"Also, can someone explain why is there a rectangular hole next to the fan on the back of the case (in most PC cases)?
https://lian-li.com/product-category/cases/medium-case/"
That a hole for your motherboard ports (e.g. USB, audio jacks, Ethernet etc)
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Also, can someone explain why is there a rectangular hole next to the fan on the back of the case (in most PC cases)?
It's for the plugs panel of the motherboard (LAN, on board audio, graphics etc).
I'm still very happy with my Nanoxia DS2, quiet and doesn't get too warm. But that's old by now and you also need a bit of space because of its depth.
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You might take a look also at
https://www.bequiet.com/en/case
https://www.fractal-design.com/products/cases/
And for quieter cooling:
https://www.bequiet.com/en/casefans
https://noctua.at/en/products/fan
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Thank you!
I've seen these 2 brands.
And also Antec, CoolerMaster, Lian Li / LanCool, Corsair, Zalman, ...
And each brand has dozens of different models.
And except the external look, I'm struggling to understand the difference between a $50 and a $250 case...
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They are all good brands. Pick the case you like in $100 range, check few reviews for it, and if reviews don't say something negative about the case that could bother you, just go for it. Cases are a lot about personal taste.
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Really depends on the case. Me personally, I spent $250 CAD (about $185 USD) on my Phanteks P600S. A lot of the decision was based on aesthetic, but I also liked the fact that it's built almost entirely from steel, the side panels are swivel panels locked by magnets, it has front and top removeable panels for when I want silence or better cooling, and more.
That said though, unless you want a very specific look or features, there is no point in paying extra.
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I currently using Cooler Master HAF XB EVO LAN Box - great case if you want prevent GPU sag that is main reason of failure of all high end GPUs this days.
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Micro ATX
RTX 3070 Ti
(but would like to be able to upgrade to newer GPUs in the future)
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well, you buy a thing like this https://www.amazon.com.au/Graphics-Card-GPU-Support-Bracket/dp/B0BZ87YT7S
or you get a similar case were your MB lies flat
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The most popular case atm is probably the "Corsair 4000D Airflow" for about $90-$100.
For cases over $100 the "Fractal Design Meshify 2" series, "Fractal Design Torrent", and "Fractal Design North" are the most popular.
For cases under $100 the "Zalman S2" is probably the cheapest you should go at around $50-60. The "Cooler Master MasterBox NR600" for around $80 is a good mid-budget choice too.
I use a meshify 2 for my current PC, and replaced my older PC's case with a Meshify 2 Compact. Like the all-metal construction and that they were available without a useless side window.
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If you want a case with a 5.25' optical bay then both of those look like good options. I'd go with the FLUX model between the two for the extra cooling it provides (has extra ventilation on one side together with extra fans to draw in air for the GPU). I think it's great that you have the option to remove the front panel door for additional airflow through the front filter if you wanted, or flipping it around depending on what side you prefer to open the door from. That said the FLUX model even with extra vents+fans is really only average when it comes to overall airflow (and build quality from what I've read), and is more focused on noise reduction, so it would be fine for a mid-range gaming PC but I probably wouldn't stick anything like a 14900K or 4090 in it.
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I am planning a mid-range PC (3070 Ti and Ryzen 5 5500), so this helps a lot.
Thank you!
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I'd recommend taking a look at GamersNexus on Youtube. Best case reviews on the market imo. Here is their video for Best PC Cases for 2023 and Playlist of all PC Case Reviews. They also have written content on their newly revamped website.
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I have a nice PC stand on wheels, but it's only 210mm wide. So I could buy a case to fit it... Or I could buy a new pc stand (they're dirt cheap)
Sounds like a job for wood!
get scrap plywood (all hardware stores have some somewhere, it's dirt cheat)the width/length of the larger item, PAINT IT, two coats at least. And yes, wait for it to dry, sorry. can't skip that one.
Drill holes in both, put a piece of plywood in-between. bolt both things to it. Bonus points if you use the same holes for both, but it's not necessary.
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Don't do glass, metal conducts heat better. Also much easier to drill, lol.
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My case is a bit old already, and some things don't work anymore (like top USB connectors).
And it was a cheap case 6 years ago, when I first bought it.
So I decided maybe it's time for a new one.
However, unlike other PC components, which have clear speed/size/power values, which can be easily compared... PC cases have none of these.
I'm not even sure what are my options with PC cases, or even what are my needs.
I tried to do some research myself, but did not get any far.
I don't really care about it's looks - so things like RGB lights, don't really matter to me.
I have a nice PC stand on wheels, but it's only 210mm wide. So I could buy a case to fit it... Or I could buy a new pc stand (they're dirt cheap)
I have a glass side right now - but the PC case stands below a desk, so I don't really care about the looks.
I have a CD-ROM drive - but haven't used it in ages. So I'm not sure I need it anymore. And it's probably pretty cheap to just buy an external CD-ROM drive, store it somewhere, and connect it via USB when needed. As I saw most cases now prefer to put 3 fans in the front, instead of place for CD-ROMs.
(P.S. it's not really CD-ROM, it's DVD-RW...)
Keeping it quiet might be nice. It's not a deal-breaker. But quieter = probably better.
Definitely should be well ventilated, but I don't plan to put in water cooling, as I don't overclock anything.
Definitely should be convenient to install and remove hardware - As I like to do it myself.
Price-wise, I think $100 is my top limit.
Just because there are tons of much cheaper PC cases, so I don't feel the need to spend too much on that...
Antec P5/P7 looked nice to me. Mostly because they have CD-ROM slots. And they are supposed to be quiet. But many claim to be "quiet", and without any
But I'm really at a loss here - because there are tons of options, all look very similar, and are similarly priced.
Also, can someone explain why is there a rectangular hole next to the fan on the back of the case (in most PC cases)?https://lian-li.com/product-category/cases/medium-case/
Some cases come with 2 fans in the front, and 1 in the back - https://www.antec.com/product/case/p7-silent
While others come with 3 fans in the front, 3 on top, 1 in the back and 4 on the side - https://www.antec.com/product/case/ax90
Do I need that much airflow???
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