Buying Guide
The Best PC Cases for Gaming
Five gaming PC cases across wood-front, glass and mesh designs, each with room for a long card and a 360mm radiator.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
A gaming case must fit a long graphics card and keep it fed with cool air. Every pick here takes a 360mm radiator; the differences are GPU clearance, fans in the box and looks.
We compared those figures from each listing; we did not test these cases.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best-Looking Airflow Case
Fractal Design North (Mesh)355mm GPU clearance with a 360mm radiator mount.
Best for: Living-room gaming PCs.
Check price for Fractal Design North (Mesh) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Showcase Case
MONTECH King 95 PRO420mm GPU clearance and six fans.
Best for: Long cards and RGB builds.
Check price for MONTECH King 95 PRO on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Dual-Chamber Pick
be quiet! Light Base 600 DX400mm GPU and 170mm cooler clearance.
Best for: Glass-front builds.
Check price for be quiet! Light Base 600 DX on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Fan Value
Lian Li LANCOOL 217Five fans included.
Best for: Builds on a budget.
Check price for Lian Li LANCOOL 217 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Compact Gaming Case
NZXT H5 Flow (2024)360mm radiator support in a compact mid-tower.
Best for: Smaller desks.
Check price for NZXT H5 Flow (2024) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 355mm GPU clearance with a 360mm radiator mount. | Living-room gaming PCs. | Check price for Fractal Design North (Mesh) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 420mm GPU clearance and six fans. | Long cards and RGB builds. | Check price for MONTECH King 95 PRO on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 400mm GPU and 170mm cooler clearance. | Glass-front builds. | Check price for be quiet! Light Base 600 DX on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Five fans included. | Builds on a budget. | Check price for Lian Li LANCOOL 217 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 360mm radiator support in a compact mid-tower. | Smaller desks. | Check price for NZXT H5 Flow (2024) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best-Looking Airflow Case1 of 5
Fractal Design North (Mesh)
The North pairs a walnut front with mesh side panels, and it still takes a 355mm graphics card and a 360mm front radiator.
Best for
- Living-room gaming PCs.
Skip if
- Skip it if GPU clearance matters most to you; the King 95 PRO offers 420mm.
Why we like it
Two 140mm Aspect fans come fitted, enough for a mid-range build. Seven expansion slots and support for ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX boards keep options open, but GPU room drops to 300mm with a 360mm front radiator. It includes two combined 3.5 and 2.5-inch drive mounts and two 2.5-inch mounts, and mesh side panels add airflow.
On GPU clearance it trails the group at 355mm, while the King 95 PRO comes in at 420mm. GPU limit in the North: 355mm, before front fans. The North takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. When we checked, only the Light Base 600 DX and cheaper picks cost less, and the King 95 PRO cost more.
Key specs
- Max GPU length
- 355mm
- Largest radiator
- 360mm
- Fans included
- 2
- Motherboards
- ATX, mATX, ITX
Pros
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- Walnut wood front
- Mesh side panels
- Seven expansion slots
Cons
- GPU clearance trails the King 95 PRO (420mm)
- Costs more than the H5 Flow at the time of writing
Best Showcase Case2 of 5
MONTECH King 95 PRO
The King 95 PRO curves 4mm glass around the front and side and ships with six fans on a 10-port controller, drawing air in from the side and bottom.
Best for
- Long cards and RGB builds.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the H5 Flow cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It has 420mm for the GPU and 175mm for the cooler. Its 420mm GPU clearance is the longest here; the Light Base 600 DX comes next at 400mm. It also comes with quick-release glass panels and a dual-chamber layout.
GPU limit in the King 95 PRO: 420mm, before front fans. The King 95 PRO takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. 185mm is the King 95 PRO's PSU length cap.
Worth noting: room for graphics cards up to 420mm long. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the North and the rest.
