Awards Show: Best & Worst PC Cases of 2018

We crawl through 160+ case tests to find the best and worst gaming PC cases from 2018, including best thermals, noise, design, and more.
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This awards show walks through the best gaming PC cases of 2018, but also includes a few of the worst cases. We talk about cases for best out of the box thermals, best noise levels, best design, best overall, worst refresh, most overhyped, and more. If you're building a new gaming PC and need a computer case comparison, we have the round-up of the top enclosures.
CASES FEATURED (order of appearance)
BEST THERMALS
Cooler Master H500P Mesh (Amazon): geni.us/dSFghi
Cooler Master SL600M (Newegg): geni.us/tzvGYOa
Honorable Mention - Lian Li O11 Air (Amazon): geni.us/senr6jj
BEST NOISE LEVELS
be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 Rev 2 (Amazon): geni.us/PzQh5nU
be quiet! Silent Base 601 (Newegg): geni.us/tpBuVI
BEST BUDGET CASE
NZXT H500 (Amazon): geni.us/cFPKU1U
WORST REFRESHES
SilverStone PM02 (Amazon): geni.us/pIKQ
Fractal Define S2 (Amazon): geni.us/fUdOlX6
MOST OVERHYPED
Phanteks Evolv X (Newegg): geni.us/uWeSz
BEST OVERALL
Lian Li O11 Dynamic (Amazon): geni.us/ksGZ3
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Editorial, Host: Steve Burke
Video: Andrew Coleman
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[@GamersNexus]

Check out our H500P Mesh review for a refresher: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKHJnJ5qepyYeck Article: www.gamersnexus.net/guides/3397-best-and-worst-pc-cases-of-2018 Grab your own GN Award crystal! store.gamersnexus.net/products/tear-down-statue

[@joostkersjes4349]

Where are the mATX cases?

[@CODE-BROWN]

I feel like you missed out a whole bunch of older Phanteks cases that were amazing. I don't know why you never covered them in the past and its unfortunate that your first impression is the Evolv X. Even today, 3-4 years later(i don't remember its release date), the Enthoo Pro is still a fantastic case. Had great airflow and was completely modular as everything was secured with screws instead of rivets. One of my favorite full towers in the past 5 years.

[@jonathanlanglois2742]

Did you review the 500d SE from Corsair? I'm rather curious how it fairs compared to the other cases in the list.

[@GamersNexus]

This is Best of 2018, not "Best of 3-4 Years Ago."

[@TheHanBox]

can some one comment a list of every time stamp where the cat apears

[@ErasMcras]

Cooler Master best thermals? Be quiet! Best sound levels When did companies start delivering on promises?

[@LegalMikel]

So punny aren't ya

[@HaydenH]

Meow

[@jeffkuzzen]

Cooler Master = Coolest Be quiet! = Most quiet ^Would've been COOLER to put it like this

[@Wrap19]

CC Max Waiting for the Master Quiet Case

[@GholaTleilaxu]

It was just a glitch in the matrix. Fixed now.

[@w4stedspace]

Great content as always... although personally if I bought a case and the tempered glass front panel just fell off after a while from heat cycling, there's no way it could then still win an award. That's a pretty serious flaw, especially if the case is located someplace where that panel could fall in a way that would break it.

[@tadeuferreira5705]

which one?

[@ChadeGB]

Or squash the cat, lol.

[@fishshit]

the last case which is disappoiting cause i think it looks great @@tadeuferreira5705

[@Piupiumacher]

@Kobra Thor the hate is real

[@felixbelanger2659]

I was also surprised that Steve was so casual about it... Acrylic wouldn't be too disturbing, but tempered glass?

[@MrIndrek]

Ah, senior editor is back, I see. Approved.

[@vvxyow2400]

I just realized I spent 18 minutes watching a guy talking about metal boxes.

[@SeanBlader]

Wish there was an ITX Small Form Factor Category.

[@yoshizaki2863]

THIS!!

[@leetaylor27]

Technically a Micro ATX case, but I love the NZXT H400 in white at the mo

[@nawtieshehzada]

nzxt h200 is pretty good and small, I bought it for my build and it is smaller in height even than my 22 inch monitor! and If you want more smaller than this then you can get In win A1 mini itx case.

[@Yoko.Kurama]

@@leetaylor27 I'm thinking about getting a h200

[@FlandraLabs]

I have the Phanteks Evolv Shift. It's actually such a good watercooling itx case. Never had temperature issues

[@oliverturner128]

Forget the cases, this is the best thumbnail of the year!

[@IbaChiba]

SNOWFLAKE

[@rogerj412]

And not the kind that wines about everything they don't have that other's do have.

[@leogrenier9488]

@MegaAlpakka juu

[@Avareee.]

@@Oldsah Slowsnake

[@Arashmickey]

Coolest for cooler master, quietest for be quiet, something went right in 2018. Sexiest should be Raijintek Coitus.

[@MetatronsCube23]

lol!

