There’s been a weird trend among PC cases lately, where they’re essentially giant blocks of metal and glass that don’t allow for a lot of airflow. That kind of case is fine if you are using all-in-one water coolers and aren’t pushing your PC super hard, but if you need cooling, you need a great PC case for airflow. Because for the most part, PC components are cooled by channeling air through your case and over heatsinks that dissipate heat, which is carried out of the PC via an exhaust fan, typically at the rear of the PC case.
TL;DR – These are the Best PC Cases for Airflow:
Corsair 5000D Airflow – The best PC case for AirflowFractal Design Torrent – Best lookingThermaltake Core P8 – Best for hybrid coolingPhanteks Eclipse G360A – Best white colorwayCooler Master HAF 700 EVO – Best E-ATX
In order for a case to be good for airflow, it needs to have clear areas that don’t block airflow. For instance, cases like the Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO have a mesh front that protects the fans, while also letting in plenty of air, letting your CPU and graphics card cool down. There are PC cases with glass front panels that do allow for a lot of airflow, too, typically by having channels between the glass and the front of the case that allow the fans to draw air in – not ideal, but it gets the job done.
These PC cases aren’t going to be the prettiest, and may not have the most RGB lighting, but if you care primarily about keeping your gaming PC running cool and fast, this is the type of PC case you should be looking at. Having a gorgeous PC is nice for showing off, but having a cool PC means you have less risk of your components getting overheated and damaged.
Contributions by Kegan Mooney and Danielle Abraham
1. Corsair 5000D Airflow
Best PC Case for Airflow
When you’re building a PC, particularly if you’re going for an efficient, high-airflow system, you need a lot of space for your components to breath, and clear channels for the air to move. The Corsair 5000D Airflow is simply the best PC case for that, hell, ‘airflow’ is literally in the name.
The mesh front is perfect for allowing up to three front-mounted 120mm PC fans to channel a ton of air through the system. That’s enough for most systems, but there’s also a mesh side panel on the non-window side of the case that allows for three more 120mm fans, bringing in even more air. In all, the Corsair 5000D Airflow can fit up to 10 120mm fans or four 140mm fans. That’s a lot of air coming into your system.
The case is also just extremely easy to build in. On the back of the case is a swing-away door, that reveals space for cable management or extra 2.5-inch drives, along with rubber grommets that allow you to channel the cables to exactly where you need to plug them into the motherboard. This is also how you access your 3.5-inch drives and your power supply, keeping all of that ugliness out of sight. That means looking through the tinted glass side panel shows off your build without revealing any kind of cable clutter – no matter how much of a mess it is behind the motherboard.
2. Fractal Design Torrent
Best Looking PC Case for Airflow
If you’re looking for the best possible airflow, it doesn’t get much better than the Fractal Design Torrent, and with its uniquely striking design, this case is cool in more ways than one.
The Fractal Design Torrent comes pre-fitted with 2 180mm fans on the front and 3 140mm fans on the bottom and offers plenty of room to add more.
The thermal performance is so good, that had it not been for the clumsy cable management, which lets it down, the Fractal Design Torrent would have been at the top of the best PC cases for airflow list.
3. Thermaltake Core P8
Best PC Case for Hybrid Cooling
Some PC cases are like Doctor Who’s Tardis: They look small on the outside, but inside they can hold some serious hardware. And then there’s the Thermaltake Core P8, a giant among cases that weighs a back-breaking 49.8 pounds.
Fitting up to a whopping 18 120mm fans, and a modular design that lets you remove parts of the chassis and redesign the case to your liking, the Thermaltake Core P8 is one of the most heavily customizable E-ATX cases on the market today.
The Thermaltake Core P8 can be used as an open or closed design and is even wall mountable. Although considering its size and weight before you’ve even put parts in, let alone liquid cooling, you might want to make sure you’re wall is structurally sound enough to withstand this monstrosity.
