The 8 Best Quiet Laptops for a Silent Setup in 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

Finding a sweet spot between noise, performance and price

We’ve updated this article to cover 2025 releases. After reviewing the latest laptops, many of our top picks have been changed to new offerings. It’s a good time to buy a quiet PC, with our top 3 choices, in particular, boasting fantastic performance and value alongside their low decibel count.

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Hear a noise?

Me neither, because today’s feature is about finding peace and quiet!

Many laptop options look beautiful and run well, but unfortunately come at the cost of obnoxious decibel levels when performing tasks.

This guide will take you through the quietest laptops available today for a variety of needs and budgets.

Quietest Laptop for General Use

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Best Quiet Gaming Laptop

MSI GL66

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Quietest Macbook

Apple MacBook Air

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Best Quiet Budget Laptop

ASUS Chromebook Flip C434

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Read Review

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Quietest Laptop for General Use

SPECIFICATIONS*

REASONS TO BUY

+ Runs very quietly

+ Light, sturdy & beautiful build quality

+ Good specs for typical users

REASONS TO AVOID

– Slightly expensive

– Power users (gamers, producers, etc) will want to see our picks below

Our Rating: 9.5/10

2025 update: A new fanless Surface model, the Pro 9, has released. It is notably superior with its new processor, graphics, and 5G features (although heavier and thicker than the Pro X).

The reason we’ve kept the Pro X as our top recommendation is that we’re currently seeing it run at a notably discounted price. At the time of writing, the most basic 16GB Pro 9 version is around 30-40% more expensive. While it’s a better laptop, we think that most of you will be more than happy with the Pro X’s performance.

The Pro X will likely be discontinued over the next year or so though, so if you’re reading this article and it’s out of stock, similarly priced or you’re a more serious user who will appreciate the performance bump, then pick up the Pro 9, it’s a fantastic machine.

For those serious about a quiet laptop that still offers great performance for the average user, nothing comes close to the Surface Pro X.

The edition we’ve featured here is, from our reviews, the best fanless laptops we’ve found on the market. This means instead of using traditional loud fan cooling, the Surface Pro X is intelligently designed to operate on passive cooling alone even at high loads (it’s able to maintain great temperatures during most activities, which is impressive in itself).

The Pro X is sharply designed to be incredibly light and portable while still offering a decent amount of screen real estate with a fantastic 2880 x 1920 resolution.

We specifically cite the 16GB SQ1 version as the best value for someone after a silent laptop with a bit of longevity. 512GB is also plenty of space in today’s cloud storage/streaming world providing you’re not playing many big games (if you’re after the best gaming laptop, see our next pick).

Source: CAM

On a budget? We have cheaper choices further below, but if you still want the unparalleled design of the Pro X, you can go for the 8GB RAM/128GB version and still expect a decent machine for general use. We just encourage users to pick the 16GB version to get a smoother experience and a laptop that will last longer where possible.

It’s worth noting that some versions of the Surface Pro (e.g. all Pro 8 models and i7 Pro 7s) are not fanless laptops and will produce more noise. What really impresses us with the Pro X is how in previous iterations, it was the high-spec versions that needed fans while the budget choices were fanless. Now, Microsoft has managed to build an in-house processor that runs fanless even with a premium device. To put it simply: the Pro X doesn’t feel like you’re sacrificing performance for quietness.

Ports are one of the only areas we wish were a little stronger, with the Pro X having 2 x USB-C. We would’ve liked to see a traditional USB-A port remain. We know manufacturers are phasing these out, but there’s clearly still a demand for products with standard USB from many users (still, worst case if that’s you, a USB hub is an easy replacement).

Full teardown of the Pro X shows confirms no fans. Source: iFixit

We’ve specifically included the version without a keyboard or pen because these accessories tend to be cheaper individually. Some users may be fine with budget versions of the keyboard and pen, and we appreciate others may actually be perfectly fine without one/both and could act perfectly as a quiet tablet, or a tablet/laptop hybrid. Choose what combination fits your budget and needs best.

We will say that one of the other great USPs for the Pro X is that the official keypad (and likely many of its budget versions) is incredibly quiet. I found it much quieter than a traditional keyboard while still providing a great feel for longer typing sessions.

We love that this Microsoft offering doesn’t compromise in any significant way someone who needs less noise and performance.

With its decent specs to boot, the Pro X is a great option not just for general users, but also for studio builds, audio recording, or voice-over work.

With great performance capability, portability, a fantastic screen, and (of course) very low decibel production all for a very decent price, this is easily our choice for the overall best quiet laptop available today.

MSI Pulse GL66

Best Quiet Gaming Laptop

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Nice, sturdy build quality

+ Fantastic specs for mid-range laptop gaming

+ Gorgeous screen for smooth gameplay

+ Good thermal controls to reduce fan noise

REASONS TO AVOID

– Quiet for a gaming laptop, but loud compared to our other picks

– Can run a little hot during high performance

Our Rating: 9.5/10

2025 update: The Pulse GL66 has overtaken our previous top gaming pick, the GF65.

While the Gl66 is a direct improvement and at a great price point, we still want to shout out the GF65. The processor and GPU are inferior, but still very capable, so if you’re on a very tight budget and see it at a notably lower price, it’s a good alternative.

Looking at gaming? The market is a completely different ballgame.

We’ll start by saying there is nothing close to a silent gaming laptop. PCs designed for games come with powerful GPUs and other specs designed to run titles at acceptable settings/framerates which you simply cannot achieve without active cooling (there is no fanless gaming laptop on the market today).

The good news is that some choices are way better than others at providing low-decibel outputs with the right settings.

This is where the MSI GL66 Pulse comes in.

With an excellent design that is thick/large enough to provide both a decent screen size (with thin bezels) and, most importantly for noise reduction, a great internal layout for heat dissipation.

The laptop is portable, but not ultralight, and I say this to its credit. It allows the GL66 to have enough inner airflow that it only needs 2 larger fans. Big fans are actually an advantage for a quiet setup, as they can spin at lower RPMs to achieve the same as a very fast-spinning set of small fans (it’s the RPM that usually dictates the noise level).

When using it, I found it still comfortable enough to sit on my lap for a lighter gaming session.

Source: MSI

This setup means that the MSI GL66 is deceptively quiet compared to its competitors when performing general use/average tasks.

For gaming, you will, of course, hear the fans kick in, and there is no decent laptop where this isn’t the case.

But not only does the GL66 run on better internal heat dissipation than many other fan-dependent gaming laptops, MSI also offers one of the best control suites of all the PC gaming brands with its Dragon Center software.

This will allow you to customize/control your fan speeds, and set limits to what you want them to run up to even when playing games. This is the cherry on top of an already quiet gaming PC when compared to its counterparts.

But I love the GL66 for so much more than just low-noise output.

Source: MSI

It offers incredible value across the board:

One of the cheapest laptops with an RTX 3070, one of the best value laptop GPUs for 2023.
Perfect secondary specs to complement the GPU; with a Core i7-12700H, 16GB RAM & 512GB NVMe SSD (the quietest storage type available)
A fantastic screen for the price range with 144hz, fast response time, and an IPS panel with decent color accuracy (great for esports or more immersive titles)
Gorgeous backlit keyboard (that is also rather quiet while still providing the tactile feedback needed for gaming)

With these specs, you won’t just get fantastic performance in any game available today (and likely well into the future), you’ll also have a PC perfect for general use and even production tasks. This doubles up as the best quiet video editing laptop on the list.

As we said before, you won’t get a fanless/silent gaming offering.

But how about a low-noise laptop with a quiet keyboard that also doubles as the best value in terms of specs and builds quality in its price range?

If quiet gaming is your goal, we don’t think you’ll find better than this.

Apple MacBook Air

Quietest Macbook

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Incredibly quiet fanless setup that still runs cool

+ Beautiful, sturdy & lightweight

+ Long-lasting battery life

+ Very nice screen for content/production work

REASONS TO AVOID

– Expensive

– Graphics are decent, but don’t expect a powerful gaming machine

Our Rating: 9/10

2025 Update: We’ve updated our top Macbook pick to the latest fanless Air model.

If you are of the Mac persuasion and are looking for a silent Macbook, the closest you’ll come is the latest edition of the Macbook Air.

Lead by the powerful new Apple M2 chip, this is a fanless Macbook and a self-proclaimed “no-noise laptop” that runs entirely off of passive cooling due to the great internal architecture of the device.

This is a really impressive feat, given the ultra-portable lightweight nature of the Air, we can’t overstate how hard it is to get a product this small that also keeps a level temperature without noise.

Tied with its 256GB SSD, you can expect quietness even under heavy loads.

This laptop also comes with an impressively quiet keyboard. With its focus on thinness, the keys are very light and therefore have short press-travel/produce very low decibels compared to most market competitors.

Source: SamsungAppleOnePlus

The Macbook Air also comes with some nice specs for general use and light to mid-range work, with:

Apple’s gorgeous retina display technology on a 13.3-inch 2560 x 1664 screen, one of the most stunning displays at its price-range
8-core Apple-designed CPU with both great processor power and an impressive integrated GPU (for light gaming/editing, serious production users and gamers will want to look at our MSI pick or the Macbook Pro).
8GB RAM and a very fast SSD in either 256GB or 512GB
2 USB-C ports

Bearing in mind this isn’t a MacBook Pro and the Air has serious limitations on what specs it can run with its tight space, this is an impressive offering; tied with macOS and their various well-optimized in-house software, this is easily one of the best laptops for general use & media (especially with its fantastic screen).

Source: Apple

What’s more to say? This is, without doubt, the best quiet MacBook on the market, and perfect for anyone who doesn’t need the more advanced capabilities of the Pro (we cover the best Pro option below if you’re a power user).

ASUS Chromebook Flip C434

Best Quiet Budget Laptop

SPECIFICATIONS*

REASONS TO BUY

+ Very impressive value

+ Quiet, fanless cooling

+ Good specs for general use (internet, e-mails, etc)

+ Sturdy, flip-style touchscreen capability

REASONS TO AVOID

– Chrome OS, no Windows apps

– At this price, specs of course limited for users who want something fast/more than general use

Our Rating: 8.5/10

The last of our top picks is for those who are looking for the best cheap quiet laptop on the market, while still meeting the needs of most general use consumers

The Flip C434 meets that feat very well, with the specific model we are recommending being another fanless laptop.

This ASUS offering is a Chromebook, meaning it runs off of Google’s Chrome OS as opposed to the usual Windows 10 choice.

If you are just a lightweight general user, ChromeOS can be a perfect solution, as it is a less demanding operating system than Windows that can run on cheaper PC hardware and still provide you with all the mainstream applications you’d expect (anything from internet browsing to media/Netflix to Office applications). The main exceptions (i.e. where you’d want Windows) are PC gaming and production work like video editing/animation – we recommend our other picks for such tasks.

Source: ASUS

With an M3-8100Y processor, 8GB RAM & 64GB eMMC storage, these secs are on the lower end.

But again, with ChromeOS, you can still expect a relatively smooth experience for general and standard business use.

The C434 has great secondary hardware/build quality for its price also; with a bright, full-HD touchscreen and a 2-in-1 laptop design, we love that you can put this laptop into a tablet orientation for media watching, presenting, or simple touch activities.

Source: ASUS

With an all-metal exterior, backlit keyboard, and beautifully thin bezels around its screen, you may not be getting the most powerful pick, but as far as silent budget laptops go, this is the closest you’ll get with some great value.

Note: we have provided cheaper options further below which are perfectly capable, but we’d recommend this as a minimum if your budget can stretch as far.

If you don’t have the budget for the Surface Pro 7 but noise is still important to you, know that the C434 is somewhat close to the Pro 7 in noise output (minus a less-quiet keyboard); you lose some specs/longevity, but it’s easily the best quiet budget laptop choice today.

Alternative Picks – Best of the Rest

While the top 4 are our top picks for the best quiet laptops available today, we’ve included a few more worth your consideration if your requirements are a little more unique/your preferred laptop above is out of stock.

Quietest 17-inch Gaming Laptop: 17-CK0010NR

We choose the MSI GL65 Leopard as the quietest gaming laptop overall. But if you’re after a larger screen, this HP omen pick is a great option.

With its larger space for heat dissipation and similarly great mid-range specs, it’s a powerful gaming PC with HP software to control fan speeds for noise reduction as required

Our Rating: 8/10

Cheapest Quiet Laptop: ASUS VivoBook Flip 14

If you want to go even cheaper than our top budget pick and would value the full utility of a Windows OS, the VivoBook Flip 14 is another impressively valuable fanless laptop.

It’s worth noting that the specs on this device are very basic, but if your needs are too (say, a budget quiet student laptop), this may be all you need.

Our Rating: 7/10

Cheapest Quiet Chromebook: Acer Chromebook 514

Very close to ranking as our best quiet budget pick, the Acer 514 is an impressively cheap quiet laptop. The reason we don’t give it the top budget accolade is its disappointing 4GB RAM, but if you only have very basic requirements, this is an excellent choice (you can expect it to run faster than the VivoBook Flip 14 if you don’t need Windows).

Our Rating: 7/10

Quietest Macbook Pro: Apple MacBook Pro M1 Edition

To wrap up our list is what we’d recommend for those users after the best quiet Macbook with performance in mind. Yes the Pro M1 edition isn’t fanless like the Air, but still runs impressively quiet in most processes and is a powerhouse in comparison (this is what you’ll need if you’re looking at production work or video editing on top of day-to-day laptop use).

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Tips for Buying a Silent Laptop

Although we’d recommend the picks above, we wanted to share some tips as part of this buying guide and also offer some of the methodologies behind how we picked our top quiet portable PCs.

First: no laptop is truly silent, this is a figure of speech.

But many of the above picks come quite close, and the decibel levels (of the non-gaming choices) aren’t anything anyone would complain about in a library.

What tends to create the more note-worthy dB output is using a keyboard, which is why our top picks (especially the Surface Pro 7) are tailored towards keyboards known for lower travel than similar counterparts.

Avoiding Fans

Usually, the main perpetrator of noise in a PC is loud fan cooling. If you are serious about creating a very quiet laptop setup, you should focus on our fanless PCs above which use clever internal layout/heat dissipation to not rely on fans.

