A lot of people have been looking to upgrade their rigs with the recent announcement of Nvidia’s RTX 3000 lineup of GPUs. While their performance metrics remain to be seen, one thing is for certain that you should be taking a look at your current lineup if you want to upgrade. Though the RTX 3000 has a unique and different design that is intended for better airflow and cooling, your case can also be a limiting factor as it must determine how much air will be going into the guts of your PC.
A good PC case takes into account the size of your components and therefore, becomes ideal for maximum airflow so the temperatures are kept at bay. Along with that, it’s also a good idea to have a case big enough to have room for upgrades in the future without you having to change everything up. Adding in more fans can’t always be the solution for a number of reasons. Therefore, your first choice must be choosing a case designed in a way that it not only has enough space for maximum airflow but is designed to improve upon that. With many PC cases in the market ranging from some overly enthusiastic executions to simple but very effective ones, there are many at your disposal. This list is going to help you with that and help you choose the best airflow case.
1. Fractal Design Meshify C
- 5 storage options
- Improved airflow with the mesh design
- Easy to clean filters
- Plenty of room inside
Fan Mounts: 7 | Storage Options: 5 | I/O Ports: 2x USB 3.0, Audio I/O, Power button, Reset button | Tempered Glass: Yes
PC cases offer a wide range of benefits. Some excel at one more than the other and that can be seen in cases where a very “gaming-looking” case is designed that offers the aesthetics but doesn’t really have that real estate to keep the airflow business strong. Fractal Design Meshify C is a prime example of the opposite of that. A case that not only has a terrific airflow design but also looks that speak up gaming to you.
Fractal Design Meshify C features an all-black design which is not really something we haven’t seen before. In fact, the all-black design helps it blend in with most types of gaming setups. On the other hand, we have been seeing an increase in the preference of white cases so you may want to look past this if that’s what you’re after. The Fractal Design Meshify C is a compact and well-designed case that does not shy away from being a robust case either. On the side, there is a tempered glass which is really the norm these days. There is also a variant with a solid panel as well, should you want to go for that. The angular mesh on the front with the filter is not only easy to clean but also maximizes airflow. The Fractal Design Meshify C comes with two 120mm fans installed that make for even better cooling.
The Fractal Design Meshify C comes with additional benefits thanks to the space that you get with this case. There are 5 storage options (3 SSD and 2 HDD). With the RTX 3000 release, many are worried about the size of that GPU as some cases may not be able to house it properly. That is not the case with this as it has a maximum GPU length of 315mm. Even then, you’ll have room for additional fans or water cooling. There is only a minor downside to the Fractal Design Meshify C and that is that it comes without RGB lights. You may need to get a separate RGB strip for this case however, the Fractal Design Meshify C checks all the right boxes including price.
When looking for a PC case with the best airflow, there are many options that you can consider. However, few of them can give you the best of the best while still boasting a relatively reasonable price. Fractal Design Meshify C is one of them. With just very few setbacks that some may very easily be able to look past, the Fractal Design Meshify C is a future proof investment and a solid PC case.
2. Phanteks P400A
Spacious and Great Looking
- Can support E-ATX board
- Comes with 3 fans
- Very well built and structured
- Mounts for easy installation
- Front fans might feel a little noisy
Fan Mounts: 7 | Storage Options: 8 | I/O Ports: 2x USB 3.0, Audio I/O, Power button, Reset button, RGB button, Fan speed button | Tempered Glass: Yes
Phanteks is a name synonymous with products that are responsible for cooling your PC. They’ve put out many fans that cover a wide variety of requirements that are demanded by the users. For the second-best airflow cooler in our list, we have the Phanteks P400A. A case with a simple design but still an elegant and very efficiently designed one.
The Phanteks P400A is an ATX mid-tower sized case for your PC. It is available in three different variants, one is in black without RGB, the other is black with RGB fans and the last one is in white with RGB fans. The Phanteks P400A is a big case and that is evident from its 470mm x 465mm. On the front is a full metal mesh and behind it are three 120mm fans. The controls and buttons are situated on the top and that is where you can find additional USB ports as well. If you have an RGB variant, you can also control the lighting effects, etc using the buttons found at the top.
There is plenty of space in the Phanteks P400A for you to house any upgrades, making this case a future proof investment. You can install an E-ATX motherboard as well and the Phanteks P400A has space for two HDDs and two SSDS along with 4 optical drives. This case also has bracket and mounts for the GPU and HDD which makes it easy to install them. On the top panel, the mesh also has a magnetic filter that captures the dust particles and filters the air that goes in the case. This filter is quite easy to clean as well so that’s a bonus too.
The Phanteks P400A has competitions that have the same price tag. However, this case does many things really well which makes it an excellent choice for a PC case that has efficient airflow. With a reasonable price tag and definitely a smart investment for any future upgrades you might want for your PC, the Phanteks P400A is a great PC case to have that will ensure that your PC has all the air it needs.
