch technology.