If you want a higher-end machine for a lot of longevity, then you can still keep an eye out for machines that have decent thermal performance. More power does not automatically mean louder; even if a machine has fans, it may only need them for the kind of activity you couldn’t do on fanless PCs anyway, so don’t fret too much if you like our top gaming/MacBook Pro picks.

Avoid HDDs

3.5″ hard drives are notorious for being one of the nosiest parts of a PC; when data is collected from them, the discs spin loudly and often create a decibel level even higher than loud fans.

So a simple tip from us if you’re looking for a low noise laptop: ensure the storage is either a 2.5″ or NVMe solid-state drive.

None of our picks above use 3.5″ HDDs, and the good news is many laptops today don’t, but it’s still worth checking.

Integrated GPU

If you are not a big gamer, the next big way to cut down on noise is by buying a laptop with an integrated GPU (like all of our non-gaming picks above).

This means that your CPU is effectively designed to also provide graphical capability. For most needs, including 4k video, software use (even light gaming at times) this is all you need. The only exception being GPU-intensive work like video editing and, of course, gaming.

For Gaming

All the above rules are worth bearing in mind if you’re after a quiet gaming laptop (except you do want a separate GPU in a gaming PC), but there are a couple more points to consider too.

While not a universal truth, a good rule of thumb is that larger/thicker gaming laptops tend to run quieter. This is because the internal layout has more space for airflow and heat dissipation, meaning their fans don’t have to engage for lower workloads. Additionally, large gaming laptop shells can hold big fans which can spin at lower RPMs during low-mid activity.

Additionally, look for what kind of design is in place for the laptop you’re looking at: how many fans/heat pipes does it have, what are existing users calling out (including if the keyboard is quiet, etc).

As we’ve said in this guide though, don’t expect a silent gaming laptop, a PC with a decent set of specs (particularly a GPU) capable of playing titles well is always going to make some noise, but you can mitigate it with the points above, and also if you’re purchasing our recommended picks, you’ll be in a good place to use fan control software to maximize what noise you’re willing to accept.

Alternative: Noise Cancelling Headphones

This may sound like a dramatic solution, but on the off-chance you want a laptop that makes a lot of noise and is mainly bothered about its sound for your own ears, then getting a nice pair of noise-canceling headphones like the fantastic Sony WH-1000XM3s can be an amazing option.

This may sound like an expensive solution, but they are simply fantastic headphones for anybody remotely worried about noise (not just in a laptop setting, as someone easily distracted by noise, I can personally attest to how life-changing the XM3s have been for me, amongst the many, many others who have them).

If you don’t want to fork out that much, some nice audiophile headphones for media/gaming usually provide enough isolation to cut out most noise, if you’re interested, check out our feature on them here (we also talk about the 1000XM3s here).

That’s about it for this feature. We do a deep dive refresh of this list 2-3 times a year so the options you see are well up to date. We hope you enjoy the peace and quiet!

Top Picks

Quietest Laptop for General Use: Microsoft Surface Pro X
Best Quiet Gaming Laptop: MSI GL66
Quietest Macbook: Apple MacBook Air
Best Quiet Budget Laptop: ASUS Chromebook Flip C434

Best of the Rest: Quick-Fire Picks

Quietest Gaming Laptop Alternative: HP Omen 17-CK0010NR
Cheapest Quiet Laptop: ASUS VivoBook Flip 14
Cheapest Quiet Chromebook: Acer Chromebook 514
Quietest Macbook Pro: Apple MacBook Pro M1 Edition

What's Next?

The 5 Longest Lasting Laptops of 2025

For those after some future-proofing

The 10 Best Gaming Laptops on Amazon in 2023

From powerful to budget.

The 9 Best Audiophile Headphones for Gaming in 2023

“Gamer Headsets” are overrated.

The 5 Best 144hz Laptops of 2021

The best laptops for buttery-smooth gaming

About the author

Kaelum Ross

Kaelum Ross, BSc is the Lead Writer at What in Tech and a leading authority in PC hardware and software. With a career as a senior IT professional, Kaelum has led multi-million dollar projects covering everything from bespoke software development to complex Windows hardware upgrades. Today, Kaelum uses his expertise to serve What in Tech's readers and has been featured in numerous global publications including New York Magazine and Lifewire.

* Specifications throughout our articles are double-checked and intended to inform our users, but should not be treated as factual information. When making final decisions on your products, please check the manufacturer pages to confirm the fine details.

The 5 Best NZXT Cases in 2025

The 5 Best NZXT Cases in 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

I updated this feature in April after reviewing the latest NZXT releases in 2025. Most of my top recommendations remain the same, but I’ve added some extra alternatives throughout the article.

There’s nothing like a good looking PC case.

And NZXT is the master of balancing design with affordability.

One of the best PC case manufacturers around, they’ve built up a fantastic line of towers refined over many different versions.

But with those versions comes a lot of variety.

So we’ve built this feature to guide you through the best NZXT PC cases for gaming, streaming, production, and general use setups.

We’ve selected the top options for different sizes/budgets, and we’ll explain the differences between NZXT case common models for those interested.

Top Picks

Overall Best NZXT Case: NZXT H510
Best NZXT Mini ITX Case: NZXT H210
Best NZXT EATX Case / High-End Choice: NZXT H710
Best NZXT Micro ATX Case: NZXT H400i
Smallest NZXT Case: NZXT H1

Overall Best NZXT Case: NZXT H510

This is one of the most popular PC cases on the market for a reason!

To start, we also consider this our best budget NZXT case pick.

It somehow manages to balance great build quality and internal features while maintaining a fantastic price-point.

The chassis exterior is built with a great SGCC steel material and a slick tempered glass window.

The finish, whether you choose: white, black, or a custom option, are all in matte. This gives the case a much more “premium” feel.

But it’s not just pretty.

The H510 is a “compact” mid-tower, supporting:

7 expansion slots
VGA lengths up to 381mm (without front radiator installed, 320mm with)
2 x 2.5″ & 2 x 3. 5″ drive bays, with an option to expand to one more of each (likely not needed for a gaming tower)

Despite its small dimensions for an ATX case, the H510 still boasts an impressive internal layout.

You’ve got more than enough room in here for a multi-GPU gaming computer case.

But how about cooling such a setup?

Well, you’ll have:

Up to 2 x 140mm & 2 x 120mm fans with 2 x Aer F120 case fans included, insane for the price
Up to 2 x 140mm & 1 x 120mm radiators (could be combined with 1 140mm fan on the top also)

This availability isn’t super impressive for an ATX PC case.

But between the great cable management facilities and decent airflow design, it is still going to be more than enough for gaming rigs and still can be considered a capable PC case for overclocking.

If you are worried about getting the best NZXT computer case for cooling though, read our high-end pick further below.

NZXT H500 vs H510 vs H510i vs H510 Elite:

The H500 was the previous version of the flagship case.

The only real difference between H500 and H510 is that the latter has an included USB Type C port on the front.

Either way, the H500 is becoming discontinued so the H510 is usually cheaper – stick to it.

The H510i is the same H510 case with a pre-installed Smart Device 2 fan/RGB controller & 2 RGB strips.

It’s you have the extra money, it makes a great RGB PC case and a nice basis for an illuminated build.

The H510 Elite is similar to the H510, but includes the Smart Device 2 controller, 2 vertical GPU expansion slots, and 2 NZXT AER RGB 2 case fans.

These case fans are some of the best RGB fans on the market and expensive to buy alone, so if you like the look of them it is a good deal.

However, the nicest aesthetic difference for the Elite is the beautiful tempered glass front window.

It really is a sharp, unique PC case and we were tempted to give it the top spot over the H510.

But ultimately, the differences between the models are mainly aesthetic.

So don’t fret if you can only afford the H510. We gave it 1st place for a reason!

When you consider the price-tag value, the H510 is the best NZXT ATX case on the market.

If you don’t have the budget for the high-end pick or H510 Elite, this is an amazing choice that will cover everything you need in a mid-range gaming/streaming/general-use NZXT PC build.

2025 update: The NZXT H510 remains my top pick for 3 years running. For whatever reason, its stock listing is spread over multiple listings on Amazon. Please check this link as well as the button below to ensure you get the best price.

Best NZXT Mini ITX Case: NZXT H210

And then there are those looking for the best NZXT ITX case.

We do have a more expensive tiny option further below, but with a budget in mind, there’s no beating the H210.

Despite the size, the H210 amazingly retains so many of the features and build quality that its larger brothers have.

You’re getting the same beautiful, matte SGCC finish steel/tempered glass exterior.

This NZXT mITX case still offers:

2 x expansion slots (standard for mITX)
GPU Clearance up to 325mm
3 x 2.5″ & 1 x 3.5″ drive bays

Bearing in mind you’ll only ever build a single-GPU on a Mini ITX motherboard, this case really does boast fantastic space.

In particular, fitting that amount of storage space is excellent for the form factor.

What’s even more impressive though is the amount of cooling:

Up to 2 x 140mm & 2 x 120mm case fans with 2 Aer 120 fans included
Up to 3 x 120mm radiators (with the option to add a further 120mm fan on the top)

It’s common for mini ITX PC cases to have 1-3 fans/ 1-2 radiators.

So the availability here is fantastic, the fact that you’re also getting 2 free high-quality ones in a cheap NZXT PC case is the cherry on top.

Bear in mind that in such a small chassis, you’re not going to get the same cable management/airflow as the other list picks.

But for a single GPU build, this case has more than enough, ideal as a portable computer case for gaming, or simply someone who likes a tiny tower.

If you’re looking for the smallest form factor, you really can’t get much better than this for the price.

This is easily one of the best budget ITX cases on the market (not just from NZXT!).

Best NZXT EATX Case / High-End Choice: NZXT H710

Our next choice is for those looking for an NZXT mid-tower case with a little more budget than the H510.

Despite the larger material dimensions, you’re still getting the same great SGCC steel / tempered glass exterior expected from the H series.

This is also one of our favorite NZXT white case options, the coloring looks fantastic in this black and white aesthetic.

The H710 is the largest case on the list and the closest you’ll get to an NZXT full tower in their range today.

The case can impressively fit EATX motherboards up to 10.7 inches.

You’ll have room for:

7 x expansion slots (with 2 extra vertical ones on the H510i model)
VGA length up to 413mm
7 x 2.5″ & 2 x 3.5″ drive bays (with room to expand with a further 2 x 3.5″ bays)

Tied alongside a high-end ATX setup or EATX motherboard, you’re going to have amazing potential for a very powerful multi-GPU build here.

The storage is also particularly impressive.

With these drive bay allowances (tied with a large motherboard with NVMe storage options) this is a superb PC case for video editing, server or production usage.

The H710 is also easily the best NZXT case for airflow and cooling, with:

Up to 6 x 120mm + 1 x 140mm fans (with 3 AER 120 + 1 AER 140 case fans included)
Up to 7 x 120mm radiators (or larger size combinations in smaller quantities on the top/bottom)

Tied with a great space for cable management, and massive internal dimensions that will naturally give you more airflow. If you’re looking for an NZXT case for watercooling or overclocking, this is the top pick.

With the 4 high-quality fans included, although this is the expensive case option, it still offers fantastic value.

NZXT H700 vs H710 vs H710i

Similar to the H500 series, the main difference between H700 and H710 is that the latter has a USB Type C port on the I/O panel.

But it’s also the new refreshed model, so more readily available and likely cheaper than buying a H700 now, so stick to it even if you don’t care about this port.

For the H710i, you’re also getting the Smart Device V2 fan/RGB controller and 2 RGB strips for illumination.

The only non-aesthetic difference is the addition of 2 extra expansions slots for a vertical GPU mount (great for presentation).

These additions do look great and are a perfect basis for a beautiful RGB build (but if you can only afford H710, don’t fret: you are essentially getting the same case feature-wise).

Simply put, the H710 is the best NZXT ATX case for gaming and high-end production builds if you have more of a budget.

Best NZXT Micro ATX Case: NZXT H400i

2021 Update: The H400 series is the last remaining Micro ATX case by NZXT, and unfortunately appears to be in lower stock levels this year.

If it’s not in stock when you click through to the Amazon page, we’d recommend picking up the H510 and running an ATX build. Or, if you’re more focused on compactness, pickup the H210 and go for ITX (alternatively, we have alternative great mATX options available in other features).

Next up is for those looking for the best NZXT mATX case.

The most impressive thing about this PC tower case is that it retains (and in some ways, exceeds) many of the same great qualities as the H510 despite its mini tower form factor.

To start, it has the same great SGCC steel/tempered glass build and matte finish.

The mini form factor also means it looks particularly great for an on-desk setup.

You’re getting excellent internal capability for the size, with:

4 x expansion slots
3 x 2.5″ & 1 x 3.5″ drive bays
Graphics cards up to 411mm

This is an ideal NZXT gaming PC case for dual GPU (the most you’ll get out of a Micro ATX motherboard, but more than enough for a powerful setup).

The cooling is excellent for the dimensions, with:

Up to 5 x 120mm fans with 3 x Aer 120 Case fans included
Up to 2 x 140mm & 1 x 120mm radiators (again, combinable with a top 140mm fan)

As far as Micro ATX cases go, there is still a decent amount of room in here for cable management and airflow.

Between this and the cooling capability, you’ve got one of the best Micro ATX cases for overclocking for a mid-range price tag.

Of course, you are paying a premium above the H510 for this.

But if you have the budget and want to stick to a smaller form factor, this is an amazing choice.

Smallest NZXT Case: NZXT H1

And last but by no means least is for NZXT builders looking for the smallest PC case they can find.

The NZXT H1 is a new ITX case that boasts what feels like wizardry to create a small console-sized PC case for gaming.

The features include:

A PCIe 3 riser card to vertically install a GPU
2 x expansion slots / GPU lengths up to 305mm
Beautiful SGCC steel and tinted tempered glass exterior.
2 x 2.5″ bays (many larger ITX cases only have 1)

With this space, you’ll still have room for most major GPUs on the market (but in a case this small be sure to check the full dimensions when buying GPU).

This is also a PC case with power supply included.

