Best Gaming Cases 2014 PC Desktop Tower Review

While it may not add a lot to the overall performance of your gaming rig a case adds a lot of personality and can make the installation and replacement of components much easier. Over the last decade I've had the chance to put together quite a few rigs and have gotten to see which PC cases give you the best overall bang for your buck. Below I'll review and list a few of my favorites cases for the money.

FAQ

What Case Material is the Best?

Steel, aluminum, and ABS plastic are probably the most common materials used in manufacturer cases. While some believe that aluminum keeps your case cooler this is certainly not the case. One advantage that aluminum has is that it's considerably lighter than Steel. This is a welcome benefit if you drag your case with you to LAN parties and events. On the other hand, steel cases are, in general, less expensive and tends to be more durable than aluminum.

What Motherboard Will Fit in my Case?

While compatibility is typically listed in a case's technical details here's a few general rules you can follow for compatibility.There are three main sizes of motherboards including mini ITX, Micro ATX, and Standard ATX. There are four main case types including Mini, micro, Mid-sized towers, and full towers. The ATX or Advanced Technology eXtended standard was created by Intel to bring uniformity to computer parts. Mini ITX motherboards, 6.7 x 6.7 inches, are generally used just with mini or micro cases. Mini Cases usually fit only Mini ITX motherboards. These are ideal for a home theater or office PC. Micro ATX motherboards, 11.2 x 8.2 inches, are compatible with Micro, mid, and full-sized towers and Standard ATX motherboards, 12 x 9.6 inches, will fit in both mid and full-sized cases.

Other Useful Information:

Cases vary on the amount of fans and type of cooling that they are compatible with. While one case may seem cheaper, you should always check to see how many fans, and what type, come standard with the case. In addition some cases come with built in water cooling compatibility.

Does Your Solid State Drive, Power Supply, and Graphics Card Fit into the Case?

If you plan on purchasing a solid state drive, then check your manufacturer's details to see if the case naturally supports it or whether you'll need a kit.

Your cases Power supply is either top or bottom mounted. Either will work but I typically prefer a bottom mounter PSU that allows that heavy component to stay near the bottom and stay cooler. Any ATX power supply will fit into any ATX case.

Most modern mid to full-sized gaming cases can fit just about any GPU but it's always a good idea to check your cases dimensions to see if it lines up.

Cooler Master HAF 912

The Cooler Master HAF series is sturdy, looks great, is packed full of features, is reasonably priced, and makes installation a breeze. If you want to mod your case it's also super easy to do. This case is compatible with both micro and standard ATX motherboards and with dimensions of 19.50" x 9.10" x 18.90" has plenty of room for any GPU you throw at it.

Technical details include; 4 External 5.25" Drive Bays, 6 Internal 3.5" Drive Bays, 2 Internal 2.5" Drive Bays, 8 Expansion Slots (7+1), front ports include; 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Audio, and 1 x Speakers. 1 x 120 mm front fan, and a 1200 RPM, 17 dBA

1 x 120 mm rear fan, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA is included. You can also add an additional fan on the top (2 x 120 or 200mm) and side (120/140 mm fan) of the case.