[@christopherdonald9001]

Not even close. Although insanely expensive, the Singularity Spectre is by far the sexiest case I've ever seen.

[@AquaLady153]

@@christopherdonald9001 that Spectre case is easily made with acrylic

[@politicallycorrectindividu2867]

@@christopherdonald9001r/woooosh

[@Fee.1]

You’re in touch with Cooler master? I mean they literally did this in response to your criticism ? If so I’ll buy it just to make it clear it’s appreciated when manufacturers listen to you (& by extension their customers)

[@AlainCh2]

I did exactly that 2 months ago ! I'm an happy customer of a fully silent White H500P Mesh - a White PC - That's the name of a full white build, but for the G Z390 Aorus pro WF _ I mean SILENT, no quiet _ it sit in the back, 15cm from my ears, my headrest touching it > and with 5Mt HDMI cable < I have a 55" monitor 4k in front of me _ Silent is important _

[@spammenomore9673]

Can GN suggest they stop making god awful ugly cases then

[@RymeofDawn]

Pretty much , it wasn't just his review since pretty much all reviewers said how god awful it was but Steve ripped them apart for it and it went viral in the community and in response Cooler Master changed the case for the better.

[@Weaver_Games]

It's speculated that the H500 Mesh was basically a direct response to GN's criticisms. We know cooler master saw the video as GN was blacklisted by them for a bit due to the negative review of the original H500P. The H500 Mesh also just happened to fix every single major flaw GN pointed out lol.

[@Fee.1]

AlainCh2 at least you didn’t name it master race

[@seanpetersen8044]

when the most overhyped came up as the phanteks evolv x, I remembered why I subscribed to GN channel..STATING THE FACTS! (high thermals, etc...) lol....great video as always kind of want to see 2019s already.

[@maxzett]

Alright. Now im more confused than ever which case to get... Thank you

[@xVaughn]

Same here make up your mind as yet?! Thinking about the cooler master h500m

[@takarlor12]

H500

[@Candisa]

Something 500 that isn't the h500p, I'd get the H500

[@viswow]

H500

[@chrischeezer]

here's the best case... the front falls off it though, no big deal. That Phanteks case looks great IMO...

[@Marhathor]

I guess you could say it's the... Best case scenario.

[@nitrogenairship7189]

Underrated

[@UnboxingNStuff]

Oh man I see what you did there! :)

[@areksoo]

Sorry for the wall of text, but worth a read... maybe. That's a biased review of the Evolv X. The bundle with the PSU was over $400 because the PSU is 1000w or 1200w Platinum PSU with 12 year warranty and can power 2 systems. It's a high end Seagate PSU. It wasn't a "deal" (as there was no savings in price compared to the components purchased separately), but it was still a fair price. To say a 600mm riser cable that typically costs $85 from its competitors should have been included is disingenuous (presumably at no additional cost of the bundle). BUT I do agree it should have been part of the bundle. The only reason why it wasn't was because they REALLY messed up the launch. They didn't have many PSUs ready nor did they have many cases at launch. They mention the never do a pre-order, then announce a pre-order, then start the pre--order sooner than when they said it would. They also didn't have any riser cables at launch. Even weeks after launch they were only able to get a handful of riser cables which sold out fast. The bundle was really made of what they had and they really only had enough for about 45 units (more on this later). Bottom line, this is a top tier case. It may not be the case of the year, but it definitely doesn't belong in the most over hyped case. It does have some flaws, but it's a solid chassis, it improves on a lot of gripes over the Evolv ATX (which I also own), and adds a bunch of new features. For transparency, I did buy the Evolv X and the PSU (at launch). So am I a Phanteks fan boy? I do own many of their cases and built many systems for other people in them. However, recently they emailed the people who bought the bundle (all 45 of us) asking for pics of our builds in hopes of advertisement. My guess is sales are not strong for the PSU. But then exposed our emails to everyone else who bought it. While it's not a major breach in privacy, it's still serious breach. They didn't respond at all until I posted in a random forum, to which they downplayed it and then proceeded to advertise about future releases hoping to change the subject. No mention of how they will rectify this going forward and they still have yet to actually notify and at least apologize those who were affected. I can't trust this company with my personal data with antics like that. And going forward I will no longer deal directly with Phanteks USA. I could simply boycott them completely and shit all over the Evolv X, but I still admit the Evolv X is the best case I built in, in 2018.

[@tonn333]

Thank you for sharing... and using reason and logic. I agree, gn was biased.

[@skiniko7]

You should watch the actual review of this case, both price is mentioned. Here it's not the review but just a recap, but I agree that quick mention of the only higher price is misleading here.

[@sneakeyboard8305]

Watch the review of the case. GN received a TON of requests to review the case and were loaned a chassis from a viewer. Having owned the Evolv ATX, I'd say that build the quality is there but functionality may not. Who is the target audience for the 400$ option?

