So, you’ve just completed your computer components and now deciding what case you should buy. Just like our grandparents used to say, a PC without a case is like a peanut butter sandwich without bread. It gets all over the place, it looks nasty, and it sticks to the roof of your mouth. In this way, how about we stay away from that situation by picking a PC case that keeps components cool, safe, and looking awesome. There are so many computer cases on the market to choose from. But only a few of them are worth considering. So you need to make sure that the case you choose has all the features and capabilities you need for your build. Here are the things you need to consider before buying a PC case.
Table of Contents
Things You Need To Consider:
PC Case Size
It’s helpful to decide what case size you’re looking for. There are four main categories to look at here:
- Very small cases – that fit tiny mini ITX motherboards.
- Smallish cases – that fit slightly larger micro ATX ports.
- Mid-tower cases – can usually accommodate the most popular motherboard form factor ATX.
- Full tower cases – which gives you lots of room for all your components and cables so your build doesn’t have to look like grandma’s spaghetti.
Two PC cases are constantly gaining popularity in recent years. They are the Thermaltake Core P3 and P5. They are very similar in terms of features, and the only difference is their sizes. So, the logic behind finding a PC case will vary depending on what components you have.
PC Case Types
Something else to consider is the thing that sort of PC you are building. Is it a gaming machine? An office workstation? Or a media framework for your living room? We need to consider how much room we require for our components, how to keep our parts cool, and whether we need additional features that make building and utilizing your PC a lot simpler.
Case Compatibility
So, once you’ve decided on a form factor, it’s important to consider a case’s compatibility with your components. You’ll need to ensure that your case has sufficient space for your graphics card. Higher-end graphics cards are longer, taller, or even wider than budget-friendly ones, and that can cause clearance issues in smaller cases. Essentially, some air CPU coolers might be too tall to even consider fitting in these little cases, so in both of these circumstances, you’ll need to check the dimensions of your graphics card and CPU coolers. Also, cross-reference them with your case clearance specifications.
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Now, if you are planning to liquid cool your CPU, you want to make sure that your case supports your cooler radiator size. There’s nothing more awful than taking a liquid cooler out of the box only to discover that the radiator won’t mount properly in your case because it’s too large. An all-around ventilated PC is an upbeat PC, most cases come with at least one fan installed, but check what number of different fans your case supports on the off chance that you need to update your cooling later. Moreover, dust filters are also great to keep an eye out for. These will keep lint and debris from accumulating on your parts.
Cable Management Capabilities
Another great way to ensure proper airflow, besides simply including more fans, is to ensure that you manage your cables appropriately. Some cases have rubber grommets hooks and even additional room behind the motherboard to assist you with directing your cables and keeping them out of the way. Taking advantage of these features is an excellent way to ensure that your components remain clean and frosty.
PC Cases Price Point
Now, you might be thinking about what price point you should be looking at. Well, that’s something that depends on your situation. Bare-bones budget cases are easier on the wallet but that’s often because they’re most likely built with lower quality materials and a less refined manufacturing process. So, you might see flimsy side panels, jagged edges, and low quality of life features. On the other hand, pricier models are bound to be worked with more excellent materials and more advanced manufacturing. They’ll also be less prone to deterioration like discoloration over time. Furthermore, they’re more likely to have extra features like better cable management or front USB type-c. For example, the Thermaltake core p3 and core p5 feature a great side panel for much better cable management and space capabilities that allow you to install multiple components into it.
Extra Features To Look For A PC Case
Some other extras to look for in a PC case are drive bays and SSD mounting points for upgrading in the future. Tool-less elements like thumb screws. Side panels with hinges that allow us for easy access, as well as accessible magnetic dust filters. And additional features that help show off your awesome builds like transparent side panels made of tempered glass or acrylic. A power supply shroud to hide your cables, or even built-in RGB lighting. If that last one tickles your fans, by the way, there are many cases out there that come with RGB enabled fans and built-in lighting controllers.
Conclusion
Choosing a PC case isn’t as complicated as choosing other computer components like CPUs and motherboards. A PC case might just be a box where you put your parts in, and of course, it’s responsible for the airflow. Having a decent knowledge about choosing the right PC cases is definitely an advantage for you. However, it always depends on what plans you are taking on building a PC. Whether you want to future proof your build or just enough one for your current components. If you are a competitive gamer or a graphics designer, you wanna consider getting a bit bigger case since you have a lot of components to put on and for the purpose of future upgrades too. But for office people who just want to have a case that accommodates the basic stuff on their computer, a much smaller case is a good choice for you.
