The 10 Best Horizontal PC Cases in 2026

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated February 18, 2026

Reviewing the best picks for home theatres, horizontal cabinets and more

This feature has been updated for 2026. Most of our picks remain the same after reviewing the new options on the market this year. We’ve added a couple of decent alternatives for the picks that we’ve seen run into stock issues.

I know what you’re thinking:

“Where are all the horizontal cases amongst the thousands of vertical options?”.

Up-front options rule the market, and it’s difficult to find a good sideways case for all of you looking for something a little different for your next HTPC, VR, gaming, or server build.

But fear not, they do exist! And after some extensive reviews, we’re going to break down the top picks in this unique category.

A note on size

Before we jump in: many horizontal cases are on the smaller end of the scale. Whether you’re looking for a full tower or something for ITX, we’ve covered all the options below. Just remember to check that the dimensions of the parts you’re looking at will fit.

So, without further ado:

Source: SilverStone

SilverStone Technology GD09B

Overall Best Horizontal PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS*

REASONS TO BUY

+ Fantastic build quality

+ Decent layout for HTPCs & compact gaming builds

+ Good price

REASONS TO AVOID

− Finish can be a bit of a fingerprint magnet

− GPU space is tight for larger cards

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Offering both style and substance at a great price point, the GD09B really excels on multiple levels.

From a company that has specialized in building horizontal cases for over a decade, the GD09B has an impressive layout for hardware considering its small dimensions and horizontal orientation, with the ability to support up to an ATX motherboard.

7 expansion slots are available for the case. With support for 1 x 5.25″ external and 2 x 3.5″/ 1 x 2.5″ internal drives, there is decent room for your various storage needs.

Source: stevoisboss

With the compact nature of most horizontal cases, you may have to decide what is most important to you (e.g. drive bays in these cases often come at the cost of fan mounts or GPU space).

The case is surrounded by decent ventilation. This, combined with the reasonable size, allows for builds to run cool with good airflow. This is the ideal pick for a Home Theatre PC/HTPC build as you can keep fans at a lower speed due to the natural cooling capabilities of the chassis (smaller water cooling options are available too, but we think a fan build makes the most sense here).

We also really appreciate that despite the compactness, the GD09B still boasts room for a GPU up to 309mm. Many of the latest cards will fit into this space (but be sure to check dimensions of your desired pick).

We also highly rate the GD09B due to its sophisticated aesthetic and fantastic build quality. Along the front of the case are 2 USB3.0 ports, audio inputs, and a very sleek-looking drive bay.

This SilverStone offering manages to ticks so many boxes. Considering it’s far from the most expensive on the list, it’s the amount of value on offer that seals the deal as our top pick. If the design fits your idea of what you want from a horizontal motherboard case, we think you’ll love it.

Another option you may want to consider is the GD10B, which is very similar to the GD09 except it includes an additional 2 120mm fans (3 total) and a lockable aluminum front panel for a different aesthetic. It’s purely a choice of preference, the reason we rank the GD09B over it is we don’t think the extra fans and front panel will be worth the price increase for most of you. But if you like the look of it, it’s a great option!

2026 update: The GD09B continues to take our top spot for over 6 years running! The product listing we’ve linked to is sometimes low on stock. If this is the case for you, be sure to check the other versions (version 2/version-USA) on the same page and duplicate product listings on Amazon. These are very similar and are perfect alternatives.

If you like the look of the GD09B but find it’s running a little small, the updated version, Grandia 11, is available with a larger GPU and radiator support. It’s a great alternative, the only reason we don’t rank it as high as the GD09B is because it’s around 30% more expensive (and harder to find in stock) which is only worth it if you need the extra size.

Source: Cooler Master

Cooler Master HAF XB EVO

Runner-Up Best Horizontal PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Great value

+ Generous CPU cooler/GPU clearance for its form factor

+ Decent build quality

REASONS TO AVOID

− Nearly twice the height of the GD09B

OUR RATING: 9.5/10

We didn’t quite want to give this Cooler Master pick the top spot partially due to its slightly more square/cube shape.

However, know that if this fits your idea of a horizontal case aesthetically, you’re going to be in for a treat, This chassis is a beast.

Somehow this unit manages to host capacity for up to 2 x 5.25″ drives, 4 x 3.5″ drives, and 4 x 2.5″ drives. If you don’t need all that in your build, then it’s simply more room for other parts to breathe/fit!

The case has room for plenty of airflow/cooling (up to 5 fans, with 2 XtraFlo fans pre-installed) and space for a modest set of water cooling radiators.

Source: taddtorborg

Included on the front panel are the usual I/O connectors (2 x USB3.0/audio ports). We’re pleased to see that the build is largely made of thick steel. The feel/quality of the HAF XB EVO is superb and it comes across even better in person.