[@Ryukushin]

Omg yes cats meow! We also need a analysis of how cases look with a cat and then without. Did the thermals change? Did you get more FPS? Is there a function of the case that the cat likes? Omg new idea, cat review, did the cat like this case? Then show a shot of the cat next to the case, if it walks away that’s a no, if it rubs or jumps on it then we got a winner!

[@jvccr7533]

Pro tip: The cat needs to be outside of the case, otherwise damage to components inside the case may occur. Testing methodology: 1.) tape cat to the front of the case 2.) tape cat to the top of the case (towards front and back) 3.) tape cat to the back of the case 4.) tape cat to the sidepanel (either side)

[@Chuckiele]

meow!

[@fwank49]

The 011 Dynamic *does* support 3x 120mm fans in the bottom even with an ATX motherboard, for a total of 9 possible 120mm fans in the case. Source: I have that case with 9 120mm fans in it, and an ATX board.

[@DonPakundo]

I'm building my first PC in more than 10 years. Decided to go with the Dynamic. Looking forward to finishing it soon

[@GamersNexus]

Not always. We're using one now and it has trouble accommodating them. It depends on the fan.

[@miannekahkol9556]

This depends on the layout of the board, though. I have this case, too, and with the layout of the motherboard I'm using, the Asus Crosshair VII Hero, the cable for USB 3.0 Gen1 can't be plugged in unless the middle 120mm fan is removed from the bottom of the case.

[@paskowitz]

I modded 3x140mm fans into the bottom of mine. It fits... with like 1mm to spare.

[@chillsoft]

@@paskowitz Holy crap! Can you share a picture of that? Would love to see it!

[@discostoo]

The GN B-roll is incredible in this video, no quick cuts, just smooth feature laden content. Good work. Cooler Master smashed it this year.

[@MunkeyChips]

I hope the award's written: Best OUTOFTHEBOX Thermals

[@jvccr7533]

whenever Steve says out of the box it should just echo with a whisper for a little while too, just to sell the magic of OUTOFTHEBOX Thermals (outofthebox thermals (thermals))

[@iidxstyle]

Always love the end of the year round ups. Also, that new GN exploded logo 3D animation looks AWESOME!! Good work!

[@theeskimo9875]

Lol snowflake on the thumbnail

[@zetapsi568]

Am I correct in assuming the cat is named snowflake?

[@angieagnesson0451]

Lian Li Dynamic is my case of the year. It's like having an RGB aquarium that heats up my house on these cold winter nights.

[@Tinfoilpain]

Wow steve: you have terrible taste for "best visual design"

[@BullyMaguire69]

Agreed

[@ebicgaemer3330]

Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?

[@phillipBappleton]

I feel like the front glass panel falling off is a huge deal, I love the Lian Li cases I just wish they would allow large CPU cooler clearances. You can't fit a Noctua DH-14/15 in any of their cases.

[@firstnameIastname]

I have the Lian Lo PC 011 Dynamic, and to anyone thinking of buying one, it is a fantastic liquid cooling machine, just please know that you won't be able to mount 2 360mm radiators in the top slots - the clearance for fittings just isn't there, the top radiator gets in the way of the side radiator fittings. What I ended up doing is, I had a bitspower leviathan sf slim 25mm radiator in the side with 3x120s in a push in the front, an ek ce 280 45mm thick radiator in the top in a push, and an ek pe 360 38mm in the bottom in pull. Make sure to plug everything into the bottom ports before you install the radiators and fans, and accept you can't go sli. You can fit a few extra cards though, I fit a thunderbolt 3 card, usb 3 card, and ran the 3.1 type c port to the rear panel instead. Also, MAKE SURE to order a usb 3.0 motherboard header EXTENSION cable if you want to use the port. A regular stiff usb 3 front IO cable is too thick to bend enough to work, you need a slim extension and then connect it in the back of the case. It really is a fantastic case, and was even able to fit my Asus rampage VI extreme EATX at 12x10.9 very very well. Just make you have everything set first, and have a couple 45 degree angled adapters for the side radiator to make it play nice with the top 280mm rad. It's really a great case and I'm happy it won the best case for GN, that's some reassurance for sure lol

[@Kiobao]

I've personally really wanted it for air cooling since it's temps are still great. I just really love it's design even if it's meant for water cooling. It's probably second in design for me besides Evolv X, however it's a bit overkill and not great in temps. I've just been debating between the 011 Dynamic Air and the white version.

