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- Supported motherboards: SSI-CEB - E-ATX
- Dimensions: 544 x 242 x 530mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 188mm
- Max GPU length: 461mm
- Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX - E-ATX
- Dimensions: 526 x 238 x 523mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 185mm
- Max GPU length: 420mm
- Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX - E-ATX
- Dimensions: 510 x 240 x 505mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 190mm
- Max GPU length: 435mm
- Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX - E-ATX
- Dimensions: 541 x 240 x 454mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 185mm
- Max GPU length: 450mm
- Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX - ATX
- Dimensions: 416 x 220 x 490mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 170mm
- Max GPU length: 350mm
- Supported motherboards: mATX, mini-ITX
- Dimensions: 205 x 350 x 460mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 170mm
- Max GPU length: 338mm
- Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX
- Dimensions: 245 x 166 x 360mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 67mm
- Max GPU length: 320mm
- Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX - E-ATX
- Dimensions: 493 x 217 x 469mm
- Max CPU cooler height: 165mm
- Max GPU length: 410mm
Most of us are guilty of meticulously researching the best PC build and then chucking it inside any ol’ case. It will work, but the components inside may run hotter than necessary if that enclosure can’t maintain a cool breeze. While it helps, the best PC case for airflow doesn’t need to be huge. It doesn’t need to be expensive either! Check our eight carefully chosen models out and see for yourself.
Fractal Design Torrent
Dimensions: 544 x 242 x 530mm | Supported motherboards: SSI-CEB – E-ATX | Included fans: 2x 180mm front | Max CPU cooler height: 188mm | Max GPU length: 461mm | Internal bays: 4x 3.5"/2.5”, 2x 2.5"
- Exceptional airflow
- Room for the largest coolers and AIOs
- Cool design with top-mounted PSU
- Lackluster RGB
Is your PC made up of top-tier components that need a lot of breathing room? If you have the space to accommodate it, E-ATX is the way to go! The Torrent leads a new breed of PC cases with good airflow from Fractal design. Calling it spacious would be an understatement, and five included fans ensure you’re off to a running start cooling-wise.
Unlike the Meshify’s more traditional aesthetic, the Torrent is all about chamfers and angled lines. Its front is particularly interesting since it incorporates a mesh filter that follows its decorative contours. The sides are either solid or glass with varying tint levels. The glass variants have solid top & bottom strips. You can remove them seamlessly via tabs.
The Torrent’s cavernous insides are laid out unconventionally. Two 180mm fans are already in the front. A bracket lets you place three smaller fans instead or go with radiators as large as 420mm. Fractal Design provides three more 140mm intake fans on the bottom. This is possible because you mount the PSU on top of the motherboard area with ample room to spare.
Whether you’re into E-ATX motherboards or plan on purchasing an aftermarket RTX 4090, the leftover space makes even such massive components feel small. Moreover, there’s not a CPU air cooler in the world tall enough to come into contact with the side panel. If custom water loops are your jam, the case also provides mounting opportunities for reservoirs and tubing.
The Torrent supports a maximum of six storage drives. They all fit into the back portion – four 2.5″ SSDs towards the front and two 3.5″ HDDs under the mobo. A deep cable trench separates them, making for easier cable management. All the exit holes connecting this part to the front have grommets as well.
Unsurprisingly, the Torrent’s thermal results are exceptional. The lack of exhaust fans doesn’t prevent it from nearing the top of temperature testing charts. Since all the fans are large, the Torrent is also among our quietest recommendations.
LIAN LI Lancool III
Dimensions: 526 x 238 x 523mm | Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX – E-ATX | Included fans: 3x 140mm front, 1x 140mm back | Max CPU cooler height: 185mm | Max GPU length: 420mm | Internal bays: 4x 3.5”/2.5", 8x 2.5"
- Runs cool and quiet
- Spring-loaded components & multiple panels make building easier and clean
- Good value for the money
- Tricky 3.5” HDD installation
The Lancool series was big in the late 2000s and returned to the limelight a few years ago. Leading its renaissance is the Lancool III, the best PC case for airflow if you’re after unmatched versatility! It’s beyond spacious, brimming with component mounting possibilities, and effortless to build in, thanks to Lian Li’s obsession with springs & hinges.
The enclosure makes a bold first impression with its sharp features and narrowing aluminum front panel. A mesh protects three 140mm fans from dust buildup while doing little to hide their might. You’ll find glass on both side panels along with small mesh covers for the PSU area that take nothing away from the aesthetic while supplying air.
