Regular mid-tower cases are practical, but they’re incredibly bulky. Some people like setups with some portability, while others just don’t have the desk space required to host a large case. Regardless of why you need a cube PC case, the ones in the market today are fantastic options. They have the right amount of airflow to keep your hardware cool, they’re durable, and they can support full-fledged GPUs. Some cube cases even have enough room for a liquid-cooling system.
So, if you’re looking to make your PC as portable as possible, cube cases are a great place to start. Here are five of the best cube PC cases you can buy.
Cube PC Cases Comparison Chart
Name & Brand | Material | Motherboard Support | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Thermaltake Core V21 | Spcc | Micro ATX | Check Price |
Corsair CC-9011030 | Alloy Steel | Micro ATX | Check Price |
Fractal Design 804 | Aluminum, Alloy Steel | Micro ATX | Check Price |
Anidees AI Crystal | Tempered Glass, Alloy Steel | ATX | Check Price |
Thermaltake Level 20 VT | Tempered Glass | Micro ATX | Check Price |
Our Favorite Cube PC Cases
Thermaltake Core V21
First up on the list is none other than the industry leader, Thermaltake. This company is known to make excellent mid-tower gaming cases, and their cube case is nothing different. In fact, it is the best cube PC case on the market.
Product Features
The Core V21 is the latest addition to the Core V Series. The new model is a quadrate micro-M-ATX based chassis. It allows externally-modular upgrades, which give the user the ability to make dual systems. It also provides a lot of utility for people who want to run multiple tasks in a small space.
You can use the case vertically and horizontally, and the chassis is customizable for the most optimal setting. The 200mm fan ensures outstanding cooling performance. It can house a powerful system and can accommodate various overclocking components for boosting performance when necessary.
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The motherboard can be used both in horizontal and vertical placement in this GPU based on the user’s enthusiasm. The PSU dust filter is embedded at the bottom for convenient ventilation. Moreover, shockproof gaskets in the PSU bracket help in minimizing noise during operation.
The main attraction of this case is the Thermal solution with its endless stackable design. This core component is a class above the rest because not only is it the first of its kind, but it’s also an expandable system. On top of that, it allows users to make external modular upgrades.
Stacking the components together allows the chassis to open, making room for the liquid cooling to expand. This can serve multiple purposes, from creating storage solutions to even allowing the installation of dual systems. It is also beefy in size, with a 600mm radiator length at the front of the stack.
The excellence of this Thermaltake product’s interior design does not end here. The core allows multiple mounting points to support several forms of cooling methods. The PC case is already prepped as a gaming system with a preinstalled 200mm fan accommodation. Divided into two chambers, the upper portion is made for cooling control, while the lower section accommodates hardware and drive bays. The removable drive racks allow plenty of flexibility for maximum interior space when necessary for advanced cooling or liquid systems.
The best part of this specific casing is probably that it is practically beginner-friendly. With a toolless approach to PC cases, you don’t have to grind your gears over which piece goes where. Instead, all of it is packed up for you to open and arrange based on your needs.
Pros
- Amazing airflow
- Reasonably priced compared to its high quality
- Sturdy build quality
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- The user manual is mediocre at best
- Poor cable management
Corsair CC 9011030
Not looking for anything too flashy? Do you need a durable case that is minimalist but still a 10/10 in terms of functionality? Well, the Corsair CC is all of the above and much more!
Product Features
The dual-chamber functionality of the Corsair helps in maintaining consistent airflow through the chassis. It functions by directly connecting the temperature-sensitive part to the other end of its section.
The dual-chamber design aids the airflow and hence maintains the device’s temperature, which helps protect the graphic card and processor from overheating. It also regulates the cooling process with the help of a carbide series 540 cooling liquid having three fan cases of 140mm diameter.
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The Carbide series effectively casts space for Mini ITX, MicroATX, and other motherboards of the same series. It has the advantage of accommodating two devices simultaneously with a capacity of six 2.5″ devices storage both in the external and internal drive bays.
It also supports high-end complex graphic cards due to its expansion capacity of up to eight slots and supports 12.6″ long cards. In addition, the Corsair Company offers easy and tool-free installation for PCIe cards and other storage devices.
Due to its massive potential for cooling due to the six 120mm fans, it is recommended for desktop graphic cards and large storage devices. Moreover, it has internal customizable LEDs that help with better vision. The display system consists of three tempered glass panels making it more appealing.
The Corsair has a direct cooling design incorporating the dual chambers to their maximum capacity, providing temperature-sensitive devices such as processors, motherboards, memory devices, graphics cards, etc.
