Full-tower PC cases are generally larger, heavier, and requiremore desk spacethan ITX,M-ATX, or ATX (mid-tower) PC cases, but they offer far better upgradeability and an expansive list of component support. This is especially relevant when working with some of the latest and greatest graphics cards, such as the RTX 4090 or RTX 4080. Although the best mid-tower cases have significantly improved in the last few years and are more popular than any other form factor, they often come with a few disadvantages that may be deal-breakers for some PC enthusiasts.
Thermaltake CTE T500 Air
ASUS ROG Hyperion GR701
Getting the right functionality, versatility, good airflow,support for modern hardware, and aesthetics all need to be taken care of individually when choosing a full tower PC case. With plenty of unique designs on the market, users often get confused between full towers in the same price range, which may have some subtle differences but can cause trouble in some specific cases. After analyzing more than a few dozen full-tower cases, Game Rant’s team has compiled a list of the best ones for every price tag.
Updated on June 9th, 2024, by Alyssa Shearrow:Naturally, when presenting the best possible choices to add to your latest PC build, it is necessary to provide options that we are completely confident in to ensure you see the best products available. That is why the choice for the best mid-range category has been updated to reflect that confidence with an innovative case that Game Rant has had hands-on experience with.
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Full-Tower PC Cases
Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL
Lian Li 011 Dynamic EVO XL provides two different modes for different orientations. Its excellent compatibility with AIO coolers, custom cooling loops, and large-sized components make it a top-notch choice for high-end gaming systems. Its side and front tempered glass panels provide a seamless view of the interior.
Lian Li is known for its premium case construction and out-of-the-box designs that provide functionality that no other case manufacturer can. Its O11 cases are highly popular for the same reason and the Dynamic EVO XL takes that to the next level through the incorporation of outstanding component support.
This full tower case comes with two different modes to choose from that let users build a system for both left and right-side positions on the desk. Its front and side tempered glass panels seamlessly blend together to provide an immersive view of the interior. The case is quite large and, despite having only tempered glass side and front panels, doesn’t lack ventilation.
Users can find a fully ventilated back panel, rear, and top made up of high-quality material. Users can install three 420mm radiators in three different locations, which makes this case ready for custom liquid cooling. However, users who are usingsingle or dual AIO coolerscan fill up the leftover slots with 120mm or 140mm chassis fans for a balanced airflow.
The case has sufficient support for multiple hard drives and SSDs and can accommodate GPUs measuring up to 460mm long. Cable management is also impressive with multiple routing holes accompanied by rubber grommets and there are three cable holders at the back to keep all the cables together in one place.
VETROO AL800 Full Tower
VETROO AL800 full tower is a compact case that comes with decent compatibility with large components and has a big transparent door that is easy to open. The case provides a full-length PSU shroud to cover the mess, has multiple routing holes and comes with support for up to 360mm AIOs.
The Vetroo AL800 is between a standard mid-tower and full-tower case with excellent support for big PC parts such as clearance of up to 425mm for the GPUs andE-ATX form factor motherboards. The max cooler height it can support is 170mm, which allows using beefier cooling solutions. However, those who are enthusiastic about AIO cooling can install up to a 360mm radiator at the front or top.
By default, the case has support for up to 10x 120mm fans, including the rear, top, front, and on top of the PSU shroud, which will do an excellent job of cooling the GPU. The PSU shroud is pretty large and can cover up all the cable clutter plus storage drives. There are two drive bays inside it and three additional SSD slots on top of the motherboard tray.
The case is fully ventilated from the front and top and has a magnetic dust filter to keep the dust at bay. It has a hinged side panel with tempered glass that is easy to open and is less worrying as users don’t need to keep it safely anywhere.
Fractal Design North XL
The North XL by Fractal Design stands as one of the best-looking full-tower PC cases on the market, befitting of a art exhibit. It presents a unique and natural twist to the modern PC case with a wooden front panel made of oak or walnut. Although the style invokes a sense of luxury, the price begs to differ as the North XL is reasonably priced, available for around $200, making it a not-so-expensive option for most PC builds.
Although the North has been a long-standing classic on the lineup of cases by Fractal Design, the North XL takes this elegant and well-loved case and sizes it up a notch. The North XL is a full-sized tower, befitting grand components, and especially large coolers. Although the max GPU length is not nearly as long as some other options on this list, the North XL still provides up to 413 mm of space. This means that the North XL is capable of comfortably fitting even the Zotac RTX 4090, a card that measures around 356 mm in length.
Aside from the real wood and brass accents contributing to its signature appearance, the North XL also boasts a handful of convenient features that set this case apart from others on this list. Those interested in the mesh version of the North XL will get to enjoy an additional mounting tray for case fans or radiators up to 280 mm. Convenient dust trays and easy-to-remove panels also help to make maintenance and care of your PC effortless.
For a more in-depth look at this PC chassis, check out Game Rant’s review!
Lian Li V3000 PLUS
The Lian Li V3000 Plus comes as a giant full-tower with a dedicated section for the PSU and the cables at the bottom. The case is perfect for users looking to install several storage drives, fans and AIO coolers for optimal PC performance. It’s available in White and Black colors.