[@firstnameIastname]

@@Kiobao ​ I almost got the air, because of the additional cooling and spots I could've mounted my pump & reservoir. I have the Dynamic in white, and it's really a good looking case. I'm surprised how nice of a case it is for only $150, it's all metal & tempered glass, and feels fantastic. I don't know if the 011 Air is all plastic, which might feel a lot cheaper. My only other complaints than in my first comment are the lack of even mounts for like an 80mm fan in the rear of the front (you might actually be able to mount one with it's funky pattern), and how tight everything is. If you're just going air though it shouldn't be any problem at all. If you want to mount fans in the bottom of the case, if your motherboard has a usb 3 header on the bottom of the board, make sure you get a usb 3 header extension (search amazon for that and the company is micro SATA cables, works great), and make sure to plug all the case leads/fans/usb 2/3 headers in before you mount the fans. It will fit, but you can't really remove or add anything once the fans are mounted. I don't think airflow would be an issue if you put fans everywhere they can go in the Dynamic though

[@clintk4691]

That 3D work is awesome! Videos have been looking a lot better lately. Keep it up!

[@awkk6772]

How do you feel the R6 stacks up against these cases? You made the 2017 GN awards before it was released in December and I'm guessing it wasn't included as a potential case for the GN awards this year. It'd be nice to know how this year's cases compare to previous years like the Meshify C.

[@whelmy]

a quick video comparing past best of winners to current winners and how they measure up would be nice

[@robinvanderploeg5995]

I would also like to know this! Besides the Define R6 I’m also interested in a comparison with the NZXT H700 (non-i).

[@Drjusmar]

IIRC top-off R6 had better thermals than what was listed. Then again removing 1 piece of plastic isn't "out of the box".

[@nolategame6367]

Drjusmar which piece of plastic was that exactly? Btw I own an R5.

[@areksoo]

I agree in that they should include cases that were not part of the previous year... or just wait until January. Personally, the R6 is great. I have no complaints, but personally I'm so done with the brushed metallic finish. You'd think a company with the word "design" in their name would have more.... ahem... designs (Outside of meshify C).

[@MisDaCoolKid]

I'd personally give an award for the best looking case to the phantex elvolv x, best looking case on the list by far.

[@spammenomore9673]

Definitely, SL600M is not bad looking either but a lot of the best in class cases listed are ugly as hell. Especially the mesh CoolerMaster ones.

[@kaizokuonii51]

That's why it was so (over)hyped I think. And it's probably why I'll still buy it over cases that might have better thermals.

[@scythelord]

@@spammenomore9673 Disagree. I built a new computer just recently. I looked over all of the options out there and the case that struck me as BEST looking and made me want it most was the H500M. Coolermaster gets extreme props by me for what they've made. I do not like ANY of the closed front offerings on the market. The only one I seriously considered before deciding on the H500M was the 011 Dynamic and honestly I'm glad I didn't choose it.

[@bizprime8146]

@@scythelord this^ i stay away from the closed front cases as well. Seems counter intuitive.

[@velocirock7421]

Definitely the sexiest. I have an Enthoo Evolv for my rig though so I'm pretty biased.

[@l0ves2j1zz]

Overall liked the video and I agree with the most overhyped case being the Evolv X. Although, people dont buy it for performance. Its looks mostly. I think you missed the mark on the commentary for that one.

[@mjc0961]

This is a trick. Every case is the H500. 😱

[@adisalaka]

Ikr

[@TheRandomMudk1p]

The p350x would be a great budget option, sad to not see it in here

[@bankyWI]

Another great video, thanks GN! Though I was sad to hear you have already done your open loop in the O11 Dynamic, I thought we would get a video of Steve building his rig

[@IRQ1Conflict]

Hmm, I found the Phanteks Evolv X to be the best looking case of all of them. I suppose it's quite subjective. I thought the hinged suicide doors and tastefully done RGB were big pluses rather than some cases that look like a carnival ride.

[@tonn333]

I share your opinion! I also think it wasn't overhyped.... There was hype for a reason, and it delivered.

[@Testrudi1981]

@@tonn333 This case is by no means bad or mediocre. In terms of looks alone it's almost unrivaled, but it also delivers functionality. I'll stick with Phanteks forever, if no other company can ever convince me their product is a better option.

[@chuckmakesit]

Wait what? My O11 front panel attaches exactly the same as the side panel. It's not glued on. At any rate glad to see it earn your top award. I'm absolutely in love with this case.

[@minghaocheng4049]

Great Video! I love the Lian-Li Air O11. But from my own using experience I found the case is not wide enough to fit some wide GPU (like teh EVGA GTX 1080 Hydro Copper), it is just one or two 2cm narrower to make the fit. And lik Steve mentioned, if you use ATX mobo the bottom can only fit 2 120mm fans and no radiators (though there is already plenty space elsewhere for radiators). I hope they can imporve this in their next generation product

[@swsbswsb5515]

That case is super over-hyped.

[@qazyman]

I know you're a der8auer fan boy, but in this case you're absolutely right. This case is amazing. Best case I've built in.

[@AllThatJazOfficial]

Phanteks Evolv X might have been the most overhyped but its an amazing case. No complaints here

[@hitmanslayer3003]

Jaz same but I was a bit surprised they said the itx had no pcie slot. (It does with a riser cable for the vertical mount)

[@JSmith72188]

Right? Absolutely loving mine, it's honestly really flexible and supports a ton of hardware with looks to kill. Thermals and noise levels are definitely more than adequate for me.