It’s an integrated 650W 80+ Gold PSU with the chassis designed around accomodating it and is enough for a great ITX gaming build.

On top of that, you have a pre-installed AIO 140mm Liquid Cooler for your CPU.

This is designed to be the only cooling required in the tower.

With a dual-chamber case design, the GPU and CPU are getting their own independent airflow in the case.

Of course in a case this small, you’re not going to get the cooling capability of a larger case.

But the fact that a case this small even exists for gaming is impressive in itself!

You’re still going to have a good cooling solution providing you don’t go hard on overclocking.

It’s one of the most expensive PC cases of its form factor, but with all of these features, you can probably see why.

For a high-end ITX build you’d of course need a compatible PSU and cooler anyway so it’s not like you’re paying a tall premium for just the case, there is a lot of value in the price tag.

If you’re building a portable gaming PC, focussed on style and have the budget, know that this is the best small NZXT case around.

Final Thoughts

Rest assured, the above are the best NZXT cases available today.

If you can’t afford the expensive options, don’t fret, we chose the H510 as our number one pick for a reason.

By all means, if you can fork out for the H1/H710 then great.

But the H510 will have everything an average gaming/production build will need.

Whatever the budget/choice, you’re going to love building in an NZXT tower!

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The 5 Best Green PC Cases of 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

I updated this feature in April after reviewing the new PC cases of 2025. My top picks remain the same for this feature, but there’s been a couple of great alternatives I’ve added where relevant.

Every popular chassis seems to be black or grey.

What about those after something a little…different?

There’s plenty of options around, be it pink, white, blue or red.

But today’s feature is here to guide you through the best green PC cases available on the market today.

Top Picks

Overall Best Green PC Case: darkFlash DLM22
Runner-Up Best Green PC Case: CUK Mantis
High-End Best Green PC Case: InWin D-Frame

Best of the Rest: Quick-Fire Picks

Best Clear Case for a Green PC Setup: Thermaltake Core P3
Best RGB Case for a Green PC Setup: MUSETEX Phantom 907

Overall Best Green PC Case: darkFlash DLM22 Mint Green

Out of the limited green desktop cases available on the market, this top pick was a bit of a no-brainer.

The DLM22 has been recommended on What in Tech in several previous features for its fantastic value and aesthetic.

Starting with the design: with great SPCC steel build quality, beautiful shape, and a very aesthetically pleasing mint green finish, the DLM22 looks fantastic. Stock photos do not do it justice. With its tinted tempered glass window and fully green interior, any impressive inner hardware is going to shine beautifully through this (we really are impressed that the internal coloring isn’t just black/metal, which many cheaper cases do if they are in a unique color).

This is a green Micro ATX case and strikes a good balance between having great space for hardware while not being too bulky and large for a case clearly designed to look sharp. With room inside for:

GPU clearance up to 350mm (more than enough for mainstream cards)
4 x expansion slots
2 x 2.5″ & 2 x 3.5″ drive bays
Up to 5 x 120mm fans (or 1 x 120mm & 1 x 240mm radiator with room still for 2 fans at the front)

Between this space and the decent airflow in the case, this is the best green PC case for gaming or general production builds at the low-mid tier price range.

We would usually add a cheaper choice in our features, but the DLM22 is really not just the best overall option, but the best budget green PC case (we rarely see a chassis this good & stylish at such a low price-tag).

A small additional nice touch is the tool-free magnetic window on the side. After going through years of clunky doors with screws and other contraptions, this is a really handy, elegant idea.

What’s left to say? The DLM22 is very impressive for its price. With everything that the average gaming/work build needs in a stylish design.

This is, without a doubt, the overall best green PC case available today.

2025 update: The darkFlash DLM22 remains my top green PC case pick; yes there aren’t many chassis’ in this color available in today’s market, but we’re thankful that the DLM22 is a high-quality & budget-friendly solution.

Unfortunately, I have seen it run into stock issues over the last several months. If that’s the case, there is a decent alternative in the Vetroo M03.

Also, if you are an ITX builder, we wanted to point out that a fantastic case, the Thermaltake Tower 100, is now available (limited stock) in green, and is a worthy consideration if you are happy with a small case and can find it in stock.

Runner-Up Best Green PC Case: CUK Mantis

While this is more of a green and black PC case than a straight, clean single color; once the green RGB lighting is up and running, the CUK Mantis shows off a great, unique aesthetic.

The Mantis has an awesome, intriguing design; with raised diagonal panels on the front and top that hide some beautifully subtle green LED lighting. On the main side is a full-length tempered glass window that covers the 6 x included green HALO fans. While the price may seem fairly high, once you count the fact that your cooling and case RGB solution is already fully set up, it’s a great deal.

This is a full tower green case, with room for:

GPU clearance up to 360mm length (enough for nearly all mainstream cards)
7 x expansion slots
3 x 3.5″ & 2 x 2.25″ drive bays

The Mantis has everything you need for a powerful gaming build, and with the included fans, you’ll have a great PC case for airflow too.

Make no mistake, while we ranked the V22 as our favorite pick, if the Mantis’s aesthetic is more up your alley, then know that we included it for a reason, it’s still one of the best green computer cases on the market.

High-End Best Green PC Case: InWin D-Frame

If you’re looking for one of the most unique PC cases on the market that also does a great job in performance, the D-Frame is one of your best options.

Featured multiple times on What in Tech, this case is a bit of an architectural marvel (not really looking like a chassis at all) and its green version is wonderfully striking. As you’d expect in the price range, you’re getting a top-quality build, with the tubing/base all made of aluminum (the best metal for PC cases) and a thick, tinted tempered glass covering the top of the case.

This is an open-air design, which doesn’t just make it an amazing chassis for airflow, but also gives your parts high-visibility with its clear layout.

It’s not just a pretty case, the D-Frame has won the acclaim is has due to its ability to perform and hold a suitably powerful build inside, with room for:

8 x expansion slots (+ vertical install option)
330mm GPU clearance
3 x 3.5″, 2 x 2.5″ & 1 x 5.25″ drive slots
4 x 120mm case fans
Great facility for cable management despite the large exposure around the whole case.

These specs are really impressive, considering how so much of the case is completely open. While the 4 x 120mm fan allotment may not sound like much for an ATX tower; you really won’t need more than this with the open-air design which compensates with great airflow.

We’re not trying to say you need to go out and spend this much money on a case to have a powerful build.

But if you have the budget, and are looking for the best green PC tower to truly show off your unique side, while retaining excellent hardware specs and performance, the D-Frame is for you.

Alternative Quick-Fire Picks

While the top 3 choices are the only green PC cases on the market right now we’d recommend, we appreciate that there isn’t a massive choice for this stylish color.

So if you’re a little pickier, we’ve included a couple of other options that would be the next best thing for setting up a green PC build.

Best Clear Case for a Green PC Setup: Thermaltake Core P3

The best alternative to a green-colored PC case is getting the best clear chassis on the market, the P3, and letting your green hardware do the talking (things like green fans, PSU cables, and other parts are more than enough to give you a colorful unique build and will look great against the dark base colors of the P3).

Best RGB Case for a Green PC Setup: MUSETEX Phantom 907

If you want your green aesthetic to come solely from fans, a great budget option is the Phantom 907, which includes 6 x addressable RGB fans. This would be more than enough to make your build shine in the unique color (just check a photo or video of the build in action to see what we mean!).

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Kaelum Ross

The 4 Best Car Stereos with HDMI Input / Output in 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

We've reviewed the options: here are the top picks

2025 update: We run availability checks on the products we review regularly and notice that some of the offerings in this feature have been running low on stock. We’d recommend checking out each option as an alternative. If everything is out of stock, we’ve typically seen most choices available again a few weeks later.

In the world of car stereos, nearly every head unit chooses to take the cheaper route of only having composite inputs/outputs available as your video solution.

This can be frustrating, as a head unit with input (or even just an output) can open up doors to screen mirroring, a second display for your HDMI device/laptop/games console, and of course, HD visuals from anything you’re sharing.

Thankfully, there are a few great options amongst the many composite head units to do just this.

So today’s feature on What in Tech will take you through the best double din car stereos with HDMI inputs (or output only for cheaper choices).

Overall Best Car Stereo with HDMI

Kenwood Excelon Reference DMX1057XR

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Runner-Up Pick

Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Best Cheap Car Stereo with HDMI

XTRONS TQ700L

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Honorable Mention

LINKSWELL Gen IV

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Read Review

Overall Best Car Stereo with HDMI Input: Kenwood Excelon Reference DMX1057XR

Kenwood is one of the best head unit manufacturers in the business. It was not a surprise to see that they’re one of the only brands to produce an excellent double din with HDMI input.

Lead by its gorgeous, bright, and large HD touchscreen and decent sound; the DMX1057XR has all of the quality of life features you need in a car stereo system (from Bluetooth to advanced audio customization options).

The unique crowning feature of this car stereo system is, of course, its HDMI input port. With the potential to act as a secondary screen for movies, your computer, or even a games console, its great to see this capability on a head unit when this technology so often settles for just A/V composite connection.

Source: riverboatwilliams

Compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, this system can act as a great navigation device for either of the main 2 mobile platforms, with great UI attached to each of its main software pieces (from vehicle information to dashboard camera views, with up to 4 camera connections available).

The build quality is top tier as you would expect for a premium head unit It also boasts a sleek, glossy design to match, with subtle LEDs illuminating the main buttons of the unit.

What else is there to say? Kenwood has created a fantastic product in the DMX1057XR.

Yes, it is an expensive offering, but if you’re after the best HDMI head unit today, this is easily our top choice.

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Runner-Up Best Car Stereo with HDMI Input: Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX

Pioneer, another classic car stereo brand, has created the cheapest car head unit with an HDMI input that we’ve seen with good availability.

Boasting many of the same features that make our top Kenwood pick great, the AVH-W4400NEX has a decent screen and audio, built-in wi-fi/Bluetooth, good compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and of course, its HDMI input. This head unit is more than capable of acting as a decent navigator for all of your typical demands from a car system.

Source: stevoisboss

The AVH-4400NEX is an excellent device and was very nearly picked as our overall top winner. If your budget for a car stereo with HDMI is closer to this than the Kenwood pick, there’s no shame in picking this device up instead. We gave the top pick to the Kenwood head unit because that offering, for its big price tag, feels like a premium unit in every way; the screen is more vibrant, the UI/quality of life features/connection capabilities are slightly better and many other elements are just a touch above the Pioneer head unit.

But perhaps the biggest difference is the smaller screen size, with the Kenwood’s 10.1″ display being notably larger than the Pioneer’s 7″ screen. The smaller size might work better for your car, we just imagine most people after a head unit with HDMI will be intending to screen mirror/use their screen for HD video, and a larger screen can really help improve that experience.

But we’ll restate; for a mid-range price, you won’t get a better HDMI car stereo than this Pioneer offering. If your budget can’t stretch to Kenwood, we think you’ll love this pick.

Our Rating: 9/10

Best Budget Car Stereo with HDMI: XTRONS Android 10 TQ700L

Now if you’re after a very cheap head unit with HDMI, this XTRONS stereo may sound too good to be true with its incredibly low price-point.

But there’s a big caveat; it’s HDMI capability is an output only.

This means you won’t be able to plug in a device (like your phone/PC). The purpose of the XTRON’s HDMI is only to output to another screen.

So, if your idea of having HDMI in your car was only important to allow you to mirror what is on your main car stereo to another screen (say, mirroring a movie to the backseat for other passengers to watch) then this might be all you need.

Source: XTRONS

We imagine most readers had other ideas in mind, and if that’s you, you’ll need the above picks to satisfy that.

Other than the HDMI capability, the XTRONS Android 10 is a good head unit considering its very low price. With GPS navigation, Bluetooth, Android/iOS screen mirroring capabilities, and a decent HD touchscreen, it’s a surprisingly decent offering.

Yes, the brand isn’t as large as our top picks, but many users have been pleased with the XTRONS Android 10.

It really all comes down to if you need the HDMI input. If you can live without it/would rather save the money, this is an incredibly cheap HDMI car stereo.

Our Rating: 9/10

Best Head Unit with HDMI Honorable Mention: LINKSWELL Gen IV

Linkswell, another decent head unit manufacturer has also thrown their name into the HDMI double din game.

With its enormous 12.1 vertical aligned screen, the Linkswell Gen IV feels like more of a traditional nav panel, which if you’re not interested in watching movies, actually provides a really nice user experience. The software for car navigation, music, and screen mirroring a phone all feel more aligned with a vertical orientation.

Elsewhere in the features is everything you’d expect from a premium head unit; GPS, Bluetooth, wi-fi, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and decent UI. Not to mention a solid, durable build quality.

Source: Linkswell

With all that said, why is this an “honorable mention” instead of a top-pick?

Well, unfortunately, the Linkswell Gen IV is quite limited in its compatibility, with each model being made for specific car types.

The linked model is for F150 2015 to 2019 and F250/F350/F450 2017 to 2019. There are a couple more floating around on Amazon that may fit your model if you’re lucky.

But overall, while this is a great head unit with HDMI input if you have the right model, we imagine many of you will have to look at our other picks (which is no bad thing, even head to head vs our Kenwood pick, we would still choose Kenwood for most users!).

Our Rating: 8/10

Alternative Option: HDMI to Composite Conversion with Traditional Head Unit

If, for whatever reason, you’ve looked at the above options and felt that they aren’t right for you (or perhaps aren’t compatible with your system), we wanted to provide one cheap (albeit inferior) alternative to having a double din car stereo with HDMI input.

If your head unit doesn’t have HDMI, chances are it will instead of A/V (composite) inputs (though be sure to check yourself).

If that’s the case, you can purchase this composite to HDMI converter kit that will allow you to plug an HDMI into your A/V car stereo.

So, why do we call this an inferior alternative? There are 2 reasons:

Even with a convertor, an A/V connection will only output standard definition (up to 480p) so you will miss out on HD content.
Stating the obvious but, a bulky converter with extra wires is not a good aesthetic if you’re trying to create a clean dashboard.

With that said, if you can’t afford one of our top HDMI car stereo picks, this is certainly a decent option for the tiny price of a convertor!