Customers recommend it due to its ability to produce low or no noise during the cooling process. Other than that, the dust filters are designed in such a way that they require minimum maintenance. The liquids it supports are H55, H60, H75, H80i, H90, H100i, H105, and H110. Overall, it has a steel frame with two drive bays and supports liquid coolers and GPUs with the help of a cable management system and dust filters.
Pros
- Lots of storage space
- Easy to assemble the components and tool-free installation
- Clear side air panel and efficient airflow
- Good cable management
Cons
- The power button is sensitive to touch and isn’t durable enough
- There are plastic strips over the metal at the top of the case, which causes it to rattle due to fan vibrations
Fractal Design Node 804
Fractal is more of the underdog in the world of PC cases. They have a reputation for being reliable, but they have yet to become mainstream in the gaming community. The Node 804 is a brilliant example of why this case deserves more attention.
Product Features
The case is as ordinary as they come, and it doesn’t have anything to make it stand out in a living room. If it didn’t have a side tempered glass panel, you’d mistake it for a microwave.
The case comes with dual chambers mounted on the hardboard. It has compatibility and support for water cooling with up to four radiators that can work simultaneously. It has a unique three fractal design with R2 series fans, each size 12 mm with both case and space for seven extra fans and their controllers. Also, there’s a window side panel to make the design more appealing.
Get Fractal Design 804 at Amazon
An exciting part of the whole case is the vents. There’s barely any part of the case that isn’t a vent. This is also why the case is fantastic at keeping the hardware cool. So, no matter how much stress you’re putting on the equipment, it’ll remain well under the reasonable temperature range.
The case supports multiple GPU mounting options with the help of five-channel slots. The Node 804 has cleverly used the optimum design and space to incorporate the necessary performance parameters for cooling. The design is a mixture of steel and plastic to make it look sleek and simple. It has a vast capacity of five expansion slots with an additional capacity of two. The case is compatible with both Micro ATX, Mini ITX and supports the ATX power supply.
The case is quite spacious and has more than enough space. This is sort of obvious from the fact that it can house a GPU up to 320mm in size. If we do a bit of research, we’ll find that the RTX 3090 sits at roughly 312mm, just under the size the case supports. If such a small case can support the biggest GPU in the market today, you already know there’s not going to be any shortage of space.
One minor flaw you probably won’t appreciate about the Node 804 is how the case has air filters over the front intake. Air filters are nice to have, but they can’t be taken out from the top. Instead, you have to pull them out from the bottom of the case. This is a major inconvenience if you’re a regular cleaner since you’ll have to roll over the case to get the filters out before every session.
Pros
- Durable aluminum and steel build
- Five expansion slots available
- Removable dust filters and easy maintenance
- A spacious and sleek interior
- Space for 8×3.5″ drives or 4×2.5″ drives
Cons
- It has a small structure but is way too big for a case that supports Micro ATX
- There’s a small gap between HDDs, which is why wind cannot go through even with powerful fans
Anidees AI Crystal Cube AR V3 Dual Chamber
Anidees is another relatively unknown case brand that doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves. This is the only case on this list with amazing RGB fans paired with LED strips. If you’re a fan of rainbow colors, Anidees AI Crystal Cube is worth a glance.
Product Features
This cube case has a dual chambers airflow mechanism and an efficient cable management system. This works to cool the heat-sensitive components and effectively maintain the device temperature. It also has a sleek and simple design of tempered glass, each having a dimension of 5mm having 30% opacity for a better view of the system inside.
Moreover, this case supports the E-ATX, ATX, M-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. You can also mount the GPU vertically with this case.
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The easy-to-maintain dust filters are adjusted at the front, top, and bottom. On top of that, the radiators have a size of about 240 to 280 mm. This allows them to provide a maximum cooling effect at the top and the front side. In addition, the interior is spacious and can effectively support a lot of longer GPUs.
The case is relatively easy to use due to its additional utilities. For instance, the fan hub regulates the fan speed and the LED mode by direct connection to the motherboard or through remote control. A PWM signal usually controls the fan speed. By using an extended motherboard, there is still enough room to incorporate the wires and cables. In addition, it supports the push-pull cooling effect method for high-end components.
The design is relatively spacious, with most of the walls made of thick glass, allowing ease of work with an operative cable management system. The AR3 and RGB integration in the working principle is excellent since it provides endless options for fan control systems. The USB and audio controllers at the front are also quite responsive.