The Lancool is a full-tower case, so E-ATX motherboards and the most elaborate cooling systems fit seamlessly. You already benefit from four 140mm fans and can augment them with three more if you mount them on the mesh-covered top. The shroud includes two versatile plates you can mount 3.5″ HDDs onto or remove to allow for further fan placement.
The back has superb cable management potential since the motherboard cutout and the area next to it come with hinged shutters. Two spring-loaded SSD mounts sit under the motherboard, and three more are present on the mesh part of the right side cover.
Several more drive and water cooling component mounting options are at your disposal towards the front fans. Two tall grommeted openings and three cutouts on the shroud wires will reach their respective components cleanly. Lian Li has provided several Velcro strips in strategic locations in the back, so there are fewer hooks than usual.
The Lancool’s areas of excellence include cooling too. It matches the Torrent’s overall airflow potential and can even provide more relief to graphics cards. Its fan can afford to spin more slowly than 120mm models, so running them at full blast isn’t deafening.
Phanteks Eclipse P500A
Dimensions: 510 x 240 x 505mm | Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX – E-ATX | Included fans: 3x 140mm front | Max CPU cooler height: 190mm | Max GPU length: 435mm | Internal bays: 10x 3.5"/2.5”, 3x 2.5"
- Exceptional cable management
- Lots of room for storage and a secondary Mini-ITX system
- Excellent cooling
- Loud fans
Some larger cases can fit more than one PC yet keep temperatures in check. The Eclipse 500A is the best PC case for airflow if you’re going for a dual-system build. Additionally, it has some of the most sophisticated cable management options and massive storage potential.
Phanteks succeeded in designing an attractive mesh front for the P500A perforated with 1mm holes. They’re small enough for them to act as an effective dust filter without stifling airflow. The left side frames lightly-tinted glass. Magnets hold it in place, so the panel is easy to remove. You’ll encounter more magnets on the mesh top.
The case arrives with three preinstalled 140mm ARGB fans. The PSU shroud stops a few cm in front of them, allowing for unimpeded radiator placement. The top offers elongated mounting positions for 3x 120mm or 2x 140mm fans with excellent positioning freedom. There’s lots of space between it and the motherboard if you’re using ATX, so this is where a second mITX motherboard fits.
The PSU shroud comes with a cage you need to mount onto a power supply before sliding it in. Two bare holes on the shroud help with cable routing, while a third has a useful cover. The case’s backside holds loads of Velcro straps that already tidily secure the wiring for the I/O and fans.
The P500A is an excellent choice for users with demanding storage requirements. It has three SSD mounts below the case wiring and three more for HDDs to the right of them.
Four cages fit inside the shroud if you go with a shorter PSU. Six plates next to the front fans allow for even more drives. Coupled with your mobo’s speedy storage, this is more than 99% of users will ever need.
The P500A’s powerful fans and spacious insides account for excellent cooling results. Expect 1-2 degrees more than inside the Torrent – a negligible difference. However, the P500A’s fans are noticeably louder.
Fractal Design Meshify 2 Lite RGB
Dimensions: 541 x 240 x 454mm | Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX – E-ATX | Included fans: 3x 140mm front, 1x 140mm back | Max CPU cooler height: 185mm | Max GPU length: 450mm | Internal bays: 2x 3.5"/2.5”, 2x 3.5”, 2x 2.5"
- Outstanding airflow and fan complement
- Cheaper than the original with next to no drawbacks
- Tidy interior
- I/O lacks USB-C
The original Meshify 2 debuted in 2020 to widespread acclaim. Wanting to expand on its success, Fractal Design came up with several Lite versions several years later. They’re noticeably cheaper while offering almost the complete Meshify 2 experience. Most importantly, the Lite remains best airflow PC case material since that aspect received barely any alterations.
Readers familiar with the Meshify 2 will find its lite version’s aesthetic unchanged. Those who aren’t get to marvel at another creative Fractal Design case with rounded edges and brimming with the company’s complex patterns. They’re everywhere, from the mesh front through the top fan mounting area, down to the full-length dust filter.
The Meshify 2 Lite is another case with a clear glass side. You remove it and the solid right panel by pulling on tabs. This allows for easy internal access while avoiding unseemly screws. The backside lacks the original’s three vertical brackets, which few will miss. The top is simpler than before yet still accommodates even the largest radiators.