The Lian Li V3000 Plus is a highly versatile full-tower with three different configurations to choose from. Choose between the standard, rotated, or dual system design to install fans and radiators in a way that meets the needs. Lian Li doesn’t need any introduction in the field of PC cases and even though the V3000 Plus is an expensive chassis, it doesn’t disappoint in any area and provides much more than what traditional full-towers can.
It can accommodate up to three 480mm radiators plus a360mm radiatorat the same time, which is insanely impressive. If users want to switch to fans instead, there are a total of 16 fan slots, including the top, bottom, rear, front, and PSU shroud. Each of these sections is fully ventilated and still gives enough clearance for the motherboard and GPUs.
One notable feature is its dedicated space for a reservoir for custom loops. Users can leave the HDD cage while having 275mm of clearance for the reservoir, or they can make extra clearance by using the PSU shroud to get a maximum height of up to 345mm. Furthermore, the cable management and storage drive support are unparalleled. At the back, there are several slots for SSDs and multiple velcro straps for channeling the cables according to the needs.
he Thermaltake CTE T500 Air provides an oustanding push-pull configuration for a cooler operation. The rear panel can accommodate as many fans as the front panels making a high and balanced airflow that helps in dissipating heat faster from the 90 degree rotated motherboard and GPU.
The Thermaltake CTE T500 Air provides an outstanding push-pull configuration for a cooler operation. The rear panel can accommodate as many fans as the front panels, making a high and balanced airflow that helps in dissipating heat faster from the 90-degree rotated motherboard and GPU.
Thermaltake has all kinds of cases for every budget and the CTE T500 is another great and affordable option that brings the E-ATX form factor with exceptional support for the components. Not only can users have large components installed in it, but the orientation is also different from the standard cases. It has a 90-degree rotated orientation for the motherboard that completely changes the look of the interior.
This is done for ahigh airflow purposethat makes it easier to dissipate heat from the whole system through a push-pull configuration. The case can accommodate several fans on all sides and users can install three fans both at the front and the rear to make a balanced airflow that takes away the heat pretty effectively from the GPU. This is as far as the fan support goes, but users can also install multiple radiators in multiple places.
The Hyperion GR701 is an overkill full-tower with incredible features that are rare to find, but super handy. The case has tool-free access to the interior and supports large-sized GPUs and AIO coolers. Its built-in fan hub, RGB controller, and multiple I/O ports on the front make it stand out.
The Asus ROG Strix series is typically overkill and monstrous in every product department. From premium quality construction to aesthetics, everything is top-notch. The Hyperion GR701 is an example of the same and is ridiculously good compared to other full towers. The case is highly sturdy and utilizes high-quality material to support up to 80kg of weight through the provided handles on the top. These handles ease portability and add to the looks as well.
The case comes with a dedicated fan hub where users can connect up to six RGB fans to control the speed andRGB lighting at the same time. Moreover, the front panel I/O hub is filled with several USB ports, including Type A and Type C ports that offer 60-watt charging. The interior is highly spacious and can accommodate anyhigh-end graphics card like the RTX 4090 FEwhich measures over 300mm.
There are multiple slots for fans, and it can let users install two 420mm radiators at the same time. While it is technically not feasible to think about a setup that has two 420mm rads, it gives the possibility to choose the selection. The ROG Hyperion GR701 can be really difficult on the wallet but the functionality and aesthetics are something that one can brag about.
Things to Consider When Buying a Full-Tower PC Case
Although the vast number of options for fantastic, innovative, and striking PC cases may be overwhelming at first glance, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best possible full-tower PC case that will make it an easy and effortless decision:
Size:Most full-tower cases are enormous, but some are smaller than others and vice versa. Depending onthe desk space available, users should consider the dimensions of the PC cases before choosing one. Generally, bigger cases come with better component compatibility, but this isn’t true every time.
Cooling and Ventilation:Manufacturers try to create a balance between aesthetics and cooling capabilities, but the latter is more beneficial for eliminating thermal throttle and helps in overclocking stuff. Multiple vents on different sides of the full-tower case and support for several fans and AIO cooling solutions are a must.
Aesthetics:Modern PC cases come with tempered glass panels to provide a transparent and clear view of the interior. Some cases also come with pre-installed RGB strips and fans to improve the looks. Each full tower case is unique in appearance, and it’s possible that one case lacks better looks but is more functional than the one that looks better overall. It’s important to analyze every aspect before finalizing the decision.
Cable Management:A big part of building a PC is cable management. Managing and keeping multiple cables together while making sure they reach their destination without being visible is an essential part of PC building. Users must check for the routing holes, cable velcro straps, or dedicated channels to ensure that the final result is neat and tidy.
FAQ
Q: What is the best full-tower PC case for airflow?
There are a couple of great airflow PC cases from different vendors, but Thermaltake’s CTE T500 Air is the best one.
Q: Are full tower cases worth it?
Full tower cases are bigger than most form factor cases as they usually come with better component support. This may or may not be ideal for everyone and depends on the individual’s needs, budget, and desk space. Typically, mid-towers are sufficient for most users but full-tower cases provide uncompromised compatibility and functionality.
Q: Is a full-tower case better for airflow?
Airflow depends on the ventilation and the support for chassis fans. A full tower that is highly ventilated and can support multiple fans on different panels will be excellent in airflow.
