The Best PC Cabinets to Buy in 2019 For Rigs of All Sizes

Not so long ago, PC cases were really an afterthought and if offered to invest between a best PC case or a best graphics card, the latter would have been the obvious choice. However, with CPUs getting increasingly capable, motherboards cramming more features than ever, and with high-end graphics cards occupying multiple PCIe slots, it has become all the more important to factor in the quality of the PC cabinet as well.

One of the most important things to remember while purchasing a PC case is the internal airflow. You should have enough room for air to freely circulate without cables and other components hindering it. Of course, if you are going for a fully water-cooled setup, the airflow might not be a huge differentiating factor. That being said, a roomy cabinet will ensure ease of access to the internals for repair or replacement without having to remove any major parts.

Build quality is very essential and a sturdy PC case will go a long way in ensuring that longevity of internal components. Internal noise levels are also to be ascertained as some cases can sound as loud as a jet engine, which makes them annoying to use.

The accessories that a case maker bundle is also an important point to note. Often, you will be getting built-in RGB LED strips and pre-mounted fans along with a controller for these in more expensive cases. Some cases offer you the choice of omitting them to save some money.

With that information, here are the 10 best PC cases to buy in 2019 that do a good job in containing noise and improving cooling.

1. Corsair Obsidian 1000D

The Corsair Obsidian 1000D is the PC case to buy if you are an enthusiast and budget is not a constraint. It is bigger than most tower cases you find in the market hence the name, Super Tower. It is so big that it can take an E-ATX and a mini-ITX board at the same time. The Corsair Obsidian 1000D is designed for those who use water blocks and extensive cooling solutions. It can house four radiators of different sizes at once and up to 13 fans inside. The 1000D offers a triple-chamber design that makes it very modular and easy to access. You also get front panel audio output, 4 USB 3.0 ports, and 2 USB 3.1 Type-C ports. USB Type-C ports are kind of rare to get even in high-end cabinets so it is good to see the Obsidian have one. Needless to say, there's extensive fan monitoring and RGB control via Corsair's iCUE software even up to the level of controlling RGB on the USB ports and power button.

The Obsidian 1000D sports smoked tempered glass panels on all four sides giving a premium sophisticated look. On the back, you have about seven expansion slots for PCI cards and you can also mount vertical GPUs. The Obsidian 1000D offers enough space to mount up to 11 storage drives. While there is enough number of fans with this PC case, you can add additional radiators by using more radiator mounting trays. The Corsair Obsidian 1000D is a one of a kind PC case that can house two complete systems in itself. It is expensive but you get a lot of features for the price.

• Pros: Can house an E-ATX and a mini-ITX motherboard at once; Extensive cooling and RGB options
• Cons: No castors for easy movement.

2. be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900

be quiet! is a well-known brand when it comes to cooling solutions and the company's PC cabinets are equally interesting. The be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 is targeted at enthusiast PC builders who look for roomy cabinets and adequate cooling. The Dark Base Pro 900 can accommodate plenty of storage drives; you can also use a caddy to convert those 3.5-inch bays to 2.5-inch ones and use a total of 15 drive bays. The case is highly modular and most panels can be quickly removed without having to use screws. You can also use an inverted motherboard layout and the case comes with built-in RGB lighting. A useful feature is that it natively offers wireless Qi charging so you can simply rest your smart devices that support wireless charging on the case itself.

Cooling components, in this case, should pose no problem as there's ample room for airflow. You can also install radiator fans up to 420 mm for additional cooling. Cable management can still be improved, though and there's no power supply unit cover. You can remove all the drive caddies that you won't be needing to allow for even better airflow. The best part about this case is that you can remove the motherboard tray, attach rubber feet, and use as a test bench if you are into constant CPU or GPU swapping for benchmarks. The be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 is one of the best airflow cases to buy if you can afford the price it commands.

• Pros: Quiet operation; Good airflow; Many drive bays
• Cons: No PSU cover; Cable management can be better

3. Cooler Master Cosmos C700P

The Cosmos series is a popular PC case offering from Cooler Master and the Cosmos C700P has everything you need to build a great gaming PC. The C700P is suited for those who use E-ATX motherboards with good airflow requirements. There are multiple radiator options that you can choose from. Although you can go up to 280 mm radiators with the default layout, you can also use 420 mm fans if you remove the optical disk drive cage at the front and top. The silver accents on the case lend it a sophisticated look and their ample number of ports to connect most of your peripherals to the front USB ports. There's a Type-C port as well included. The C700P comes with a built-in RGB controller that can control FAN RPM and case lighting. You can, of course, connect them directly to your motherboard for better control as the included controller offers only two fan speeds. Cooler Master has also included dust filters and the design is mostly tool-free. The backside offers eight expansion slots so you can use both SLI and Crossfire GPU setups with ease. PSUs of all kinds will fit easily in the chassis without issues.