[@GamersNexus]

@@hitmanslayer3003 That's exactly what we said. You need to use a riser. That's the whole point of our complaint, so seems you missed it.

[@morningstarr.]

same, great case, few days ago mounter cablemod vertical gpu bracket and it is gorgeous

[@braveheart4lif31]

I’m also unsure why the gave it most overhyped... I absolutely love my Evolv X, while I understand their criticism I also strongly disagree with their reasoning. And at $200 I don’t think any case can do EVERYTHING the Evolv X can. Sure it can perhaps cover a single complaint but all of theirs listed? I can’t help but feel they were a bit against the Evolv X from the beginning. In any case I’m very happy with it and will continue to give it nothing but praise.

[@wamesdjatson7398]

That tear-down logo animation in between categories is absolutely jaw-dropping, where can I get a gif to make it my background?

[@matta.1673]

Gotta say, I don't agree with the 011-Dynamic being praised for build quality. There's numerous reports all around in reviews and on various pages, reddit, Facebook groups, etc. stating that the case has sub-par build quality. It's very hit or miss on whether or not you get a good unit. The adhesive that adheres the TG to the mounting points on the side panels is not strong enough and because of this, the TG comes loose and is a very big risk, this is noted with a lot of users if you look around, you'll find these reviews, I myself had the same issue. I also had issues where the top panel of the case wasn't covered properly, so the black was very spotty on my unit. Additionally, the Define S2 refresh was geared for watercoolers, and is actually a great improvement over the R6 for those who do watercooling.

[@davidperalta5280]

Amen. The fact that the front panel delaminates from heat cycling is preposterous given praising of build quality and design. Another hilarious contradiction is that the top panel needs to be removed to take the side panel off. I've never had a case where this was a requirement of the design. Honestly, if Phanteks didn't have the à la carte pricing practice, the Evolv X and this case would swap places in this video. The Evolv X bests it at every talking point except price; which given the frugal minded sensibility of this channel, warrants it. Tons of molded plastic sci-fi looking boxes ain't my thing bro and neither are foil T-shirts.

[@matta.1673]

@@davidperalta5280 my issue isn't even the tool-less design of the 011-Dynamic, it's the legitimate quality control issues. They've had numerous reports of the TG panels coming off of the mounting points (the TG and mounting points are held together by cheap adhesive). And also their panels are often defective in other ways as well, mine, the black finish on it, was incredibly spotty, like 30% of it was only covered properly. Why it was shipped with such a noticeable defect? I have no idea. The TG adhesive issue though is VERY concerning, that could honestly be a safety issue, though it appears to just be swept under the rug.

[@kalashnikov1343]

You guys should create a ratings spreadsheet of cases and rate them by category, ie. material quality, airflow, practicality, etc. I don't know if you've ever watched Doug DeMuro but he does exactly that and it's a pretty awesome way of reviewing product!

[@semperfio6]

Man, that GPU sag looks real dirty on that rig

[@danmustlearn]

Needs some kind of support or support wire. I'm surprised Der8aeur let that slide!

[@danmustlearn]

GPU Sag support L bracket - www.amazon.com/CloverTale-Aerospace-Upgraded-Version-Black/dp/B077LGLN4G Or Dual GPU - $20 - www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Accessory-Universal-Adjustable/dp/B01IQCBKOI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1542753079&sr=1-1&keywords=Cooler+Master+Accessory%3A+Universal+VGA+Graphics+Card+Holder%2C+Adjustable%2C+Steel%2C+Holds+2+VGA+Card+for+Computer+Cases

[@danmustlearn]

Or if you don't mind adding more weight to your PCI slot - kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4C7inhpnd2SgLs

[@dafff08]

glad to see that video having a half million views. shows the people appreciation for unbiased reviews. also very helpful since im looking for a new case

[@dvtye3378]

I honestly don't know how I feel about CoolerMaster. On one hand they do have some pretty good products for their lineup, on the other hand they have some shady business practices and low quality customer service in my opinion. I ordered 2 x 140mm Fan Packs /w Fan Controllers from them 2 weeks ago along with expedited 1-day priority shipping when they had them on sale. One week later I get an email saying that it's shipped, that's fine I don't expect companies to ship out products instantly and within a week is perfectly reasonable. However it has been more than 2-3 business days now and my order still hasn't arrived yet, the shipping number shows up as "unavailable" on USPS, and my account doesn't show the order on the CM store website. Obviously I went to their store page and tried clicking on the Live Support chat box (which should be online according to their website) only to see that it's offline and nonclickable for me, no big deal though; I can just send in a support ticket. Which I did, however I still haven't received any kind of response nor feedback from CM nor an automated confirmation on the ticket submission. I'm not angry but if I paid for priority 1-day business shipping, then I kinda expect to be given what I paid for. I can understand that sometimes there's weather or other reasons as to why the package hasn't arrived yet, however it doesn't help when the tracking number isn't even giving me updates, nor is their live chat option actually working for me, or any kind of response from their customer service. As someone who rocked a Evo 212 and one of their cases for my very first PC build, it's kinda sad to see how sub par their customer service is despite the fact that their products are pretty good.

