How to build a sexy new desktop rig without blowing your budget on a case.
There are some truly amazing-looking PC cases out there for those looking to build their ultimate dream rig. There's also a healthy market of sub-$100 options that still look awesome and have all the features the keen PC builder would want.
In other words, you don't have to break the bank to get a good case. Here are the best PC cases that cost less than $100.
Fractal Design Define S
Fractal Design is a brand of cases that are regarded as some of the best options for not only accessibility but also cooling and overall performance. The Define S is the company's more affordable option, but don't let that fool you into believing they've cut corners. It's a worthy addition to the highly-rated Define series of chassis.
The Define S provides an excellent balance of style, features and quiet, allowing you to build a great-looking system, with water cooling if you wish and quiet running while not compromising on performance.
You'll get two 140mm fans included with space for many more, and space for a radiator up to 420mm. Dust filters cover the front and bottom air intakes, and you even get additional SSD bays tucked away behind the motherboard.
Phanteks Enthoo Pro M
Phanteks makes some incredible-looking cases that often come with a premium price. With the Enthoo Pro M you get a taste of that design for less than $100, including a full acrylic side window. If you prefer a smaller peep hole, you can also get the Enthoo Pro M with a cutout-style window, as well as the choice of black or titanium green, both with a brushed-aluminum finish.
It's not all about the show, though, and the Enthoo Pro M is well equipped for even the most demanding systems. The power supply and hard drive cages are hidden from view to create a nice, clean look, and Phanteks preinstalls a bunch of cable loops to help you organize with ease.
The Enthoo Pro M comes with a single 140mm fan at the rear and one at the front, but there's plenty of room to add more, as well as a water-cooling system, if that's your thing.
NZXT S340
Style and NZXT go hand in hand, and for about $70 you can get the ultra-gorgeous, mid-tower S340. Available in a range of color combinations, including a special edition in partnership with Razer, the S340 oozes glamor while being commodious enough for a serious system.
It'll accept Mini ITX motherboards right through to ATX, it boasts 7 expansion slots, and a PSU shroud to keep the interior of your PC looking clean, as well as full compatibility with the NZXT Kraken water-cooling system.
The little details are there, too. Captive thumbscrews are a nice touch. There's a bunch of pre-installed cable management points and dust filters, and it's incredibly accessible, so even newcomers will find building inside it a breeze.
Corsair Carbide Air 240
When it comes to compact cases for building a serious system, the Carbide Air by Corsair should definitely be towards the top of the list. It's perfect for a mini ITX or micro ATX build, with excellent air flow for supreme cooling performance. It comes with a trio of 120mm fans included, but you don't have to stop there.
Despite its diminutive form factor the Carbide Air 240 can accommodate a water-cooled setup housing two 240mm radiators with a single GPU build. Installing and swapping drives is a breeze, and the three 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch combined bays are accessible without tools. They simply pop out of the rear of the case.
You'll also have ample room for full-length graphics cards, there's no need to go for the mini versions. And with a large side window you'll be able to bask in your systems glory every single day.
Thermaltake Core P3
This thing looks wild, right? If you really want to build a head turner, how about the Thermaltake Core P3 — a similar, but smaller setup to the Core P5. Three sides of this case are open, and a large back panel and a front acrylic "window" are the only panels to speak of. It's certainly a unique take on PC cases.
Despite being very much a visual spectacle, there's still a functional case in there. You get two internal drive bays and two or three externally, depending on the size of the drives you use. Naturally, the Core P3 is also set up for an impressive water-cooling build, and with a PCIe riser, you also get to mount your graphics card vertically, if you wish.
Putting PC on the floor or on a desk is so, well, normal, that Thermaltake made it easy to mount the P3 to the wall. Because ... why not?