We find the best full tower PC case on the market!
Updated: Mar 10, 2023 2:01 pm
For the enthusiast looking to build an extreme PC, buying one of the best full-tower PC cases of 2021 is much more than just an option – it’s a necessity. These monster cases bring a bunch of features and benefits to the table that simply can’t be found on smaller case alternatives. They offer a ton of room for the largest E-ATX motherboards, space for dual GPU setups, a ton of cooling configuration options, and even allow you to implement the most elaborate water-cooling setups as well. They really do offer it all. And while these PC cases aren’t subtle in design, they certainly offer your premium-tier components a design aesthetic that’s tough to match.
In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at only the best full-tower PC cases the market has to offer in 2023. We’ll be testing them for design, thermals, noise levels, and overall build quality to make sure they’re not only worth our consideration, but yours too.
So, whether you’re looking for a top-of-the-line full tower case that does it all, or just a budget option that offers additional space, you’ll be sure to find a full tower PC case in our guide that suits your specific needs.
The following is a first look at some of the best full-tower PC cases. Each of the following cases features spacious interiors, stylish aesthetics, and plenty of cooling configuration options too. We’ll be exploring each in more detail further down, but for now, here’s the initial run-down.
Note that this guide focuses on 2023, however, there may be some products in here that are older. we assure you these products are the best for the job, else they would not be listed.
How we choose
Whether we’re reviewing new monitors or the best GPU on the market, choosing the right hardware can always be a tricky task.
It requires hours of product research, performance benchmarking, and reviewing user feedback to get anywhere close to a definitive conclusion on what to recommend.
If you aren’t tech-savvy and struggle to put the time aside to go through the above requirements, you may end up purchasing a full tower PC case that simply isn’t right for you.
Fear not though, friends! Here at WePC, we like to take the stress of research away and transform the whole process into an easy-to-follow, complete buyers guide. That’s right, our team of PC enthusiasts has done all the hard work for you!
How we test
Testing the products we recommend is a huge part of the overall selection process in our best of guides. It’s a way to make sure what we recommend is, without a doubt, the best option in its specific category.
To be sure a product is “the best” it must show excellent performance in our tests, and display better qualities and features than the competition it faces.
Most of the products we recommend here at WePC have gone through a strict testing process that involves everything from the price and performance, to build quality, efficiency, and aesthetics. Each product is pushed to the limit to see how it performs under intense stress to make sure it warrants our coveted top spot.
Doing this enables us to provide you with the most accurate review of how the product performs and, ultimately, whether it’s worth your consideration. For more information head over to how we test PC cases.
Things to consider
When it comes to choosing a case for your new PC build, there’s more to consider than meets the eye. If you’re new to PC building, you have a lot to learn and this section will hopefully make your life a lot easier.
Cases and motherboard form factor
Your motherboard’s form factor is the first thing you need to consider before buying a case since large motherboards can’t physically fit into smaller cases. The three most popular form factors are ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. However, there are several more that get used within today’s computers.
For example, you won’t be able to fit an E-ATX or ATX motherboard into a Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX case. Larger cases sometimes support smaller form factor motherboards, but not always, so make sure you check the specifications.
Smaller cases have less room for components and tend to have fewer features as well. If you’re a minimalist, this isn’t a problem. Large cases, on the other hand, are ideal for enthusiasts who are putting together high-end builds.
There are three prominent types of computer cases (although there are more) and each is compatible with different types of motherboards:
- Full-tower cases are the largest cases and can work with ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, and in most cases, feature E-ATX support as well.
- Mid-tower cases are the most popular and can also work with motherboards that are as large as ATX.
- Mini-tower cases sacrifice the larger ATX boards, but can still use Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX boards.
Airflow and water cooling
As many of you will already know, PC components emit a lot of heat. Components are designed to operate at high temperatures without being damaged, but they can still deteriorate over time quicker if their temperature rises too high for too long.
This is where your case fans come into action. When a cooling system is properly configured, your case fans will regulate the internal temperature and pump that hot air out whilst sucking in cooler air.
