Your home is an important place where you keep your possessions while you acquire more items. However, a PC case is more than just a container to keep all your computer components until you have enough cash to upgrade them. Because of the scarcity of graphics cards and their exorbitant prices, it is challenging even to upgrade your PC cases these days.
If you have built a computer system from scratch, you will understand how important choosing every item can be. At times, most of these components hardly fit inside. No matter what, you must match the motherboard’s size, make sure the chassis has ports on the front panel, and count the number of drive bays.
When building a PC, these little details make the difference; they can either improve or affect your overall build. The location of the power supply, how the cables are routed, and the position of the drive bays are also very important. While all these are important, the PC case also has its role.
Related: Best Custom PC Builder Websites
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 favorite picks when it comes to the best cheap PC cases in 2024!
What Is A PC Case?
You can see a PC case like an eggshell that holds the egg yolk. A PC case is the housing or component that holds every item in your PC. It lets you put all of the parts that make your PC work together in a sealed space that looks good and has the best cooling and airflow for the system to work at its best.
Can You Build With A Low-Cost PC Case?
Even though you may decide to invest more money in your case, if you’re trying to create a cheap computer, you might compromise system speed. Still, any cheap PC cases discussed here will give you a sturdy case while staying within your budget.
10 Best Cheap Pc Cases In 2024
Many PC cases are on the market, and the best ones can cost more than a good gaming CPU. However, a wide range of affordable PC cases meet your needs. These won’t make you break the bank, and they have pretty good specs for such a price. If you have a tight budget, here are the best cheap PC cases in 2024.
1. Corsair 4000D Airflow – Best Overall PC Case
Even though there are a lot of PC cases on the market with different features, the Corsair 4000D Airflow PC case is a good choice at a low price. It is spacious, making it easier to assemble all the PC components. Big holes on both sides of the ventilated front panel let air flow through the unit.
The case lid also has a magnetic dust filter and perforations. It includes two 120mm Corsair AirGuide fans. In addition, the case has adequate space to accommodate four additional 120mm fans. The 120 mm AirGuide fan with the Corsair 4000D can be seen when you take off the front panel.
With this, you have two 120 mm fans to provide adequate airflow within the unit. Since it has a spacious interior, you can place a 360-millimeter unit at the front, two water-cooling radiators, and a 280-millimeter unit on top.
Also, the dust filters on the front, bottom, and top of the Corsair Airflow 4000D are easy to take off. In addition, you don’t need any unique tool to remove the front panel if you want to access the inside to add more radiators and fans.
The case weighs 7.8 kilograms and has a height of 18.3 inches. The materials used to create this wonderful PC case include tempered glass, steel, and polycarbonate. It’s easy to work through the case once you remove the door.
When it comes to product quality, the Corsair 4000D is solid. It’s a budget-friendly case for anyone looking to build a PC or upgrade. The plastic and steel used to construct the case give it a sturdy appearance. The tempered glass on the left side helps improve the RGB lighting, giving your PC a stylish and sophisticated appearance.
You can show off your rig with the Corsair 4000D because it offers upright PCIe slots as well as screw mounting points for vertical GPU arrangement.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 453 x 230x 466 mm
- Materials: Steel, Tempered Glass
- Fans Included: 2
- Radiator Support: Up to 360mm
2. Antec NX Series NX800 – Best Valued PC Case
Antec is a brand name that gamers and PC builders rightly trust. Its best-selling products include PC cases and power supplies. Antec is a well-known brand that has been making excellent PC cases for a long time. With over 30 years in the industry, you can understand why we must include its product. Antec doesn’t just make products for gamers; they are also a good choice for PC geeks.
Antec has a large selection of PC cases that range from high-end to low-cost, fitting whatever budget you have when building a PC. The NX800 in Antec’s series is a great entry-level PC case, but it has fewer features than its more expensive counterparts. The Antec NX800 cases are available in pink, white, and black. Most female gamers prefer the pink color since it looks attractive with that feminine touch.
The Antec NX800 can handle E-ATX motherboards, which usually don’t fit in a mid-tower case. In addition, you can also use other form factors such as mini-ITX, Micro ATX, and ATX. The NX800 has 350 mm of space for a graphics card, which is enough for most GPUs. It also has three vertical expansion slots where GPUs can be put in. This means that the CPU and GPU are both compatible with the NX800.
The case also has a 1-inch space for the chassis on the side with zip ties to arrange the cable properly. With this, you can see everything well arranged, looking nice and clean without cluttering the unit. If you want a cheap PC case, you know it will leave out certain features to reduce costs.
