Do you intend to build a new PC? Or want to have a detailed overview of the best options available? When it comes to building a PC, the most common priority for most people is choosing one of the best CPUs, as it is an essential factor for gaming, followed by picking up the best graphics card.
After you’ve carefully chosen the CPU and the graphics card, you’ll then want to get the best motherboard that is available in the market, followed by having some extra storage devices. One thing we recommend, however, is not to underestimate the importance of the best minimalist PC cases out there. Let’s take a look at why!
Most builders often forget about PC cases. They overlook the PC’s case because they think it is merely just a case to put your system in. However, a tech-savvy person who is well versed in technology and gadgets knows that getting your hands on the best PC case is the key to smooth running your system.
Your PC’s case doesn’t only define the overall identity of your hardware, but is also responsible for so many pertinent factors, such as controlling the level of noise at your workspace, and even regulating the cooling mechanism of your system. The need for a good PC case can be fathomed by the fact that your PC’s hardware will be inside the case.
Moreover, one must keep in mind that having a new PC build is a long-term investment as your work depends on it. It is commonly believed that an aesthetically pleasing workspace creates a positive atmosphere, which ensures better productivity. The aesthetic appeal of a workstation is often just as important as its functionality. Therefore, it won’t be wrong to say that your PC case must be chosen carefully.
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 picks when it comes to the best minimalist PC cases in 2023!
Best Overall
Budget Pick
Premium Pick
There are a lot of extravagant PC cases available in the market, flashing with RGB lights and decorated with colorful designs. However, PC cases should never be too flashy, as this can distract and affect functionality.
According to research, PC cases should always be minimalist, as such cases give an aesthetically pleasing look and make your workstation appear decent and clean. Although minimalist cases appear simple, they have all the significant features of a typical PC case.
Picking and choosing the best PC case for your next build is often puzzling, especially when you do not know what features to look for to make the best choice. To save you from the hassle, we’ve skimmed and scanned the best possible PC cases available in the market. Our list will give you a briefing on the seven best options out of dozens of models that we have researched.
Below, we have reviewed seven immaculate minimalist PC cases of 2023 for you. Let’s take a look at the top 7 best minimalist PC cases in 2023 that will aesthetically store your PC components for many years to come.
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1. LIAN LI Mid-Tower Chassis ATX Computer Case – Best Overall
This fantastic PC case comes with a clean aesthetic, which adds simplicity and elegance to your workstation.
The dimensions of this case are 8.1 x 16.3 x 19.1inch. It has a 0.8mm SPCC front panel, which ensures lots of space for all of the components, making it durable and spacious.
It supports motherboards of ATX, mATX, and Mini-ITX, which is a great feature considering it is not at big as other PC cases on the market.
This case comes with a tempered glass PC side panel that ensures a perfect view of the RGB components.
This Mid-Tower Chassis case is straightforward to install, as it comes with an easy installation design.
The mounting brackets have removable SSD, which can be swapped from the top & front fan brackets. Changing the bottom side panel PSU & HDD bay can be done quickly.
This case is extremely spacious, featuring a professional cable PC management solution. There is additional space located behind the case’s motherboard tray for extra hidden cable organization.
It also includes all necessary I/O essentials such as 2xUSB 3.0, Power button, and audio output and input on the top.
The air performance is immaculate as well, as this case comes with high air quality performance with Side Ventilation, Magnetic Dust Filter, and 2 Installed PC 120mm fans.
It also comes with magnetic dust filters on the top and the front of the case and a dust filter tray at the bottom, ensuring liquid cooling.
Why is this the best minimalist PC case in 2023?
The LIAN LI Mid-Tower Chassis ATX PC case is undoubtedly the best case available in the market because of its excellent qualities. This fantastic PC case is very aesthetically pleasing, carries elegance, and demonstrates minimalism with its super sleek design. It also fits to house any component you desire.
Considering the pros and cons of this case, we can definitely say that this is the best PC case available in the market, as it demonstrates elegance and minimalism through its sleek design and fits to house any component you desire.
2. DeepCool MACUBE 110 WH Micro ATX Case – Budget Pick
This slim and sleek DeepCool MACUBE Micro ATX PC case is not only a perfect pick for smaller setups but is extremely easy on the pocket. That is why it has bagged the position of being the ‘budget pick’ on our list. It has a simple, clean, compact, and refined layout. It has a smooth and minimal finish that encloses the front panel that blends well with any setup.
