5 errors to keep away from when shopping for a PC case

Many PC fans deal with the {hardware} elements just like the GPU and processor, however they usually overlook the significance of a great PC case. Many occasions, fans choose the most affordable choice to economize. Nevertheless, this resolution can result in issues down the highway like poor construct high quality and restricted airflow.

To assist keep away from these points, we’ll stroll you thru the facets it is best to contemplate when shopping for a PC case. We’ll additionally spotlight high circumstances at numerous worth factors.

1. Dimension and kind issue are a should

To begin with, be sure to get a case that may match all the elements. The shape issue determines whether or not your mainboard will match into the case. The most typical choices are ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. There’s additionally XL-ATX and E-ATX, that are barely bigger than ATX however are hardly ever utilized in gaming PCs.

Giant circumstances usually additionally help small kind components, however the reverse is, in fact, troublesome. When you attempt to match an enormous customized RTX 5080 right into a mini-ITX case, for instance, you’ll rapidly understand that it received’t match. So that you additionally must be sure that the case has sufficient house for all of the elements just like the graphics playing cards, AIOs, followers, and energy provides.

Let’s check out the standard case sizes. There are massive towers, midi towers, mini towers, and ITX. Massive towers supply essentially the most house; all customary motherboard sizes slot in right here, and infrequently XL-ATX and/or E-ATX are additionally supported. With these circumstances, you’ve loads of house for elements and cable administration.

Midi towers are considerably smaller; ATX boards nonetheless slot in there, however not all the time E-ATX. Mini-towers are extra compact; solely Micro-ATX and smaller will match, and ITX techniques will logically solely match ITX.

2. Do all of the elements match?

To verify which elements will slot in your PC case, you may check out PC Half Picker–you’ll discover all of the related data listed there. When you’re in search of a midi tower, for instance, you may see all of the sorting choices instantly.

By choosing a particular case, you may verify the “Motherboard kind issue” part to see what it accommodates. Every little thing as much as E-ATX suits, however you additionally want to contemplate three extra elements: Energy provide unit, CPU cooler, and graphics playing cards.

On this case, we now have an ATX energy provide unit, i.e., the usual measurement. Please be aware: ATX energy provide items have totally different depths. For compact builds, there are SFX and SFX-L energy provides. You must also verify the utmost measurement of your CPU fan and graphics card. For the CPU fan, it’s concerning the top, i.e., how far the fan protrudes from the mainboard. As for the GPU, it’s the size measured from the slot bracket.

You too can see how a lot house your case nonetheless has and the way the case is constructed. This data is often out there from PC Half Picker, but when not, you’ll have to look on the producer’s web site. Thankfully, when you toss all of your desired elements into the web site, it’ll warn you if there are any compatibility considerations.

3. Airflow, fan, AIO

Getting an honest airflow isn’t rocket science, however discovering the appropriate housing for it isn’t simple and there are a number of traps you shouldn’t fall into. Our advice? Maintain it easy. Producers wish to give you the fanciest “cooling options,” however these rapidly backfire.

The precept is comparatively easy. You might want to get as a lot chilly air into the housing as doable after which get heat air out once more. The best means to do that is with a mesh entrance, that are perforated grilles. When you’re utilizing an air cooler in your CPU, a mesh entrance is extremely beneficial. As a rule, two to 3 followers slot in there; you’ve an honest air throughput, and the chilly air is directed straight on the GPU and the CPU cooler. Add a fan on the again that blows air out, and you’ve got an overpressure system that’s fully ample for many configs.

Some circumstances even have followers pre-installed, which you too can verify at Geizhals. Right here you too can see which followers are suitable at which level within the case. For instance, the entrance of a case could match both one 140 fan, two 140 followers, or three 120 followers. If a fan is just not labeled “optionally available,” then it’s already pre-installed.

There are different methods to create a great airflow. With an AIO, i.e., an all-in-one answer, the whole lot seems to be fully totally different once more. We first need to see which radiators match into the housing. At Geizhals, you too can see which radiator sizes could be positioned the place.

Within the Corsair case (see image above), the whole lot as much as 360 millimeters suits on the entrance, high, and proper. On the again, the place the one fan is often positioned, a 120 mm AIO would additionally match as a substitute. With an AIO, a mesh entrance is not so necessary, except you need to put the radiator proper there.

Nonetheless, your elements shouldn’t get too sizzling, so that you want a correct airflow within the housing even with an AIO. Nevertheless, it’s not necessary that that is oriented in the direction of the CPU, so try to be somewhat extra inventive about the place you place the followers–that is very true for large and midi towers. Nevertheless, when you’re constructing a compact system, it is best to assume extra concerning the cooling and maybe watch a number of tutorial movies.

4. Connections and tools

Many individuals don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to the connections and options when shopping for a case, however that’s an enormous mistake! There are often USB-A, headphones, maybe a microphone, or USB-C ports on the surface of the case. Nevertheless, you must also verify the precise USB requirements. As well as, not all circumstances have entrance ports, which could be necessary.

By way of options, as beforehand talked about, it is best to take note of the presence (or absence) of pre-installed followers. You must also contemplate what number of SSDs and onerous drives you need to set up. Though gaming PCs hardly want onerous drives anymore, many nonetheless use not less than one 2.5-inch SSD. Once more, you may verify Geizhals to see how a lot house is offered, often underneath “Inner.”

Mini tip: Cable administration

Earlier than we come to the final level, a number of phrases about cable administration. It’s troublesome to inform from Geizhals how appropriate a case is for cable administration. You need to due to this fact take a detailed have a look at the out there product pictures. Take note of whether or not there are sufficient cable feed-throughs and whether or not there’s sufficient depth on the rear for all of the cables. When you have shortlisted an enclosure, check out a number of movies.

5. High quality and worth

Lastly, let’s discuss worth. How a lot do you have to spend on an honest enclosure? An honest case doesn’t need to be costly, as lots of them come outfitted with all of the necessary connections and high quality followers. However a $40 case is often made from very skinny supplies and is probably not as well-built as a pricier one.

Finally, the case has to suit your finances. Positive, you may put collectively a $2,500 PC and pack it into an inexpensive case, nevertheless it may not look good. As a normal rule, intention to spend about 5 to 10 p.c of your finances on the case. So, for a $1,000 PC, it is best to search for circumstances within the $50-$100 vary.

That is only a tough guideline, although. There are all the time inexpensive or extra premium choices on the market. You too can look out for a sale or add circumstances to your wishlist for future purchases.

Our suggestions

Listed below are our suggestions for every worth vary:

1. Endorfy Ventum 200 Air, midi tower, 4 pre-installed followers with out RGB, glass window, mud filter, good cable routing, $67.95 at Amazon
2. Corsair Body 4000D, midi tower, good airflow, solely two followers pre-installed with out RBG, $109.99 at Amazon
3. Be Quiet Gentle Base 900, massive tower, double glass wall, detachable toes, comes with 4 pre-installed followers, $189.90 at Amazon