It would have been really useful if the controller offered more fan speed options. Nevertheless, the airflow inside the cabinet is excellent. Also, there are only two 2.5-inch trays for storage of which one is occupied by the provided RGB controller. This means you'll have to manually provide for extra 2.5-inch slots by either using caddies in the 3.5-inch bays or buying extra 2.5-inch trays. Either way, we feel Cooler Master could have just provided extra trays given the premium price this case commands. The interiors are well made and build quality is excellent. You should have no problem in fitting the largest motherboards or the longest graphics cards.

• Pros: Spacious interiors; Good build quality
• Cons: Only 2 2.5-inch bays; High fan noise

4. NZXT H700i

NZXT is a very popular brand among DIY enthusiasts and the H700i is an excellent choice for those wanting to customize their PC builds. The H700i offers a tempered-glass side panel and comes in multiple colors. On the top, we find USB 2.0 and USB 3.1 Type-A ports along with audio jacks. There's no USB Type-C port, however. There are air intake vents on the top and front to provide for adequate ventilation. At the back, you get seven expansion slots and a bottom-mounted PSU slot. You can mount both 120 mm and 140 mm fans along with an exhaust fan whose positioning can be adjusted. While the front-mounted fans get a removable nylon dust filter, the top fans are devoid of any filters. In the box, you get an assortment of accessories such as screws, ties, RGB lighting strip, and extension cable.

The H700i is large enough to accommodate a full-fledged water cooling setup including a custom loop and a reservoir. Cable management with the H700i is very easy as it comes with a large cable management bar that helps in hiding all those wires. While cable management is relatively easy, proper planning is still required to minimize clutter and maximize airflow within the cabinet. Noise levels are relatively low, but fans are still audible at high speeds. Overall, the NZXT H700i offers great design and roomy internals and is easily one of the best mid-tower cases available in the market.

• Pros: Roomy chassis; Good cooling; Cable management bar
• Cons: Slightly expensive; No front-panel USB Type-C

5. Corsair Obsidian 500D

If the Corsair Obsidian 1000D is overboard for your needs, consider the Obsidian 500D. Essentially, you get all the goodies of the larger 1000D at a more affordable price. The 500D looks premium thanks to the smoked tempered glass and brushed aluminum finish. Thus, it makes for a good case for both gamers and professional users. There are two variants of the 500D — the 500D and the 500D SE. The latter offers tempered glass even on the front panel and an additional RGB/fan controller with pre-installed three RGB fans. On the top, we find ventilation holes, or rather triangles, that provide adequate ventilation and air intake. The top panel also houses the USB ports including USB Type-C and audio jacks, hard drive LED, and a reset switch. Towards the back, we find seven slots for PCI expansion, space in the bottom for the PSU, and the ability to adjust the exhaust fan position. Although the glass is darkly tinted, you can still see all the RGB hardware inside very clearly.

The 500D offers magnetic nylon dust filters at all fan locations. The filters are easily removable and can be washed. Cooling is fine for the most part but given that both sides have tempered glass doors, it is not really up to the mark of some of the other PC cabinets in this list. Therefore, if you plan on running a beefier system with additional GPUs, you will have to use additional fans to compensate for the cooling or go for a water cooling loop.

• Pros: Premium design; Easy to service
• Cons: Only one 120 mm intake fan; Cooling can be better

6. Lian-Li PC-011 Dynamic Razer Edition

Razer is a well-known gaming brand that makes some of the best gaming laptops and accessories. If you are a fan of Razer but sad that they don't have desktop PCs, the Lian-Li PC-011 Dynamic Razer Edition might be the one you are looking for. This is a special edition of the popular Lian-Li PC-011 PC cabinet made in collaboration with Razer. The Dynamic Razer Edition sports tempered glass on both the sides and the front panel, with the front panel also sporting a Razer logo. There are RGB LED strips at the base and in the front. The build quality is good and the glass panels are very sturdy. The front USB Type-A ports are illuminated in the characteristic Razer green color and you also get a Type-C port along with two audio jacks. The cabinet can easily accommodate E-ATX motherboards and has space for two PSUs.

All vents get a dust filter so keeping the innards clean is not an issue. The Lian-Li PC-011 comes as a barebones PC cabinet and is primarily intended towards water cooling enthusiasts. As a result, air cooling is really not the best in the business. However, if you go for all-water block setup, the Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic Razer Edition offers excellent low noise levels and the ability to add dual PSUs that most other cases cannot offer. If you are a Razer fan, you need to keep this PC cabinet definitely on top of your radar.

