Best PC Cases of 2021 So Far: $60 to $200 Airflow, Silence, & Budget Cases

By admin | July 17, 2021 |

Best PC Cases of 2021 So Far: $60 to $200 Airflow, Silence, & Budget Cases

Our Best PC Cases in 2021 So Far content looks at everything from budget airflow cases to noise-focused cases. We talk about best airflow & cooling cases, mechanical design, & more.
Sponsor: Buy Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut on Amazon (https://geni.us/1D8Eeq) or Hydronaut paste (https://geni.us/Fsray)

If you’re building a new system or updating an old one, consider buying our GN Wireframe Mouse Mat for a high-quality mousing surface with a sharp, unique design and focus on high-quality materials: https://store.gamersnexus.net/products/gn-wireframe-mouse-mat
For PC maintenance and other projects, like video card disassembly, please consider our GN Tear-Down Toolkit: https://store.gamersnexus.net/products/gamersnexus-tear-down-toolkit

PC Case Review Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94l1c5dMRX8&list=PLsuVSmND84QtrMP_niRTD2zIa3uUhxIvn&index=2

Normalized Fans & Noise Methodology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVkAXSJeKKM

There are a lot of good computer cases available right now. Our objective is to compare gaming PC cases for best CPU and GPU temperatures, best noise-normalized temperatures and noise levels, best build quality, best features at a certain budget, and numerous other factors (like mechanical design quality) for 2021 so far. This includes some 2020 cases from late in 2020, as they’re still on the market (clearly) and among the best. We’ve reviewed more cases in the last few months than ever in this period of the year before, so now is a good time to refresh our list of top cases. Of course, as more ship, we’ll keep reviewing them. This round-up includes comparisons between cases like the Lian Li Lancool 215, the Meshify 2 (and Compact), be quiet! Silent Base 802, Corsair 4000D & 5000D, and more.

CASES FEATURED (in order of appearance)

NOTE: Some of these cases are way overpriced and sold by third-party sellers right now. Please be careful of how much you’re spending on the cases.

Best Overall Thermals & Design: Lian Li Lancool 215
Lian Li Lancool 215 on Amazon – https://geni.us/iIaEuX
GN Lian Li Lancool 215 review – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un82B93xKOE

Best Mechanical Design – be quiet! Silent Base 802 & Corsair 5000D Airflow
be quiet! Silent Base 802 on Amazon – https://geni.us/DaGYu
Corsair 5000D Airflow on Amazon – https://geni.us/cnVP60
GN Silent Base 802 review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsiffsT5li8

Best Budget Case: Phanteks P360A & P300A
Phanteks P360A on Amazon – https://geni.us/gAoq6ot
Phanteks P300A on Amazon – https://geni.us/E5mWsN
GN Phanteks P300A review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L9YfbCirTg

Best Thermals (Airflow): Fractal Meshify 2 Compact & Lian Li Lancool II Mesh
Fractal Meshify 2 Compact on Amazon – https://geni.us/i1GNAD5
Lian Li Lancool II Mesh on Amazon – https://geni.us/io9HA8
GN Meshify 2 Compact review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94l1c5dMRX8
GN Lancool II Mesh review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JSLWewcieY

Best Noise Levels: Corsair 5000D Non-Airflow
Corsair 5000D on Amazon – https://geni.us/cnVP60
GN Corsair 5000D review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU_qa49gHzw

Best Noise-Normalized Thermals: Fractal Meshify 2
Fractal Meshify 2 on Amazon – https://geni.us/gazYCfz
GN Meshify 2 review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTW2KHGzbM0

Like our content? Please consider becoming our Patron to support us: http://www.patreon.com/gamersnexus

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Best Cases of 2021 (So Far)
02:57 – Best Overall PC Case 2021
05:28 – Best Mechanical Design PC Case 2021
09:38 – Best Budget Airflow Case So Far
12:06 – Best Thermals & Airflow Case 2021
14:04 – Best Noise Levels & Silence
16:05 – Best Noise-Normalized Thermals
18:05 – “Best” Worst Case
20:05 – Conclusion

** Please like, comment, and subscribe for more! **

Links to Amazon and Newegg are typically monetized on our channel (affiliate links) and may return a commission of sales to us from the retailer. This is unrelated to the product manufacturer. Any advertisements or sponsorships are disclosed within the video (“this video is brought to you by”) and above the fold in the description. We do not ever produce paid content or “sponsored content” (meaning that the content is our idea and is not funded externally aside from whatever ad placement is in the beginning) and we do not ever charge manufacturers for coverage.