The larger internal compartment remains mostly unchanged. It features a low-riding PSU shroud with a lid in front you can remove to mount radiators or reservoirs. The case houses three 140mm RGB fans in the front and one more in the back. You may place more fans in the bottom if you give up some space intended for 3.5″ drive mounting.
The back portion isn’t as sophisticated anymore since it lacks the original’s versatile backplate and drive stacking capabilities. We don’t see these as problematic since you can still screw two large drives into the storage space under the motherboard cutout. Conversely, removing USB-C from the I/O is a shortcoming the Lite could have done without.
There are no shortcomings when it comes to cooling, however. The Lite’s many fans create a draft that cools chipsets, processors, and graphics cards with equal efficiency. Moreover, the fans’ lower RPM makes them as quiet as the Torrent’s.
Montech Sky One Lite
Dimensions: 416 x 220 x 490mm | Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX – ATX | Included fans: 2x 120mm front, 1x 120mm back | Max CPU cooler height: 170mm | Max GPU length: 350mm | Internal bays: 2x 3.5"/2.5”, 2x 2.5"
- Exceptional value for the money
- Comes with three fans
- Spacious interior with excellent cable management
- Loud fans
Most PC cases with good airflow are either large, expensive, or both. Not so with Montech’s take on a Lite version of one of its most popular models. The Sky One Lite breaks the mold, offering everything from three fans, RGB, and a versatile interior for far less than $100! It’s the best PC case for airflow if you’re strapped for cash and gives many of our more expensive recommendations a run for their money.
The Sky One Lite is a standard-sized, symmetrical mid-tower case with a mesh front similar to the P500A’s since it also features 1mm holes. The front is home to an RGB strip that divides the case in two without breaking the symmetry. The tempered glass panel is a welcome luxury at this price. It has a hinge in the back and swings open when you pull on a small handle.
Montech takes the case’s airflow seriously. Four 120mm fans offer ample out-of-the-box cooling, and you can augment them further in various ways. For example, you may replace the front fans with 140mm upgrades. The top and bottom provide mounting opportunities for another pair each, bringing the total to an impressive eight.
Even though it’s not as spacious as our largest picks, the Sky One Lite fits long PSUs and most modern graphics cards without compromising its airflow potential. The interior is conventional, with a perforated shroud for the PSU and two HDD drive bays.
You’ll find three cable routing cutouts on the shroud and two more above the mobo area. Two grommeted openings next to the motherboard are another indicator of this case’s value and contribute to its tidiness.
We have nothing but praise for the Sky One Lite’s cooling prowess. Its fans are smaller, and there’s less space left over once you install the mobo, GPU, CPU cooling, etc.
As expected, this leads to a minor temperature increase over the likes of the Lancool III. Even so, the balance of low temperatures and acceptable noise the Sky One Lite offers still has us glancing in disbelief at the price tag.
ASUS Prime AP201
Dimensions: 205 x 350 x 460mm | Supported motherboards: mATX, mini-ITX | Included fans: 1x 120mm back | Max CPU cooler height: 170mm | Max GPU length: 338mm | Internal bays: 3x 2.5/3.5", 1x 2.5"
- Exceptionally low thermals
- Easy interior access
- Room for large GPUs and AIOs due to PSU placement
- Could use more mounting accessories
We continue our exploration of smaller yet breezy enclosures with a Micro-ATX case from ASUS. The company is better known for its components, peripherals, and monitors, but the AP201 is as good as any case from more seasoned manufacturers.
Turning much of the chassis into mesh is a surefire way to maximize airflow in smaller cases. ASUS went the whole nine yards, as 1.5mm holes eat up the vast majority of the AP201’s steel exterior. Even the bottom looks more like a sieve than a panel, while only a band running along the top and bottom edges gives an air of structural stability to the remainder of the case.
Don’t mistake the AP201’s open nature for low build quality. Its unusual design eschews front fans, forcing you to mount a power supply in the front instead. Several positions allow you to do so at varying heights, freeing up room underneath for either one or two HDDs. GPUs are unlikely to touch the bottom, so you can place two 120mm fans or a 240mm radiator there too.
Unconventional PSU placement also affects other parts of the layout. For example, there’s only a single SSD mounting space on the mobo tray’s backside.
An indented channel next to it can hold lots of wires but isn’t completely sealed off from the main compartment. You get two long Velcro straps and enough cutouts for efficient routing, but the AP201 has no grommets to help you tidy up.
Even though you get only a 120mm exhaust fan, the APP201 can become a cooling powerhouse. The top fits 360mm AIOs despite the case’s compliance with mATX dimensions.