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The 5 Best Blue PC Cases of 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

I updated this article in 2025 after reviewing some of the latest cases on the market. There’s been some gorgeous new blue cases on the market recently and I’ve changed some of our top picks to some new and improved offerings.

Don’t want to be just another black and white PC builder?

If a pink or red chassis isn’t your style, there are some fantastic blue towers available.

Note however not all the cases of this color are worth going for; some we’d look to actively avoid.

This is why we’ve put together this feature to guide you through the best blue computer cases for gaming, streaming & production builds (video editing, etc).

Top Picks

Overall Best Blue Case: Montech Sky Two
Runner-Up Best Blue Case: Silverstone Primera PM01
Best Cheap Blue PC Case: DeepCool TX Tesseract SW
Best High-End Case: InWin D-Frame (Signature Motorcycle Steel)
Best Blue E-ATX Case: Thermaltake View 71 Tempered Glass Edition

Overall Best Blue Case: Montech Sky Two

This top pick was a fairly easy choice!

Not only is this blue mid-tower gorgeous, but it represents an insane value between its fan inclusions and build quality.

This includes a largely steel exterior, with a unique mesh bottom + tempered glass top format. This is a great and practical aesthetic that you don’t usually see at this price point (most cases around the $100 mark tend to just have covered fronts).

I also really appreciate how the internal coloring has also been detailed blue. This sounds like an obvious step, but you’d be surprised at how many colored cases have a black internal coloring to save cost.

Alongside the great aesthetic, this blue ATX case has great internal space for:

7 Expansion slots
VGA lengths up to 400mm
2 x 2.5″ / 3 x 3.5″ drive bays

The VGA length capability and slots make this a great mid-range PC case for gaming.

As far as cooling goes, you’ve got some good options here, with:

Up to 8 x 120mm fans (4 ARGB fans included)
Up to 1 x 360mm, 1 x 240mm & 1 x 120mm radiators

Combined with the mesh platse, decent cable management, and good design for airflow, the Sky Two is one of the best PC cases for cooling in its price range.

And the fact that it comes with 4 ARGB fans at its price point is honestly unheard of. I would’ve thought this case was offering decent value even if it had none included!

After reading all these features, you can probably see why we rate the Sky Two so highly.

Whether you’re looking for a blue gaming PC case or one for production/personal use, this chassis hits an excellent sweet spot between features and value for money.

2025 update: The Sky Two replaces one of our previous top picks; the Fractal Design Focus G. Although I recommend the Sky Two the most, if you prefer the design of the Focus G, it’s still a great choice.

Runner-Up Best Blue Case: Silverstone Primera PM01

While not boasting the same blue exterior as the Focus G, the PM01 still looks great if you’re happy with a blue chassis based on LEDs.

Silverstone is another fantastic case manufacturer featured previously on What in Tech.

This white and blue PC case boasts a unique look.

With 3 x pre-installed blue LED case fans alongside multiple blue LED strips illuminating various sections.

All of these are nicely controllable from a slick LED button on the front I/O panel.

Another ATX case slightly larger than our top pick, you’ve got great space for:

7 x expansion slots
Max graphics card lengths of 419mm
4 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ & 5 x 2.5″ drive bays

That storage space is fantastic for the size!

We think the Focus G has enough of it for most builds but if you have a very intense storage demand (perhaps looking for a 4k video editing PC case or server) this would be an amazing option.

The increased size also lends itself nicely to cooling too, with:

Up to 7 x 120mm / 6 x 140mm fans with 3 x 140mm ones included
Up to 2 x 360mm & 1 x 140mm radiators

Between these options, you’ve got more than enough for a great overclocking PC case.

We ranked the Focus G above the PM01 because the price of the latter was about 20% higher at the time of review

Additionally, we also think someone looking at a blue PC tower specifically may appreciate having the largely blue exterior with options to add further blue LED case fans too.

But if you love the PM01 design, or need the slightly elevated features it has, then rest assured, it’s easily one of the best blue tower cases available.

Best Cheap Blue PC Case: DeepCool TX Tesseract SW

You may not have heard of DeepCool, but they’ve created an awesome budget blue PC case in the Tesseract SW.

With its exterior still impressively hosting some steel components (though mostly plastic) the build quality is good for the price.

With 2 x 120mm blue LED case fans pre-installed, in addition to the blue front lining against the mesh, the chassis looks great powered on.

A small ATX case, the SW still manages room for:

7 x expansion slots
310mm GPU max length
3 x 2.5″, 4 x 3.5″ & 2 x 5.25″ drive bays

The GPU space is definitely less than the other choices, though you’ll still be able to get a powerful card (or 2) in here.

Although you definitely could go for an ATX motherboard, if you’re building a cheap setup in a case this size, we’d recommend building a Micro ATX PC instead (these boards are usually better for budget builds, especially in compact cases).

You can still get 6 x 120mm fans in the SW which is great for the size.

You’re not going to get the same airflow, cooling, or cable management as you would in our top picks, and we wouldn’t suggest this as a case for water cooling.

But with its fan capability, it’s certainly still capable of providing decent cooling for a budget gaming computer.

We would certainly recommend the top picks above the SW.

But if it’s the furthest your budget can go, know we’ve happily included it for a reason. It’s easily the best budget blue PC case on the market.

Best High-End Case: InWin D-Frame (Signature Motorcycle Steel)

Our premium pick is one of the most unique PC cases on the market, perfect for enthusiast builders.

With an incredible design, the D-frame manages to tick so many boxes from aesthetic to quality to feature capability.

To start, this is an aluminum PC case (the best PC case material for premium builds) with this metal used for its base and piping.

Over the top is a thick tempered glass window that beautifully displays a completed build (stock photos don’t do it justice).

It’s an open-frame PC case to maximize airflow/presentation (and making it a surprisingly portable PC case for carrying).

But the real wonder of the D-frame is that it’s not just pretty, offering:

8 x expansion slots
GPUs up to 330m in length with vertical mounting options
3 x 3.5″, 2 x 2.5″ & 1 x 5.25″ drive bays
Space for 4 x 120mm case fans
Subtle cable management options despite the large visible exposure

This may not sound like much for an ATX tower.

But for its dimensions, it’s fantastic and more than enough for a gaming PC with overclocking potential.

The same goes for the case fan availability. Bear in mind that while 4 x 120mm seems low, an open-frame PC case will give you lots more natural airflow than a standard chassis.

If you’re looking for one of the best-looking cases on the market for a truly unique presentation, this case is a wonderful option.

2025 update: Although I still highly rate the D-frame, Thermaltake has released a gorgeous turquoise PC case as a variant of its P6 model. I love the Thermaltake P series, these are seriously gorgeous cases with so much customisability. If you prefer the aesthetic to the D-Frame, I would recommend it as highly!

Best Blue EATX Case: Thermaltake View 71 Tempered Glass Edition

The View 71 is easily the best blue full tower case available today.

It may be much more subtle in its blue lighting than other cases on the list.

But combined with a few additional blue LED case fans and RGB parts, this will easily end up being one of the best-looking cases for an EATX setup.

This is largely down to its excellent build quality, starting with a high-quality SPCC steel exterior.

Covering that exterior are 4 beautiful, thick tempered-glass windows shrouding the front, top, left & right sides of the case.

These windows are tinted, which may sound counterintuitive for a build focussed on lighting, but LED case fans/hardware always looks better through a slight tint.

If you’re buying an E-ATX case, the focus also needs to be on what feature availability you’re getting for a high-end build (whether gaming or production).

The View 71 is fantastic in this regard, with:

8 + 2 (vertical mount) expansion slots
VGA lengths up to 410mm (without HDD rack)
4 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ HDD rack and hidden bay for up to 3 x 3.5″ or 3.5″ drives

Alongside an EATX motherboard, you have incredible space in here for a very powerful multi-GPU gaming/streaming PC or a rig perfect for video editing with the amount of storage you can achieve.

Now, how about cooling all of that?

Well, the View 71 provides the most cooling options out of any blue PC case, with:

Up to 6 x 140mm & 2 x 120mm case fans with 2 x excellent quality blue ring LED fans included
3 x 420mm, 1 x 240mm & 1 x 140mm radiators

As you can see, there’s an eye-popping amount of cooling capability.

Combined with a great internal airflow design and fantastic capable management facilities to maximize the cooling further.

This is easily one of the best PC cases for overclocking and liquid cooling,

If you have the budget, are building a high-end gaming PC (or production setup) and the InWin D-Frame doesn’t meet your space requirement, this is hands down the best blue PC case on the market for large builds.

More Blue Computer Case Options?

We’d highly recommend the above picks for a blue PC case.

But if none of them suit you, we’ve included a couple of additional options:

Blue build based on a PC case with LED fans

Purchase a case that can show off a lot of internal light
- The best choice is a clear PC case, otherwise a white one
Install blue LED case fans inside the tower
- If you have the budget, the best blue case fans are easily the Corsair ML120 Pros
- For cheap LED fans, go for CONISY 120mm
If you want to take it further, you can also buy an RGB motherboard that will give you onboard lighting and utility to add further blue strips

Spray paint a PC case blue

If you’re willing to do a little DIY, you can paint a case yourself using a white pc case as a base (we provide an overview of how to do this here).

Best Blue Micro ATX Case or Mini ITX Case?

We always try to include recommendations for builders looking at smaller form factors.

As far as blue computer cases in a mid-range price range go though, there simply aren’t any we would recommend.

If your heart is set on these sizes, we would suggest following our steps just above on getting a clear pc case with blue LED fans.

Our top budget pick (the Tesseract SW) is also on the small side for its ATX form factor and wouldn’t be bad for a budget micro ATX gaming PC.

For a blue ITX case, there is also a smaller version of our top-end pick, the D-frame mini.

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The 7 Best Wall Mount PC Cases of 2025

The 7 Best Wall Mount PC Cases of 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

How to install and choose your case for this unique aesthetic

We updated this article after reviewing new and upcoming cases up to 2025. While our top picks remain the same after reviewing the new offerings this year, we’ve included a couple of alternatives for our picks that run into some stock issues.

Building a chassis on a desk is boring!

Wall-mounting your computer has become a great alternative in the past few years.

Though completing the DIY approach is hard and not for the novice.

Luckily, there is a small amount of dedicated wall-mountable PC cases available and we’ve broken them down in this wall mount case feature.

If you’re not keen on our top picks or they’re sold out, we’ve included some other options that could achieve wall mounting with PC mounters or shelves instead.

Best Wall Mount PC Case

Thermaltake Core P3

Our Rating: 9.75/10

Read Review

Premium Wall Mountable Pick

Thermaltake Core P7

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Read Review

Best Mini-ITX Wall Mount Case:

Thermaltake Core P1

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Slim PC Case for Custom Mounts

Thermaltake Core G3

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Read Review

Smallest PC Case for Custom Mounts

Fractal Design Node 202

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Honorable Mention

darkFlash Phantom

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Read Review

How to Wall Mount your PC

Before we get into the top picks, there are 3 main options you have when buying a wall-mounted PC case:

Cases designed to be wall mountable (i.e. the Thermaltake picks below).
- These are towers that are compatible with high-quality TV brackets which will give you the best sturdiness, presentation, and ease of setup.
Slim/small cases that can fit into a computer case mounter (we’ve detailed some smaller towers below that would work).
If you want a larger case that isn’t option 1, your best bet is to buy/install heavy-duty shelf brackets.
- We’d recommend you purchase the wood/metal plank for the brackets from a local DIY store.

Now, let’s get to it!

Thermaltake Core P3

Overall Best Wall Mount PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS*

REASONS TO BUY

+ Incredible build quality and aesthetic

+ Spacious layout with lots of modularity for parts and mounting

+ Open-air design provides great airflow

REASONS TO AVOID

– Slightly expensive

– A little challenging (but possible) for beginners

Our Rating: 9.75/10

Usually, in our best-of features, there’s a lot of deliberation for the top picks.

But if you want a chassis with wall mounting utility built-in, the Thermaltake Core P cases are easily the only ones we would highly recommend.

Don’t fret though, just because they’re the only good option, it doesn’t mean you’re not in great company.

The Core P3 stands as the best mid-range option in the series.

With an absolutely gorgeous design, this tower is covered with a thick, high-quality tempered glass panel over the top.

It’s suitable for vertical, horizontal, and wall mount orientations (with removable legs). Including a built-in bracket attachment on the back to work alongside a sturdy TV wall mounter.

The P3 is an ATX case/mid-tower with plenty of room for a wide range of builds, with:

8 expansion slots
Vertical GPU install options
VGA cards of up to 450mm (if radiator/reservoir removed)
Hidden 2 x 2.5″ or 3.5″ + accessible 2 x 2.5″ or 3.5 storage bays

You’ll be well placed to create a powerful gaming PC here if desired.

As far as cooling goes, the case accommodates up to 3 x 140mm fans or a 420mm radiator.

This may seem low for a mid-tower, but because of its open-air design, it has plenty of breathing room for ventilation, very capable of overclocking.

You can take the cooling and space requirements one step further with the case’s high modularity/customization.

This means that a majority of the case’s parts (mounting facilities/drive bays, etc.) are removable.

This isn’t just great for an easier build process, but it improves ventilation, noise reduction, and style.

I’ve been super impressed with the Core P3. It’s a joy to build in and performs great in thermals. It feels like a product of a behemoth case manufacturer at the top of their game.

If you’re looking for the best wall-mountable PC case for both a beautiful and powerful build, I think this is an unrivaled choice for you.

2025 update: The Core P3 remains our top wall-mount pick for 4 years running! It’s the best mid-range balance between price, spec, build quality, and aesthetic.

If you’re you like the look of this but are building something extra large, Thermaltake has released an equally great E-ATX version of the case; the Core P3 Pro.

Thermaltake Core P7 (& P8)

Best Premium Wall Mountable PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Beautiful design and top-tier build quality

+ Fantastic airflow/cooling options

+ Plenty of space for enthusiast builds

REASONS TO AVOID

– Expensive

– Large & very heavy (not for portability)

Our Rating: 9.25/10

2025 Update: While the P7 is still our top premium pick, I’ve seen it run into more stock issues this year. If unavailable, I recommend looking at either the fantastic P8 iteration or Cooler Master’s MasterFrame 700. If these are outside of your price range, the P6 and P5s are excellent mid-range alternatives.