[@zackaryk2000]

TL;DR. lol

[@170adamb1]

Still love my cooler master maker 5 Pro. 3x140 front intake fans, 240 top mounted aoi, 140 exhaust fan. Removed all front HDD cages and added tempered glass side panel. It's a cooling beast with loads of air flow in a mid tower.

[@triplea1380]

16:57 That GPU sag tho

[@Zarcondeegrissom]

lol. at one time, there used to be a plastic bit in the front of cases that held the front edge of 12inch long PCI cards, and also housed a fan or PC speaker or HDD depending on the case. like some other things that had useful uses, it didn't 'look' good and was shunned out of existence. Thanks to the 'looks' focused marketing decisions, we are stuck with sag without that PCI PCB thing. It is a tad Ironic in a way, lol. (pic of such a thing that is no more is here) www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/4133086/#Comment_4133086

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

Just finished a build in the Thermaltake View 91 Case...amazing case, very large and extremely easy to build in.

[@TheCapn23]

Mini-ITX form factor is best form factor!

[@Aereto]

But not best performer.

[@sirius4k]

Wrong, Full Tower or go home.

[@nickpickerwi7787]

Wrong, watercooled iTX with a no-compromise video card and CPU in a custom case is best waifu.

[@scythelord]

@@nickpickerwi7787 Unless you actually have any use for storage or expansion cards, in which case ITX is completely garbage.

[@nickpickerwi7787]

@@scythelord Sure, I understand that. I build PC's for clients. It depends on the need. What I can say is that it's awesome and impressive to present a tiny box that doesn't compromise on performance, thermals, or noise.

[@literate-aside]

Love this series, great video. I’m aware that everyone does this, but I really feel the Meshify C needed some focus, it’s an awesome case.

[@BlueSkyDefender]

Needs more GPU sagging.

[@gpairee1377]

That shit physically pained me

[@AstrichthyesSouls]

I think a more proper way to define the budget class is to have a set budget. If you want a solid budget case for under $50, chances are it's going to be a different case than one you get for a budget of under $70. I personally bought a Corsair 200R for my new rig for $40 and it's nice for what it is. Decent cable management, good airflow, and you can put virtually any GPU in it due to its size. It's big, but surprisingly quiet

[@gniawd]

But the Evolv X looks so cool though....

[@arckanum332]

Cool < Functionality

[@Tacet137]

@@arckanum332 right good thing its also crazy functional

[@ACSMezz101]

Thanks guys - this will help for my zen 2 based build upcoming next year.

[@Pogisodk]

evolve x DLC

[@ClayAutery]

I'm in the middle of a build on the Lian Li O11 Dynamic in white... SUCH and awesome case! She who must be placated is going to love her new system in this case with an x299 Dark, 9980XE, 4x8GB Gskill 3733 DRAM, 2 x 970 Pro, EVGA 2080Ti iCX, and fully cooled care of EKWB (3 360 rads, CPU, GPU, RAM cooling...

[@FewcanJAM]

I love my Phanteks Evolv X It was such a fun case to build in

[@rudyossanchez]

I came for the knowledge, stay for Snowflake

[@M0DERN_B0REFARE]

2:20 You even went as far as giving the cases a cat scan, impressive!

[@Geopirate3]

Where is that Silversone CS381 link???? I think it's a bit unfair to recommend a case that has not been released, especially when there is no release date, hint of a release or even an advanced review.

[@djleunam]

Hi Steve, Great video. What about a “compact” category? I’m actually looking to build a pc. Maybe something I can connect to the TV and fit it in a smaller form factor. I was hoping to get some ideas from your video but can see how smaller cases would tend to penalize thermals, etc so would not show up as top performers. Any recommendations for a matx build?

[@kaishiden6181]

I've come to the conclusion after watching this video that modern cases are ugly. I'll be sticking to my 19 year old Lian li Pc 60, Thank you very much!

[@Jake-cp4wb]

Hey gamers nexus, if your ever looking for a video idea, I'd love to see some kind of testing done to cases to measure how well they block coil whine. I'm not saying you should make it a whole new test in all case reviews, but I think it would make an interesting video to kind of get an idea what works best to block coil whine.

[@TheSadLittlePanda]

The best case is clearly the one that ships with a cat

[@Eric-yt7fp]

I recently built a new Ryzen PC with the H500P mesh and I love it. I do, however, plan on modding the top by removing the acrylic pane with mesh salvaged from my old Corsair Carbide black & white. Solid case, I really do love it.

[@NateFromIT]

I love my Evolv X

[@UnboxingNStuff]

that's a nice case!

