Buying Guide
The Best PC Cases Under $150
Five PC cases ranked on radiator size and fans included; the King 15 PRO is the cheapest route in.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Between $100 and $150, cases add better airflow, more fans and panoramic glass. Every pick sits in that range, ordered by fans included.
Rankings weigh largest radiator, fans included and motherboards as the makers state them; if a maker skips largest radiator, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Premium Pick
Antec Flux ProA 420mm and a 360mm radiator at the same time at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the King 15 PRO costs less.
Check price for Antec Flux Pro on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Lian Li LANCOOL 217Two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU.
Best for: Buyers who want two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU.
Check price for Lian Li LANCOOL 217 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
MONTECH King 15 PROThe cheapest way into this group, below the H9 Flow White.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the H9 Flow White.
Check price for MONTECH King 15 PRO on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
NZXT H9 Flow WhiteA white dual-chamber layout.
Best for: Buyers who want white dual-chamber layout.
Check price for NZXT H9 Flow White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
Montech King 45 ProFour ARGB PWM fans.
Best for: Buyers who want four ARGB PWM fans.
Check price for Montech King 45 Pro on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 420mm and a 360mm radiator at the same time at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the King 15 PRO costs less. | Check price for Antec Flux Pro on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU. | Buyers who want two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU. | Check price for Lian Li LANCOOL 217 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The cheapest way into this group, below the H9 Flow White. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the H9 Flow White. | Check price for MONTECH King 15 PRO on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A white dual-chamber layout. | Buyers who want white dual-chamber layout. | Check price for NZXT H9 Flow White on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Four ARGB PWM fans. | Buyers who want four ARGB PWM fans. | Check price for Montech King 45 Pro on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Premium Pick1 of 5
Antec Flux Pro
The Flux Pro includes six fans, the most in this guide, and takes a 420mm and a 360mm radiator together.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the King 15 PRO costs less.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the King 15 PRO was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Two reverse fans sit on the PSU shroud to feed the graphics card, and a display shows CPU and GPU temperatures. The power supply mounts rotated 90 degrees, and the case takes E-ATX boards. It mixes metal, glass and wood, and removable brackets on the top, front and shroud make radiators easier to fit.
It matches the H9 Flow White on largest radiator size (420mm). It is the only pick here with E-ATX motherboards; the Lancool 217 has ATX motherboards instead. Confirm GPU length for the Flux Pro with its maker.
Boards: E-ATX. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Lancool 217 the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- Largest radiator
- 420mm
- Fans included
- 6
- Motherboards
- E-ATX
Pros
- Fits a 420mm radiator
- 6 fans included
- 420mm and a 360mm radiator at the same time
- Two reverse fans on the PSU shroud
Cons
- Costs more than the King 15 PRO at the time of writing
Also Consider2 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
- Buyers who want two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU.
Skip if
- The maker gives no largest radiator size, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
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 shares ATX motherboards with the Montech King 45 Pro; the King 15 PRO goes with micro-ATX motherboards. You also get 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. Its price falls between the Montech King 45 Pro and the Flux Pro, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed largest radiator size should compare it with the Flux Pro, which comes in at 420mm.
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 largest radiator size
- Costs more than the King 15 PRO at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 5
MONTECH King 15 PRO
The King 15 PRO puts four ARGB fans behind a 15-degree curved glass panel, with air moving from bottom to top.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the H9 Flow White.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: largest radiator size of 360mm, behind the Flux Pro (420mm).
Why we like it
Its roof takes a 360mm radiator up to 84mm thick. The dual-chamber layout hides cables, and a chimney airflow path pulls cool air up through the GPU. On largest radiator size it ties with the Montech King 45 Pro at 360mm.
Micro-ATX motherboards is unique to it among these picks, while the Lancool 217 uses ATX motherboards. It is the only pick here with 15-degree curved glass; the H9 Flow White has wraparound tempered glass instead. Confirm GPU length for the King 15 PRO with its maker.
The King 15 PRO takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height. It undercut the H9 Flow White and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: largest radiator size of 360mm, behind the Flux Pro (420mm). If that matters, the Flux Pro comes in at 420mm.
Key specs
- Largest radiator
- 360mm
- Fans included
- 4
- Motherboards
- Micro-ATX
- Glass
- 15-degree curved glass
Pros
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- 4 fans included
- 15-degree curved glass
- Top 360mm radiators up to 84mm thick
Cons
- Largest radiator size of 360mm, behind the Flux Pro (420mm)
Strong Alternative4 of 5
NZXT H9 Flow White
The H9 Flow White is NZXT's larger dual-chamber case, with four fans included and room for up to ten.
Best for
- Buyers who want white dual-chamber layout.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the King 15 PRO cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It fits a 420mm radiator behind wraparound glass. Its dual-chamber layout hides the PSU and drives, and three F140Q fans come pre-installed. Perforated steel panels feed air to high-power builds.
The dual-chamber design separates the PSU and drives from the main components. Three F140Q fans come in the front-right and one F120Q at the rear, behind perforated steel panels. It matches the Flux Pro on largest radiator size (420mm).
Wraparound tempered glass is unique to it among these picks, while the Montech King 45 Pro uses panoramic glass. Confirm GPU length for the H9 Flow White with its maker. The H9 Flow White takes 420mm radiators; mind RAM height. It was priced above the King 15 PRO and below the Montech King 45 Pro at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Largest radiator
- 420mm
- Fans included
- 4
- Glass
- Wraparound tempered glass
Pros
- Fits a 420mm radiator
- 4 fans included
- Wraparound tempered glass
- White dual-chamber layout
Cons
- Costs more than the King 15 PRO at the time of writing
Worth a Look5 of 5
Montech King 45 Pro
The Montech King 45 Pro stands out for four ARGB PWM fans, and it adds a top radiator up to 84mm thick.
