Frame Works PC Cases

A custom PC requires suitable accommodation, so be sure you choose the right chassis for your build with our buying guide and hands-on tests.

THE WORST MISTAKE to make when buying a PC case is to treat it as merely a vessel; something that only exists to hold all the more exciting parts in place.

In reality, no other component in a PC build exerts so much influence on the rest. The case determines what kind of motherboard you can use, whether a graphics card will fit, how many storage drives you can install and even how cool the finished system can run. On top of all this, it has key duties of its own: a good case should be easy and practical to build into, and should at least look good enough on the outside that you don’t get sick of the sight of it.

In other words, a lot rests on the humble case, as well as your ability to find one that suits your needs. We can help with that: in addition to the following buying guide, where we break down the desirable and not-so desirable qualities of chassis design, we’ve reviewed a diverse mix of seven recently launched cases. Read on to make sure you don’t end up building yourself into a corner.

VANITY PROJECT

It’s easier to build a great PC if the case itself has been constructed well. Indeed, while your desktop is unlikely to be going anywhere in a hurry, durability and robust materials are just as welcome qualities here as they would be on a smartphone or laptop.

That means looking out for tough, strong metals, which don’t flex or bend when pressure is applied. At the same time, a case needs to be aesthetically pleasing, something that may be in the eye of the beholder but is no less important all the same.