The P7 is the top choice if you’re looking for the most powerful build possible with little budgetary concern.

While we think that the P3 will comfortably handle most gamers’ needs, the features on the P7 are mouth-watering.

Let’s start with the incredible space and what it can offer you:

E-ATX motherboard support
1. Alongside its 8 expansion slots, will allow you to install up to 4 GPUs
2. Those graphics cards can be up to 570mm in length (reservoir removed)
Installation of up to 6 x 3.5″ / 7 x 3.5″ drives (or a mix)

As much as this case excels in space and design, its cooling capacity is what impressed me the most:

Up to 12 x 120mm / 9 x 140mm fans
Up to 3 x 480mm radiators for liquid cooling

Alongside its fantastic ventilation and modularity options, the P7 is one of the best cases for water cooling/air cooling around. The perfect basis for a build focused on overclocking.

The wall-mounting capability and design are the cherries on top. One important note is that this option is heavy. I’ve seen it mounted sturdily on plenty of setups but you’ll want to check that you have a strong enough mount (and wall) to handle this case.

There wasn’t much I didn’t like about the P7. I would say that, for many, the extra features over the P3 will feel like major diminishing returns; this is really for those with huge aspirations in mind (e.g. mining rigs) or those who don’t really have to worry about budget.

With the two side compartments for the additional fans/radiators and the thick tempered-glass presentation similar to the P3, this is one of the best-looking cases available and would make a great base for an RGB build given its excellent visibiltiy.

If you want a larger case than the P3, or are willing to fork out more, you are in for such a treat.

Thermaltake Core P1

Best Mini-ITX Wall Mount Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Same fantastic design and quality as the larger Core P cases

+ Very good airflow relative to most ITX cases

+ Good space & cable management options

REASONS TO AVOID

– Expensive for ITX

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Our final P-series/built-in mounting pick is the Core P1.

Another Thermaltake wall mount case, this is the case ideal for someone looking for a tiny build, with:

5 expansion slots/GPU lengths of up to 380mm (including vertical install options)
2 x 120mm fan or 1 x 240mm radiator support
1 x 2.5″/3.5″ inner and 2 x 2.5″ outer storage install options

The hardware support on this case is lower than the above picks, but that’s a given with a Mini-ITX PC.

You’ll be building a single-GPU setup in this form factor and the above specs + the open-air ventilation can easily handle this.

The case boasts the same great design, modularity, and high-quality tempered glass top cover as the P3/P7.

And of course, it still includes the wall-mounting options to attach to a bracket (due to its size, you’d get away with a smaller/lighter-weight bracket too if you prefer).

It’s also notably cheaper as mini-ITX cases often are due to less material. Usually, this is offset by the need to buy “specialist ITX parts”, but the P1 is pretty accommodating for many full-size components, so the price tag is a nice bonus.

If you’re looking for a wall-mounted PC case that also offers some portability, or simply don’t need the features that the top picks have and wanted something a tad cheaper, the Core P1 is perfect.

GDAE10 Open Frame Case

Best Budget Wall Mount PC Case

REASONS TO BUY

+ Very cheap

+ Perfect if you’re looking for a barebones, workbench-style chassis

REASONS TO AVOID

– No notable brand behind it (i.e. no service)

– Only to be considered for enthusiasts

Our Rating: 7.5/10

Let’s be clear, if you’re not an experienced PC builder, ignore this pick and focus on our other options, they’re worth the extra budget.

That said, we wanted to include something that was less than $100 as an option for budget builders.

This is the first pick on our list that doesn’t have dedicated wall-mount features (you would need to invest in some minimal shelving).

We would recommend the other cases (particularly the Core P series) in the article over this pick.

But if you’re looking for a cheap wall mount case and are ready to get your hands dirty, this may be a good option for you.

This is a DIY case. With very little in the way of features outside of the most barebone platforms for mounting the integral parts.

You’re still getting a slick open-air presentation that lends itself nicely to a budget build (i.e. less money spent on cooling), and if you are a DIY expert, you could makeshift your own glass enclosure around certain sides of the case/mounting shelves.

Reading this, you’ll see why we want you to stick with the Thermaltake Core options.

But if your budget is tight, your DIY/shelving skills are good and you aren’t building something too intensive, then you could still make a great wall mount gaming PC.

Thermaltake Core G3

Best Slim PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Really impressive price-point for the quality

+ Beautifully compact

+ Decent airflow

REASONS TO AVOID

– Tight layout means builds need to be planned

– Not too much cable management available

Our Rating: 8.5/10

2025 update: As great as the Core G3 is, I’ve seen it run out of stock occasionally. Other great thin case options are available in our horizontal case feature.

If you don’t like the exposed tempered glass options above and want something a little more traditional, this is for you.

The G3 is a great all-around ATX case with lots of features for a very decent price.

It doesn’t have standalone wall-mounting options but is slim enough that it can work alongside an independent computer mounter (or a sturdy shelf if preferred).

The Core G3 is made with SECC steel, looking (and feeling) very sturdy.

Given it’s one of the slimmest ATX cases, you have limited room compared to other choices in this form factor. But still enough for:

2 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ hidden storage bays
Up to 3 x 120mm fans (or replace 2 at the front with a 240mm radiator)
VGA length support of up to 310mm (with front fans installed)

This is a build for single GPUs only (with a great-looking vertical install option included).

That being said, for a single graphics card PC, the available cooling is more than enough.

The build is very well ventilated to ensure your parts have decent breathing room.

The G3 is also (rather uniquely) a reverse tower. This means its window is on the right side as opposed to the usual left.

This would be great if you want to wall-mount it to the right of your desk (so that the front I/O panel is still available easily to you).

The Core G3 ticks a lot of boxes as long as you can fit the hardware you want in it.

Affordable, compact, and stylish. If this case fits your specifications, then I highly recommend it.

Fractal Design Node 202

Smallest PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ High quality, compact build/design

+ Layout can still manage solid hardware/airflow

+ Portable

REASONS TO AVOID

– Thermals are, of course, limited compared to larger cases

– Tight space will limit some builds

Our Rating: 9/10

If you didn’t want any of the Thermaltake choices, we wanted to include the smallest case for wall mounting that we’d recommend.

The Node 202 is an incredibly low volume tower that excels as an HTPC case and could still manage to host a full gaming computer.

No in-built wall mounting options but due to its small size, it’s going to look great with either a PC mounter or on a shelf.

It also doubles as an incredible portable computer case (should you need something for LAN parties, a VR demo build, etc).

This Mini-ITX offering is a console-sized PC case with the excellent build quality, the design looks fantastic for those who enjoy a minimal style.

Despite the very tight dimensions, you can still achieve a gaming build with:

Vertical/riser GPU install options up to 310mm in length
2 x 2.5″ SSDs (you can go with M.2 storage if you need more)
2 x 120mm fans

The fan availability and room for ventilation are of course low.

But as always with Fractal, the case is designed to maximize the small volume it has.

With separate chambers for the motherboard and GPU (the 2 fan slots being located in the graphics card section), you’ll still have adequate cooling for a single-GPU gaming setup.

If you’re building this you’ll need to pay attention to the dimensions of your parts and their compatibility.

But if you want the smallest computer case that suits wall-mounting, this is a great option from a fantastic manufacturer.

darkFlash Phantom

Honorable Mention

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Beautiful glass and RGB fan aesthetic

+ Fantastic value for the build quality and fans included

REASONS TO AVOID

– Airflow is OK but inferior to some cases due to the glass coverage

– Some layout decisions make builds a little more difficult

Our Rating: 8.5/10

2025 update: If you like the RGB customization nature of the case, we recommend our RGB chassis feature to give you alternatives you could mount on a shelf.

We’ve raved about the Thermaltake P series and would push you towards these cases for the best wall-mounted computer.

But if you were looking at a shelf build, weren’t a fan of the open-air case design, and needed something large, we’re rounding off our list with a great option from darkFlash.

You may not have heard of this manufacturer, but they’ve made plenty of other decent cases (some of which I’ve reviewed and featured here and here).

This one stands out with its beautiful 3-way thick tempered glass covers, covering all the sides that would be well-visible on a shelved PC.

The case has a lot of great utility for a powerful gaming build, you could build a 2-way or 3-way VGA build (with cards up to 359mm).

The Phantom has great options to cool all of this too, with:

Up to 11 x 120mm fans
Or up to 1 x 280mm, 1 x 240 & 1 x 140mm radiators

For an ATX form factor, this fan allowance (alongside the good internal layout) makes it a fantastic choice for overclocking.

Not only that, but the version we’re reviewing comes with 6 RGB LED fans pre-installed.

This makes the case an incredibly high-value offering for RGB builds (if you think the pictures look good, RGB setups always look better in person).

Make no mistake, while we have talked a lot about the Thermaltake P1/3/7, we’ve included this for a reason.

If you’re looking for more of a traditional case and don’t mind it being on-shelf, the Phantom is an incredibly cheap case for the quality, style, and features you’re getting.

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The 10 Best Fractal Design Cases in 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

I updated this to cover Fractal’s new and upcoming releases through to 2025. Many of our top picks remain the same this year, but I’ve mentioned some alternatives where relevant.

While there are some great PC case manufacturers in the game today, few (if any) compare to what Fractal Design offer.

With an incredible balance between price, build quality, feature-set, and noise reduction, Fractal is one of the masters at providing the highest quality at an impressive price point in its line of minimalist towers.

Which is why today’s feature on What in Tech is breaking down the best Fractal Design PC cases for gaming, production work, and more (whatever size/budget you have in mind).

Top Picks

Overall Best Fractal Design Case: Fractal Design Define R5
Best Budget Fractal Design Case: Fractal Design Meshify C
Best Fractal Design Case for Performance (High-End / E-ATX Pick): Fractal Design Define 7 XL
Best Fractal Micro ATX Case: Fractal Design Define Mini C
Best Fractal Design Mini ITX Case: Fractal Design Nano S

Best of the Rest: Quick-Fire Picks

Best Fractal ATX Case Alternative: Fractal Design Define 7
Best ITX Alternative / Console Shaped PC Case: Fractal Design Node 202
Cheapest Fractal Design Case: Fractal Design Core 1100
Best Cube PC Case / mATX Alternative: Fractal Design Node 804
Fractal Budget ATX Case Alternative: Fractal Design Focus G

Source: Fractal Design

Overall Best Fractal Design Case: Fractal Design Define R5

What a wonderful chassis this is.

Ranking amongst the best PC cases of all time (not just from Fractal), the Define R5 hits the perfect sweet spot in offering what a majority of gaming/production builds will be looking for at its mid-range price.

Starting with the build quality: boasting a largely-steel (or beautifully metal-finished) exterior, the case feels as good as it looks.

With the classic minimalist tower design Fractal is known for, there is no side window.

This closed-off design works with various sound-dampening material around the R5 to create one of the best quiet PC cases of all time.

What we find so impressive about the R5 is that it doesn’t compromise in any meaningful way on cooling to achieve its incredibly low noise level; with up to:

9 x 140mm fans with 2 high-quality Fractal Design Dynamic GP-14 fans included
Or up to 420mm top, 360mm side, 240mm bottom & 140mm rear radiators

The cooling capacity for the R5’s mid-tower form factor is simply fantastic, and we consider it the best Fractal ATX case for cooling and airflow.

What’s more, the case consistently outperforms many of its more open-ended rivals in terms of thermal benchmarks despite the focus on silence.

The R5 doesn’t compromise on other space availability either, with:

7 x expansion slots
GPU lengths up to 310mm (which will cover most mainstream cards, but can be expanded up to 440mm with HDD cage removal)
8 x 3.5″ / 2.5″, 2 x 2.5″ & 2 x 5.25″ drive bays

The R5 is perfect for a powerful gaming build with great GPU space (and the aforementioned cooling ability), you have a lot of overclocking potential here.

But even if you’re looking at something more work-focused (say, video editing), you have some of the best storage capacity available in any ATX case.

The fact that the R5 nails silence on top of its other capability feels like a too-good-to-be-true bonus for its price (and also makes this one of the best PC cases for music production).

Simply put, whatever your requirements, the Define R5 is a masterpiece and easily the best Fractal computer case to cater to a majority of builds.

2025 Update: The R5 remains my top Fractal pick for 4 years running; it’s such a fantastic balance between price, quality, sound reduction, and feature set.

Source: Fractal Design

Best Budget Fractal Design Case: Fractal Design Meshify C

While not as cheap as some of our other budget PC case picks, we wanted our cheap Fractal case choice to still retain a lot of what makes the brand’s products so great.

And the Meshify C does just that, with some impressive quality for its price (if you are looking for something extra cheap, see our “cheapest PC case” pick further below).

Starting with the build is the high-quality finish and largely steel exterior you expect from its more expensive counterparts.

On the side is a tempered glass window and on its front, a “trippy” mesh design that provides as much additional airflow as it does style.

The Meshify C is a compact ATX case, with:

7 x expansion slots
GPU lengths up to 315mm (with the front fan mounted, slightly more space could be achieved without)
2 x 2.5″/3.5″ & 2 x 2.5″ drive bays
Air cooling: Up to 7 x 120mm fans with 2 x Dynamic X2 GP-12 fans included
Water cooling: Up to 1 x 360, 1 x 240 & 1 x 120mm radiators

You still have everything here you would want in a budget gaming PC case: decent GPU room, cooling potential, and enough storage space.

Sure, the storage isn’t as plentiful as our top pick, and you can’t install quite the same level of cooling.

But the storage will only be a concern for high-capacity builds (think server pc cases or video editing builds) – there’s more than enough here for gaming.

And the cooling is still fantastic, with its mesh design making it one of the best budget PC cases with good airflow (we love that for its price you’re still getting 2 high-quality fans also).

The biggest reason we’d push you towards the Define R5 (or the other more expensive picks) is its superiority in quietness.

The Meshify is by no means bad at noise reduction.

But what makes Fractal Design cases extra special is their combination of a borderline-silent machine that retains great performance.

And that is what the R5/other choices excel at on a whole other level.

