A PC case (also known as a tower) is a computer’s chassis that holds most of the system’s hardware, including the motherboard and hard drives. It’s also the clearest representation of a build’s aesthetic, so it needs to be pleasing on the eye. A well-chosen case should offer important functionality, too. It should allow for proper airflow, keep the components cool and protect them from dust and harm from kids and pets. It should also save time and hassle by providing features that make building a PC easier, like cable management cutouts and tool-less design.
The most important thing to know about PC cases is that there are a lot of different kinds. There are budget cases with giant holes punched in the motherboard tray, mid-range options that offer rubber grommets to tidy things up, and pricier options that include large swatches of interior space for custom liquid-cooling loops. Some feature tempered glass side panels, which is a great way to show off your build and offers the benefit of increased airflow.
In the $150-to-$200 range, you’ll find plenty of cases that offer a nice balance of performance and value. You’ll find water-cooling compatibility built into most of them, and some will include features that make assembling your PC more enjoyable, like RGB lighting or vertical GPU mounts (though you’ll need to add a separate high-quality PCIe riser cable). You’ll also want to consider the storage space you need; if you don’t plan to install an SSD, for example, a mini-ITX case isn’t going to be the right fit.