Best for
- Buyers who want four ARGB PWM fans.
Skip if
- Skip it if largest radiator size matters most to you; the Flux Pro offers 420mm.
Why we like it
It also offers a 360mm largest radiator size and offers a 4 fans included. It matches the King 15 PRO on largest radiator size (360mm). Like the Lancool 217, it has ATX motherboards, while the Flux Pro uses E-ATX motherboards.
Panoramic glass is unique to it among these picks, while the H9 Flow White uses wraparound tempered glass. Confirm GPU length for the Montech King 45 Pro with its maker. The Montech King 45 Pro takes 360mm radiators; mind RAM height.
It was priced above the H9 Flow White and below the Lancool 217 at the time of writing. It gives ground on largest radiator size, where the Flux Pro comes in at 420mm.
Key specs
- Largest radiator
- 360mm
- Fans included
- 4
- Motherboards
- ATX
- Glass
- Panoramic glass
Pros
- Fits a 360mm radiator
- 4 fans included
- Panoramic glass
- Four ARGB PWM fans
Cons
- Largest radiator size trails the Flux Pro (420mm)
- Costs more than the King 15 PRO at the time of writing
How We Chose These PC Cases Under $150
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 lined up five cases on largest radiator size, fans included, motherboards and glass, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and largest radiator size and motherboards are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Flux Pro to the Montech King 45 Pro, state fans included.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Lancool 217 gives no largest radiator size; the H9 Flow White gives no motherboards.
- Price range
- From the King 15 PRO to the Flux Pro, all sat in the $100 to $150 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a PC Case Under $150
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much largest radiator size you need
The Flux Pro tops largest radiator size at 420mm and the Montech King 45 Pro sits lowest at 360mm; 2 picks share the top figure. The H9 Flow White comes second at 420mm, in the same price tier as the Flux Pro. The Lancool 217 gives no largest radiator size figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
Glass
The King 15 PRO lists 15-degree curved glass; the H9 Flow White lists Wraparound tempered glass; the Montech King 45 Pro lists panoramic glass. Settling glass first narrows 3 picks to 1 or 1 or 1.
A compact black PC case beside a speaker on a desk Fit and compatibility
Confirm GPU length for the Flux Pro with its maker. Confirm GPU length for the Lancool 217 with its maker. Confirm GPU length for the King 15 PRO with its maker.
Extras that separate them
The King 15 PRO: a bottom-to-top airflow path. The H9 Flow White: room for up to ten fans. The Montech King 45 Pro: a top radiator up to 84mm thick.
Cable management behind the motherboard tray of a PC case Where your budget lands
All 5 sat in the $100 to $150 tier when we checked, from the King 15 PRO at the low end to the Flux Pro at the top, so decide on features first.
How to Choose a PC Case Under $150
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the King 15 PRO costs less | Flux Pro | A 420mm and a 360mm radiator at the same time at the highest price in the group |
| Buyers who want two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU | Lancool 217 | Two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the H9 Flow White | King 15 PRO | The cheapest way into this group, below the H9 Flow White |
| Buyers who want white dual-chamber layout | H9 Flow White | A white dual-chamber layout |
| Buyers who want four ARGB PWM fans | Montech King 45 Pro | Four ARGB PWM fans |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Flux Pro leads on largest radiator size at 420mm, ahead of the H9 Flow White at 420mm. "Not listed" marks largest radiator size where the Lancool 217 leaves the figure out.
| Case | Largest radiator | Fans included | Motherboards | Glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flux Pro | 420mm | 6 | E-ATX | Not listed |
| Lancool 217 | Not listed | 5 | ATX | Not listed |
| King 15 PRO | 360mm | 4 | Micro-ATX | 15-degree curved glass |
| H9 Flow White | 420mm | 4 | Not listed | Wraparound tempered glass |
| Montech King 45 Pro | 360mm | 4 | ATX | Panoramic glass |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Flux Pro add over the King 15 PRO?
The spec sheets show largest radiator size (420mm against 360mm) in its favour. Both sat in the $100 to $150 tier when we checked, so the gains in largest radiator size cost little extra by tier.
Why is the King 15 PRO our Lowest Price Here pick?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the H9 Flow White. It suits anyone who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the H9 Flow White.
Do the Flux Pro and the Lancool 217 differ on motherboards?
The Flux Pro uses E-ATX; the Lancool 217 and the Montech King 45 Pro use ATX; the King 15 PRO uses Micro-ATX. The H9 Flow White has no motherboards listed, so 4 of 5 picks are covered here.
Will the Lancool 217 work with my setup?
Confirm GPU length for the Lancool 217 with its maker. 220mm is the Lancool 217's PSU length cap. In this guide it ranks second of 5.
What extras do the Flux Pro and the Lancool 217 include?
The Flux Pro: a 420mm and a 360mm radiator at the same time. The Lancool 217: two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU. The King 15 PRO: top 360mm radiators up to 84mm thick.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Flux Pro, chosen for a 420mm and a 360mm radiator at the same time at the highest price in the group. Look at the Lancool 217 for two 170mm front fans that can be raised to aim at the CPU, the King 15 PRO for the cheapest way into this group, below the H9 Flow White and the H9 Flow White for a white dual-chamber layout if those matter more to you.
Count included fans against what you'd buy separately.
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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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