5 mistakes to avoid when buying a PC case

Many PC fanatics give attention to the {hardware} parts just like the GPU and processor, however they typically overlook the significance of a good PC case. Many occasions, fanatics choose the most cost effective possibility to save cash. However, this determination can result in issues down the street like poor construct high quality and restricted airflow.

To assist keep away from these points, we’ll stroll you thru the facets you must take into account when shopping for a PC case. We’ll additionally spotlight high instances at varied value factors.

1. Size and kind issue are a should

First of all, be sure you get a case that may match the entire parts. The kind issue determines whether or not your mainboard will match into the case. The commonest choices are ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. There’s additionally XL-ATX and E-ATX, that are barely bigger than ATX however are not often utilized in gaming PCs.

Large instances typically additionally assist small kind elements, however the reverse is, after all, troublesome. If you attempt to match an enormous customized RTX 5080 right into a mini-ITX case, for instance, you’ll rapidly understand that it gained’t match. So you additionally have to guarantee that the case has sufficient area for all of the parts just like the graphics playing cards, AIOs, followers, and energy provides.

Let’s check out the same old case sizes. There are massive towers, midi towers, mini towers, and ITX. Big towers provide essentially the most area; all normal motherboard sizes slot in right here, and sometimes XL-ATX and/or E-ATX are additionally supported. With these instances, you’ve loads of area for parts 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 methods will logically solely match ITX.

2. Do all of the parts match?

To test which parts will slot in your PC case, you may check out PC Part Picker–you’ll discover all of the related info listed there. If you’re in search of a midi tower, for instance, you may see all of the sorting choices immediately.

By choosing a selected case, you may test the “Motherboard form factor” part to see what it accommodates. Everything as much as E-ATX matches, however you additionally want to think about three further parts: Power provide unit, CPU cooler, and graphics playing cards.

In this case, we’ve got an ATX energy provide unit, i.e., the usual dimension. Please be aware: ATX energy provide models have completely different depths. For compact builds, there are SFX and SFX-L energy provides. You must also test the utmost dimension 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 can even see how a lot area your case nonetheless has and the way the case is constructed. This info is often obtainable from PC Part Picker, but when not, you’ll have to look on the producer’s web site. Fortunately, should you toss all of your desired parts into the web site, it’ll warn you if there are any compatibility issues.

3. Airflow, fan, AIO

Getting a good airflow isn’t rocket science, however discovering the precise housing for it isn’t simple and there are just a few traps you shouldn’t fall into. Our advice? Keep it easy. Manufacturers wish to provide you with the fanciest “cooling solutions,” however these rapidly backfire.

The precept is comparatively easy. You have to get as a lot chilly air into the housing as potential after which get heat air out once more. The simplest way to do that is with a mesh entrance, that are perforated grilles. If you’re utilizing an air cooler on your CPU, a mesh entrance is very really useful. As a rule, two to a few followers slot in there; you’ve a good 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 utterly adequate for many configs.

Some instances even have followers pre-installed, which you too can test at Geizhals. Here you too can see which followers are suitable at which level within the case. For instance, the entrance of a case might match both one 140 fan, two 140 followers, or three 120 followers. If a fan just isn’t labeled “optional,” then it’s already pre-installed.

There are different methods to create an excellent airflow. With an AIO, i.e., an all-in-one resolution, every little thing seems solely completely different once more. We first must see which radiators match into the housing. At Geizhals, you too can see which radiator sizes might be positioned the place.

In the Corsair case (see image above), every little thing as much as 360 millimeters matches on the entrance, high, and proper. At the again, the place the only fan is often situated, a 120 mm AIO would additionally match as an alternative. With an AIO, a mesh entrance is now not so vital, until you need to put the radiator proper there.

Nevertheless, your parts mustn’t get too sizzling, so that you want a correct airflow within the housing even with an AIO. However, it’s now not vital that that is oriented in direction of the CPU, so you need to be somewhat extra inventive about the place you place the followers–that is very true for large and midi towers. However, should you’re constructing a compact system, you must suppose extra concerning the cooling and maybe watch just a few tutorial movies.

4. Connections and tools

Many folks 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 skin of the case. However, you must also test the precise USB requirements. In addition, not all instances have entrance ports, which might be vital.

In phrases of options, as beforehand talked about, you must take note of the presence (or absence) of pre-installed followers. You must also take into account what number of SSDs and arduous drives you need to set up. Although gaming PCs hardly want arduous drives anymore, many nonetheless use no less than one 2.5-inch SSD. Again, you may test Geizhals to see how a lot area is accessible, often beneath “Internal.”

Mini tip: Cable administration

Before we come to the final level, just a few phrases about cable administration. It’s troublesome to inform from Geizhals how appropriate a case is for cable administration. You ought to subsequently take a detailed have a look at the obtainable product photos. Pay consideration as to whether there are sufficient cable feed-throughs and whether or not there’s sufficient depth on the rear for all of the cables. If you’ve shortlisted an enclosure, check out just a few movies.

5. Quality and value

Finally, let’s speak about value. How a lot must you spend on a good enclosure? A good case doesn’t must be costly, as lots of them come outfitted with all of the vital connections and high quality followers. But a $40 case is often product of very skinny supplies and is probably not as well-built as a pricier one.

Ultimately, the case has to suit your price range. Sure, you may put collectively a $2,500 PC and pack it into an inexpensive case, nevertheless it won’t look good. As a common rule, intention to spend about 5 to 10 % of your price range on the case. So, for a $1,000 PC, you must search for instances within the $50-$100 vary.

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

Our suggestions

Here are our suggestions for every value 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 Frame 4000D, midi tower, good airflow, solely two followers pre-installed with out RBG, $109.99 at Amazon
3. Be Quiet Light Base 900, massive tower, double glass wall, detachable ft, comes with 4 pre-installed followers, $189.90 at Amazon