One drawback with this case is the absence of a USB Type-C port; no one can understand why Antec left it out. Furthermore, the fans don’t have PWM control or dust filters at the front panel. Therefore, this can cause dust to build up over time. Aside from that, the Antec NX800 is a great-looking case made of strong materials that can withstand time.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 470 mm x 230 mm x 500 mm
- Fans: 2x 200 mm, 1x 140 mm
- Expansion Slots: 7
- PSU Support: up to 220 mm
- Ports: 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0
3. Lian Li LI PC-O11 Dynamic EVO – Best Customized PC Case
When looking for the best cheap PC cases in 2024, choosing the best one was difficult. Despite being the third, the Lian Li case can compete with premium cases on the market. The new O11 Dynamic EVO case takes its own place. Adding “EVO” to the name suggests that this is a customizable version of the case.
If you have previously used the old case, you notice that the new O11 Dynamic X11 casing is a carbon copy of the old one. Interestingly, you can use the PC case in reverse order, making it significantly superior. However, it contains everything in the previous cases with a little upgrade. That’s why we recommend it as the top PC case in 2024.
How does it feel to have a modular PC case? You can slide the tempered glass panel from left to right. Besides, it has the same feature that we know the Lian Li O11 Dynamic PC case has.
The O11 Dynamic is a dual-chamber mid-tower computer chassis. Both the back and the front case are manufactured with glass. The top is ventilated with an opening mesh panel. Inside, there is enough space for many case fans or a modified cooling loop.
The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO is a great PC case. Clearly, this might not be suitable for everybody, but it has everything you need in a PC case. It’s space to house everything, a cable management bar, a modular design, and compatibility for dual PSU installations.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 285mm x 459mm x 465mm
- Materials: Aluminium, Tempered Glass
- Fans Included: 2
- Motherboard Support: ATX
- Case Type: Mini-Tower
4. Fractal Design Meshify 2 – Best Spacious PC Case
The front of the Meshify 2 Compact is shaped like a fractal, with curves that make a rough but geometric surface. It looks like someone took a metal mesh sheet and beat it with a triangle-headed hammer. The case’s asymmetrical shape makes it look unique.
Fractal’s Meshify 2 has a well-thought-out, flexible design that makes it easy to use and gives you a very pleasant building experience. It gets a rare five-star rating because of this and because its thermal and acoustic performance is about what we’d expect from a mesh front.
Airflow won’t be a problem in this case because almost every side has vents and mesh inserts to filter the air and keep dust from building up on the inside. Of course, you can take out these mesh inserts and clean the case quickly.
There’s also a lot of space inside, so your parts and cables will stay open, thereby allowing air to flow properly. This also means there is a lot of room to organize your cables.
It becomes useful when you think about how many drive spaces there are in this case. A lot of drive space means a lot of cables, but that’s fine because there is already space to manage your cables.
Everything about this case shows how well-thought-out and carefully made it is. One of the main problems with this case is that the space for the radiators is sometimes too small for bigger ones. This means that even if your radiator is the right size, it is not guaranteed to fit the case properly.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 21.34 x 9.45 x 18.66 inches
- Material: Tempered Glass
- Case Type: Mid Tower
- Cooling Method: Air
- Fans Included: 3
5. MSI MPG GUNGNIR 110R – Best Budget PC Case
MSI is one of the biggest companies out there in terms of PC cases. It makes competitive-grade laptops, graphics processing units (GPUs), motherboards, PC cases, and many other high-quality accessories. MSI also produces different software that you can use to monitor and control how your hardware works.
MSI makes a wide range of high-quality PC cases at affordable prices. Each is different, with unique features and specifications to meet every demand. Even though some of MSI’s products have strange names, they know how to make the best budget PC case.
MSI has made a budget PC case with many features that cost just $100. The GUNGNIR 110R is a beautiful PC case with a side panel made of tempered glass that shows off the inside components.
The front panel is triangular, with half of the case made with tempered glass. The other half is made of solid material, making it easier to see the lights inside. Furthermore, the front panel has small holes at the top and bottom to let air in. However, the dust filter at the panel limits airflow inside the system.
This case is also appealing because it is easy to use. The top and front panels have magnetic filters that make them easy to clean, and the side panels are easy to get to.
Being an MSI product also means that this case works well with other MSI products. You can use this to keep all the aRGB features in one easy-to-use system and not have to work with numerous software products to control the lighting.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 430 x 215 x 450 mm
- Materials: Tempered Glass
- Case Type: Mid Tower
- Motherboard Compatibility: ATX
- Radiator Support: Up to 360mm
6. AeroCool Cylon RGB – Best Design PC Case
AeroCool’s case is stylish and affordable for anyone looking for a cheap PC case. One notable feature is the RGB front panel lights and matte finish. The acrylic side pane isn’t as good as other types of glass because it scratches and smudges more easily.