Pros
- Durable tempered glass build
- Aesthetic RGB
- Effective cooling mechanism
- Spacious to accommodate all the components
- The RGB strips and fans are fully controllable through the fan hub
Cons
- The RGB control system works for the motherboard effectively but not for the fan speed
- It is challenging to mount a graphics card due to the inefficient position of the ports
Thermaltake Level 20VT
This is the second Thermaltake case on our list, and it shows precisely why Thermaltake is such a fantastic brand to buy products from. Even though it’s from the same company, the Level 20VT is a new sight to see and is entirely different from the case we mentioned above.
Product Benefits
Out of the box, the first thing you see about this case is the crystal clear tempered glass panels surrounding the case from all sides. The thickness of the glass is 4mm and should be durable enough to sustain some severe damage to protect the interior. Speaking of the interior, this case can support mini ITX and Micro ATX motherboard sizes.
Moreover, it comes with a two-chamber design like a mid-tower case. The top chamber houses the motherboard, while the bottom one is designed for the PSU and the drive bays.
Get Thermaltake Level 20 VT at Amazon
Visually speaking, the case is quite attractive. Most of the exterior is made of a matte black design with silver-ish aluminum posts on the front sides, which is a nice touch to the aesthetic.
To make installation easier, Thermaltake made the drive bay completely toolless. Because of the case’s design, you’ll be able to slide hard drives in and out without using any tools. There is enough space in this case for 3 x 3.5-inch drives. In addition, the side panels open up like a fridge door, making the insides of the case accessible. Overall, building a PC in the 20VT will be a piece of cake.
This case is also a great option if you’re looking for optimal cooling. You can convert one of the four panels on the case into a radiator mount for liquid cooling.
The I/O ports in this case aren’t that modern, but the quantity is nice to have. There are 2 x USB 3.0 ports, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, and one HD audio port. The case also has five expansion slots and is pretty roomy too. It can fit most modern GPUs pretty easily. It might be a tight fit, but if the case is water-cooled, you won’t have to worry about the tight spaces.
Pros
- Impressive aesthetics with the four-panel tempered glass design
- 4mm thick tempered glass
- Supports mini ITX and Micro ATX boards
- Dual chamber design to improve cable management
- A decent number of I/O ports
- Spacious enough to fit modern GPUs
Cons
- Cable management takes up a fair bit of time
- You can’t control the fan speed
Why Should You Choose A Cube PC Case?
- Air Flow
Back in the day, cube PC cases used to be rejected just because they couldn’t provide an optimal level of airflow to your components. This was the deal-breaker that made most PC gamers reject the idea of building in a cube case. However, things have changed, and these cases have good, if not better, airflow in comparison to mid and full tower cases. Manufacturers have compartmentalized the hardware into isolated parts that offer ideal airflow to each component.
- Portability
If your living conditions force you to travel a lot, you might want to invest in a small form factor gaming case to make your job easier. Instead of having to carry a 30-pound case with you, you’ll just have to lift this tiny case that doesn’t weigh anything on its own. Moreover, it doesn’t don’t take up much space either. If your gaming setup isn’t too spacious and doesn’t have enough room to support a bigger case, a cube chassis is exactly what you should be looking for.
- Aesthetics
Modern-day cube PC cases play a big role in the aesthetics of your build. There were even a couple of cases on our list that had RGB. If you buy the right hardware with your cube case, the tempered glass side panels can give your setup an incredible appeal that even some mid-tower cases might not be able to match.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will my hardware fit inside the cube PC case?
This is the first question you want to be answered whenever you’re building inside a cube case. After all, you don’t want to end up buying a case that isn’t big enough for your hardware. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell if your hardware will fit other than sheer research. Ensure that you check the length of the hardware you intend to put in the case and measure them against the length of the case.
How much wiggle room do I need?
The answer to this depends on the type of cooling you’re using for the case. If it’s air-cooled, you’re going to need some space between the components for adequate airflow. Most cases, especially on this list, have a ton of room for extra fans, so you’re good to go in that aspect. However, if you’re running a liquid-cooled system, you can probably get away with squeezing hardware together without any issue.
Are cube PC cases easy to build?
Definitely not. When you have a mid-tower case, you have a lot more space to wrestle with your case. However, when you’re building a PC inside a tiny cube case, you will need to spend a lot more time putting everything together. Cable management is also a huge hassle, which is why you need to have some PC building knowledge to implement it properly.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to stay discreet while running an extremely powerful device, a cube PC case is ideal for you.
Cube PC cases are not meant for everyone. Most people aim for a bigger and better approach and go for the flashiest cases out there. However, it’s essential to do your research beforehand. Building PCs always requires research, but the margin of error is meager for cube PC cases. Make sure you scour the internet and double-check compatibility of all sizes. Also, measure all your hardware and compare it with the dimensions of the case. If all goes well, you’ll be able to create the ultimate work/gaming setup!
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