How to Choose a PC Case

Catalogue

A computer case, or cabinet, is one of the essential parts of a PC assembly and defines the first impression your computer makes. A good PC case provides convenient access to all components, effectively dissipates heat and does not vibrate. What is important, and what should you watch out for? We will advise you on how to choose the best PC case for your needs.

Tips for Choosing a PC Case

Pick a case that matches your motherboard
Pay attention to the quality of materials and construction
Properly spaced individual components are important
A good cabinet should have a range of cooling options

Chapters of the PC Cabinet Guide

Full Tower
Mid Tower
Mini Tower
Desktop cases
Server cases
Mini ITX
FAQs

Full Tower

For building the most powerful, reliable computers
Plenty of room for expansion, configuration and easy management
Good cooling options
Active cooling reduces component failure
Supports motherboards up to eATX format

Full Towers are the largest of the Tower-type cases and offer plenty of room to expand your computer. Thanks to its ability to efficiently dissipate heat, it is suitable for building the most powerful computers. As these are the tallest cases, make sure you measure the space where you plan on putting your new PC.

What is important when choosing a Full Tower?

Purpose of use

Full Tower cases boast the most internal space, provide the best access to components and have multiple cooling options. Full Towers are suitable for building high-performance office and gaming PCs.

Internal layout

Supported motherboard formats - Choose the size of your motherboard according to your PC size and the expansion options you expect from it. Full Towers support eATX, ATX, mATX and mITX motherboards. On larger boards, you will usually find more slots.
Supported power sources - Full Towers support ATX power supplies.
Maximum graphics card length - Can hold graphics cards up to 400mm or larger.
Fan positions - You should be able to fit up to ten fans inside.

External layout

External 3.5" positions - Used to install memory card readers and multimedia panels. Full Tower cases have between one and three external positions.
External 5.25" positions - Full Tower cases have up to 8 slots for Blu-ray and DVD drives and front panels for fan control or PC monitoring.

Mid Tower

Enclosure for powerful computers
Suitable for business and home offices
Good cooling options
Fits in spaces that are too small for Full Towers
Usually placed under your desk

You can also build a strong PC for home and office use with a Mid Tower. You can expand these cases with more powerful components in the future, and they also fit nicely under your desk.

What is important when choosing a Mid Tower?

Purpose of use

Mid Tower cabinets are also spacious enough to build a powerful office or gaming PC. They provide sufficient space for efficient cooling.

Internal layout

Supported motherboard formats - Mid Towers support ATX, mATX, and mITX motherboards.
Supported power sources - ATX sources are used in Midi Tower cabinets.
Maximum graphics card length - Can hold graphics cards approximately 350-400mm in length.
Fan positions - The interior space can house approximately eight fans.

External layout

External 3.5" positions - One or two bays for memory card readers or multimedia panels.
External 5.25" positions - These cabinets support up to five drives or front panel bays.

Mini Tower

Suitable for simpler assemblies and office computers
Plenty of space for installing the necessary components
Fits comfortably under the table
Supports Micro ATX motherboards

We recommend Mini Tower enclosures for building basic PC setups and office computers that you are not expecting to expand in the future. Due to the reduced cooling options, it is best not to use high-performance components.

What is important when choosing a Mini Tower?

Purpose of use

Mini Towers are not as large as the previous two types of case and do not provide easy access to components. They are ideal for building mid-range office and gaming computers.

Internal layout

Supported motherboard formats - Mini Towers support mATX and mITX motherboards.
Supported power sources - ATX power supplies.
Maximum graphics card length - You can use cards up to 300-350mm in length.
Fan positions - can hold up to six fans.

External layout

External 3.5" positions - One or two slots for multimedia panels or memory card readers.
External 5.25" positions - Up to three slots for DVD or Blu-Ray drives.

Desktop cases

Usually placed under the monitor
Good access to controls
Easily accessible connectors at the back
Box-shaped

Desktop cases are laid "flat" so that a monitor can be placed on top. This gives you the bonus of freeing up under-desk space while also providing excellent access to controls and connectors at the front and rear.

What is important when choosing a desktop case?

Purpose of use

Desktop cases are typically used to build office and home computers.

Internal arrangement

Supported motherboard formats - mATX and mITX motherboards
Supported power sources - This includes ATX or SFX sources.
Maximum graphics card length -150-200mm.
Fan positions - up to 3 fan positions.

External layout

External 3.5" positions - Desktop enclosures typically include one slot for a memory card reader or multimedia panel.
External 5.25" positions - One slot for a DVD or Blu-ray drive.

Server cases

For reliable and powerful servers
Flexible customisation options
Many bays for disks and drives
Can be effectively cooled
Support ATX motherboards

Server cases serve as a convenient foundation for powerful assemblies. They support ATX motherboards and have many drive bays, so that they can cover any future data requirements. Because of their weight, they are sometimes on wheels.

What is important when choosing a server case?

Hanging vs standing server cases

Hanging - Mounted on a wall and used to install monitoring or telecommunications equipment. They can weigh up to 60kg, and you can find one and two-piece designs.
Standing - Significantly larger and heavier than hanging cases. They often have wheels and feet to make the case more comfortable to move and to increase support.