- Great metal build quality
- Minimalistic design
- Mesh panels for clean air
- Fans have odd vibrations which make them noisy
- Lack for native RGB
Fan Mounts: 4 | Storage Options: 9 | I/O Ports: 2x USB 3.0, Audio I/O, Power button, Reset button | Tempered Glass: Yes
It’s hard to talk about products like PC cases and not bring up Cooler Master’s name. They’re very well versed in this category and have a record of great products in their lineup to prove it. For the third best airflow PC case in this list, we have Cooler Master’s NR600, a budget case pick for you all.
The Cooler Master NR600 PC case bears a design that is honestly not something we haven’t seen before. It’s a tried and tested design that has worked for many cases in the past and works for NR600 now. An all-black casing with steel being primarily used for the build. On the front is a mesh metal panel with support for three fans behind it. The mesh helps in bringing in only the clean air which is then sucked in by the fans. The top also features a mesh plate with a filter that you can remove for cleaning purposes. The ports are situated on the top and are there for easy access.
There is enough space in the Cooler Master NR600 for you to put in any GPU that you might want. Even then, the Cooler Master NR600 case ends up with ample space for future upgrades. The front and back also have space and support for fans and radiators 120/140 and 240mm form factors. It can fit in ATX form factor motherboards quite easily. There is a lack of RGB lighting with the Cooler Master NR600 and the fans on the front feel like they have very odd vibrations. When that happens, the noise of the fans can get a little annoying.
The Cooler Master NR600 is the dream PC case for budget builders out there. With a friendly price tag, you get the benefit of just about everything a PC case must-have. Along with all of that, the design makes for efficient cooling and the top has a dual-headphone jack for both audio and microphone. The NR600 is very easy to appreciate and get behind, making it a great PC case.
4. Cooler Master Cosmos C700M
- Great looks
- Plenty of ports on the front
- Overkill for many people
- No mesh panels or air filters
- Expensive price
Fan Mounts: 9 | Storage Options: 5 | I/O Ports: 4x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1, Audio I/O, Power button, Reset button | Tempered Glass: Yes
Going back down to the fourth-best airflow PC case in our list, we have Cooler Master’s name coming up again. The Cooler Master Cosmos C700M is what you’d think gaming PC’s would look like in the ’90s. With a very “gamey” look about it, the Cosmos C700M makes its presence known with its flashy looks and different design.
The Cooler Master Cosmos C700M has a really great look with a handle like probes on the top and vertical RGB strips at the front and bottom. The side of the Cosmos C700M has a tempered glass that curves around and can be opened up easily. The glass is not screwed in and is held by hinges that open up, kind of like how a door would. On the front top are where the buttons and ports are which include, 4 USB ports, a USB 3.1 port, a headphone, and a microphone port along with the traditional reset and power buttons. The look, build, and the overall efficiency of the Cosmos C700M is really something to be applauded for.
Along with all of that, the Cosmos C700M has a lot of real estate in it to house even the widest of PC components. It can support motherboards of up to E-ATX form factor and still have enough room for more. Even though there is space inside, there are no mesh panels that can support efficient airflow. Despite having a very aesthetic look, some may end up finding that the Cosmos C700M does not really have good airflow design by the nature of how it is built. In addition to that, the price it boasts is quite high and may feel overkill for just a PC case.
The Cosmos C700M is a great PC case that comes with a price tag not affordable by all. It has great port and storage options along with plenty of space inside. While it boasts a very cool look, it may not be the ideal choice for most people as it not only more money, you need extra fans for efficient airflow as well.
- USB 3.1 port on the front
- 3 mesh panel sides
- High price tag
- Only one integrated cooler
- Selected use and target audience
Fan Mounts: 1(integrated) | Storage Options: 2 | I/O Ports: 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1, Audio I/O, Power button | Tempered Glass: Yes
NZXT may very well be one of the most iconic names in the PC case market. With a number of PC cases in collaboration with big names such as Ninja, they’ve made their name known by having the “baddest” PC cases in the market. The NZXT H1, which makes it into our list, comes in with a bit of a different take.
The NZXT H1 PC case is a small one, ideally for mini-ITX board sizes. Being NZXT, it does have a rather good looking but simple build. The front panel has a tempered glass that you can screw in place. And the other 3 sides all mesh panels which are really good for allowing maximum air to flow in through this case. It comes with a preinstalled PCIe riser card and prerouted cables for power, making for efficient cable management and easy installation. This case is available in both black and white colors.
On the top, there is a USB port, a USB 3.1 port, a headphone jack, and a power button. Being a small case, your options are rather limited as there isn’t a lot of space and real estate for you to work on. The mesh panels do a good job of keeping the temperatures at bay as more air is allowed to flow in from all sides. Despite not really offering a tonne of features, this NZXT case is priced quite high which will definitely make some people question whether getting this is a smart investment or not.
There aren’t a lot of small form-factor ITX builds out there, especially for gaming. However, NZXT does a good job of covering all grounds and provides the people with a mini-ITX form factor PC case- the NZXT H1. There isn’t a lot to go on with this case except its design. If you’re worried that your mini-ITX build is going to be pushing for more than it can handle, getting a case like this with all sides open for more airflow is a smart choice.