4. Phanteks Eclipse G360A
Best White PC Case for Airflow
If you’re looking to create an all-white build, the Phanteks Eclipse G360A is right up your alley. While most white components cost extra, the Phanteks Eclipse G360A offers style and performance at a very competitive price.
The Phanteks Eclipse G360A has incredible airflow considering its low price, but sadly it’s held back by a few flaws. It doesn’t feature the best cable routing, lacks a proper front air intake filter, and can be a pain to fit even a standard PSU in.
If you’re willing to look past a few flaws and spend a little extra time working on cable management, the Phanteks Eclipse G360A is one of the best white PC cases for airflow out there, and it comes at a reasonable price too.
5. Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO
Best E-ATX PC Case for Airflow
Reinforce your desk, and brace yourself to lift the Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO, because this bad boy is big, and it’s heavy. It stands at an impressive 64.9 pounds, and that’s before you’ve even started to build in it.
Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO’s slogan is Air to the Throne, and they’re not kidding, with multiple radiator support up to 480mm, impeccable cable routing, and rotatable radiator brackets, this high-airflow case gets style and functionality right in every way.
The Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO also comes with a built-in LCD assistant that looks cool and gives you real-time updates on component temps.
Upcoming High Airflow PC Cases
Although there are no notable upcoming high airflow PC cases, we may see new releases when the latest round of graphics cards hits the shelves throughout the year. With many new GPUs now exceeding over 270mm in length (some even more than 300mm like the Nvidia RTX 4090), there’s a need for new cases that can handle the size.
How To Choose the Best PC Cases for Airflow
When choosing a new PC case for airflow, there are a few things to bear in mind. Firstly, make sure that the case has great cable routing. Poor cable management can block airflow and any restriction to the case’s airflow is going to have an impact on the temperatures, as well as possibly impacting overall performance.
The number and position of the best PC fans are an important part of a case too. When building a PC it’s important to maintain the correct balance between positive and negative pressure, to do this it’s important to ensure that the case supports well-positioned fans that allow for a near-equal number of intakes and exhausts.
You can’t forget the size of your case either. Having something a bit roomier and modular gives your PC’s hot running components, like the power supply, graphics card, and CPU, some room to breath. However, even some of the best mini-ITX cases will work if you’ve got great ventilation and cooling opportunities. Still, going for the best full-tower and mid-tower cases tend to keep things frostier.
Many gamers tend to pick their PC cases based on aesthetics, choosing a PC case based on the design and often its RGB lighting. While it’s important to love how your custom PC build looks, ensuring the best possible thermal performance should always be the top priority.
PC Cases for Airflow FAQ
How should your fans be installed in a PC case?
For proper ventilation and airflow, having your fans installed correctly is essential. Intake fans will bring in fresh air from outside the case, while exhaust fans work to push the hot air out. When there isn’t proper placement, these fans can be counteractive. So, it’s usually best for intake fans to be installed at the front and/or bottom of the case. Exhaust fans should be at the back or top of the case.
Does your PC case matter for airflow?
Yes, there are many aspects of a case that impact airflow, such as cable routing, and the number and positioning of fans. Some designs feature an air-filtering mesh, while others will have a tighter build, and some might even have a more open-case design, each one having its own impact on the airflow.
Does a bigger case have better airflow?
Most of the time, a bigger case will offer better airflow. This is due to them having more room to work with, making it easier to do better cable management, as well as being able to house more fans, and in many cases, giving ample room for liquid cooling. However, there are some smaller cases that are exceptionally well-built that break this rule.
Do open PC cases cool better?
Closed is generally better, as not only will this help reduce dust build-up as well as offer protection for your expensive components, but it will also help maintain the balance between positive and negative pressure.
Ural Garrett is an Inglewood-based writer, contributing to IGN Tech buying guides.
IGN’s tech freelancer Danielle Abraham contributed to this buying guide.
