Q&A

How much should I spend?

A quality, modestly sized case can be had for between $60-$130. Large, premium cases can hit $250 or more, while small, low quality ones are under $40.

How big do I need?

Most modern gaming PCs only need one hard drive and an SSD. As such, even small cases can still pack in all the features and cooling you need. Only water cooling needs larger cases.

What layout?

Modern cases tend to have no optical drive bays and just a couple of hard drive bays at the bottom, next to the PSU, leaving plenty of room at the front for cooling. Older cases, meanwhile, have drive bays at the front, limiting cooling options.