One big plus for novice builders: this case was designed for you. Some features have been included to make the build process as easy as possible. Most notably screwless installation and a removable motherboard tray (trust us: trying to install a PC in a more compact case can be a pain, so this is a massive plus!).

Cooler Master HAF XB EVO vs SilverStone GD09B: When considering our two top picks, the big decider will be on aesthetics and dimensions. Which better fits your idea of a horizontal case? We prefer the look of the GD09B, but it’s really the personal choice that matters most.

Aside from that, the key secondary factor is if you’re looking for a gaming PC case. The HAF XB EVO has significantly more room for your CPU cooler and GPU. If your heart is set on the GD09B, you can certainly make that work for a powerful gaming build, but it will require a more careful selection of hardware.

With a great balance between cooling, space, ease of use, and high-quality build/design, the HAF XB is a fantastic option all-around.

Source: Thermaltake

Thermaltake Core P5 V2

Best Premium Horizontal Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Fantastic build quality and endless potential for great build aesthetics

+ Great open-air cooling

+ Good layout customization for your build requirements

REASONS TO AVOID

− Very expensive

OUR RATING: 9.5/10

This Thermaltake range is quite special. We were very close to ranking this as the best overall case despite its high price point.

With a full-glass design, once you have installed your components in the Core P5, it is truly a sight to behold and one of the most beautiful cases available in today’s market.

The legs are fully removable, allowing this case to look as good horizontally as it does vertically.

There is plenty of space to play with when building here. But more than that, the case is very modular/customizable. Thermaltake is aware that when you invest in a chassis this transparent you’re trying to build a PC that is fully visible. The ability to install GPUs, drives, and other components in various positions is something the P5 excels at more than most other options on the market.

With the great design of this case, comes the recommendation to include water cooling if possible. Given the high visibility, you’ll be wanting to avoid dust, and air cooling builds will cause more of that. If you want to go down this route, however, the excellent cabling management capabilities should allow you to clear decent airflow paths and keep it relatively clean.

Source: vmitri

The front I/O panel is well presented and has 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, and HD audio inputs.

This case may look intimidating to assemble, but it is actually quite a beginner-friendly unit. Being able to detach the glass during your build, makes the overall process a lot easier than traditional cases!

Thermaltake Core P1 vs P3 vs P5 vs P7 vs P8 vs P90:

Here we’ve focussed on P5 as the main choice, but there are other great options for this range. Note that all of these cases support horizontal placing.

Aside from the obvious presentation differences (especially the beastly P90…), the biggest differences here are in the size/form factor.

The P1 is the Mini-ITX option. Full review available here.
The P3 and P5 are both ATX options and have the same number of expansion slots/part compatibility, but the P5 has a larger height/depth for freedom in your build. Our P3 review is available here.
P7, confusingly, is the biggest of the set, supporting E-ATX motherboards.
The P8 is a newer offering and is perhaps the best looking of the lot, see our full write-up in our premium case feature.
P90 offers the second-largest layout, but across 2 separate areas (as you’ll see in pictures of its striking design).

If you have the budget, we cannot speak highly enough of the Thermaltake P series. The P5 strikes a perfect balance for mid-range builds that will tick the right boxes for nearly every horizontal mobo builder (especially style!).

2026 update: We’ve also been enjoying the new Core P6 model by Thermaltake. It’s a great addition to the series and takes some of the best parts from its predecessors. Namely a customizable choice between an open-air design like the P1/P3 or an enclosed P8 design, and an ATX form factor that will satisfy most builders.

The case has a removable stand so you can set up a great horizontal placement. If you’re an ATX builder, we still like the Core P5 the most as we consider it the best value; but if you’re drawn to the P6 and don’t mind paying the premium, go for it!

Source: Thermaltake

Thermaltake Core G3

Best Budget Horizontal PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Fantastic price for what’s on offer

+ Sturdy, well-built unit

+ Plenty of ventilation to make up for the lesser cooling

REASONS TO AVOID

− Limited height of the case will be hard for beginner builders

OUR RATING: 9/10

I know, I know, the picture shows a vertical case.

But the beauty of the G3 is that it’s designed for either type of orientation.

The cheapest ATX case on our list, this Thermaltake offering still provides impressive performance for the price point.

Source: TheLeadPontoon

Designed to host a horizontal gaming PC with consideration for compactness (think virtual reality or people with small media cabinets). The case is on the smaller side for ATX but still offers 120mm / 240mm water cooling options and/or 3 fans, with 2 front fans pre-installed. The cooling should be fine for most builds but bear in mind that the space available is less than most mid-towers.

The front I/O panel is great and surprisingly one of the most plentiful on this list: with 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0 / standard audio ports.