The way the cables are organized is great, and the cooling is good since the case has places for a 240mm cooling system radiator and several 120mm fans.
The LED and RGB front panel lights are a classy addition that you can easily adjust. The I/O panel is in a good spot, and the floor standoffs are sturdy and give enough room. The mid-tower shape of the case is a good balance between total volume and floor space, so it can hold a lot of components.
The diagonal RGB slash is its most striking design element. It features 13 lighting options, including seven solid colors and six RGB flow patterns.
Aerocool has a magnetic dust filter, a feature you don’t often see in cheap cases. However, because the fan mount faces the back of the case, it can only be used with an exhaust fan.
The Aerocool Cylon is an efficient and attractive case for a low-cost build. Even though you might not be able to upgrade parts in the future because of the limited ventilation, it’s one of the best cheap PC case alternatives if you want a stylish one with RGB lighting.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 413mm x 198mm x 459mm
- Motherboard Support: ATX
- Material: Alloy Steel, Acrylic
- Expansion Slots: Seven
7. Corsair 5000D Airflow Tempered Glass – Best Quality PC Case
If you are a hardcore gamer, you might have heard about Corsair. It’s a reputable brand in the gaming industry, manufacturing unique computer components. Its’ trademark is seen in its entire product, and the Corsair 5000D airflow PC case isn’t an exception. With its high-quality products, you can understand why many people prefer its products for building a new PC.
The simple structure of the case solves problems that every PC builder has to deal with elegantly. You can set up the airflow in the case in whatever way you want. You can mount a 360mm cooling system on the front and top or use the special motherboard tray to add a 360mm radiator.
Corsair has built-in channels to run your cables through, and tie them up with the included cable clips to keep the unit neat. Even behind the motherboard, there is adequate space for extra cables to hide behind the rear cover.
If you choose RGB fans, the PWM PCB also makes it easy to control. Corsair’s 5000D airflow provides simple, elegant solutions at a very reasonable price.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 20.47 x 9.65 x 20.47 inches
- Fans Included: 2 Included
- Motherboard Compatibility: ATX
- Cooling Method: Air
8. Be Quiet! Dark Base PRO 900 – Best Silent PC Case
At first, be quiet! was known for its quiet power supplies and fans. Since its first case came out in 2014, it has made a big splash in the market and done well in a short amount of time.
One of its latest cases, the Dark Base Pro 900, is still one of our favorite full towers because of how sleek it looks and how well it works for PC enthusiasts.
The Dark Base Pro 900 is big enough to hold the biggest motherboards and radiators up to 420mm. The case is also modular and can have an inverted motherboard layout. It also has fantastic features, such as wireless Qi charging and preinstalled LED lighting.
The Silent Base 802 case can hold up to an E-ATX motherboard and has a lot of space for high-performance parts. The case comes with three 140mm fans already installed. You have one fan at the back and two at the front.
There is more room on the front to add another 140mm fan, while you can add up to three 140mm fans at the top. Another addition is the radiators, which you can place on the back, top, or front case.
The Silent Base 802 case has enough room for graphics cards up to 432mm long and CPU coolers up to 185mm tall. Inside the case is more sound-absorbing material, with removable front and back dust filters.
Specifications
- Motherboard Support: ATX
- Dimensions: 22.7 x 9.6 x 23.1-inches
- Material: Tempered Glass
- Fan Count: 3
9. DeepCool CK560 WH – Best Cooling PC Case
Although DeepCool is not as well-known as MSI and Corsair, their cutting-edge, feature-rich products have proven to be on par. Deepcool is best known for its great CPU coolers, which come in three types: air, liquid, and laptop. DeepCool produces high-quality PC cases as well as coolers.
It manufactures several cases with unique features. DeepCool’s CK560 WH is one of those cases, with four powerful preinstalled fans.
Each of the three 120mm fans has ARGB lighting, which is easy to change with pre-programmed lighting effects or a 5V header for synchronization with the motherboard.
Even though it doesn’t have RGB lighting, the 140mm fan on the back helps to get the most airflow for cooler temperatures while making as little noise as possible.
Four drives may fit into the CK560, which provides a simple storage choice. Two 2.5-inch SSDs fit right onto the motherboard tray, and a tool-free tray lets you put in two 3.5-inch HDDs.