Follow us in these locations for more gaming and hardware updates:

t: http://www.twitter.com/gamersnexus
f: http://www.facebook.com/gamersnexus
w: http://www.gamersnexus.net/

Host, Test Lead, Copy Editing: Steve Burke
Writing, Testing: Patrick Lathan
Video: Keegan Gallick, Andrew Coleman

Posted in Computers

50 Comments

  1. Mr Tampax on July 17, 2021 at 2:45 am

    Is that arctic cooler 240 or 280 top mounted in liang 215???



  2. Neil MacGregor on July 17, 2021 at 2:45 am

    Awww, my target purchase O11 Dynamic XL didn’t win anything 🙁 Perhaps suggested new category for HN Awards – "best case for OLoop Watercooling"?



  3. Mikkel H on July 17, 2021 at 2:45 am

    is Corsair iCUE 465X RGB good?



  4. OscarCharlieZulu on July 17, 2021 at 2:46 am

    What the all time best case / case list – like if you could have any case ever built?



  5. Wonginism on July 17, 2021 at 2:50 am

    How about cases with disc drive ?

    Let’s see



  6. EH8 on July 17, 2021 at 2:50 am

    the corsair 5000d airflow would be perfect if not for the tinted glass



  7. jah for ever on July 17, 2021 at 2:51 am

    NZXT ELITE H510 + kraken z63 280mm + 140mm fan top + 120mm fan i9 10900k how bout it??



  8. Kyodai Games on July 17, 2021 at 2:51 am

    Matrexx 55 Mesh just saying



  9. Eugene Elkin on July 17, 2021 at 2:56 am

    NICE AWES0ME C00L_ 🍨



  10. KiwiBlitz on July 17, 2021 at 2:56 am

    To keep an 3080 cool is the be quiet 802 good enough under load or is there something more recommended that won’t irritate me as i’m noise sensitive.



  11. DARK LIME on July 17, 2021 at 2:57 am

    GamerNexus is a caveman learning computers. CavemanNexus



  12. J. Caldera on July 17, 2021 at 2:59 am

    Steve, I see that the optical drive is becoming an endangered species. However, PC builder fans still want access to an optical drive. Why don’t you include in your reviews cases that provide optical drives option?



  13. k_garashi on July 17, 2021 at 2:59 am

    Why do you inhale so loudly lmao



  14. Marcos Mora on July 17, 2021 at 2:59 am

    Could you add a "best compact case" category next?



  15. Mitch R on July 17, 2021 at 3:00 am

    Taking the top and front off my h170i also reduced temps over 10c



  16. Maciek Radziszewski on July 17, 2021 at 3:00 am

    beautiful cat



  17. Blind Guardian on July 17, 2021 at 3:02 am

    .



  18. OLD GRANDMAS CUNTS on July 17, 2021 at 3:02 am

    these are horrible



  19. Mr.Nibbles on July 17, 2021 at 3:04 am

    Wanted to use the Meshify c for my build but I didn’t expect to get my hands on a 6700 xt lol



  20. Abhishek on July 17, 2021 at 3:08 am

    Cougar MX660 Mesh RGB. Any thoughts?



  21. information dfd df on July 17, 2021 at 3:11 am

    why do you look like a woman?



  22. Azza23 on July 17, 2021 at 3:11 am

    I’m definitely not here after buying a 3070 ti that doesn’t fit in my h510 elite…….



  23. Iruparazzo on July 17, 2021 at 3:13 am

    cutting to the NZXT board fire will never get old tbh



  24. Russian Bot Ulf on July 17, 2021 at 3:13 am

    do these new cases still support 3,5" hdd ? i got 2 ..



  25. OscarCharlieZulu on July 17, 2021 at 3:14 am

    Also where the GN design case?



  26. n0rg on July 17, 2021 at 3:16 am

    OK, that electronic mat you’re working on now is more than 36" x 12". Where did you get that one?



  27. pjtomtai on July 17, 2021 at 3:16 am

    Best non-glass non-light while quiet and dust-proof case? hate the glass and lighting.