Note that as the G3 is a very slim PC case, you will likely not have room for other PCI-e cards outside of your GPU. The case does, however, come with options to fit your GPU in vertically, giving you more control over space for the most spaciously demanding piece.

Overall, if you are looking for a cheap Horizontal PC case and don’t have the largest of components to install, the G3 is a great option for your build.

2026 update: While the Core G3 is still our favorite budget pick, it does still run into stock problems from time to time. If you can fit your build into a micro ATX chassis, we recommend the ML04 pick below if the G3 is not available. If you still need/want ATX, we haven’t found another budget case as memorable as the G3, so we’d highly recommend paying a little more for our top GD09B pick, which has fantastic value for its mid-range price.

Source: SilverStone

SilverStone ML04

Best Horizontal Micro ATX Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Unit is well built and deceptively compact

+ Great price

+ Still manages decent cooling for its size

REASONS TO AVOID

− Space limits mean it’s not suitable for full-sized GPUs/serious gaming builds

OUR RATING: 8/10

We’re back to SilverStone for the best horizontal microATX computer case.

With a very high-quality steel/aluminum mix build and compact form, this unit is durable and looks fantastic on display.

We’re getting into the smaller builds now. Don’t expect to fit a traditional gaming GPU in here (perfect for those who are after a build that utilizes onboard CPU graphics).

However, we like this case because it still manages to offer some good internal space despite the tight dimensions.

Source: tomclaessens

This includes drive allotment for 1 x 5.25 ” external, 2 x 3.5″ and 1 x 2.5″ internal. Cooling-wise, there’s space for 4 x 80mm fans and 4 x low profile / 1 x utility expansion slots.

Sure, this may not sound like much compared to some of the others above, but for the size? It’s impressive. With its ventilation, if you can keep down the cabling and components not needed, you’ll manage decent airflow.

SilverStone even suggests you can install traditional ATX/PS2 PSUs up to 140mm. Impressive considering even when many vertical Micro ATX cases don’t support these.

A standard front panel is on offer with 2 x USB 3.0 ports and audio inputs (pretty decent for the form factor).

Overall, if you’re looking for a wide PC case for your micro ATX build, this is a great option and the best we’ve come across.

Source: Fractal Design

Fractal Design Node 202

Best Horizontal Mini-ITX Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Beautiful design and build

+ Manages to fit a full GPU despite compactness

+ Good price

REASONS TO AVOID

− Only 2 fan mounts

− Requires a extra small CPU cooler

OUR RATING: 9/10

As you may know from our silent PC case picks, we’re big fans of Fractal Design.

With the Node 202, they’ve managed to create an incredibly attractive, low-volume case that would be perfect for gaming builds and those looking for a console-sized portable alternative.

Despite the compactness, there is still decent room for a powerful GPU (PCI-E riser card included, supporting up to 310mm in length!) to go alongside your mITX motherboard. That said, remember to check dimensions as we’re getting into the smallest of cases.

We’re really impressed that Fractal has managed to keep this case suitable for gamers (especially considering our mATX pick further above doesn’t allow for full-size GPUS!).

Source: Zabaron

The front I/O panel is the standard for small builds: 2 x USB 3.0 and audio inputs.

The inner layout provides decent ventilation for both the CPU and GPU, on top of offering 2 x 120mm fan mount options and 3 included dust filters (good for the form factor).

We would’ve liked to have seen a little more space for a larger CPU cooler, but there are plenty of specialist ITX options available that are designed to be included in these tight clearances.

Fractal is simply one of the best manufacturers of PC cases today and this is another great example of why. If you’re going for a mini-ITX build, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something so visually pleasing, high-quality, spacious (yet compact), and impressively low-cost as the Design Node 202. For this specific form factor, this one feels like a no-brainer.

Source: SilverStone

SilverStone GD08

Best Large / E-ATX Horizontal Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Stunning, high-quality build

+ Great space, layout, and cooling for enthusiast builds with lots of drives/large GPUs

REASONS TO AVOID

− Quite expensive

− Larger than many average builders will need

OUR RATING: 9/10

A third SilverStone case in this list may seem like a lot, but they’re masters of the flat PC case for a reason.

If you have the budget and space, we would recommend the Thermaltake P7 discussed above within our P5 pick. But overall, the value of the GD08 is fantastic.

Not only do you get the high-build quality (including a stunning aluminum front panel), but also an incredibly roomy environment that will give you the freedom to effectively balance airflow, cable management, and beefy components (with 7 expansion slots, up to 6 fans of varying sizes and good PSU/GPU compatibility).

Source: ryansmission

The front panel is quite basic with standard audio inputs and 2 x USB 3.0 (would’ve been nice to see 4 USB ports on a case this size, but not a big deal considering most larger motherboards have plenty).