Dimensions

Width - The most common mounting width for racks is 19", but 10" is possible for smaller installations. Rack cabinets themselves are usually 600mm wide for basic types and 800mm for other types. These provide easier cabling as the larger width allows you to route cables vertically.
Height - The internal mounting height of the rack modules is given in U units (1U = 44.4 mm) and determines the number of models that can fit into the rack. Most often, dimensions range from 1U to 4U.
Depth - Hanging rack cases have widths of 450, 550 or 600mm. Standing cases can be 600, 800, 1000, and sometimes even 1200mm wide. However, these dimensions are not always definitive as cases can have different internal designs. But you can be sure that the greater the width, the more space you get for proper wiring and ventilation.

Door material and type

Glass Door - Provides a better overview of the equipment inside the cabinet.
Metal doors - Used where safety is a priority. It ensures invisibility and protects against unauthorised entry.
Full door - Used where airflow is not required, such as in telecoms cabinets.
Perforated doors - Used in server installations where increased airflow is required.

Mini ITX

To build small, less powerful computer configurations
Suitable for small offices
It will also serve as a multimedia centre
For Mini ITX format motherboards
Favourable price

If you are looking for a case for a small computer, we recommend getting a Mini ITX. Designed for the construction of PC assemblies that do not require high performance, they're so compact that they fit into the smallest of spaces. As the name suggests, you can only use Mini ITX motherboards with this cabinet.

What is important when choosing a Mini ITX?

Purpose of use

Mini ITX PC cabinets are used to build space-saving computers, typically in small offices. Their size is ideal for less demanding components.

Internal layout

Supported motherboard formats - Mini ITX motherboards.
Supported power sources - SFX sources.
Maximum Video Card Length - The Mini ITX enclosures are smaller to accommodate 200-300 mm video cards.
Fan positions - Up to three.

External layout

External 3.5" positions - One external 3.5" bay for a memory card reader or multimedia panel.
External 5.25" positions - Allows you to insert one DVD or Blu-ray drive.

i Do you know where to place the components in the cabinet?
In our step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to build your own PC in 8 steps, and what you need to do it.

FAQs

What should a good PC case have?

A good PC case should be robust and rigid enough to prevent the metal sheets from bending. Sufficient space for components and cooling options are also valuable.

Important Features

Steel or aluminium with a thickness of at least 1.5mm for greater rigidity and strength
Non-vibrating sidewalls
Top position for fans
Enough space for discs
Good access to all components
Holes for water cooling tubing
Cable management holes
Ability to dampen hard disk vibration
Front or top panel with ports (at least two USB 3.0 connectors, headphone jacks, eSATA)

What is better? Tool-less installation or nuts and bolts?

You often don't need a screwdriver to install the latest components, as many cabinets come with plastic quick-release mechanisms for installing components. They are easy to use, but the quality does not usually match that of classic screws. For example, over time, there may be a tendency for the places of installation to vibrate and produce considerable noise. If you don't mind a little more effort, good old nuts and bolts will give you better results.

Should I buy a case with or without a power supply?

You can buy computer cases with or without a power supply. Your power source must be sufficient for your assembly. By buying a cabinet with a source, you will avoid looking for it separately. However, if you want to choose the power source yourself, make sure it has enough power. Individual components have different power requirements and gaming computers usually require more.

Office computers - 350W power supply is sufficient
Gaming computers - We recommend at least 450W power supply

What is the best position for the external panel?

External panels are for quickly connecting headphones or USB sticks. The following locations are the most common.

Front - Standard Location. The front panel provides good access to the connectors.
Top - Top panel connectors can be reached even easier than those on front panels. Connectors are also clearly visible from the top.
On the side - A less common solution found in some cabinets. Depending on where your case is positioned in relation to your desk and other objects, this solution often provides the easiest access to the connectors.

What external connectors should the housing have?

USB 2.0 - For connecting external drives, nowadays replaced by USB 3.0 or USB 3.1, which have a higher data transfer rate.
USB 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1) - For connecting external drives, quick data transfer.
eSATA - For connecting external drives, fast data transfer.
FireWire - For connecting external drives.
Headphones and microphone - Good accessibility is important for you to sit comfortably.

The more connectors on the front panel, the easier it is to access your mouse, keyboard, headphones, external drives, and other peripherals.

What is the correct material and thickness of the cabinet?

PC cases are made of steel, aluminium, plastic, and sometimes, other materials. The thickness varies depending on the material used. Steel cabinets are usually 0.6 to 1mm thick while aluminium cases are normally over 1mm thick. Thicker sheets make for more durable but heavier cases. Some more expensive models can be over 2mm thick.

What features do PC cases have?

Some cabinets have front doors or removable sidewalls, which provide easy access to the components inside. Glass sidewalls give you a great view of what is happening inside your machine. If you like to go to LAN parties, look for a case with handles and grips to help you transport it.

Other extra features you may come across:

display
decorative lighting
temperature metres
additional cooling

Is a server case suitable for building a standard PC?

A server is not a regular computer. It is an assembly in which reliability, modularity and easy component replacement are vital. Its focus is different. A server case should be spacious, robust and well-ventilated. The appearance, unlike a conventional computer, is not relevant. A standard computer build may require a more attractive appearance and substantial connectivity opens. So, with all this in mind, we don't recommend using server cases for building standard PCs.

Glossary - PC cabinets

Chassis

The chassis is a frame with holes and slots for all computer components.

ATX

ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) is a motherboard format developed by Intel in 1995. MicroATX and Mini ITX are built on a similar concept to ATX, but they are smaller in size.

Slot

A slot is an interface for connecting processors, expansion cards, graphics cards, specialised modules, etc.

Dictionary of terms