That said, rest assured: if your budget maxes out at the Meshify C, you’re still getting a lot of what makes Fractal’s towers so good and it is easily the best budget PC case they have made.

2025 update: I still rate the Meshify C as the best budget pick, but if you are looking for something a little cheaper, Fractal has released the Pop Air which floats around the $100 price mark. While it’s not quite as feature-rich and beautiful as the Meshify C, it boasts great quality and value for its price (including 3 Fractal fans) and is a great pickup if your budget can’t be stretched further.

Source: Fractal Design

Best Fractal Design Case for Performance (High-End / E-ATX Pick): Fractal Design Define 7 XL

Now don’t get us wrong, the Define R5 and our other top picks have excellent performance potential.

But if you’re looking to build the most powerful PC possible with absolute optimum cooling for a silence-focussed design, the Define 7 XL is likely the best premium PC cases on the market to achieve this.

Industrial sound-dampened steel surrounds a lot of the case’s exterior, and while it looks similar to the other cases on the list, it’s impressive how a case of such monumental size can retain such an incredibly low decibel level.

And it really is huge. The Define 7 XL is easily our pick for the best Fractal E-ATX case option, with:

9 Expansion slots + 3 for vertical install options
359mm graphics card clearance (up to 549mm with certain modular components removed)
Drive bays included: 8 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ (up to 18 available), 2 x 2.5″ (up to 5 available) & 2 x 5.25″
30mm cable routing space
Up to 9 x 120mm fans (with 3 x Dynamic X2 GP-14 included)
Or up to 2 x 480mm, 1 x 280mm & 1 x 140mm radiators

As you can probably see, the specs on this chassis are simply insane.

Few other competitors will provide this much utility.

Not only do you have great cooling potential and GPU space for a powerful overclocked gaming build.

But anyone looking for a server, HTPC, or video production PC case will have one of the largest storage capabilities we’ve seen at this price point (and more than we can imagine any user needing).

Tied in with excellent cable management facilities, incredible low-decibel performance, and a beautiful build, there are few cases that match how impressive the Define 7 XL is.

We know many users at a higher price-point look for something a little crazier.

But if you’re after a stylish, minimalist PC case with a price built on nothing but pure quality and performance, then this is the best choice and one of our all-time favorite cases.

Source: Fractal Design

Best Fractal Micro ATX Case: Fractal Design Define Mini C

The Define C is the perfect choice for those after the fantastic features that our top pick offers in a mini-tower form factor.

With the same largely steel exterior and beautiful finish, it retains the same minimalist style Fractal is best at.

Of course with its mATX case size comes less component space, but there’s plenty in here for a mini-tower build, with:

5 x expansion slots (usually 4 in mATX)
315mm GPU clearance with a front fan mounted
2 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ & 3 x 2.5″ drive bays
Up to 6 x 120mm fans (with 2 x Dynamic X2 GP-12 fans included)
Or up to 1 x 280, 1 x 240 & 1 x 140mm radiators

For its form factor, these specs are great and perfect for a Micro ATX gaming case.

In particular, we like the cooling potential here.

And with the Mini C’s decent airflow/cable management facility, you’ll get decent mileage out of an air/water cooling solution you do go with.

Then tying all that together is the fantastic sound dampening material seen throughout the case; performing comparably to its larger counterparts in noise reduction.

Simply put, the Define Mini C is the best Fractal case available today for MATX builds bar none and perfect for most compact enthusiast builds.

Source: Fractal Design

Best Fractal Design Mini ITX Case: Fractal Design Nano S

Finally in our top picks is something designed for those after an extra small Fractal PC case.

The Nano S isn’t just tiny, however, but another example of Fractal employing what feels like wizardry into making a silent case that is as feature-rich as its noisy competitors.

You’re still getting the fantastic sound-dampened steel and classy metallic finish on the outside of the case.

But where this case really shines is its internal specs.

For a case of such tiny dimensions, this Fractal ITX case still manages to include:

2 x expansion slots
2 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ & 2 x 2.5″ drive bays
315 GPU length clearance (still enough for most mainstream cards, but be careful on width, check dimensions).
Up to 5 x 140mm + 120mm fans (with 1 x 140mm / 1 x 120mm included)
Or up to 2 x 240mm & 2 x 120mm radiators

Yes, compared to most on our list these aren’t that impressive.

But for an ITX case? Wow!

There is so much capability here for great cooling, powerful GPU installation, and decent storage (many ITX cases only include 1-2 2.5″ drive bays).

Alongside a decent ITX motherboard, this would be perfect for a portable PC case (for gaming/LAN parties or even a travel HTPC).

The possibilities with the Nano S are very impressive.

Anybody building an mITX build will know they’re not going to get quite the same performance as a larger build.

But we have to say, if your heart is set on the form factor, you can still have a powerful, quiet machine in the Nano S.

Not only is it the best Fractal PC case for mITX builds, but one of the best from any brand on the market today.

Quick-Fire Alternatives – Best of the Rest

While the top picks are our favorites, we’ve included a few other options for the minority of readers who may have very specific requirements.

Best Fractal ATX Case Alternative: Fractal Design Define 7

The Define 7 is a wonderful case and 2 iterations up from the R5.

While we love this chassis, we think the R5 strikes a better balance price-wise; and those with less price concern would largely be better off with the 7 XL.

But if this case fits your spec needs better, know it is very much in the same realm of fantastic quality.

Best ITX Alternative / Console Shaped PC Case: Fractal Design Node 202

As much as we love the Nano C, if you’re after the smallest Fractal PC case possible, or one with a console/horizontal aesthetic. this is the choice for you.

Check out our review on our silent cases feature.

Cheapest Fractal Design Case: Fractal Design Core 1100

The Core 1100 is a very impressive offering for its price point and would be a great choice for a very cheap budget PC.

The reason we don’t rate it highly is because it doesn’t have quite the level of quality, features, and noise-dampening we love from Fractal.

But if your budget is very tight, it is a fantastic choice.

Best Cube PC Case / mATX Alternative: Fractal Design Node 804

If you want the Fractal Design quality but something a little…different, then the Node 804 is a great choice.

Fractal Budget ATX Case Alternative: Fractal Design Focus G

One of the most popular Fractal cases, you may have expected this to rank more highly.

While the Focus G isn’t a bad case, we think it loses out in quality to its more minimalist counterparts.

What’s more, be aware the case seems to have some quality control problems (likely due to the very low price point for its feature set).

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120mm vs 140mm Fans – The Complete Guide

120mm vs 140mm Fans: The Complete Guide

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

This feature has been reviewed and fact-checked in April. The information and fan recommendations are up-to-date for 2025.

Ah, cooling, it’s easy to spend hours obsessing over what the best setup is to reduce your PC temperatures just that little bit more.

One of the most important aspects is what arrangement of 120mm & 140mm case fans you install.

But which kind of setup is better?

Today’s feature is here to explain everything you want (and need) to know for 120mm vs 140mm PC fans; comparing noise, performance, size, and price.

We’ll also go over the best case fans for your next build, too!

Differences Between 120mm & 140mm Fans – Short Answer

We’ll discuss each of the main comparison areas in depth below.

But if you’re after the TLDR; on average, builds based on 140mm fans are superior to 120mm fans.

They tend to perform more quietly in comparable operations, offer slightly better cooling & are cheaper when considering you need to buy less of them to perform.

But, and it’s a big but, it hugely depends on the quality of the fans in question.

A good 120mm fan will be better than a mediocre 140mm fan, etc.

It also depends on the PC case you’re using and what it allows; we wouldn’t say that 140mm fans are so superior that you shouldn’t get a certain type of case if it has more allotment for 120mm cooling.

Unless you’re very focussed on min-maxing cooling, we’d instead advise you to focus more on which PC case you want; which is why we’ve included the best 140mm and 120mm fans throughout this feature.

Overall Best 140mm Fan: Noctua NF-P14

This flagship fan from one of the best brands in the PC cooling business has been through countless iterations.

While we recommend other options below for RGB, premium, silence-focussed, or budget users, the NF-P14 strikes the best sweet spot between decent airflow and a wonderfully low price.

Overall Best 120mm Fan: Noctua NF-P12

Thankfully, as with most of our top picks on the list, if a brand has made a great 140mm fan, they’ve nearly always come through with a 120mm version that is of the same quality (relatively).

The P12 is no exception; with excellent CFM for the price, it’s a perfect mid-range option.

120mm vs 140mm Fan Cooling

There are a few miscellaneous factors like bearing type that determine the finer aspects of a fan’s performance, but by far the two most impactful specs (and the ones you should focus on) are RPM and CFM.

CFM, or cubic feet per minute, is the amount of air a fan can move per minute and the most important spec when establishing cooling capability.

Most benchmarks and tests show that the average 140mm fan, with its longer blades, tends to boast a significantly higher CFM rating and can produce better airflow in a case per-fan compared to 120mm offerings.

Things other than mm size can affect the CFM, like blade design, material quality, and most notably RPM.

RPM, or rounds per minute, is how many times a fan can spin per minute.

So for example, if you had two fans identical in every way other than their RPM, the higher RPM fan would be able to produce better CFM.

Generally speaking, 120mm fans often (but not always) have slightly higher RPMs if we’re comparing the same 120mm/140mm models.

This is to ensure they don’t fall too far behind the high airflow/CFMs of 140mm offerings, which can run at lower rounds and achieve the same as a 120mm fan working harder.

So with all that said, we still rate the performance of 140mm fans as the best in most situations, but 120mm can still be a great ally if your desired case focuses on them.

As always, quality matters most.

We’ve seen other resources say 120mm/140mm fans go up to ~1,500 RPM, and this is very far from the truth.

The range is huge; for mainstream choices, fans in either size tend to vary from around 600rpm to 3000rpm, but for some crazier offerings they can go as high as 10,000 (not that you need this, they’d sound like a jet engine too!).

Conclusion: 140mm fans are usually the better choice for airflow if your build allows it. But if not, don’t fret; you can still get great cooling done with 120mm offerings, what’s most important is picking high-quality fans in either size and a chassis that facilitates good airflow.

Static Pressure

While CFM/RPM is where the main difference occurs between 120mm/140mm head-to-heads, we wanted to touch on a spec that is very important for certain placements.

Static pressure is the rating a fan gets which, in simple terms, dictates how much of the airflow/CFM produced will penetrate heatsinks or mesh enclosures.

Providing air through mesh-like barriers is a very different goal to airflow in a clean environment, so different fan types specialize in this area.

There isn’t a clear winner in 120mm vs 140mm for static pressure, so it will really come down to whatever your setup allows you to install (we recommend 140mm if possible due to its CFM advantage, but either is fine).

So if you want decent static pressure fans to cool your CPU heatsink (or a value bundle for mesh casing setups also), the Arctic P12 for 120mm, or P14 for 140mm are the ideal picks at a mid-range budget.

But if you’re interested in our other fan picks below, don’t fret; the choices on this guide all have decent static pressure ratings in comparison to many similar options, and this spec is not as important if you’re not dealing with heatsink/mesh coverage.

Best High-End 140mm Fan: Noctua NF-A14 iPPC-3000

If you’re after the best fan cooling possible, the NF-A14s are one of the best offerings to fit the bill.

With incredible high-quality material/blade designs and up to 3000 RPM mean the A14 have one of the best CFMs on the market.

It’s worth noting these things can get loud at the highest RPM (which you’ll only hear during intensive operation), but if you’re after the best airflow, they’re fit for the job.

The NF-A14s (and F-12s) also have excellent static pressure, and are a perfect choice if you’re looking for heatsink/mesh cooling.

Best High-End 120mm Fan: Noctua NF-F12 iPPC 3000

The smaller brother of the NF-A14 is a fantastic choice for setting up 120mm fan cooling.

Achieving similar top-range CFM and RPMs with their superb materials (relative to other 120mm fans) these products are one of the best PC case fans for gaming, overclocking, and other high-end usages.

120mm vs 140mm Fan Noise

Although the differences on the cooling/airflow front are notable, we think the real reason to prefer 140mm fans (if possible) is their quieter operation.

We’ll repeat the same disclaimer; this is on average. A low noise-focussed 120mm fan will be quieter than a standard 140mm offering (and would still be a decent solution for a quiet build).

But if we’re talking about how to achieve the quietest fan setup, we definitely prefer 140mm-focussed setups.

The reason is relatively straightforward; as per our airflow section, 120mm fans have to spin at slightly faster RPMs to achieve similar cooling to 140mm fans.

Now while other factors do matter in decibel production, if you put two similar fans head-to-head, the RPM they work at will be the largest indicator of which makes more noise.

You may think the blade fan size must matter too, but have you ever thought about how a ceiling fan in a house can be nearly inaudible, but a tiny desk fan can get loud very quickly? It’s primarily to do with the ceiling fan having to spin way less to cool its environment.

In other words; because 140mm fans have to spin less fast to achieve suitable thermal control, they produce notably less noise on average than 120mm fans.

This has been demonstrated in numerous benchmarks and tests.

If you’re looking at a quiet PC but only have 120mm fan availability in certain parts, don’t worry; the recommended quiet 120mm fan pick below still achieves very low DB(a) cooling.

PWM vs DC Fans

While not strictly related to the 120mm/140mm battle, if you’re interested in noise, it’s worth briefly touching on this spec as you’re bound to see it in comparing quiet fans.

DC (direct current) fans are controlled by 3-pin headers on your motherboard, while PWM (pulse width modulation) adds an additional pin that allows the motor and voltage requirements of the fan to signal each other more effectively than DC units.

Both types of fans require a minimum RPM to operate (too low and they begin to stall, act erratically, etc.) and due to the PWM’s improved signaling, fans with this functionality can achieve lower RPMs (either by the user’s control or automatically during less-intense operation).

So for something focussed on quiet operation, it’s a good little bonus to have a PWM fan (if your motherboard has 4-pin headers, which many modern ones do).

(Don’t fret too much about this though, you can connect a 3-pin fan to a 4-pin header and vice versa, you just won’t get PWM functionality from a 3-pin header or fan).

Though to be clear; a good DC fan still goes to fairly low RPMs that we expect will satisfy even those users focused on a silent build (providing they’re using a decent enough case).