The case also has decent features to allow for an easy build. With the entire top being removable, you can easily get good access to its spacious layout (I know we’ve talked about its size a lot, but if you have the room, it really makes life a whole lot easier when building and managing temperatures).

Silverstone GD09 vs GD08: Although we highly rate the GD08, the reason we rank the GD09 at the top of the list is that we think it represents a better balance between price & space for the average PC builder. The GD09 still offers ample room for cooling, a mid-sized GPU, and drives for the HTPC builders, without becoming excessively expensive (and imposingly large) like the GD08.

That said, it ultimately comes down to your needs.

The size and quality of the GD08 make it a superb option if you’re looking to build a large-scale media center/server PC or a high-end gaming machine.

2026 update: The GD08 is still our top pick for large builds, but you may also be interested in the GD07B if you’re after a very similar case with a lock on the front panel (also a good alternative if the GD08 is out of stock).

More Options:

The above are our top picks, but if you’re looking for a few other options, we’ve included ones we’d still recommend for your next extra wide PC case.

Source: Thermaltake

Budget Horizontal ITX Case: Thermaltake Core V1

OUR RATING: 8.5/10

This tiny little cube was a decent runner-up to our ITX pick. It’s one of the most recommended ITX cases on What in Tech and is worth considering if you like the look (note there is also a great-looking white option available too).

At a very impressive low pricepoint (one of the cheapest on the list), the Core V1 still manages to boast a great build quality. With some steel components and a ventilation setup designed to get the most cooling out of its tiny space (up to 3 fans with 1 200mm one included, very impressive for the price point).

Bear in mind that while the cooling isn’t bad, you can only do so well with such a small setup! If you’re looking to run something monstrous, stick to one of the larger cases above.

Source: Seiren2112

The front I/O panel is standard, with 2 x USB 3.0 / audio inputs.

Given the layout and the “tiny cube” design, it isn’t necessarily the friendliest to all PC component shapes/sizes and you’ll need to be careful about the dimensions of your parts for this one (you’re certainly not fitting the large PSU/GPUs in here!).

It’s worth calling out that some users have seen quality issues with the Core V1 which is why we didn’t give it a top pick. With a 3-year warranty, if you’re one of the unlucky ones, you’ll be covered; but this is, of course, a risk that many would rather pay more money not to go through.

If your budget is tight and you’re confident that your build will fit, this case is a very impressive value offering and will give you a wonderfully unique aesthetic.

Source: Antec

Alternative Slim PC Case: Antec VSK2000

OUR RATING: 7/10

Another vertical/horizontal hybrid option, this mini-tower is a cheap case for those on a budget.

It comes with the standard 2 x 3.0 USB/audio I/O ports and a slick glossy black design.

Source: bluebanzai

The VSK2000 comes with a little less space for extras than our other Micro-ATX picks (4 expansion slots, 1 x 5.25″, 1 x 3.5″, and 1 x 2.5″ drives) and little room for air cooling (but one front fan included).

Despite this, the case seems to manage decent airflow, likely due to its decent ventilation and cable management options.

If you have a very minimalist build, a low budget, and are attracted to a small case for a micro-ATX build, the Antec VSK2000 will be a good choice for you.

Source: In-Win

Alternative Mini PC Case: In-Win CE685

OUR RATING: 7/10

Lastly on our top 10 list is the In-Win CE685, a MicroATX dual vertical/horizontal case.

At a cheap price point, the case offers good value for those balancing compactness and space.

A nice addition is the 4 x USB ports on the front I/O panel, many of its mATX competitors only offer 2.

Source: HikingMike

The case has space for 1 x 5.25″, 2 x 3.5″ & 1 x 2.5 (pretty standard for its size).

There is one included fan and not too much room to add more. However, the case still seems to manage good airflow (possibly because at this size, you’re not going to be installing too many hot parts!).

Much of the case boasts a toolless design (aside from the MB/PSU installs) so it would be a nice beginner pick.

Although not our top pick as we think the other MicroATX options are superior, if this case grabs your eye, it is still a great all-rounder and would make for a good horizontal case.

Round-up of Top Picks:

Best Overall: SilverStone Technology GD09B
Best Case Runner-Up: Cooler Master HAF XB EVO
Best High-End Case: Thermaltake Core P5
Best Budget: Thermaltake Core G3
Best Micro ATX Case: SilverStone ML04
Best Mini-ITX Case: Fractal Design Node 202
Best Large / E-ATX Case: SilverStone GD08
Thermaltake Core V1
Antec VSK2000
In-Win CE685

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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.