Fan configurations will vary based on the design of your case and the amount of airflow your system needs. I’d recommend using a push/pull configuration as mentioned above, which is when some of your fans are drawing cool air into the case, and the rest are exhausting hot air from the rear. With this configuration, your components will be subject to a constant stream of cool air, keeping your system and components at a stable temperature.
Furthermore, if generic fans aren’t quite cutting the mustard and you’re still experiencing higher than average temperatures, you always have the option to incorporate a water-cooling setup into your PC. These can be quite elaborate, meaning you’ll need a lot of extra internal space for routing the loop. However, this is where full tower PC cases come in handy.
Drive bays and expansion slots
In general, cases ship with three different kinds of drive bays, each with its own uses:
- 2.5-inch bays are generally used for SSDs (solid-state drives)
- 3.5-inch bays are used for standard mechanical hard drives.
- 5.25-inch bays are used for optical drives (aka DVD or BluRay readers).
However, many manufacturers have started to do away with 5.25-inch optical drive bays since physical disks are becoming less and less popular.
Cable management
With full tower cases, you often get a lot of cables compared to smaller cases and this can be down to extra fans, controllers, RGB setups, and additional front I/O options. Regardless of the case, you’re going to need to actually do something with those cables, rather than letting them sit there in a big jumbled mess.
Most cases – of a certain ilk – have lots of cable management options pre-installed, such as grommet holes in the motherboard panel or a little indented groove for the cables to sit in. It is unlikely you will have any issues with a full tower case when it comes to cable management as they are usually quite expensive and this is factored into most designs quite effectively.
Acoustic performance
These large cases can mount multiple fans which can get noisy quite quickly. Nobody wants to hear the constant drone of an overworked fan in the background, do they? Our advice is to make sure your case fans are quiet or, choose a case that has factored some noise cancellation into the design – tempered glass and thick side panels are good for this. When you read reviews online, pay particular attention to the fans’ dBa audio levels. This is how loud the fans that come with the case can be.
Build quality
Ensure your case’s build quality is of solid construction. If it has a side panel window, tempered glass is ideal. Plastic here and there is fine, but you can’t go wrong with a steel frame. When it comes to full tower cases, the build quality will often match the price, so even the budget ones often have a high-quality build.
Having said that, it’s still essential to make sure the case you’re considering has been well-made before purchase. If not, your build could be short-lived.
Best full tower case
Phanteks Enthoo 719
E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, SSI-EEB
Included Supported Case Fans
Pros
-
Impressive build quality -
Dual system support -
Plenty cable management room -
Great value -
Attractive design
Cons
-
Could be too tall for some desks
Phanteks are serious players in the case manufacturing game, and they already have some fantastic models under their production belts. Phanteks have cases to suit all budgets and needs. But, having said that, the Enthoo 719 is a case that resides at the high end of the price spectrum. This case is huge, and the massive tempered glass-hinged door looks superb.
The first thing to note from the Enthoo 719 is its impressive motherboard support. The chassis accommodates SSI-EEB boards all the way down to mini-ITX. Furthermore, this case also supports a dual system setup, meaning you can have your main motherboard at the top and a secondary system mounted to the PSU shroud below.
Despite being a budget full-tower, it is a Phanteks, meaning the Enthoo 719 comes with a plethora of premium features. The case features are tailored primarily for custom water-cool builds, with some added cutouts for different system configurations. Furthermore, the drive mount options are astronomical, giving you 11 places to mount a 2.5″ SSD and 12 places for your 3.5″ drives.
The included fan hub from Phanteks is excellent, and it really helped me tidy up the RGB cables at the back without any issues at all. There are small touches here and there, but this budget case from Phanteks is an absolute bargain.
See the full review of Phanteks Enthoo 719 here.
