Computer Cases (175 products)

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Computer Case Form-Factors

Mid-towers are by far the most popular form-factor of computer case, with both basic, no-frills and premium, high-end models readily available on out site at competitive prices. Full-towers are relatively niche in comparison, though their hulking size affords them plenty of room for 3.5" drive bays, perfect for those who're looking to stock up on as many terabytes' worth of hard drive storage as possible. There there's small form-factor Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX computer cases, which have grown in popularity in recent years for their space-saving footprint. That, and for many these cases' compact stature just looks neat compared to your average boxy chassis.

What To Look For When Buying a Computer Case

Compatibility

Of course, you shouldn't choose a computer case based solely off looks. A computer case should, first and foremost, be compatible with all your hardware. As covered over on our Intel and AMD motherboard pages, not every computer case is designed to fit every kind of motherboard. Both motherboards and computer cases are available in (from smallest to largest) Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, and Extended-ATX form-factors. And if you're going the water-cooling route, you'll want to opt for a computer case that's on the larger side to accommodate reservoirs, pumps, and extra-long radiators. The same thought applies to those who're looking to fit an ultra-high-end graphics card in their rig, as these are generally armed with hefty triple-slot, triple-fan coolers which may not squeeze into mid-tower computer cases that're smaller in overall size. You even have to take into account the width of a computer case as massive air coolers can brush right up against a computer case's side panel. Fortunately, most computer cases list their maximum supported dimensions for coolers and graphics cards somewhere in their spec-sheet.

Case Fans

Most computer cases, even the cheapest models, come with at least one case fan. Usually, it's positioned toward the rear of the computer case to exhaust hot air that's kicked off the processor. If the only heat-generating component in your computer case is low-end, power-sipping processor, then this single case fan might be all that's needed to keep everything cool. Your run-of-the-mill office PC, for example, doesn't produce much performance or heat. On the other hand, a gaming PC with a high-end processor and dedicated graphics card generates hundreds of watts' worth of power and, in turn, heat while under load. Fail to exhaust this hot, stale air out of a computer case and its internal hardware will thermal throttle, resulting in worse performance.

Airflow

So, it's important your computer case has enough cooling capacity to keep your hardware's temperatures in check. Ideally, you want what's known as a 'push-pull' configuration, where front-mounted fans 'pull' air in and rear-mounted fans 'push' air out. This ensures there's a steady stream of fresh air passing through the computer case, with hot air being carried away with it. To this end, it's not just about the number of case fans a computer case has, but rather how they're positioned for optimal airflow. A small handful of smartly placed case fans can in some instances perform just as well as tonnes of haphazardly placed case fans. For a decent starting point, we'd recommend two case fans at the front of the computer case (one hitting the CPU, one hitting the GPU) and one case fan at the rear acting as an exhaust.

Dust Filters

Airflow's great, but by increasing it you inadvertently end up attracting more dust toward your computer case. And, given enough time, a build-up of dust can act as an insulator and restrict the amount of fresh, cool air that's brought into the computer case, increasing temperatures and thereby the potential for thermal throttling. You want to minimise dust as best you can in your computer case, and a dust filter can help massively with that. Placed in front of a computer case's fans, a dust filter catches dust before it has the chance to enter your case. Many computer cases on the market come with a front-mounted dust filter as it's where dust typically accumulates most, but some cases also feature top and bottom-mounted dust filters. The latter of which is important if you intend to place your computer case on carpeted flooring, it's like a magnet for dust. Dust filters are often affixed magnetically to a computer case, making them easy to remove and clean on a regular basis.

Cable Management

What really makes a computer case stand out from the rest is how it handles cable management. Keep an eye out for computer cases with plenty of cable cut-outs and zip tie-down points. These will help you route your cables in a more organised manner, though a power supply shroud is also a must-have for stuffing unused cables into. Cable management isn't purely for looks, either. When it comes time to upgrade your computer, having neat and tidy cables will make it easier to uninstall old components and install new ones, and loose, dangling cables can impede airflow a little bit.

Front I/O Panel

Lastly, while your motherboard's rear I/O panel will have a decent selection of ports for hooking up peripherals like keyboards, mice, Bluetooth adapters, and Wi-Fi dongles, they're not exactly easy to reach in a pinch. So, your computer case should also have a handful of USBs for quickly plugging in-and-out external solid-state drives, USB flash drives, and so on, as well as headphone/microphone jacks. A budget computer case may only have older, slower USB 2.0 ports, whereas a high-end model may feature multiple USB Type-C ports for the fastest transfers.

Computer Cases at Ebuyer

Here at Ebuyer, we stock a wide range of computer cases from the industry's best brands, including Fractal Design, Cooler Master, Corsair, and more. Spead the cost of your purchase with our flexible finance offers. And if you want your new computer case by tomorrow, next-day delivery is also available.