Add the fact that the enclosure has the consistency of Swiss cheese, and thermals that just come short of our top picks won’t be surprising. Since there’s nothing to keep it in check, neither will elevated noise.
Lian Li Q58
Dimensions: 245 x 166 x 360mm | Supported motherboards: mini-ITX | Included fans: 1x120mm front | Max CPU cooler height: 67mm | Max GPU length: 320mm | Max PSU length: 160mm | Internal bays: 2x 2.5”/3.5", 3x 2.5"
- Split side panels are useful and attractive
- Great airflow potential
- Accommodates large GPUs and AIOs
- Installing ATX PSU limits cooling component choices
The smallest PCs possible are in vogue, but their cramped interiors seriously airflow. Lian Li’s Q58 comes to the rescue as the best PC case for airflow in the Mini-ITX space. The small stature and lack of included fans don’t hint at it, but the Q58’s thermals even put some of its regular-sized competitors to shame.
At 14L, the Q58 is a genuine SFF case. Its white version is among the most beautiful we’ve seen, and everything except the cables gleams. The sides are particularly noteworthy since each is twofold. The mesh part provides much-needed air, while the glass part helps showcase the components inside without stifling it.
Perforations cover the top almost completely. Lian Li nailed the Q58’s dimensions, as it can house a 280mm radiator up there despite its size. Due to the sandwich layout, the case’s bottom offers the only other opportunity to mount a 120mm fan.
Two chambers make up the interior. The left one offers room for an SFX or SFX-L PSU in the front, while an upside-down Mini-ITX motherboard follows. An array of PCIe ribbons extends towards the right compartment reserved for your GPU. The solid front houses a modern I/O on its exterior side and has a slot for a 2.5″ SSD inside. You may place more drives on the bottom and the mid-way point.
The Q58 offers enough positions for cable fastening via Velcro straps. There’s no gutter as such, but the sandwich layout makes it easy to tuck offending clutter between the GPU and mobo tray. Lian Li supplies a bracket that lets you replace the SFX PSU with a standard-sized ATX one. While useful, this approach limits your AIO cooling options.
The Q58 isn’t the quietest enclosure on our list. The components inside will likely be several degrees hotter too. However, this is remarkable for its size and build. Even a basic configuration makes the Q58’s insides look stuffed, so performing this well is a testament to Lian Li’s engineering ability.
Cooler Master Masterbox TD500 Mesh
Dimensions: 493 x 217 x 469mm | Supported motherboards: Mini-ITX – E-ATX | Included fans: 3x 120mm front | Max CPU cooler height: 165mm | Max GPU length: 410mm | Internal bays: 2x 3.5"/2.5”, 2x 2.5"
- Good value for the money
- Unique glass side panel
- Great airflow despite only having intake fans
- Not enough hardware for all SSD mounting positions
- Could be quieter
Cooler Master dropped the TD500 in 2020, and it’s been among the best airflow PC case picks since. There’s nothing revolutionary about it apart from the cool design. That just highlights how excellent build quality coupled with years of case construction expertise is everything a case needs to make a lasting impression.
The TD500 is an ATX enclosure whose aesthetic puts it squarely in gamers’ sights. The mesh in its name refers to the large perforated panel that protects three 120mm intake fans. The panel is independent of the I/O, so feel free to yank it off if you need to access the front.
The left side is a unique glass panel. Inset channels crisscross it, disturbing the case’s symmetry and making it look like the glass cracked. Its surface area is large and there’s no tinting, which makes you want to put extra effort into the presentation. Conversely, the back panel is metal and unremarkable.
Eight reusable brackets and a PSU opening with two sets of screws in the back hint at the TD500’s traditional layout. You don’t get an exhaust fan but can mount one along with three more 120mm spinners on the mesh top. Alternatively, this spot houses 360mm radiators.
The roomy interior conceals no surprises. A shroud at the bottom holds long PSUs and two mounting rails for HDDs. Two more 2.5” SSDs fit atop the shroud or below the motherboard cutout in the back. Frustratingly, Cooler Master ships enough grommets & pins only for two.
Speaking of grommets, three have tidy access to the front covered. There’s enough space between the interior wall and the right panel for clean cable routing even though a gutter is absent.
The trustworthy design and three strong fans account for the TD500’s above-average cooling capabilities. It’s unimpressive while idling but keeps things cooler than most during intense workloads. The TD500 is also loud while doing so, which may prompt you to look into some good headphones.