This micro ATX PC case has a minimalist look that comes with a full-size tempered glass PC side panel with magnets, which makes this case just that much more beautiful.
The case comes with an incorporated height-adjustable cardholder for your graphics card, which won’t let your GPU sag down your game.
The cooling system is extensive as it supports cooling for up to six 120mm PC fans.
The removable HDD case provides additional space to put in up to two 2.5 inch or two 3.5 inch storage drives in it.
This amazingly compact PC case maximizes performance capability in a tiny footprint.
3. Fractal Design Define 7 Compact Black Brushed Aluminum/Steel ATX – Premium Pick
This PC case has a compact yet spacious interior that can easily fit ATX, mATX, and mITX motherboards.
It can fit graphic cards that reach sizes of up to 360millimeters with a 240millimieter radiator at the top.
It can easily fit two 2. 5”/3. 5” drives, along with four SSDs.
The top panel of this case effortlessly changes solid steel to well-flowing filtered ventilation.
This PC case comes with a removable top that ensures easy installation and cable routing by exposing the interior for the smooth running of these functions.
This case also comes with industrial sound-damping, as it comes with a silence-optimized construction.
As for cooling, it holds up to 7 x 120 mm or 4 x 140 mm fans (one of each size included)
4. NZXT H510i
This sleek design comes with a tempered glass side panel with an easy single screw installation.
It incorporates an I/O USB Type-C Port on the front, a Vertical GPU Mount, and an upgraded V2 of Smart Device.
This PC case includes a quicker microprocessor for the NZXT CAM-enabled control of the two RGB case lighting channels, as well as three PC fan channels, supporting PWM and voltage-regulated fans.
One of its features also includes a vertical graphics card mounting option, which shows off the graphic card with an incorporated mounting bracket that enables an easy install of your vertical GPU.
However, it must be noted that a PCIe extra riser card is not included in this case.
The cable routing package is extensive as well, as it comes with pre-installed straps and channels, making wiring easy & intuitive.
5. AeroCool Cylon RGB Mid Tower
This elegant PC case gives a modern look with a complete Acrylic Side PC Window RGB lighting ready design.
The design incorporates LED lighting that includes a total of 13 beautiful lighting modes present on the front panel.
This case allows for liquid cooling with a 240mm radiator located in the case’s front panel. It also offers air cooling with a 120mm fan on the top to improve overall cooling performance. Plus, it supports all major graphics cards that reach 371mm in size.
It also supports a VGA PC fan bracket assembly with two 120mm case fans for the enhanced cooling ability of the VGA.
For improved ventilation, this case supports SD and micro SD memory cards with a dual-chamber look.
The PSU dust filters are removable, which ensures easy cleaning.
Other specifications include a steel thickness of 0.5mm. The motherboards that this case supports are ATX/micro ATX/mini-ITX.
The I/O Ports that it incorporates are USB3.0 x 1; USB2.0 x 2 ; HD Audio & Mic.
6. Thermaltake S100 Tempered Glass Snow Edition Micro-ATX mini-Tower
The design of this PC case is slim & compact, consisting of a complete metal cover surrounding the case’s body with a catchy front panel case design.
It incorporates a 4mm-thick side tempered glass PC panel with a pristine look. It has a tool-free door lock design, which ensures durability while looking stylish.
The Thermaltake S100 has a built-in windowed power cover, which is equipped with a PSU cover. It also has a ventilated design to improve airflow and cover up messy-looking cables.
A great part of this case is that it ensures dust reduction as a handy magnetic fan filter is constructed on the top and on the base of the chassis to help dust filtration.
This sleek-looking design supports Mini ITX, Micro ATX motherboards.
The size of the drive bay is 2 x 2. 5″/3. 5″, which comes with a HDD rack plus 2 x 2. 5″ with an HDD bracket behind the MB tray. It also comes with a pre-installed 120mm rear fan.
The size dimensions are 16. 18″ x 8. 66″ x 17. 36″ / 13. 45 lbs.
7. darkFlash DLX22 NEO Mid Tower Computer Case
This PC case comes with a hinged tempered glass panel that is easy to disassemble and install.
The design of this case incorporates a built-in dust-proof system, which will keep your computer crystal-clean at all times.
The cooling system of this case is mighty, as it has a 360mm water cooler on top and up to 5pcs fans on top/rear/side panel, which ensures optimal airflow and cooling for your case, so there is no need to worry about your endless gaming sessions.