[@ayushsharma06]

Love the CM H500P mesh case, I bought two for my office a few months ago to build our deep learning machines and they perform pretty well and look great too. I am planning to buy one for my home PC now too, although Lian li o11 looks pretty promising too. Well that will be a tough decision choosing between the two.

[@firemarshaldil]

I really wish I could find a dual system case that actually is functional. Rip

[@JR-gn3hj]

if you really want the best for functionality and not looks, then it's the Phanteks Mini XL DS

[@firemarshaldil]

@@JR-gn3hj sadly i need at least 1 full atx in my dual system :/

[@firemarshaldil]

The whole point is only having one case...

[@firemarshaldil]

@Erick Rosa that's some how even less room to build i dont think you understand the point of a dual system case lol

[@JR-gn3hj]

well in that case you can always go with the Thermaltake Core W200 :), buy as a dual systems user myself I get what you are saying

[@Neovalen]

Did my recent build in the Coolermaster H500M model with the mesh panel in the front. Absolutely amazing case and it was a pleasure to work with.

[@wolfshanze5980]

Obviously he forgot the award for "Best Case that you can still put an Optical Drive in".

[@cityxinxflames]

What's an optical drive

[@wolfshanze5980]

@@cityxinxflames something tons of people still use who aren't stuck up elitists.

[@zig131]

I bought a Silverstone Primera 02 and I'm really happy with it. I would have preferred to have a mesh front panel but I didn't like my other options. Reviewing other cases by Silverstone and others they were either old (no USB 3.0 support), plastic-y, expensive and/or had RGB fans. The PM02 has a lovely understated look with no unnecessary stuff sticking out. I removed the silly logo projector and the bottom red plastic cap to the front panel to open up air flow and I get great temperatures with decent noise levels.

[@user-kk4bq7mb8u]

I do suppose the Meshify C isn't quite out-of-the-box impressive, I somehow feel it should have been an important honorable mention due to its all-around impressiveness once you add in two or three more fans.

[@S7orm89]

But it was released last year and got "best overall" award

[@mjc0961]

ahem... Awards Show: Best & Worst PC Cases of *_2018_*

[@user-kk4bq7mb8u]

@@S7orm89 I definitely need to rewatch last year's. And I suppose I missed the goal of this year end rundown; it sounds like it's only for products released this year, rather than the best of what's available on the market for this year?

[@user-kk4bq7mb8u]

@@mjc0961 that's fantastic. Now you only need to define what "of 2018” means.

[@wingracer1614]

@@user-kk4bq7mb8u I have two of them, damn good case.

[@vedomedo]

I have a H700i personally, works fine, but it's quite noticable that it could be better at temps. 8700k @4.8 idles at 31-32c

[@CaptSumTingWong1]

Why no Corsair cases?

[@0verkilla]

I guess they don't deserve any of the "awards"?

[@derangel9143]

Personally, I feel Corsair's case output this year has just been "okay". Nothing bad, but Corsair puts a tax on it's name and pushes a lot of cases into higher price categories than they really should be.

[@CaptSumTingWong1]

@@derangel9143 Agreed, but me and a friend of mine picked up some amazing Corsair cases this month for near half retail for "Black Friday"...

[@bothellkenmore]

All of their "innovation" the last year has been RGB. Where's the type C front I/O like Cooler Master, Lian Li and I think the Phanteks?

[@arckanum332]

Corsair used to be good and affordable, but since they've gotten big(er), their innovation has slumped and their customer service which used to be based in California is now overseas. You get the displeasure of talking to someone who doesn't understand your problem nor cares or takes your issues seriously. I had that displeasure of having to call them and they promised to have a supervisor call me back which never happened.

[@Valfaun]

the SL600 really is quite intriguing and i find myself placing it on my wishlist even though i'm not fond of the silver color. but the rotated design and option to use 200mm fans in an overall unusual case that doesn't suck is too interesting

[@MalleusSemperVictor]

If I buy the case, do I get the cat?

[@UnboxingNStuff]

Yes in fact you get all the cats!

[@kingstoler]

The Lian Li PC-O11 Air and Dynamic are gorgeous. I'm not sure which one I like the most. The front glass does look nice but so does the black plastic grill in front and on top.

[@mattsmechanicalssi5833]

Awards verified by Snowflake!

[@henrycalliste8012]

Whatever happened to your rating of the Corsair 780T Case. I dont see it on your charts but it is the best case that ive come across with regards to airflow and modular build flexibility. Ive built quite a few machines over the years and to be honest it would be nice to see how it correlates with your data if you ever had a chance to include it in your next case reviews. BTW i love your vids theyre always well researched and presented. Keep up the good work

[@krizby87]

Don't know why you are so hypercritical about the Phantek case though, all other cases in 200usd price range look like shit next to the Phantek Evolv X. You gave so much credits to thermal performance but your choice of test hardware (CPU cooler) hardly resemble the majority of enthusiast users anyways. Might as well not including Phantek Evolv X in your awards show if you have some beef with Phantek instead of ridiculing it, makes you look very unprofessional. Note: I just bought the Lian li 011 Dynamic but Phantek Evolv X would have been my 1st choice but not on sale yet.