The 5 Best Gaming PC Bundles of 2023

The 5 Best Gaming PC Bundles of 2023 (With or Without Monitors)

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 13, 2023

I have significantly updated this article in 2023 to cover the release of new 4000-series GPU PCs. Now’s a great time to buy, with these GPUs set to be the best on the market for some time.

Right now, Skytech has particularly impressed us across most budgets. They’ve been offering great pre-built PCs at a reasonable price while still retaining good build quality, which is why they dominate this list for recommendations.

If you’re looking for a new personal setup or buying a gift for someone, there are some really great offerings out there for a pre-built PC gaming bundle.

With that in mind, today’s feature will take you through my reviews and rankings of the best combination of gaming PCs & monitors available today.

I’ve separated the monitor picks from the main PC/peripherals bundles because 1. I know some of you may not need a new display and 2. monitors are nearly always better value when bought independently (plus if one is out of stock, there are other options available on this list as back-up).

Nearly all of the PCs below come with a mouse and keyboard, but we’ve listed some alternatives at the bottom of the article too should you want other options.

Overall Best Gaming PC Bundle

Skytech Archangel RTX 4060 Ti

Read Review

+ Dell S2721HGF

Our Rating: 10/10

Best Gaming Bundle Under $1,200

Skytech Shadow

Read Review

+ Acer SB220Q

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Best RTX 4070 Gaming PC Bundle

Skytech Azure 4070 Ti

Read Review

+ LG 32GK650F-B

Our Rating: 9/10

Most Powerful RTX 9080 Bundle

Skytech Azure 4090

Read Review

+ Dell S-Series S2719DGF

Our Rating: 9.75/10

Cheapest Gaming Bundle under $650

Alarco GTX 650

Read Review

+ ViewSonic VS2210-H

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Best Gaming PC Bundle: Skytech Archangel RTX 4060 Ti & Dell S2721HGF

Ranking as the best gaming desktop on multiple What in Tech features, this Skytech Archangel model ticks all the right boxes we think a mid-range buyer will be looking for.

Lead by the fantastic RTX 4060 Ti, your gaming setup will have the best value GPU in 2023, with more than enough capability in managing decent settings and framerates for all current titles (including Cyberpunk 2077/Red Dead Redemption 2/Elden Ring) and will undoubtedly be capable of playing games well for the next few years.

If you’re a fan of e-sports like Fornite, CS: GO & Overwatch (or slightly older popular titles like Minecraft & Fallout 4) you can be sure to run most of these types of games at stupidly high framerates, even with max settings.

Working with the RTX 4060 Ti is a Core i5 12400F, 16GB DDR4 RAM & a 1TB NVMe SSD. These are great specs to work alongside the GPU. Let me make one thing clear; you can find many other 4060Ti gaming PCs on Amazon, some cheaper than this, but many will come with gaps that will bottleneck your performance.

I love the Archangel because it’s well-rounded and very impressive for the price with all specs considered; yes the GPU is where most of the budget goes to, but it’s not severely hindered by any of the other hardware.

All housed in a gorgeous cash with 4 attractive RGB fans, the cooling is decent and the full setup looks fantastic (especially when powered on, stock photos never do these machines justice!).

Alongside the PC an included RGB gaming keyboard and mouse. While these won’t be the same quality as say, a Logitech or Corsair product, they add excellent value for a gaming setup.

Tied to this gaming PC bundle is the fantastic Dell S2721HGF 144hz screen (don’t worry, the display is a lot better than the model name!).

While you can purchase a cheaper 60hz 1080p screen if desired (like the monitor in our pick directly below), we think that if you’re purchasing the Shiva, having a monitor with a high refresh rate will make your gaming experience so much better. With a 1ms response time and a gorgeous 1500R curve, the monitor will be perfect for esports and competitive gaming (27″ is a perfect size for most setups too, you can choose a 144Hz 24″ screen if you need to save a little more money).

Important note on monitors: While the Dell pick is our go-to best value for this gaming bundle, we’d recommend having a quick look at other 144hz monitors in case any are notably cheaper because it’s not uncommon to see them on a large discount (look out for low MS response time & a reputable brand).

I’ve included some more expensive options below that would be fantastic if you can stretch further, and some cheaper ones if this isn’t realistic for you. But with that said, I think the Shiva + Dell combo package represents the best sweet spot between price and quality on the market.

2023 update: The Archangel replaces our previous top pick, the Skytech Shiva. It’s a big upgrade from 6 months ago and a great time to buy a PC in this price range.

Our Rating: 10/10

Best Cheap Gaming PC Bundle under $1,200: Skytech Shadow & Acer SB220Q

While we would push our readers to at least go for our top choice in terms of the price range for a gaming PC package, we appreciate some of you will be looking for cheaper options.