The internal space is quite spacious as it supports E-ATX / ATX / Micro ATX / ITX motherboards, up to 5 fans, and a max 360mm radiator.
The I/O panel of this PC case is quite multifunctional. It incorporates type-C/USB3.0/USB2.0/HD Audio/Power/Reset/LED Switch I/O ports, providing great flexibility for various mobile audio accessories. The I/O panel is straightforward to use.
This case also comes with an independent power supply shroud, which means that the lower separate power supply can effectively reduce the pressure on the chassis and enhance stability. Moreover, it can get more cold air through the airflow to cool the radiator and reduce noise simultaneously.
How to Choose the Best Minimalist PC Case in 2023?
Now that you are aware of the top 7 best picks for PC cases available in the market, you may still find it challenging to choose the best one out of these.
There are some essential factors that one must keep in mind before deciding and buying the best minimalist PC case for your setup
Size
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the size of a PC case is the most critical factor to consider before buying a PC case. Minimalist PC case sizes vary from a small form factor (less than fourteen inches), mini-tower (14-16 inches), mid-tower (17 to 21 inches), and full tower (22 to 27 inches), so you can choose according to the size of your workstation.
Material
It must be noted that cases are available in a wide variety of materials. However, before buying a PC case, it’s important to choose a case that is made of the most durable material.
The most durable material to ensure long-lasting protection is steel (more specifically: SECC Steel). However, steel PC cases are not cost-effective, in fact they are expensive. Substitute materials that are both cost-effective and reliable are acrylic and aluminum.
Ventilation
Another important factor to consider is an adequate airflow system. An adequate airflow system ensures proper ventilation and cooling which is the key behind the durability of a system, as it is responsible for the smooth running of the system’s functionality.
If a system is not properly ventilated, it affects the build life of your PC, so it is a significant factor to consider before buying a PC case.
Management of Cables
Minimalist setup is not only about the size, but how aesthetically pleasing your overall workstation looks. In order for your system to look immaculate, neat, and well-managed, you need to manage your cables to avoid cluttering.
Cable management is a significant feature of a minimalist PC case, therefore an ideal case should be equipped with proper space and come up with facilities to counter the cluttering of your cables, both inside and outside your system, to avoid a messy outlook.
Side Panel
There is a wide range of side panels available in the market, with a huge variety of designs and materials, the best pick for a minimalist setup is to go for a tempered glass panel, which is basically a transparent panel.
The durability of tempered glass panels is exceptional. It also provides a more fine finish to the look of a minimalist PC case.
A tempered glass panel is a perfect pick to create an aesthetically pleasing outlook.
In comparison with glass panels, plastic panels not only give a cheaper look but they are very difficult to clean as well.
Other Factors:
When buying a PC case, you should ensure the adequate functionality of dust filters, as they act as barriers to protect the PC from dust particles. Poor functionality of dust filters are harmful for the internal functioning of a system.
Moreover one must ensure that the storage space, motherboard’s functionality, and the GPU size match the requirements of the user.
Final Thoughts
It is a common misconception that a big PC case is better than a minimalist, compact design. This stems from the idea that the bigger the case is, the better cooling it can provide. By incorporating more fans, it will be responsible for cooling your hardware components more efficiently, and at a faster pace, resulting in improved performance.
However, those who understand PC systems know that it isn’t completely true. In actuality, smaller cases work more efficiently when it comes to cooling down your CPUs and GPUs, as they optimize the airflow. If the airflow throughout the case is adequate, the need for multiple fans is eliminated. In smaller, minimalist cases, the mechanism of cooling your system down by having multiple fans is replaced by the option to install liquid cooling.
After reviewing the seven best available minimalist PC cases available in the market for you, the best pick according to our research is LANCOOL 205 as it fulfills all the requirements of how an ideal minimalist PC case should be.
A minimalist PC case should be smooth, clean, and must appeal to the eyes. Just like an extremely flashy dress and a high-beam fluctuating light can be painful for the eyes, a flashy PC case can be distracting and affect one’s attention span and functionality.
An ideal minimalist PC case must offer a strong foundation for your design. It should complement the look of your minimalist workplace by having a compact footprint. However, it should not compromise on delivering the essential characteristics of a normal case, which include compatibility with the majority of the PC components and a perfect airflow system.
To conclude, we can state that one must keep all the aforementioned factors in mind before selecting an ideal PC case for a workplace, as your PC is a long-term investment that you will use often. The visual appeal of your minimalist pc is just as significant as its functionality.
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