Go for PWM fans if you have 4-pin headers by all means, but only consider this a nice-to-have, and not a super important factor of a quiet machine.

Best Quiet 140mm Fan: Be Quiet! BL040

Be Quiet!, as you might expect from the name, is one of the leading brands in silent PC cases, and their work in fans is just as impressive.

The BL040 is fantastic at keeping its great CFM/airflow to a very low-decibel standard; if used with a decent quiet computer case, you’ll have the best chance at a nearly silent PC setup.

Best Quiet 120mm Fan: Be Quiet! BL039

The BL40’s smaller brother is a fantastic product for 120mm fan builds too.

It outputs a slightly higher decibel rating per fan than the 140mm version, but this is a difference of only 0.4 Db(a) at maximum speed. The BL039 is still very quiet when compared to nearly every other 120mm fan on the market.

120mm vs 140mm Size / Compatability

Sometimes, comparing the differences between 120mm and 140mm PC fans is apples and oranges, because it really depends on the computer case’s compatibility.

The average 120mm fan dimensions are 120mm x 120mm x 25mm

The average 140mm fan dimensions are 140mm x 140mm x 25mm

In other words, although these can vary in thickness, 140mm are always notably larger, and most PC cases can accommodate fewer 140mm fans than 120mm ones.

We’ll reiterate one of our main points through the feature: it’s better to focus on getting a high-quality PC case for your needs. That could be anything from the best all-round, the largest, the cheapest, or the quietest, whether it accommodates 120mm setups or 140mm setups better is a secondary point.

But if you have the luxury of choosing between them, you will often be comparing larger amounts of 120mm fans and how they can perform versus less 140mm fans. The most common battle is 3 120mm vs 2 140mm.

3 120mm Fans vs 2 140mm Fans

For cooling, 3 120mm fans tend to have slightly better CFM /air output than 2 140mm fan builds.

But this isn’t the whole picture for a majority of cases.

Look at this picture of a relatively standard PC case boasting 3 120mm fans on its front.

The front is the most common place where you are choosing 3 120mm vs 2 140mm, notice how the lowest 120mm fan is mostly level with the PSU/HDD shroud.

Having a fan that is almost directly providing airflow to your PSU is not really very helpful.

Now take the red squares as an example of how the placements would look if you were instead using 2 x 140mm fans, and the arrows as the highest and lowest points the air is directed at.

Yes, the CFM might technically be slightly lower, but the airflow you are getting from the 140mm fans is better directed at your hardware that needs it (i.e. GPU & CPU).

Therefore if you have a chassis with a PSU shroud at the bottom of the case, the 2 x 140mm fan setup is better for cooling.

If you have a PC case with no shroud like the Lian-Li PC-011 Dynamic, then it’s very close to 50-50, but we would say 120mm fans come out on top for their slightly superior CFM (2 high-quality 140mm fans would still serve you well).

For noise reduction, 140mm fans still tend to come out as the best choice, with their narrow second-best CFM coming largely from lower RPMs. If silence is your focus, stick to the quiet 140mm fan picks above.

120mm vs 140mm Price / Value

It’s all good saying which fan size is quieter, better at cooling, etc.

But what is the best bang for your buck? Is the average improvement of 140mm worth a price difference?

Generally speaking, 140mm fans are slightly more expensive than their 120mm counterparts.

This isn’t a big increase though; the average price difference is less than 10%, and as far as we’re concerned, the superior CFM and noise reduction is well worth the modest price increase.

Also, as alluded to in the last section, you usually need to buy fewer 140mm fans to perform a comparable job to high-quantity 120mm setups.

Remember that you get what you pay for with either fan type; the budget fans below can serve most build well, but if you’re after the highest performance, see our premium picks directly after.

Conclusion: 140mm may be slightly more expensive, but it’s a modest increase for better performance/lower noise, and you usually need to buy less to achieve the same cooling which will mean many 140mm fan builds will work out cheaper!

Best Budget 140mm Fan: uphere BK143-3 pack

At an incredibly low price point, the uphere triple packs still manage to provide decent cooling for a budget build.

We would prefer users after the best PC fans for gaming or overclocking to go for our other picks on the list, but if you can’t stretch your budget very far, the BK143 are without a doubt the most impressive ultra-cheap fan options on the market.

Best Budget 120mm Fan: uphere 12BK3-3 pack

The 120mm version of the BK143 fans are even cheaper, it’s worth noting you won’t get the same level of cooling as the 140mm fans (with their longer blades resulting in better CFM).

But if your case is equipped for 120mm fans and you’re on a budget, the 12BK3 are unmatched in the cheapest 120mm fan category.

RGB Lover?

While there is no notable difference between 120mm and 140mm fans in the RGB category, we appreciate all of our picks so far are geared towards non-lit fans.

We love some RGB lighting too! So couldn’t end this list without some of our top recommendations.

Best 140mm RGB Fan: Cooler Master MF140

Cooler Master’s flagship RGB fan was the 120mm -sized MF120 for many years, and one of the most popular fans on the market.

But we’re pleased to see that they’ve created a 140mm offering that is just as beautiful, with its ARGB lighting illuminating the outer halo and inner fans, the MF140 doesn’t just look stunning in motion, but also boasts great performance/CFM for a powerful build.

Best 120mm RGB Fan: Cooler Master MF120

The MF120 is the classic option in Cooler Master’s RGB series and a long-standing perfect choice for those after the best ARGB fans on the market; balancing a great customizable aesthetic with impressive CFM, we recommend either the MF120 or the MF140 for anyone with the available RGB headers on their motherboard.

Top Picks Summary

Overall Best 140mm Fan: Noctua NF-P14
Overall Best 120mm Fan: Noctua NF-P12
Best Quiet 140mm Fan: Be Quiet! BL040
Best Quiet 120mm Fan: Be Quiet! BL039
Best Budget 140mm Fan: uphere BK143-3 pack
Best Budget 120mm Fan: uphere 12BK3-3 pack
Best High-End 140mm Fan: Noctua NF-A14 iPPC-3000
Best High-End 120mm Fan: Noctua NF-F12 iPPC 3000
Best 140mm RGB Fan: Cooler Master MF140
Best 120mm RGB Fan: Cooler Master MF120

120mm vs 140mm PC Fans Verdict

Let’s break everything down one last time.

Performance: 140mm usually offers superior airflow/CFM, with the exception of more 120mm fans in open cases with no PSU shrouds (still a very close race).

Noise: 140mm is the clear winner, having to spin lower to achieve the same performance as a 120mm counterpart.

Value: 140mm fans are slightly more expensive but their performance is worth the increase. You usually have to buy less of them to perform the same job, which means overall, you will likely save on a 140mm fan build.

Conclusion: In a majority of cases, we give the edge to 140mm fan setups.

However, with that said, we’ll wrap up the piece by saying our main point one last time; the quality of the fan is more important than the size, whether 120mm or 140mm, stick to our to picks above or other high-quality offerings, and you’ll be well set for a well-cooled build whatever the size!

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The 6 Best Lian Li Cases of 2025

The 6 Best Lian Li Cases in 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

We’ve updated this feature in 2025 to cover recent Lian Li releases. Our top picks remain the same this time around.

Lian Li is arguably the best PC case brand in the business today.

While there are plenty of other great companies offering towers to consider, this manufacturing beast seems to balance price, quality, and features like no other.

What in Tech’s latest feature is here to guide you through the best Lian Li computer cases for gaming, streaming, editing/production usage, and more.

Top Picks

Overall Best Lian Li Case: PC-011 Dynamic
Best Budget Lian Li Case: LANCOOL II
Best High-End / E-ATX Lian Li Case: PC–O11 Dynamic XL
Best Lian Li Mini ITX Case: TU-150

Best of the Rest – Alternative Choices

Best PC-011 Alternative: O11D Mini
Cheapest Lian Li PC Case: LANCOOL 205

Source: jerameyj

Overall Best Lian Li Case: PC-011 Dynamic

The PC-011DX isn’t just the best Lian Li PC case, but our choice for the best PC case available today for any mid-range build.

There is simply so much to praise with this chassis.

To start: stock photos do not do its aesthetic justice (check out the cover photo of our best PC case feature to see what this case can look like in practice).

The build quality is the best you’ll find in its price range.

With an exterior (and most of the interior) made with high-quality SECC steel and a beautiful finish, the case feels as good as it looks.

Then there are the thick tempered glass panels that fall down the full length of both the front and the side of the chassis (with the rest of the front boasting a sleek aluminum).

This is perhaps what gives the case such a beautiful presentation.

You’ll notice most cases have a partial side window and nothing else.

And while there are some great cases that do have a front window (like say, the NZXT 510 Elite), they’ll often also be partially covered at the bottom.

You may realize that a lot of cases do this because it hides the “uglier” parts (like the PSU).

Well, Lian Li completes the same task in a much better way by operating as a dual-chamber PC case.

This means it has a dedicated compartment on the non-window side to install your PSU/drives and give you significantly better cable management/airflow than your average tower.

Having a case that reveals the full length of your PC really makes it the perfect case for showing off your awesome internal components (especially if any RGB elements are present).

We gave the PC-011DX the top spot in our “Best Looking PC Case” feature due to all of these fantastic elements.

But enough on the design, because the tower excels in size too.

This Lian Li tower is an ATX PC case with room for:

8 x expansion slots
2 x 3.5″ + 4 x 2.5″ drive bays
VGA card length up to 420mm (enough for pretty much all mainstream cards)
Front I/O panel that includes a USB3.1 Type-C port

With the large dimensions, you’ll have great potential here for a multi-GPU gaming PC (or plenty of space for ventilation if not).

The drive bay allowance is quite standard, and more than enough for most (especially a PC case for gamers, streamers, and normal usage).

What’s more, all of the bays are hidden in the second hidden chamber.

And finally, there’s cooling.

This Lian Li mid-tower is one of the best PC cases for overclocking and cooling around, with:

Up to 9 x 120mm fans
Up to 1 x 360mm, 1 x 280mm & 1 x 240mm radiators

This is a really great capability for an ATX PC chassis.

But what makes it even better is the incredible ventilation achieved by the large internal space and hidden components in the second chamber not interfering with the airflow.

By now, you can probably understand why we love this case so much.

It’s really hard to believe you get all the build quality and features in its mid-range price.

Simply put, this is the best Lian Li PC case available bar none – and possibly the best by any brand.

If you’re building for gaming, production, or general usage, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better than the Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic.

2025 update: The PC-011 remains my top Lian Li case pick (and the best PC case in any category) for 4 years running – I’ve not seen anything enter the market that manages to match it in the quality it offers across the board.

Source: Lian Li

Best Budget Lian Li Case: LANCOOL II

While you can go even cheaper with our pick lower down, the LANCOOL 2 is easily the best choice for someone who wants the great quality LianLi is known or on a budget.

With a solid SGCC exterior build quality and tempered glass on both of its size, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a case that feels as high-quality at its price point.

The most striking visual features however are the two RGB strips running up the front of the case – This case would be a great start to an RGB build.

You have decent space in here too, with:

7 x expansion slots
4 x 2.5″ & 3 x 3.5″ / 2.5″ drive bays
VGA lengths up to 384mm

There is still enough size in here for a multi-GPU gaming setup should you wish to upgrade your budget setup later.

The storage capability, in particular, is excellent, this is easily one of the best budget PC cases for video editing, media center, and other PC setups that demand lots of drive space.

You’ll have more than enough cooling for a budget build too, with:

Up to 8 x 120mm fans
Or up to 1 x 360mm & 1 x 240mm radiators

While the internal design and cooling availability doesn’t reach the highs of the PC-011, this case still performs great and very impressively at its price-point.

While we would push you to pick up the dynamic if you can afford it, know that this is still a fantastic option.

If your wallet is tight, rest assured this is the best budget Lian Li PC case available.

2025 update: Although I still highly rate the LANCOOL II, I’ve seen it run into some stock issues occasionally over the last several months (or price hiked where the case is being sold for $200+). If you liked the look of it but this is the case, the LANCOOL 205 MESH is an ideal replacement, and arguably a little better if you are airflow focussed due to its front mesh panel.

Source: Lian Li

Best High-End / E-ATX Lian Li Case: PC – O11 Dynamic XL

If you’re looking to go all out, this is the case for you.

Sharing many of the fantastic qualities as its smaller PC-011 brother, the XL is made for those creating the biggest gaming/production beast they can.

With a similar fantastic design to the PC-011, you’re also getting a full aluminum exterior and a tastefully subtle RGB strip running down the front.

But space is where the XL really shines, with

8 expansions slots (and options to upgrade to vertical installs)
6 x 2.5″ & 4 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ drive bays
Graphics card lengths up to 446mm

With even more space in this case, if you’re building a crossfire/SLI GPU setup, you’re going to have so much room to play with here.

And the storage allotment speaks for itself, this is easily one of the best PC cases for video editing and other utilities that demand high bay space.

The XL is also a great option if you’re looking at building an E-ATX motherboard PC.

While the top two picks above do support E-ATX, we’d recommend picking this case up over them if that’s your inclination.

Cooling wise, the XL is clearly designed to overclock and cool some meaty components, with:

Up to 10 x 120mm fans
Up to 3 x 360mm radiators

Even in a multi-GPU build, it’s really hard to imagine needing more availability for your air or water cooling solution.

PC-011 Dynamic vs XL

The key difference between the two is the XL having an improved exterior material/RGB strip and the upped space requirements.

We will say that the PC-011D will satisfy a large majority of gaming & other PC build needs.

But if you’re trying to build the best PC you can then here’s the one.

If budget isn’t a consideration for you, the PC-011 Dynamic XL is the best of the best Lian Li computer cases.

Source: Lian Li

Best Lian Li Mini ITX Case: TU-150

If you’re looking for a portable PC case or simply trying to build the smallest PC possible, our last top recommendation is for you.

The TU-150 is one of the best looking mITX PC cases around with a full aluminum exterior and tempered glass window.

The finish on the case is gorgeous and it has a quality of life feature we’re surprised we don’t see more on a mini-ITX case: a retractable handle.

The handle, size, and sturdiness make this ideal for a LAN party PC case or even if you’re looking for something console-sized.