Our favorite one for those around the $1200 point is this Skytech / Acer combo. Lead by an RTX 3050 graphics card, I love that this machine still manages to boast a 3000-series card at this price. You’ll still manage plenty of decent performance in the latest games (including Cyberpunk 2077, benchmarks suggest similar systems can achieve 50-60fps with medium settings) and a computer that will continue to do so for a good amount of time in the future.

With a Ryzen i5 10400F, the CPU is a little underwhelming. But I think this is to be expected as the budget for the PC went mostly to the RTX 3050 (this is a good decision for budget gaming where the GPU rules the roost). The 10400F does still pack enough punch to not be an alarming bottleneck.

With 8GB of DDR4 RAM, you have enough for now. But in the future, we would definitely recommend upgrading to 16GB (don’t worry, even if you didn’t want to build a PC, adding extra RAM is one of the easiest parts to install).

Another area I’m super impressed over is the inclusion of a 1TB NVME SSD. Storage is usually one of the first areas a manufacturer cheaps out and I find this so annoying. Let’s be real; games can often be 100GB-200GB in size, and you need a decent amount of space. So while we recommend the RAM upgrade, take solace in knowing you have a decent storage off-the-bat (but plenty of space to upgrade further too, if needed).

With an attractive RGB case and a decent provision of cooling, everything else about this gaming computer bundle checks out. Including the added LED gaming keyboard and mouse which are great for a budget setup.

Alongside this bundle, we recommend the Acer SB220Q monitor. This is one of the cheapest Full HD monitors that still offers a decent picture for gaming (with an IPS panel and 4ms response time, the colors and low input lag are great for gaming at this price range).

We love that even at its low cost, this screen still has a solid build quality; with good tilt/maneuver options (many more expensive monitors don’t include such features!).

Overall, if you can’t stretch to our top pick and want the best budget gaming PC package at an incredibly low $1200 price range, you’ve found it!

2023 update: While this bundle is still great for the price range, if at all possible I would recommend forking out the extra $200-300 for out top pick as the jump to a 4060 Ti is well worth the extra cost. If you can’t, there is another version of the Shadow with 16GB RAM and a 3060 GPU which sometimes goes on sale for around $999; that’s a great pickup if you’re lucky to find it at that price. But if not, don’t worry, the Shadow RTX 3050 edition is still a great bundle.

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Best RTX 4070 Gaming PC Bundle: Skytech Azure RTX 4070 Ti & LG 32GK650F-B

Now, for those with a decent mid-range budget that want something notably powerful, this Skytech Azure model is a beast of a pre-built gaming desktop package.

While our top pick is a great offering, the Azure is a great increase in capability if you can afford it. The RTX 4070 Ti is one of the most sought after GPUs on the market right now. Between this GPU and the Azure’s other improved specs, you can expect a fantastic performance across gaming and general use (it’s worth noting that diminishing returns kick in when you purchase a more expensive PC, but the 4070 Ti is a nice balance).

Working alongside the GPU is a Ryzen 7 5800X, 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. The storage, in particular, is a great addition. With enough space on ultra-fast NVMe for your OS, favorite files/software and games. And like our top pick, you have the option to add more RAM/storage in the future easily if needed (but you likely won’t need to for a long time).

With these specs, you have fantastic capability for a 4K gaming PC setup. With modern games capable of running at these high resolutions/framerates (even for many brand new titles, you can expect to hit 1440p 144hz with max settings, you’ll still have excellent performance and plenty of capability for raytracing/something that is decently future-proofed for the next several years).

Everything is housed in another beautiful Azure case with decent cooling and a gorgeous aesthetic. I expect the included gaming keyboard and mouse won’t be quite up to standard with the expectations of gamers at this budget, but I’ve included some premium keyboard/mouse combos at the bottom of this page if that sounds like you.

To go alongside this powerful gaming package, I’ve chosen the LG 32GK650F-B 1440p 144hz monitor.

If you’re tight on budget, you could pick up the 144hz 1080p monitor from our top pick, but I really think that having a QHD resolution alongside a high refresh rate is what will make this setup extra special. With a huge 31.5″ screen, fantastic 1ms response time, and a decent picture, this LG monitor will serve well for either immersive gaming, or someone focused on a high-paced competitive e-sport that demands fast reaction time. I was really impressed at how beautiful both the screen and build quality were of this particular screen in person. It’s certainly a premium display in every sense.

The RTX 4070 Ti is an amazing card and we’re pumped to see a setup at this price that doesn’t skimp in any area significantly. This feels like a complete gaming bundle for someone serious about a long-lasting system.

2023 update: The Azure replaces our previous top pick. Last year, the same price got you a 3070, so for the same budget to get you a 4070 Ti build is a great sign of the value on display here!

