Data and measurements from our catalog, checked against each manufacturer's spec sheet.
- A mesh front lets in much more fresh air than a closed glass one.
- Positive pressure (pulling in a bit more air than you push out) keeps less dust inside the case.
- A good air cooler is more reliable in the long run than a cheap liquid cooler.
- Choose the cooler by its wattage capacity: it has to exceed the CPU's TDP.
1Mesh or glass front: airflow
Cases with a mesh front let in much more fresh air. Closed glass fronts look great, but if they don't have generous intakes on the sides or bottom, the graphics card and CPU run hotter and the fans spin faster (and louder).
Fishbowl cases, with glass on the front and side, work well because they pull air in from the bottom and the other side, usually with reverse fans that show their good side through the glass.
2Positive pressure: how many fans and which way
The classic rule: air comes in at the front (or the bottom and side, in a fishbowl case) and goes out the back and top, because hot air rises. If you pull in a little more air than you push out (positive pressure), the extra air escapes through the gaps and less dust gets in, especially if the intakes have filters.
With three intake fans and one or two exhaust fans, most gaming PCs do fine. Before screwing them in, check the arrow on the frame: it shows which way each fan blows.
3Air cooler or AIO liquid cooler
A tower air cooler is cheap, quiet and has almost nothing to wear out except the fan. An AIO (closed-loop) liquid cooler looks cleaner, frees up the space around the RAM and handles high-power CPUs better, but it costs more and its pump has a limited lifespan.
Choose by capacity: the cooler has to handle the CPU's TDP (in our catalog, air coolers are rated from 129 to 270 W). For liquid coolers, radiator size matters most: 240 mm for mid-range CPUs and 360 mm for the most power-hungry ones, which is the size we use most in our builds.
If you're interested in a custom loop in a fishbowl case, see the fishbowl coolant guide.
4Case form factor and the measurements to check
The ATX mid tower is the most common form factor and takes ATX and Micro-ATX boards; Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX cases are more compact, but fit fewer fans and shorter parts. Before you buy, check four measurements: the maximum graphics card length, the maximum cooler height, the radiator size each position supports and the power supply length.
They're explained in the compatibility guide, and the configurator checks them for you.