Best full tower PC case for watercooling
Corsair Obsidian 1000D
E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, SSI EEB
695.96 x 307.34 x 693.42mm
Included/Supported Case Fans
4 included, supports 13 total
Pros
-
It can support any build -
E-ATX to Mini-ITX compatibility -
Dual 480mm front radiator support -
Can house two builds -
Great cooling performance
The Corsair Obsidian 1000D is one of the largest full tower cases featured in our roundup. Its gigantic size has warranted the nickname ‘super tower’ and it is easy to see why.
It supports Extended ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, and SSI EEB. Standing nearly 700mm tall, this case is a heavy beast and should only be considered for the biggest of builds. Its humongous interior has enough room to accommodate up to 13 case fans (8 120mm fans can fit in the front of the case alone) and up to four radiators, all at the same time.
The 1000D features a special triple-chamber design with convenient hinged glass panels on the side. The main feature of this full tower case is the fact it can house an E-ATX build and a mini-ITX build at the same time. The larger E-ATX/ATX build features in your standard spot on the back panel, whereas the mini build is housed on the PSU shroud.
The case’s exterior is surrounded by tempered glass. The top has two brushed aluminum trims that frame the glass nicely. The front offers plenty of space for air intake through the dust filter. Looking at the back panel of the case and we find it has seven expansion slots for multiple cards.
Storage capacity is also impressive, as the case has enough room to fit five 3.5-inch HDDs and six 2.5-inch SSDs. Traditional 3.5-inch hard drives and 2.5-inch solid-state drives each have their own storage chamber, both of which are located next to the PSU shroud. You’ll find space for two power supplies under the shroud for those that want to go for the dual-build option.
The front I/O panel has RGB lighting with built-in smart lighting and Corsair’s Commander Pro fan controller. The fan /lighting controllers allow you to control up to six PWM fans and two RGB LED strips, in addition to having four temperature probes.
With its insane number of mountable fans and RGB lighting options, this is one of the best full tower cases on the market.
Best tempered glass full tower case
Thermaltake View 71 Tempered Glass RGB
Mini-ATX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX
Pros
-
Some of the nicest aesthetics for a case -
Great airflow -
Keeps temps low for a fully tempered glass chassis -
Side panels feature hinges (more convenient)
Cons
-
Price -
No PCI-e extension cable -
Heavy -
Not the best cable management options
As we mentioned above, Thermaltake is no stranger when it comes to creating some of the best PC cases in today’s market. This, however, is one of their finest examples to date. The view 71 comes equipped with a stunning design accentuated by four premium 5mm thick tempered glass panels (front/both sides/roof). The tempered glass works extremely well with the RGB fans that come equipped with this case, whilst leaving nothing to the imagination as far as internal components are concerned.
The View 71 is a fine choice for enthusiasts looking to show off their components. Behind the tinted glass, you will find a tonne of features geared towards aesthetics and build assembly. Users will be treated to a vertical GPU mount at the front of the case, which helps display your GPU. Furthermore, Thermaltake has equipped this case with the option to mount an AIO cooler on the motherboard tray (next to the front fans). This is a fairly new design feature that we haven’t seen in many cases in the past.
The motherboard tray has the ability to house the most popular motherboard form factors, including E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX – with the latter feeling a little silly if the truth be told. As far as cooling options are concerned, you’ll be able to customize the fan setup in full thanks to a variety of mounting options found in the front, roof, rear, and bottom panels. Numerous hard drives won’t cause this case problem either, as it comes with a tonne of pre-installed drive trays right out of the box.
One of the big selling points of this PC case has to be the water-cooling compatibility it supports. Inside, you have enough room to mount even the most elaborate of water-cooling loops with three external grommets at the rear. Oh, and the side panels are on nicely manufactured hinges too. Always a plus.
See the full review of Thermaltake View 71 here.
Best budget full tower case
Phanteks Enthoo Pro Tempered Glass
E-ATX, ATX, uATX, mitx, SSI EEB
Included/Supported Case Fans
3 included, supports 8 total
Pros
-
2 x 120mm + 1 x 140mm fans included -
Great value -
PSU shroud and rubber grommets to hide cables -
Tempered glass side panel -
Good radiator support
Cons
-
No internal LED lighting included
The Phanteks Enthoo Pro TG edition is a damn good case for the price, and it was an easy budget pick. The case has been designed with performance in mind, maximizing airflow with the sheer amount of mounted fans it can cope with and plenty of room for a custom water-cooled setup. Unlike the previous version, this one now sports a tempered glass side panel, adding some serious style points to the edition.