Our Rating: 9/10

Most Powerful RTX 4090 Gaming PC Bundle: Skytech Azure 4090 Edition & Dell S-Series S2719DGF

This pick is for those after the most powerful PC money can buy. Full disclosure; there are technically PCs that come with more bells and whistles for a higher cost, but I’ve chosen the pick that is top-range, without going into rip-off territory.

At the forefront of this PC’s great specs is the monstrous RTX 4090 GPU. This is the best gaming graphics cards on the market today.

Alongside the GPU is a Intel Core i9 13900K CPU, 64GB RAM & a 2TB NVMe SSD. These are simply incredible specs; some other manufacturers offer a 4090 pre-built PC at similar pricing with weaker CPUs and less storage/RAM, but Skytech has nailed the specs here, all of these accompany a 4090 perfectly for maximum performance.

With this system, you can expect to achieve excellent settings and framerate in any game and that will last well into the future. This is an excellent PC gaming bundle for people focussed on high refresh rate 4k.

With a well-ventilated case, the system looks fantastic and also includes some RGB lighting.

Included in the package is an RGB gaming keyboard and mouse. We will say at this price point, although this kit will be perfectly serviceable (and we recommend trying it before judging), we expect users would prefer the Corsair/Logitech combo we’ve included at the bottom of this page.

To work alongside this powerful pre-built RTX 4090 gaming PC setup we recommend the Dell S-Series S2719DGF as a suitable premium monitor to take advantage of a high refresh rate and 1440p gaming.

This is a gorgeous monitor with a 1ms response time, 350-nits & up to 155hz (overclocked, 144hz by default). Even with a VA panel, the display looks sharp and is fantastic for high-end gaming.

Appreciating that some gamers will want to be playing at 2160p, there is a couple of 4K monitors you can go for. Either this Philips screen for a more reasonable budget or this impressive VIOTEK display for 4k & 120hz. These will also be great choices; or if you want an even higher refresh rate, you can check our other feature on the incredible emerging 1440p 240hz monitors.

Overall, if you’re looking to have one of the most powerful pre-built PC combo possible with the capability to last many years into the future, I think this Shiva setup is pretty unparalleled (without going into ridiculous budgets).

Our Rating: 9.75/10

Cheapest Gaming PC Bundle under $650: Alarco GTX 650 & ViewSonic VS2210-H

Let me be clear; I would strongly recommend investing in at least the $1200 gaming bundle above because once you get much further below that price-wise, the options become very limited.

With that said, we appreciate some readers will be looking for the cheapest pre-built gaming PC bundle possible (that we can still actually recommend to play some games).

If that sounds like you, the Alarco GTX 650 is your best option and would be a good gaming PC bundle for kids/beginners.

Quick note: we’re reviewing this PC based on a price of $550. If it fluctuates well above that, it is probably instead worth waiting to save for our more expensive picks.

With an Intel i5 3.10GHz, 8GB RAM, and a GTX 650 GPU, you still have a budget PC here capable enough to decently play Fortnite, Overwatch, CS: GO, Minecraft, and other older titles (with some framerate or setting compromises). We wouldn’t recommend this PC if you’re trying to play any newer titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2 however.

Another potential idea with this build is that you can treat the current specs as a base, something to set you up for the short-term, with the option to upgrade to a better GPU when budget allows.

On top of light gaming, this machine should still be fine for personal use, business use, and internet browsing/Netflix.

One thing that is pleasant to see here is the inclusion of its 1TB HDD, Alarco could’ve easily shortchanged this build with a 512GB drive, but 1TB should set up budget gamers for a long time. On the other hand, seeing a hard drive-only build in 2022 is certainly disappointing; if you intend to upgrade anything (other than the GPU), we’d suggest buying a small SSD that can run the operating system.

Even with the price so low, you’re still getting a wi-fi-enabled motherboard, Windows 10, and decent USB port availability.

One important omission on this choice is that it does not come with a keyboard + mouse like our other top picks. Again, in the spirit of tight budgets, it may be more prudent to reuse a mouse and keyboard you already own, if that isn’t doable, you can check out our cheapest control combo at the bottom of this article

We appreciate that the case comes equipped with a decent aestehtic and 3 controllable RGB fans, the cooling in here isn’t anything to shout about but relative to the price? It’s a pretty impressive setup.

To compliment this PC, we think the best monitor for you would be the ViewSonic VS2210-H.

This is the cheapest 1080p IPS monitor right now. Yes, while you could go cheaper and get a 720p monitor, we really don’t recommend this. These monitors are only a little cheaper and look significantly worse in gaming and general use.

The ViewSonic, for its low budget, has an impressive picture. And with the Alarco ‘s ability to play older games on FHD, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised as long as you can keep your expectations measured for such a cheap build.