Key specs
- Max GPU length
- 420mm
- Max CPU cooler height
- 175mm
- Largest radiator
- 360mm
- Max PSU length
- 185mm
- Fans included
- 6
- Glass
- Curved 4mm glass front and side
Pros
- Room for graphics cards up to 420mm long
- Takes tower air coolers up to 175mm tall
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- 6 fans included
Cons
- Costs more than the H5 Flow at the time of writing
Best Dual-Chamber Pick3 of 5
be quiet! Light Base 600 DX
The Light Base 600 DX pairs a full glass front and side with dual 360mm plus 240mm radiator support.
Best for
- Glass-front builds.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the H5 Flow, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It fits a 400mm graphics card and a 170mm tower cooler, with an anti-sag bracket included. The dual radiator support means a 360mm CPU cooler and a 240mm GPU loop can run side by side, though the maker doesn't state a fan count. Its 400mm GPU clearance ranks second of 3 here, behind the King 95 PRO (420mm) and ahead of the North (355mm).
GPU limit in the Light Base 600 DX: 400mm, before front fans. The Light Base 600 DX takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper Lancool 217 and the pricier North, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its PSU length limit; if that figure matters, the Lancool 217 comes in at 220mm.
Key specs
- Max GPU length
- 400mm
- Max CPU cooler height
- 170mm
- Largest radiator
- 360mm
- Motherboards
- ATX
- Glass
- Full glass front and side
Pros
- Room for graphics cards up to 400mm long
- Takes tower air coolers up to 170mm tall
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- Full glass front and side
Cons
- Costs more than the H5 Flow at the time of writing
Best Fan Value4 of 5
Lian Li LANCOOL 217
The Lancool 217 ships with five fans, more than any other mid-tower here, so it needs nothing extra before first boot.
Best for
- Builds on a budget.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its GPU clearance before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
Its two 170mm front fans can be raised to point at the CPU, and the PSU can mount in two orientations. It also offers two 120mm reversed-blade fans and a 140mm rear fan, two PSU mounting positions and walnut wood front accents. Confirm GPU length for the Lancool 217 with its maker.
220mm is the Lancool 217's PSU length cap. When we checked, only the H5 Flow cost less, and the Light Base 600 DX cost more. If you want a confirmed GPU clearance, look to the King 95 PRO instead: it comes in at 420mm, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- Max PSU length
- 220mm
- Fans included
- 5
- Motherboards
- ATX
Pros
- 5 fans included
- Two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU
- Two 120mm reversed-blade fans and a 140mm rear fan
- Two PSU mounting positions
Cons
- No published GPU clearance
- No published largest radiator size
- Costs more than the H5 Flow at the time of writing
Best Compact Gaming Case5 of 5
NZXT H5 Flow (2024)
The H5 Flow is NZXT's compact mid-tower, with two fans included and a perforated PSU shroud that lets air reach the bottom of the graphics card.
Best for
- Smaller desks.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its GPU clearance before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
It takes a 360mm radiator at the front. Its perforated PSU shroud feeds air to the GPU from below, and it fits a 360mm radiator in front and 240mm on top. Fine mesh panels help airflow.
You also get built-in cable routing channels. Confirm GPU length for the H5 Flow with its maker. The H5 Flow takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height.
No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Lancool 217 was closest. If you want a confirmed GPU clearance, look to the King 95 PRO instead: it comes in at 420mm, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- Largest radiator
- 360mm
- Fans included
- 2
Pros
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- Perforated PSU shroud that feeds air to the GPU
- 240mm radiator option on top
- Built-in cable routing channels
Cons
- No published GPU clearance
How We Chose These PC Cases for Gaming
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared five cases on GPU clearance, CPU cooler clearance, largest radiator size and PSU length limit, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 5 picks leave out GPU clearance.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Lancool 217 and the H5 Flow give no GPU clearance; the North, the Lancool 217 and the H5 Flow give no CPU cooler clearance.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the H5 Flow ($50 to $100) to the King 95 PRO ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a PC Case for Gaming
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
GPU clearance
The King 95 PRO tops GPU clearance at 420mm and the North sits lowest at 355mm. For less, the Light Base 600 DX is the runner-up at 400mm ($100 to $150 tier). The Lancool 217 and the H5 Flow give no GPU clearance figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
How much CPU cooler clearance you need
Across these 2 picks CPU cooler clearance spans 170mm (the Light Base 600 DX) to 175mm (the King 95 PRO). The King 95 PRO is the pick for CPU cooler clearance. The North, the Lancool 217 and the H5 Flow give no CPU cooler clearance figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Cable management behind the motherboard tray of a PC case How much PSU length limit you need
Here PSU length limit runs from 185mm on the King 95 PRO to 220mm on the Lancool 217, a 19% spread. The Lancool 217 is the pick for PSU length limit. The North, the Light Base 600 DX and the H5 Flow give no PSU length limit figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
What to check at home
GPU limit in the North: 355mm, before front fans. GPU limit in the King 95 PRO: 420mm, before front fans. GPU limit in the Light Base 600 DX: 400mm, before front fans.