The front I/O panel also has a dedicated button for controlling RGB lighting, one USB 3.1 Type-C port, two USB 3.0 ports, a combined audio jack for mic and audio, and more.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 456 x 230 x 471 mm
- Motherboard Compatibility: Extended ATX
- Ports: 1x headphone, 1x mic, 2x USB 3.0, 1x Audio, 1x Type C
- Cooling Method: Water, Air
- Case Type: Mid Tower
- Material: Tempered Glass
- Color: White
10. Cooler Master HAF 500 High Airflow ATX – Best Heat Removal PC Case
Since Cooler Master is a household name among gamers who own PCs, you could anticipate that any case they make will excel at one task—heat removal.
The HAF 500 does not let you down and more than lives up to the company’s reputation for making some of the best PC cooling components available. Therefore, nobody can question why it is part of the top 10 best cheap PC cases in 2024.
If you want a case with built-in RGB and an RGB controller, the HAF 500 is undoubtedly a good choice. Particularly if you want an air-cooled system and don’t care about water cooling, the Cooler Master HAF 500 case is what you need.
Even though the HAF’s front fans don’t have the usual dust filters, we can look past that since they look great and are the case’s main design feature. Therefore, this case is undoubtedly a good choice if you are a tidy freak at home and worry little about dust.
The dedicated graphics card unit gives your system something constructive and valuable. It is not prevalent in the gaming PC case market. You have a slot to add another fan into the case if the need arises. With this additional fan, you may run the intake fans quietly and at a lower speed without sacrificing performance.
Specifications
- Brand: Cooler Master
- Dimensions: 23.43 x 12.2 x 22.95 inches
- Fans Included: 4
- Cooling Method: Air
- Case Type: Mid Tower
- Materials: Steel, Tempered Glass
How To Choose The Best Cheap PC Cases In 2024
This buyer’s guide will look at some of the most important things to consider when buying a good PC case, whether cheap or expensive.
Cable Arrangement
To save money, budget PC cases often use older internal layouts. Even though that’s usually not the case, you may discover that these older cases don’t have the cable management features we’re used to seeing on more expensive cases. In cheaper cases, you might not always find things like cutouts for the motherboard tray, a PSU shroud, and easy-to-use cable tie points.
Of course, none of this is terrible. Even if you still need all of these modern features, you can still have a clean-looking rig if you know how to organize the cables. It might take a little more work, but why not consider it a challenge?
Aesthetics and Design
When buying a PC case, looks are also very important. No one wants an ugly case because it keeps dust away and generates the best airflow. Since white cases have become more popular, most people now think they look nice, but it all depends on one’s preference.
We have simple and fancy cases on our list so that all kinds of people can find something they like. Gamers and PC fans like to show off their builds with a stylish case with RGB lighting and a tempered glass side panel.
Professionals, on the other hand, like simple designs that look elegant. How a case looks affects how well it handles cables, especially if it has tempered glass panels. A case with better and easier cable management looks neat and clean.
Airflow
While some affordable PC cases have mesh front panels to improve airflow, some manufacturers cut corners on fans to keep costs down. Without airflow, even the most airflow-friendly PC chassis will struggle.
So, when looking for an affordable gaming PC case, pay close attention to the preset fan setup. Try to find a place in your budget for at least one additional fan to aid in cooling if the case you’re interested in just has a single fan.
On the positive side, fans are simple to install, so there’s no harm in using the original arrangement first and then adding fans when your budget permits. In addition, if you require keeping the cost down, search for multi-fan sets you’re looking around for fans.
Liquid Cooling and Air Cooling
If you want liquid cooling for your processor or graphics, you should check the specs to see what size radiator (or radiators) you can install. Here, there are two factors: the radiator’s thickness and the total length, expressed in millimeters.
The fans, radiator, and other hardware are not expected to obstruct mainboard components because of the thickness specification. Most of the time, the length is a multiple of the size of the fans you usually install.
So, you’ll see mounting instructions for 120mm, 240mm, or 360mm in size for radiators. Compare what you intend to install with what the case can support.
Compatibility
Compatibility is the key feature to search for in the best low-cost PC case. It should work with most motherboards, have enough room for graphics cards, and fit a respectable-sized power supply.
The PC case should have enough room for all the other important parts, like fans, water pumps, air coolers, and radiators. It passes our first test if a case can accommodate all of these parts.
Conclusion
Finding the best PC case for your build is just as important as choosing the other components. While selecting a PC case is primarily a matter of taste, we’d like to remind you that it’s not just a matter of purchasing any case to house your PC components.
It determines several factors, such as how the final construction will look, what parts may be used, and how simple the assembly process will be. Naturally, you also want it to look attractive.
