Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Cases Under $100 for AIOs
Five PC cases compared, from the AURA GC1 ELITE to the A3-mATX, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
A budget case that fits a radiator lets you add liquid cooling later. Every pick cost $100 or less and supports a 240mm or larger radiator, ordered by radiator size.
We sorted these picks by max GPU length, max CPU cooler height and largest radiator, working from the makers' own data; if a maker skips max GPU length, the guide says so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
GAMDIAS AURA GC1 ELITE ARGB
The lowest price among these PC cases at the time of writing.
Best for: Getting four 120mm ARGB fans behind a mesh front for the least money.
Our take Check price for GAMDIAS AURA GC1 ELITE ARGB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS A31
BTF hidden-connector motherboard support.
Best for: Buyers who want BTF hidden-connector motherboard support.
Longest GPU Clearance
MONTECH XR
The longest GPU clearance here (420mm).
Best for: Buyers who put GPU clearance first.
Strong Alternative
MONTECH King 45
A dual-chamber layout.
Best for: Buyers who want dual-chamber layout.
Our take Check price for MONTECH King 45 (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Lian Li A3-mATX (Wood)
The top of this price range, adding front or side PSU mounting.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Lian Li A3-mATX (Wood) (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these PC cases at the time of writing. | Getting four 120mm ARGB fans behind a mesh front for the least money. | Check price for GAMDIAS AURA GC1 ELITE ARGB (opens in a new tab) |
| BTF hidden-connector motherboard support. | Buyers who want BTF hidden-connector motherboard support. | Check price for ASUS A31 (opens in a new tab) |
| The longest GPU clearance here (420mm). | Buyers who put GPU clearance first. | Check price for MONTECH XR (opens in a new tab) |
| A dual-chamber layout. | Buyers who want dual-chamber layout. | Check price for MONTECH King 45 (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding front or side PSU mounting. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for Lian Li A3-mATX (Wood) (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
GAMDIAS AURA GC1 ELITE ARGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
GAMDIAS's AURA GC1 ELITE puts four ARGB fans behind a mesh front for under $60 at the time of writing.
Best for
- Getting four 120mm ARGB fans behind a mesh front for the least money.
Skip if
- Skip it if GPU clearance matters most to you; the XR offers 420mm.
Why we like it
It fits 340mm cards and a 360mm radiator. Its mesh front holds four ARGB fans out of the box, and a full tempered glass side shows the build. It is a budget airflow case.
On GPU clearance it trails the group at 340mm, while the XR comes in at 420mm. A tempered glass side is unique to it among these picks, while the King 45 uses curved panoramic glass. You also get a tool-free glass side panel.
GPU limit in the AURA GC1 ELITE: 340mm, before front fans. Coolers: 160mm maximum. The AURA GC1 ELITE takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height.
It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the A31 the next step up. It gives ground on GPU clearance, where the XR comes in at 420mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max GPU length: 340mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 160mm
- Largest radiator: 360mm
- Fans included: 4
- Glass: Tempered glass side
Pros
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- 4 fans included
- Tempered glass side
- Four 120mm ARGB fans behind a mesh front
Cons
- GPU clearance trails the XR (420mm)
Also Consider2 of 5
ASUS A31 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The A31 is built for ASUS BTF motherboards, which hide their connectors on the back, and it has glass on both sides.
Best for
- Buyers who want BTF hidden-connector motherboard support.
Skip if
- Pass if a published GPU clearance matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
It has support for 360mm AIOs but does not state an included fan count. It fits 360mm AIOs and flagship graphics cards in a mainstream ATX size. Dual glass panels with no corner pillar give a clear view.
Dual-sided tempered glass is unique to it among these picks, while the King 45 uses curved panoramic glass. You also get BTF hidden-connector motherboard support, up to 80mm of AIO clearance and an 8-degree angled base. Confirm GPU length for the A31 with its maker.
The A31 takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. It was priced above the AURA GC1 ELITE and below the XR at the time of writing. There is no published GPU clearance figure, whereas the XR comes in at 420mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Largest radiator: 360mm
- Glass: Dual-sided tempered glass
Pros
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- Dual-sided tempered glass
- BTF hidden-connector motherboard support
- Up to 80mm of AIO clearance
Cons
- No published GPU clearance
- Costs more than the AURA GC1 ELITE at the time of writing
Longest GPU Clearance3 of 5
MONTECH XR on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Montech XR lists the most complete set of figures in this price range: 420mm for the GPU, 175mm for the cooler and 230mm for the power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who put GPU clearance first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the AURA GC1 ELITE cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Three ARGB fans come fitted, and the glass front and side show off the build. Nothing else here matches its 420mm GPU clearance; the A3-mATX comes closest at 415mm. It also comes with mounting for up to nine fans.
GPU limit in the XR: 420mm, before front fans. The XR takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. 230mm is the XR's PSU length cap.
Another plus is room for graphics cards up to 420mm long. Another plus is A front USB-C port. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper A31 and the pricier King 45, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max GPU length: 420mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 175mm
- Largest radiator: 360mm
- Max PSU length: 230mm
- Fans included: 3
- Glass: Panoramic front and side glass
- Front USB-C: Yes
Pros
- Room for graphics cards up to 420mm long
- Takes tower air coolers up to 175mm tall
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- 3 fans included
Cons
- Costs more than the AURA GC1 ELITE at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
MONTECH King 45 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The King 45 brings Montech's curved panoramic glass and dual-chamber layout to a lower price.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual-chamber layout.
Skip if
- Its GPU clearance is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
Its roof takes a 360mm radiator up to 84mm thick; the maker doesn't state a fan count. Its chimney airflow pushes air bottom to top, and it fits 360mm radiators up to 84mm thick in the roof. A curved tempered glass panel shows the build, and the case lists ATX motherboard support.
