A PC case, also known as a tower, is the visual core of any computer build. It serves several functional purposes and reflects the overall aesthetic of your system, but it also offers plenty of opportunities to express yourself with unique designs and features.
Most cases come in different sizes to accommodate specific motherboards, but form factors can be broken down further. For example, there are mini-towers, mid-towers, and full towers that range in size and can hold varying amounts of components. There are even smaller PC cases, such as HTPCs and SFFs, that fit less hardware than their larger counterparts.
At the lower price range, you can find a basic, nondescript case for $50 or less that comes with few extra features beyond the basics. In the $100-plus price range, you’ll start to see water-cooling compatibility worked into some cases, as well as more cable management details and other niceties like RGB lighting or tempered glass panels.
Above $200, you can start to find more unique PC cases with wild concept shapes and features. For instance, there are cases that double as a desk, such as the now-discontinued In Win H-Tower that opens and closes like a flower. You’ll also find high-end cases with swankier materials and design, such as the Fractal Design Define 7 XL and the Lian Li 011 Dynamic XL. In addition, you’ll start to see cases with large cut-outs that allow you to replace your CPU cooler without removing the entire motherboard. PC case