A case interior with a tower cooler and a graphics card installed Features beyond the spec table
The Light Base 600 DX: a GPU anti-sag bracket. The Lancool 217: two 120mm reversed-blade fans and a 140mm rear fan. The H5 Flow: a 240mm radiator option on top.
How to Choose a PC Case for Gaming
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living-room gaming PCs | North | 355mm GPU clearance with a 360mm radiator mount |
| Long cards and RGB builds | King 95 PRO | 420mm GPU clearance and six fans |
| Glass-front builds | Light Base 600 DX | 400mm GPU and 170mm cooler clearance |
| Builds on a budget | Lancool 217 | Five fans included |
| Smaller desks | H5 Flow | 360mm radiator support in a compact mid-tower |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The King 95 PRO leads on GPU clearance at 420mm, ahead of the Light Base 600 DX at 400mm. "Not listed" marks GPU clearance where the Lancool 217 and the H5 Flow leave the figure out.
| Case | Max GPU length | Max CPU cooler height | Largest radiator | Max PSU length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | 355mm | Not listed | 360mm | Not listed |
| King 95 PRO | 420mm | 175mm | 360mm | 185mm |
| Light Base 600 DX | 400mm | 170mm | 360mm | Not listed |
| Lancool 217 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 220mm |
| H5 Flow | Not listed | Not listed | 360mm | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the H5 Flow, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the King 95 PRO at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cases |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | H5 Flow |
| About $100 to $150 | Lancool 217, Light Base 600 DX |
| About $150 to $250 | North, King 95 PRO |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Light Base 600 DX compare with the King 95 PRO on GPU clearance?
Between the top two, it is 420mm on the King 95 PRO against 400mm on the Light Base 600 DX, a 5% difference. The North closes the ranking at 355mm. The Lancool 217 and the H5 Flow are left out of this ranking because their GPU clearance isn't stated; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the King 95 PRO ahead of the Light Base 600 DX on CPU cooler clearance?
The King 95 PRO leads at 175mm, with the Light Base 600 DX at 170mm. The North, the Lancool 217 and the H5 Flow don't state a CPU cooler clearance figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Which has the longest PSU length limit: the Lancool 217 or the King 95 PRO?
The Lancool 217 tops PSU length limit at 220mm; the King 95 PRO follows at 185mm, 19% apart. No PSU length limit figure is published for the North, the Light Base 600 DX and the H5 Flow, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What makes the North the Best-Looking Airflow Case?
It earns the label for 355mm GPU clearance with a 360mm radiator mount. The H5 Flow, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It makes sense for living-room gaming PCs.
What should I check before buying the H5 Flow?
Confirm GPU length for the H5 Flow with its maker. The H5 Flow takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Best Compact Gaming Case pick.
Beyond the specs, what sets the North and the King 95 PRO apart?
The North: a walnut wood front. The King 95 PRO: a 10-port fan controller. The Light Base 600 DX: dual 360mm plus 240mm radiator support.
Bottom Line
The Fractal North suits gaming PCs that sit in view, and the King 95 PRO has the most GPU room. The Light Base 600 DX is the dual-chamber pick, the Lancool 217 includes five fans, and the H5 Flow is compact.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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