THE BEST ATX MID-TOWER PC CASES

Best High-End ATX Mid-Tower Case

Some users prefer to build itty bitty small form factor PCs with mini-ITX cases and others like to load up multiple graphics cards in large full towers. But the most commonly used case that’s versatile enough for most situations is the ATX mid-tower (also known as a mid-ATX to some) case.

There are several really good reasons to go with a mid-tower. First, they support regular, full (not extended!) ATX motherboards. This is the biggest class of desktop motherboard, which means you're also likely to find a board that fits your budget and need pretty easily. Another reason to go with a mid-tower is ease of installation. Micro-ATX and mini-ITX cases are often much tighter and can offer less flexibility in a build. That's not what you want if this is your first rodeo. Finally, ATX full-tower cases can get quite large, and take up a lot of real estate. In comparison, you can easily fit a mid-tower under a desk. Mid towers are also lighter and require less effort to move.

Mid-tower ATX cases are great because they generally keep things simple, and offer the baseline when it comes to form. While you may find some compromises in the area of cooling capabilities, the right mid-towers can offer just as much as you’d expect from a high end full-tower case. We tested out the all sorts of cases to find the best ATX mid-tower for PC gaming. Here’s what made the cut.

1 - Corsair Crystal Series 570X

When it comes to building a PC, most users aren’t looking to break the bank on components like a PC case. But one thing we’ve learned over many years of building PCs is that you cannot let yourself get too distracted by overbudgeting on just your graphics card or CPU.

Spending a bit more on a nice PC case, in most cases the most visible aspect of your build, can go a very long way. Some people don’t realize this but a good case can make a world of a difference in cooling and therefore gaming performance. And when it comes to high-end mid-towers, Corsair’s new Crystal Series 570X is our new champion.

If there’s been one easily identifiable trend to enter the PC hardware space recently alongside RGB goodness, it’s the tempered glass panel. Initially introduced with In Win’s sleek 901 brushed aluminum cases, tempered glass side panels have quickly become a hit among PC case manufacturers.

While it isn’t the first case we’ve seen fully clad in tempered glass panels, Corsair’s 570X is the first that’s readily available and actually affordable for most builders. It offers not one but four tempered glass panels which easily display the beauty of your build from all angles. Combined with the included RGB fans and lighting, the 570X turns even the most mediocre builds into beautiful masterpieces.

As great as tempered glass looks, there’s one major drawback that most of these cases face, and that’s heat retention. Unlike steel and other plastic hybrid panels, glass is a much better insulator which means the inside of your tempered glass case keeps in a lot more heat than usual. But the 570X, despite its four tempered glass panels, remains miraculously cool.

Corsair’s smart design on the front panel allows a direct path of cool air from the three included RGB intake fans to the hottest components in the PC. We were pleasantly surprised to find virtually no difference in component temperatures from the 570X and some of the other high-end mid towers we’ve tested.

Another thing that sets the 570X apart from its competition is its ample cooling capabilities. One of the biggest complaints we have with other tempered glass mid towers is the lack of dual radiator support. Only a handful of cases with tempered glass panels will support both a radiator in the front and top. Corsair’s 570X offers more than enough space for a custom cooling loop for those big-budget systems.

The case is also exceptionally easy to build in. With tool-free installations, dust filters and more than enough cable routing channels and velcro straps, even a first-time builder could create and maintain a clean system with this case. When it comes to mid-tower cases, the Corsair 570X is definitely top-tier, and you won't be disappointed with the build should you choose to make the investment.

2 - NZXT S340

With some cases, you can either love it or hate it. We feel that the NZXT S340 is one of those cases. While some may not like its minimalistic looks, many think its great. A quick glance at the S340's Amazon reviews page says the case is well regarded by customers. Regardless of how you feel about the S340's appearance, the fact remains that the Phantom is a well laid-out case that can be had for under $70.

The NZXT S340 offers a lot for a mid-tower that's pretty well priced. It has enough room for all components, including space for 2 full size hard drives and two SSDs, and even gives you room for water cooling (up to a 240mm radiator) if you want it. Cable management is good thanks to ample room behind the NZXT vertical strut, and anyone with some zip ties and half a brain about them could easily wrangle their power cables. That said, we'd recommend going with a modular PSU to save on the mess. (Seriously, if you aren't building with a fully- or semi-modular PSU, you're just making life harder for yourself.)

We've built several PCs using the S340 and love it. The clean look goes well on any desk and doesn't obnoxiously stand out like many so-called "gaming cases." The plastic feels like quality high-gloss stuff, not the kind of bullshit you'd find on a no-name brand case.

And there's more on the looks front: This case comes in pure white, black with red trim, black with blue trim, all black, and a Razer edition.

Since the case doesn't cost an arm and a leg and looks pretty damn good to boot, we recommend it for most beginners as well as advanced builders who want the capability to build anything from an entry level desktop to a powerful beast. Best of all, it'll look great on your desk after you're done.

3 - Corsair Carbide 100R

There seems to be a huge gulf between ultra-cheap cases and cases that cost closer to $100. With the Corsair Carbide 100R, however, compromises are minimized as much as possible, while still delivering a decent layout.

The Carbide 100R is about as basic as it gets, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Despite it's basic-tier features, the case eschews a front mesh or grille in favor a a flat panel, and pulling in air though side vents.

When we crack open the case, we find that the layout is standard as hell. But once you look closely, you see that some features were well thought out. Instead of having a tower-like fixed hard drive cage, Corsair opted for a short cage that only holds four drives. That allows more air from intake fans to get to your GPU and motherboard unimpeded by a steel cage, and isn't something that should be overlooked.

There really isn't much more to the case, to include grommets for the cable management holes. You can see right through to the back of this case, so you'll have to spend some time if you want to keep the interior looking clean. The beveled-out side panel on the "backside" will help with that, and keep frustration to a minimum when you try to close the case.

At the end of the day, this is a solid, basic case you can find for about $50. If you want more from a case, you're generally going to be spending at least 50 percent more. But if you're building a budget system where every dollar counts, this case will server as a worthy scaffold for your system.

Source: Pc Gamer

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