Despite the small space, you’ll still have room for:

3 x expansion slots
GPUs up to 320mm in length
1 x 2.5″ & 1 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ drive bays
A front I/O panel that includes a USB3.1 Type C port
Air cooling: Up to 4 x 120mm fans (one could be replaced for a 120m radiators to add water cooling)

Of course, this availability isn’t impressive compared to our other top picks.

But for its form factor? The TU-150 excels in offering what most tiny builders will need.

And the cooling on offer ties in perfectly with a well-built internal design that doesn’t just look great but offers decent airflow for the size.

Simply put, if you’re looking for a tower as small and portable as possible that still performs, know this is easily the best Lian Li Mini ITX PC case for it.

Best Lian Li Micro ATX Case?

Unfortunatley at the time of writing this feature, there is no Lian Li mATX case option we would recommend.

We would suggest picking up the PC-011D if your build is demanding, or pushing down your requirements to a m-ITX build and picking up the TU-150 if small form factor is your main focus.

Best of the Rest – Alternative Choices

While the 4 chassis’ above are easily our top picks for the best Lian Li PC cases, we’ve recommended a couple of alternative options for very specific needs.

Best PC-011 Alternative: O11D Mini

PC-011 Dynamic vs O11D Mini: The Mini was developed as an option to be very similar to the PC-011 but those happy to sacrifice some spec/airflow space with a more compact build.

We prefer the all-round capabilities of the full-size dynamic, but if you want something smaller, the Mini is a fantastic choice.

Cheapest Lian Li PC Case: LANCOOL 205

While we’d stick to the LANCOOL II for your budget build if possible, we wanted to include the cheapest option Lian Li provides because its still a decent case.

You’ll be losing out on some aesthetic, build quality and cooling potential compared to the II, but on a budget, it’s still a great option.

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The 5 Highest Resolution Monitors of 2025

The 5 Highest Resolution Monitors in 2025

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated April 1, 2025

Reviewing the sharpest screens for high-quality setups

We updated this article to cover new (and upcoming) options up to 2025 The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is still the highest-resolution monitor widely available and with no 16K monitor on the horizon, we don’t see anything topping it any time soon.

We’ve included some additional high-res options throughout the feature for different categories/aspect ratios.

Whether you’re a gamer, creative or general user, resolution can be one of the most impactful stats in defining your display’s quality.

Thankfully, in today’s market options like 5K & 8K monitors are no longer a pipe-dream, but readily available.

But they’re not all necessarily worth purchasing.

This is why today’s feature is focused not just on the highest resolution monitors available in the world, but the best choices that are actually worth buying for various needs.

Highest Resolution Monitor

Dell UltraSharp UP3218K

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Highest Resolution Ultrawide Monitor

Samsung CRG9

Our Rating: 10/10

Read Review

High Res Runner-Up

LG 27MD5KL-B

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Cheap High-Resolution Pick

AOC U2790VQ

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Highest Resolution TV

Samsung 8k Q800T

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Read Review

Highest Resolution Monitor: Dell UltraSharp UP3218K

Not only is this Dell offering the highest res monitor on the market, but it’s also one of the only innovations that meet the incredible 7690×4320 resolution.

Whether you’re an 8k video editor, someone who wants content to be crisp even at the closest of glances, or are looking for something as close to a future-proof resolution as you can get, the Dell UltraSharp is rivaled by little else.

Alongside the startling 8k, the monitor boasts some fantastic color specifications.

Implementing Dell PremierColor, the UP3218k offers 100% AdobeRGB, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709 & 98% DCI-P3.

Along with these impressive specs is an IPS panel, decent 400-nits brightness, and great contrast capability.

For high-end video/photo editors or those serious about achieving the best content viewing experience (e.g. an HTPC monitor), it’s hard to describe how great 8k content can look alongside the premium picture quality.

It’s worth pointing out though, that while this is the highest resolution monitor in the world that’s readily available, that doesn’t mean it’s the right pick for every setup.

Firstly, for content-focused users, as amazing as 8k content looks; there is a limited amount of it.

We expect UHD/4k to be the leading choice for high-end producers for the foreseeable future. A monitor of this caliber may be overkill unless you are happy to pay the premium. This is why I’ve highlighted some more grounded choices below for mid-range users.

Impressively, it still manages a 6ms GTG response time. We would expect something higher for a screen of this resolution, making it suitable for 8k gaming.

That said, the amount of 8k gaming content available right now isn’t particularly high. And even if it was, you’d only be able to fully utilize the resolution for games if you had the most powerful build possible (even then, it’s a stretch).

Then there’s the fact that you won’t have an 8k 144hz monitor (or any refresh rate above 60fps) for a long time (let alone a PC that can support it). I would say for every gamer, you would prefer a higher refresh rate than 60Hz over the jump from 1440p/4K to 8K.

Yes, 8k gaming will probably be around en-mass one day.

But for today? We strongly recommend focussing your budget on a premium screen with 1440p 240hz, 4k 144hz, or the excellent next pick below that I tailored for gamers.

Gaming aside, if you are a serious production user that demands 8k, then this Dell offering is the best choice for you.

It’s worth pointing out that the screen requires 2 DisplayPort connections to run at 8k.

Finally, I need to touch on the build quality/design.

Somehow both as sturdy as you would hope for in a premium offering, while also offering fantastic slim bezels, a gorgeous aesthetic, and great adjustability (including a 90-degree rotation), I was pleased to see the UP3218K doesn’t compromise on physical longevity.

Although it’s worth noting our cautions and checking out our other picks if you think 4K/5K screens could suit you, we are comfortable in naming this Dell offering the highest resolution monitor worth buying today.

If you demand 8K with fantastic picture quality, it’s the best choice for you.

2025 update: This Dell offering still remains the best 8k monitor with no other worthy competitor in the space. With that said our point still stands; if you don’t need 8K, you (and your wallet) will likely appreciate some of the other options below.

Our Rating: 9/10

Highest Resolution Ultrawide Monitor: Samsung CRG9 / Odyssey G9

Our next choice is one of the most featured monitors on What in Tech, excelling at being both being widest monitor worth buying and a screen excellently suited for gaming.

With a mouth-watering 5120 x 1440 / 5k resolution, this Samsung monitor instead chooses to use its 49-inch large pixel count to create a super ultrawide display that is effectively 2 1440p 27-inch screens in one monitor.

Not only do we love this from a perspective of productivity and multitasking, but we also think that Samsung’s approach to exploiting DPI in a 49-inch 32:9 aspect ratio is far more practical than the current 8k monitor on the market.

In other words: although this 5k display is lower resolution, we think many users will appreciate the premium feel of a double-width 27″ 1440p screen more than a 16:9 8k monitor.

This is true most of all for gamers.

With 120Hz, QLED, a fantastic color gamut capability, up to 1000-nits brightness / HDR1000, 4ms GTG response time & FreeSync Premium Pro support, the specs on this machine are incredible.

Not only is the picture quality fantastic, but the low latency, high refresh rate, and capability to avoid ghosting/tearing issues with FreeSync are all utilities that point to what a fantastic premium gaming display this is, whether you’re into single-player titles or competitive esports.

With a decent availability of gaming content supporting 32:9 (or the option to focus on a 16:9 game with things like Discord/Skype and other second-screen visuals), it’s hard to describe just how stunning and immersive content looks on this monitor.

Speaking of immersive, the CRG9 is also the highest resolution curved monitor available.

Boasting a 1800R curve that engulfs games/content around your vision to match the curvature of your eyes more ergonomically/naturally than a flat-screen (the G9 model takes this further and boasts a 1000R curve, the strongest one available in mainstream monitors if you think this would suit you).

Although marketed as a gaming monitor, we think the excellent picture quality, refresh rate, and latency will provide a premium experience to many other types of users; especially considering the price of the CRG9 is in many cases cheaper than “work-orientated” options of similar specs (but if you want other alternatives, our largest monitor feature has them).

Remember that if gaming isn’t on the menu, this is still 2 screens in one. With excellent productivity capability (including the option to connect 2 PCs/laptops at once and display them side-by-side).

If you are a gamer and can stretch your budget further, we highly recommend the other version on the Amazon listing; the Odyssey G9.

Not only is this the highest resolution gaming monitor, but one of the best for gamers in any category. It boasts a 240hz refresh rate & an even faster latency – it’s worth the additional price if you can afford it (but the CRG9 is still an excellent alternative if not).

Finally, I was pretty floored by the gorgeous aesthetic of both models in person. Looking like they could be part of a spaceship, their designs complement the unique innovation behind them, and what’s more; they’re sturdy enough to support real longevity. I’ve been disappointed previously in how some premium ultrawide choices seem to skimp out a little in this area so it’s nice to see these Samsung offerings feel like the full package.

All-in-all, if you’re interested in the unparalleled experience a super ultrawide display can offer, the CRG9 (or OG9) are the best 5K monitors, with incredible quality across the board.

Our Rating: 10/10

Second Highest Resolution 16:9 Monitor: LG 27MD5KL-B

The last of my main 3 picks are for those who think a 5k resolution would be more suited for their needs over 8k, but also want to keep to the traditional 16:9 form factor over our ultrawide pick above.

The 27MD5KL is a fantastic premium monitor. Boasting an IPS panel with 99% DCI-P3 color, a typical brightness rating of 500 nits & a 1100:1 contrast ratio all alongside its 5120 x 2880 setup (the largest resolution monitor outside of 8k), the picture is stunning and for a majority of content, going to look as sharp as that of our top 8k choice.

Important note: The LG UltraFine display runs via USB-C; making it largely positioned as a MacBook/Mac high-resolution monitor. It is compatible with PC usage, however, but make sure you have a graphics card that can support the bandwidth necessary via USB Type-C instead of the usual HDMI/DisplayPort (I’ve still highlighted this for Windows users because the options for 16:9 5k are surprisingly slim, as most manufacturers instead produce ultrawide offerings at this res).

I wouldn’t recommend this pick (or any choices with 16:9 5k) for gaming. With a 16ms GTG response time and specs that are generally not as aligned for games (if you are focussed on a 16:9 screen over the Odyssey G9 above, we would push you towards a 4k 144hz display instead).

The monitor is slick, minimalist, and very aesthetically pleasing, as you would expect from LG, with no qualms about the build quality (and some basic adjustability options for ergonomics).

If 8k feels like overkill for your needs, the 27MD5KL is the best 5k monitor available.

Our Rating: 9/10

Alternative Picks – Best of the Rest

The top 3 picks are the highest resolution displays today (and the best models in their respective categories).

That said, we wanted to include a couple of quick-fire additional options that may suit different lower budgets.

Best Cheap High-Resolution Monitor: AOC U2790VQ

If you are looking at our picks and salivating, but also tearing up at the price tags, don’t worry; we appreciate these are some very expensive monitor options.

If you can’t stretch to a premium offering, we highly recommend this AOC monitor, that still boasts stunning picture quality with 4K, which for budget users, will still provide incredibly gorgeous content.

Our Rating: 9/10

Highest Resolution TV: Samsung 8k Q800T

If you are a user that is open to using a TV as their monitor, the Q800T is an excellent choice; boasting 8K at an incredible price given the size of the screen, media, in particular, will look stunning on this offering.

Our Rating: 9.25/10

EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

The 8 Best Quiet Laptops for a Silent Setup in 2025

Finding a sweet spot between noise, performance and price

Microsoft Surface Pro X

Quietest Laptop for General Use

SPECIFICATIONS*

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

MSI Pulse GL66

Best Quiet Gaming Laptop

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

Apple MacBook Air

Quietest Macbook

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

ASUS Chromebook Flip C434

Best Quiet Budget Laptop

SPECIFICATIONS*

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

Alternative Picks – Best of the Rest

Quietest 17-inch Gaming Laptop: 17-CK0010NR

Cheapest Quiet Laptop: ASUS VivoBook Flip 14

Cheapest Quiet Chromebook: Acer Chromebook 514

Quietest Macbook Pro: Apple MacBook Pro M1 Edition

Tips for Buying a Silent Laptop

Avoiding Fans

Avoid HDDs

Integrated GPU

For Gaming

Alternative: Noise Cancelling Headphones

What's Next?

About the author

Kaelum Ross

The 5 Best NZXT Cases in 2025

Overall Best NZXT Case: NZXT H510

NZXT H500 vs H510 vs H510i vs H510 Elite:

Best NZXT Mini ITX Case: NZXT H210

Best NZXT EATX Case / High-End Choice: NZXT H710

Best NZXT Micro ATX Case: NZXT H400i

Smallest NZXT Case: NZXT H1

Final Thoughts

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About the author

Kaelum Ross

The 5 Best Green PC Cases of 2025

Overall Best Green PC Case: darkFlash DLM22 Mint Green

Runner-Up Best Green PC Case: CUK Mantis

High-End Best Green PC Case: InWin D-Frame

Alternative Quick-Fire Picks

Best Clear Case for a Green PC Setup: Thermaltake Core P3

Best RGB Case for a Green PC Setup: MUSETEX Phantom 907

What's Next?

About the author

Kaelum Ross

The 4 Best Car Stereos with HDMI Input / Output in 2025

We've reviewed the options: here are the top picks

Overall Best Car Stereo with HDMI Input: Kenwood Excelon Reference DMX1057XR

Runner-Up Best Car Stereo with HDMI Input: Pioneer AVH-W4400NEX

Best Budget Car Stereo with HDMI: XTRONS Android 10 TQ700L

Best Head Unit with HDMI Honorable Mention: LINKSWELL Gen IV

Alternative Option: HDMI to Composite Conversion with Traditional Head Unit

What's Next?

About the author

Kaelum Ross

The 5 Best Blue PC Cases of 2025

Overall Best Blue Case: Montech Sky Two

Runner-Up Best Blue Case: Silverstone Primera PM01

Best Cheap Blue PC Case: DeepCool TX Tesseract SW

Best High-End Case: InWin D-Frame (Signature Motorcycle Steel)

Best Blue EATX Case: Thermaltake View 71 Tempered Glass Edition

More Blue Computer Case Options?

Blue build based on a PC case with LED fans

Spray paint a PC case blue

Best Blue Micro ATX Case or Mini ITX Case?

What's Next?

About the author