• Pros: Built for water cooling; Low noise
• Cons: Not really suited for air cooling

7. Phanteks Enthoo Pro M

If you are a first-time PC builder or would like to keep the expenses low, the Phanteks Enthoo Pro M offers a nice alternative to some of the more expensive PC cabinets featured in this list. The Enthoo Pro M offers good cable management and supports various fan sizes to allow for good ventilation within the case. The Enthoo Pro M offers a fully tempered glass side panel and can easily accommodate complex liquid-cooling and water block setups. That being said, airflow shouldn't pose much of an issue and you can use multiple fans on the roof and the front and those are covered by dust filters to keep the interiors clean. You get standard USB and audio ports. There's no Type-C port but since this is a budget case, we are not complaining.

Fan noise is a little on the higher side but not overly distracting. There is no fan control that is bundled with the case itself so you'll have to rely on your motherboard for fine-grained fan and RGB control. Phanteks offers an optional PWM Hub if you need additional fan control beyond what the motherboard offers. You also get enough number of drive caddies so you most likely won't have to look for ways to expand your storage options. While there are more feature-rich cases in this list, we feel that the Phanteks Enthoo Pro M is one of the best budget PC cases to buy this year thanks to good airflow and ability to house complex water cooling.

• Pros: Very good airflow; Affordable
• Cons: None as such

8. Fractal Design Define S2 Vision

Fractal Design is a very popular PC case brand among enthusiasts and the Define S2 Vision addresses most needs of the target demographic albeit being a bit pricey. The Define S2 Vision RGB offers an AR-4020 ARGB LED lighting strip, an Adjust R1 RGB controller, and four Prisma AL-14 PWM ARGB fans in the package so you need not really invest in new LED strips or cooling fans. However, if you like to keep the costs low, you can also go for the Blackout variant that does not come with the above goodies. Most of the case is made of tempered glass with the front sporting filters to prevent dust ingress. The Design S2 Vision offers USB Type-C on the front panel alongside the regular USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports. While you get four fans within the package, you can also fit custom cooling fans all the way up to 360 mm.

The fans that come with the Design S2 should be adequate for regular cooling even under load. Noise levels are also maintained under control for the most part. While noise does increase under load, it is still bearable. The Fractal Design Define S2 Vision offers great thermal performance and excellent aesthetics. However, the price is on a higher side, which can sway a lot of potential buyers towards more cheaper offerings. That being said, you can still go for the Blackout variant at a cheaper price and get the same signature Fractal Design to build quality with the added advantage of adding RGB and fans to your liking.

• Pros: Very good thermals; RGB strip, fans and controller included
• Cons: Expensive

9. NZXT H200i

While most PC cases cater for enthusiasts with E-ATX motherboards, the NZXT H200i looks to offer an excellent cabinet for those with mini ITX boards. Like the H700i, the H200i also offers good construction, ample airflow, and easy access to front panel USB ports. Towards the back, we have a 120 mm exhaust fan and space for a PSU at the bottom. The NZXT H200i offers an SFX adapter for those who wish to use smaller power supply units. The H200i offers a mesh on the front panel for dust filtration, but it is not easily removable and requires removing the entire fan assembly for cleaning. The case provides enough room to install RGB LED strips or reservoirs for water cooling. You can also use the bundled-in controller to add up to four additional RGB strips.

NZXT also provides a Smart Device that can control RGB and fan speed. You can either control the Smart Device using the provided CAM software or control it directly from your motherboard. Despite the small size, the thermal performance of the H200i is excellent. However, the noise levels are somewhat on the higher side at full fan speed. The higher pricing could also deter some people away from the H200i, but it still one of the best PC cases for mini ITX builds.

• Pros: Good design; Good thermal performance
• Cons: High noise; Expensive

10. Riotoro CR500

Ricotoro is a brand that has just started to gain traction but with the brains of ex-employees from Corsair and NVIDIA behind it, you can be sure of a product that caters primarily to the needs of gamers. The CR500 PC case does not overly intimidate you with its looks yet offers enough functionality at a very reasonable price. The design is similar to offerings from other brands such as NZXT, Corsair, etc. and bundles in two 120 mm RGB LED fans. You can install up to three 120 mm fans or two 140 mm fans as needed. The tempered side glass is tinted but does not hinder your RGB showcase in any way. At the back, you can find seven expansion slots, slot for mounting a power supply unit, and exhaust fan mount.

For a budget PC case, the Riotoro CR500 handles thermals and acoustics well. You will not be disappointed with the noise levels even when the fan speeds are at their highest. This is not exactly a dual chamber design as one would like it to be but components are easily accessible and within reach. The Riotoro CR500 is one of the best PC cases to buy in 2019 that doesn't cost a bomb and we have no hesitation in recommending this for your next gaming rig.

• Pros: Affordable; Very good thermals and noise levels
• Cons: None as such

That was a roundup of the best PC cases in the market today. Remember that while flashy cases full of RGB bling are good to show off your gaming rig, the internal airflow and accessibility to components is what should be given the first priority while zeroing in on a good PC cabinet and we hope that this article has helped you in doing just that.

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