  28. Windows Alternative on July 17, 2021 at 3:16 am

    3:17 I got one of these Lian Li for $60 from Newegg recently, great price for a great case!



  29. Adham Rabah on July 17, 2021 at 3:18 am

    Can we do one for fans?



  30. deathfromace on July 17, 2021 at 3:18 am

    Looking forward to the next wrap-up. In the market for a new case.



  31. Cameron C on July 17, 2021 at 3:18 am

    Can’t wait for the P360A review thinking of changing to it from my P300. See if it a major improvement over it.



  32. shALKE on July 17, 2021 at 3:19 am

    Please add ITX cases.



  33. Dennis McNabb on July 17, 2021 at 3:20 am

    I’m still looking for a case for my cd blue ray player.



  34. Jonathan Greene on July 17, 2021 at 3:21 am

    best case scenario



  35. PeBoVision on July 17, 2021 at 3:21 am

    How does the Fractal case compare to the NewEgg ABS look-alike that you featured in your pre-build reviews? Is it the ABS a Fractal case unbranded, or just a cheap knock-off?



  36. DAKHD on July 17, 2021 at 3:22 am

    I would like to see a *best case for watercooling* category



  37. g1598 on July 17, 2021 at 3:23 am

    For me nothing beats the CoolerMaster cosmos 2



  38. mini master786 on July 17, 2021 at 3:23 am

    which one if these are micro atx supported mobo



  39. Jordan Karim on July 17, 2021 at 3:23 am

    I have to say I hugely respect the honesty of GN reviews. If something is trash, they’ll tell you it’s trash, and if it’s good they’ll tell you it’s good. You’d think that would be a basic component of a review, but it’s sadly lacking these days in a lot of other sources.



  40. slugbait late on July 17, 2021 at 3:24 am

    Hey I have an idea. Maybe because it’s impossible to purchase graphics cards at even close to MSRP market distortion occurs and tanks the entire economy. Well it’s going to be hard deciding who to blame, Biden or China. I’m thinking both.



  41. Andy Zubia on July 17, 2021 at 3:24 am

    I don’t know why I didn’t look at your videos first 🤷🏾‍♂️



  42. R2-3PO on July 17, 2021 at 3:25 am

    Alternate Video Title: "Best Case Scenario"



  43. Elijah on July 17, 2021 at 3:25 am

    I own a Lian Li 215, and I’ve been thinking about the partially-blocked front fans. Would it be worthwhile to cut a circle out of the steel, to open up the rest of the fan area? I wonder how much improvement this would give over the original mount.



  44. Gamers Nexus on July 17, 2021 at 3:25 am

    Individual case reviews & links in the description.
    PC Case Review Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94l1c5dMRX8&list=PLsuVSmND84QtrMP_niRTD2zIa3uUhxIvn&index=2
    If you’re building a new system or updating an old one, consider buying our GN Wireframe Mouse Mat for a high-quality mousing surface with a sharp, unique design and focus on high-quality materials: https://store.gamersnexus.net/products/gn-wireframe-mouse-mat
    For PC maintenance and other projects, like video card disassembly, please consider our GN Tear-Down Toolkit: https://store.gamersnexus.net/products/gamersnexus-tear-down-toolkit



  45. AcquiredTaste on July 17, 2021 at 3:28 am

    Antec DF700Flux Shoulda been in this video



  46. KiwiBlitz on July 17, 2021 at 3:31 am

    For a build with a 5900x processor, A noctua DH-15 cooler and a 3080 which case works out best that does not go loud without turning into an oven? I have the be quiet silent base 802 and it seems pretty good but just in case i’d ask.



  47. harryksk1234 on July 17, 2021 at 3:33 am

    how about DF 600 FLUX？



  48. ROMS RADIO on July 17, 2021 at 3:34 am

    https://youtu.be/MC03CS_7hY8 <— My latest Apex Legends video: Making Wraith Great Again!



  49. SDBolts619 on July 17, 2021 at 3:34 am

    So, based on this, I’m thinking my decision to upgrade my Raven RV-02 to a full custom loop rather than get a new case is a good call. Regular temps aside, I built a collector and duct system to vent the computer directly to a window fan sucking air out of the room to help keep ambient temps as low as possible when not running air conditioning on warm San Diego days.



  50. Filip Djordjevic on July 17, 2021 at 3:37 am

    Would be nice if any of them looked half decent