It is the only pick here with curved panoramic glass; the AURA GC1 ELITE has a tempered glass side instead. Confirm GPU length for the King 45 with its maker. The King 45 takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height.
On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper XR and the pricier A3-mATX, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its GPU clearance; if that figure matters, the XR comes in at 420mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Largest radiator: 360mm
- Motherboards: ATX
- Glass: Curved panoramic glass
Pros
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- Curved panoramic glass
- Dual-chamber layout
- Top 360mm radiators up to 84mm thick
Cons
- No published GPU clearance
- Costs more than the AURA GC1 ELITE at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Lian Li A3-mATX (Wood) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The A3-mATX fits a 415mm graphics card and a 360mm radiator into 26.3 litres, and the power supply can sit at the front or the side.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the AURA GC1 ELITE, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
ATX, SFX and SFX-L units are all listed. On GPU clearance it sits mid-pack at 415mm: the XR comes in at 420mm, and the AURA GC1 ELITE comes in at 340mm. It also comes with mounts for up to ten 120mm fans, a wood front with steel mesh panels and four expansion slots.
GPU limit in the A3-mATX: 415mm, before front fans. The A3-mATX takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. Boards: mATX, ITX.
Only the King 45 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published CPU cooler clearance figure, whereas the XR comes in at 175mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max GPU length: 415mm
- Largest radiator: 360mm
- Volume: 26.3L
- Motherboards: mATX, ITX
- PSU type: ATX, SFX or SFX-L
Pros
- Room for graphics cards up to 415mm long
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- Front or side PSU mounting
- Mounts for up to ten 120mm fans
Cons
- Costs more than the AURA GC1 ELITE at the time of writing
How We Chose These Gaming Cases Under $100 for AIOs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up five cases on GPU clearance, CPU cooler clearance, largest radiator size and fans included from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the AURA GC1 ELITE to the A3-mATX, state largest radiator size.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The A31 and the King 45 give no GPU clearance; the A31, the King 45 and the A3-mATX give no CPU cooler clearance.
- Price range
- From the AURA GC1 ELITE to the A3-mATX, all sat in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Gaming Case Under $100 for AIOs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
GPU clearance across these picks
Here GPU clearance runs from 340mm on the AURA GC1 ELITE to 420mm on the XR. The XR is the pick for GPU clearance. No figure for the A31 and the King 45.
CPU cooler clearance
Here CPU cooler clearance runs from 160mm on the AURA GC1 ELITE to 175mm on the XR. Start with the XR if CPU cooler clearance decides it. No figure for the A31, the King 45 and the A3-mATX.
Setup checks
GPU limit in the AURA GC1 ELITE: 340mm, before front fans. Confirm GPU length for the A31 with its maker. GPU limit in the XR: 420mm, before front fans.
Features beyond the spec table
The XR: mounting for up to nine fans. The King 45: top 360mm radiators up to 84mm thick. The A3-mATX: mounts for up to ten 120mm fans.
Budget
All 5 sat in one tier when we checked, from the AURA GC1 ELITE at the low end to the A3-mATX at the top, so decide on features first.
How to Choose a Gaming Case Under $100 for AIOs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting four 120mm ARGB fans behind a mesh front for the least money | AURA GC1 ELITE | The lowest price among these PC cases at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want BTF hidden-connector motherboard support | A31 | BTF hidden-connector motherboard support |
| Buyers who put GPU clearance first | XR | The longest GPU clearance here (420mm) |
| Buyers who want dual-chamber layout | King 45 | A dual-chamber layout |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | A3-mATX | The top of this price range, adding front or side PSU mounting |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The XR leads on GPU clearance at 420mm, ahead of the A3-mATX at 415mm. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Case | Max GPU length | Max CPU cooler height | Largest radiator | Fans included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AURA GC1 ELITE | 340mm | 160mm | 360mm | 4 |
| A31 | Not listed | Not listed | 360mm | Not listed |
| XR | 420mm | 175mm | 360mm | 3 |
| King 45 | Not listed | Not listed | 360mm | Not listed |
| A3-mATX | 415mm | Not listed | 360mm | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the longest GPU clearance: the XR or the A3-mATX?
The XR leads at 420mm, with the A3-mATX at 415mm. The AURA GC1 ELITE is at the other end of this group with 340mm. The A31 and the King 45 don't state a figure, so they sit outside this comparison.
How does the AURA GC1 ELITE compare with the XR on CPU cooler clearance?
The XR leads at 175mm, with the AURA GC1 ELITE at 160mm. The A31, the King 45 and the A3-mATX don't state a figure, so they sit outside this comparison.
Is the A3-mATX worth paying more than the AURA GC1 ELITE?
On paper it adds GPU clearance (415mm against 340mm). The AURA GC1 ELITE was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
What makes the XR the Longest GPU Clearance?
It earns the label for the longest GPU clearance here (420mm). It suits anyone who put GPU clearance first.
What should I check before buying the A31?
Confirm GPU length for the A31 with its maker. The A31 takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. In this guide it ranks second of 5.
Beyond the specs, what sets the AURA GC1 ELITE and the A31 apart?
The AURA GC1 ELITE: four 120mm ARGB fans behind a mesh front. The A31: BTF hidden-connector motherboard support. The XR: two side-mounted reverse-blade ARGB fans.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the AURA GC1 ELITE, chosen for the lowest price among these PC cases at the time of writing. Look at the A31 for BTF hidden-connector motherboard support, the XR for the longest GPU clearance here (420mm) and the King 45 for a dual-chamber layout if those matter more to you.
Check where the radiator mounts; top and front are most common.