The best PC cases out there for those looking to build their ultimate dream rig come in all shapes and sizes to suit any need. But it's also true that some come at a price premium. Luckily, a healthy market of sub-$100 options still looks awesome and has all the features the keen PC builder would want like fans, space, soundproofing, and just overall style.
Affordable RGB
Despite being compact, there's plenty of space for an ATX or E-ATX build, with hidden drive cages in the base and at the back of the motherboard tray. The Phanteks P360A features a tempered glass side panel joined by an RGB strip running along its base, along with two further RGB fans behind the mesh front panel. You're getting solid airflow, and it supports dual 120mm or 140mm fans in the front or a 280mm radiator.
Small form
Little cases like Thermaltake's Core V22 are perfect for media PCs and storage boxes. It can fit an M-ATX or Mini-ATX motherboard and accompanying components, but there's ample room in such a small chassis just in case you want to throw in a bigger graphics card. Another bonus of the Core V21 is the price, which, as you can tell, is quite low.
High quality
The Phanteks P400A is a stunning mid-tower, sporting ample room for even the largest GPUs, and has many features that make for a stunning PC build. It comes with a trio of 120mm fans and supports up to a 360mm radiator, along with full-sized power supplies. Plus, it has a full mesh front panel to improve airflow and help keep temperatures low. And the full-length tempered glass side panel will show off your handiwork to all who gaze upon it.
Looking sharp
NZXT's PC cases are always head-turners, and the sharp lines of the NZXT H510 are no exception. This mid-tower packs everything you'd want for a high-class build. It's available in different colors, has a pretty elegant cable management system, a pair of 120mm fans included with support for full water-cooling setups, and a three-quarter tempered glass panel, plus USB-C on the front I/O panel. It looks pretty special with some RGB lighting, too!
Silence is golden
You might think you have to pay a significant premium to get a super-quiet PC case, but that's far from the truth. True to its name, the Cooler Master Silencio has sound-dampening material on the front, sides, and top. There's no tempered glass here, but the front door can be reversed to open whichever way you desire, the top can be removed for added ventilation, and it comes with a couple of 120mm silent fans to get your build going.
Maximum flow
Going for style and tempered glass doesn't have to mean sacrificing on important airflow, and the Corsair 275R is designed to combine all of these things. You can get it in white or black; it's designed for up to ATX builds and comes with a trio of 120mm fans to get you started. It also has support for up to six 120mm fans in total or a pair of radiators up to 360mm, so whatever you build will always stay frosty.
If we had to choose ...
Getting the best PC case doesn't have to mean spending hundreds of dollars on a case anymore. The sub-$100 market is packed with amazing choices like the Phanteks P360A and Corsair 275R Airflow to name but two. Saving money on one of these great cases will allow you to spend more where it really matters, on what goes inside it.
But in both cases, you still get a high-quality product that looks good on the outside, has plenty of space for a pretty sizeable build inside, and has lots of scope for cable management. It has to be good to build in as well, and these are.
But if you're happy to push the budget to the max, the Cooler Master Silencio S400 would be a great house for your next PC build. It's really good value and is a breeze to build inside. It's a much more expensive case adjusted in small ways to meet the $100 market. It's utterly glorious.
Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