This full-tower case has plenty of room and can hold 6 x 3,5″ drives and 3 x 5.25 drives. The case is designed to support water cooling and supports a 1 x 360mm radiator at the top of the case and a 240mm to at the front. The drive bays pop out for an extra room with your custom build too.
On the back panel, we see plenty of room for cable management, rubber grommets, and included velcro straps to tie everything down. The cases are extremely user-friendly and a dream to build in, making it ideal for those custom builds or strenuous large system builds.
The case comes with magnetic dust filters, which some prefer due to how easy they come on and off, but it is worth noting they are of low quality when you compare it with some of the Fractal Design ones. A great feature of the case is actually something quite simple, and that is its hinged side panel door. This may not seem like the best thing in the world, but it gives you easy access to your system when you need it without the need of having to slide that panel on and off.
The construction is solid, and you know you are getting a quality product from Phanteks as they are well established in the case manufacturing business. Overall a great choice, and if you like understated and simple yet highly functional designs, this could be perfect.
Best silent full tower case
be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900
E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Included/Supported Case Fans
3 included, supports 10 total
Pros
-
Solid construction -
Great acoustic performance -
Attractive design -
Modular design
Cons
-
Cable management isn’t the best
Be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 is enclosed by a steel frame with orange accents between the beveled edges and supports E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. Flexibility is a common theme here, as the case has plenty of cooling options, and there is some modularity.
Tinted tempered glass covers the left side panel of the chassis, adding to the case’s visually pleasing design. The bottom of the case lacks ventilation, but there are two internal fan mounts that draw in cool air from between the two panels.
The motherboard tray can be installed at different heights on either side of the case. Dropping the tray one hole down still provides enough space for a single slot card to be installed at the bottom of the board. The HDD storage system is also an area you can customize for your specific building needs.
The motherboard side panel has a hidden fan mount that can accommodate two 120mm fans. Noise-canceling foam within the Dark Base Pro 900 reduces fan vibrations and aids the silent nature of the case. The case ships with three Silent Wings PWM case fans pre-installed, but it has ten fan mounting locations in total.
This silent beast also supports water cooling radiators, from 120mm all the way up to 420mm, and radiators can be mounted on the top, bottom, or front of the case. Whether you want silence or not, this case is perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Final word
So, there you have it, our comprehensive review of the best full tower PC cases available in 2022. If you’re building a high-end gaming PC, you’re going to need a case with plenty of room, cooling support, cable management options, drive bays, and extra features. Luckily, these huge full tower cases provide all of the latter in abundance.
FAQs
How big is a full tower PC case?
Full tower PC cases are the largest cases available to purchase. When it comes to how large these cases are it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number. The actual size will vary depending on which make and model you purchase.
On average, a full tower PC case tends to be around 8 inches by 20 inches. Though, some can be slightly larger or slightly smaller than this.
Full tower PC cases are great because they allow you to have complete control over the components that you choose. There is plenty of space for upgrades, and you can purchase larger components without having to worry about their size.
When comparing a full tower PC case to a standard size, there is a jump in the size, and if you are short on space, this may not be the most suitable option for you.
Are full tower cases worth it?
Whether full tower cases are worth it is down to the individual. The majority of gamers will tend to have a preference over the size of the case they choose.
It is worth keeping in mind that a full tower PC case is large, and it will take up a significant amount of space. This is why many gamers opt for the middle, standard option.
However, a full tower case is worth purchasing if you want complete creative control over your PC. It allows you to use larger-sized components and will give you extra space to add additional cooling systems such as liquid cooling and fans.
In general larger PC cases do tend to have better airflow too, which is a great bonus. It all depends on the components you are planning on including in your build whether they are worth it.