[@Testrudi1981]

I've got two Evolv ATX TG cases. No problems at all in any category. I'm going to upgrade to the Evolv X, just because I want it. My hardware works flawlessly.

[@DerUnglaublicheAlk]

Whether overhype or not. For me, the Evolve-X is the best case. The workmanship is good and it offers the most and best detail solutions of all the cases I know. Such as fill/drain port openings, despite the glazier side the possibility to let cables disappear completely and so on ... Each case has its strengths and weaknesses, but the Evolve-X is for me one of the user/modding-friendliest.

[@ancientevil8044]

Great video as always. I was wondering if you plan on reviewing the Cooler Master MasterCase MC500M. It looks like a really nice case but I can't find any good reviews for it.

[@f.miller801]

I've got addicted to those visual timestamps. Now I want it in every channel.

[@JMPDev]

I really liked the Corsair 500D in my most recent build, and for the very subjective category of best visual design would have been my pick: - One of the best tempered glass side panel mounting mechanisms (swinging door hinges, similar to the Enthoo Evolv X), no stupid rubber inset thumb screws. - Very good cable management channels on the back side. - Easily removable sleds for mounting radiators in top and front. - I just really like the aesthetic as well. The front, top and side panels look stunning IMHO. Yeah, it's not as great for thermals as shown in GN's review - for me its aesthetic and build experience was the most important thermals factor, and I don't intend on doing any high-end overclocking.

[@Fee.1]

Just realizing I look forward to these videos all year long

[@michaelkuper6604]

I bought a Cooler Master H500P Mesh earlier this year because of your review. Very happy with it.

[@kyleb2044]

Was going to buy an NZXT H500 from your recommendation, But the deals disappeared when I was ready to buy and found the cooler Master H500 for $90 plus a $20 MIR. Just checked it out a minute ago and first impressions I'm pretty impressed with design and fit and finish, although I won't really get a full look until I build this beast this weekend when the rest of my parts arrive.

[@whiskeymike7364]

Love the cat! Snowflake? I bought the CM c700m based on your rave (not) review. It was okay thermally, but I loved the design. Sometimes, looks counts a lot. Now I need a roadie. It replaced a view 71 RGB; it was too much work. Pretty, but inadequate cable-routing-wise. I wonder if TT ever tried to use it in a build.

[@FurNaxxYT]

I cant believe the Phanteks Evolve X didn't make the looks from at least one of you T_T

[@badarmadawarshipsclan4679]

I think you missed out a great case for the budget award... coolermaster MB500 great case, great layout, tempered glass all for £55 which I paid in the UK. Great content as always

[@FasuloA]

I know I'm late to this video but damn, great camera work and content. That's not a cat from LinusCatTips is it?

[@danmurphy1400]

These are always my favorite videos from you guys. Doing Tech God's work. Bless up

[@xdi1733]

The fact remains that everything else in the case will warm up pushing hot air into the case, especially that precious m.2 slot ssd that most of the time have no heatsink and can heat up and throttle down. Best case scenario is to water cool both the cpu & gpu by carefully planning a build with whatever your budget allows and have all radiator heat exhausted out the top and back of the case, if possible this will keep everything in your case cooler period.

[@KevinMendoza94PeSwe]

09:37 "This one deserves marks just for being different and weird". LMAO

[@cbleman]

I have the O11-dynamic. One major issue is the positioning of the ATX mounts. It positions the board too low for 3 120's at the bottom because of the front panel and USB connections. There is easily enough room to move the board up to make it work, just disappointing that this was missed. The cable management is abysmal, although you don't see it with the mash down panel, but could have been better.

[@APeopleP3rson]

I quite literally 5 minutes ago ordered the H500M and a Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler. Been waiting for the case to go on sale all year.

[@Idtelos]

I still went with the Lian Li O11 Air . Removed the dust filter, and it's good to go!

[@skiniko7]

I know it's hard with ITX cases to compare them with reliability. I'm still sad not to have any ITX category here! ITX cases needs more love! Awesome video, love Snowflake!

[@amidamaru0086]

Hey, Steve, I loved the video! Is there a chance you guys could look at the Fractal Design Focus G (and/or G Mini) for the Budget category? It looks like a classic airflow-focused case, but it's $50-70 depending on color, and I wonder how the more traditional design would stack up against all the unconventional cases in your charts. Thanks again.

[@Chretze]

The Lian Li O11 Dynamic is NOT without limiations or draw backs! There is NO ROOM for 140mm fans or radiators in there, you're forced to make do with the small 120mm ones.

[@AChrivia]

I love how the cat just randomly pops up in a few different clips just doing his own shit like “I do what I want, fuck you, don’t touch me, you pick me up and I’ll piss on all your expensive electronics” lol 😂