All in all, while it’d be great if you can budget for our other picks, we understand that isn’t always possible. And for playing older games, the Alarco still has a lot going for it. This is easily the cheapest gaming package we’d recommend.

2022 mid-year update: In terms of the monitor pick, we’ve been seeing lots of variability on pricing at this very budget range. Instead of going for this specific pick, we’d recommend doing a product search for “1080p monitor” and looking at what is on sale; if your budget is tight, we would say get the cheapest 1080p monitor that is large enough for your needs (typically 22″+).

Our Rating: 8/10

Alternative Gaming PC Accessory Combos

The above pre-built gaming PC combos all come with gaming mice and keyboards, but if you were looking at this list specifically for just accessories, we’ve included some extra options below.

Additionally, the final option is for those who may want something a little more premium when purchasing the above setups.

Best Gaming Accessories Bundle with Headphones: Orzly 4 in 1 Package

Coming in at a super impressive price-point is this Orzly bundle that includes a well-received pair of budget headphones (you’re, of course, not going to get what you can expect from an audiophile pair, but still great for a cheap gaming package).

Cheapest Gaming Accessories Bundle without Headphones: Havit Package

What’s extra impressive about this Havit keyboard/mouse combo is that the keyboard has enough tactile feedback to be considered mechanical (don’t expect a $100 mechanical keyboard feel of course, but certainly better than we’d expect for a budget gaming rig!).

Best High-End Gaming Accessory Package: Logitech G502 + SteelSeries Apex 5 + Corsair MM300

Now, if you’re purchasing one of the more expensive gaming PCs and want a premium mouse, keyboard, and mouse pad combo, we highly recommend buying the pieces separately as opposed to one Amazon listing.

These 3 are our top recommendations for each accessory, with value in mind (yes these are more expensive, but they’re not simply overpriced for no reason).

The G502 feels like the perfect answer to a gaming mouse. With great DPI settings, precision, ergonomics, and aesthetic, it has everything we think you’ll need at a reasonable price.

The Apex 5 is a beautiful RGB gaming keyboard with great hybrid blue switches that will feel great and tactile for gaming.

And to sit underneath is the Corsair MM300. We’ll be clear, you can just as easily pick up an ultra-cheap mouse pad and it will work nearly as well. But for a top-quality smooth surface, the MM300 is great (we like pads that sit under the keyboard too for presentation).

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Kaelum Ross

The 15 Best RGB Motherboards in 2023

The 15 Best RGB Motherboards of 2023

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 12, 2023

It all starts with the motherboard.

Nowadays, the market for this foundational part is so competitive, manufacturers have come up with new ways to add value to their latest versions.

Luckily for us builders focused on a beautiful PC, the big emerging trend is now the inclusion of RGB lighting within the motherboard, and lots of RGB header availability to light up your PC subtly, or make it look like a glowworm cave.

Not all the options available are great though, which is why we’ve collated the best RGB motherboards available on the market and categorized them for your varying needs.

Table of Contents

Best Intel RGB Motherboard Overall: MSI MPG Z690 Edge
Best Budget RGB Motherboard for Intel 10th Gen: ASUS ROG Strix B460-H
Cheapest RGB Motherboard (Intel): ASRock B365 Phantom Gaming 4
Best High-End Intel RGB Board: MSI MEG Z590 GODLIKE
Best AMD RGB Motherboard Overall: GIGABYTE B650 AORUS PRO AX
Best AMD RGB Motherboard Runner-Up: ASUS ROG Strix B450-F
Best Budget AMD RGB Motherboard: ASRock B450 Steel Legend
Best AMD High-End RGB Board: MSI Prestige X570 Creation
Best RGB Micro ATX Motherboard: MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC
Best RGB Mini ITX Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I
Best Z390 RGB Motherboard: Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER
Best Micro ATX RGB Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G
Best Mini ITX RGB Motherboard: Gigabyte H470I AORUS PRO AX
Honorable Mention: MSI MPG Z390 Gaming PRO Carbon
Best Alternative to Strix Z490-E: ASUS ROG Strix Z490-H
Cheapest Z490 RGB Motherboard: ASUS Prime Z490-A
Budget RGB ITX Motherboard: ASROCK B460M Steel Legend

Quick Tip:

RGB builds look great in cases with lighter colors/more windows. The reflective surfaces/increased visibility can really add to the effect. So if you’re also looking for a case, there are some great combinations in our best RGB case, best white case, and best clear case features.

Anyway, let’s get to it:

Best Intel RGB Motherboard Overall: MSI MPG Z690 Edge

This one is popular for a reason!

MSI has created what we think is the best RGB gaming motherboard for LGA with the Z690 Edge. Filled with fantastic features at a decent price point against many of the other Intel offerings.

Let’s talk about the RGB utility. To start, you have a gorgeous LED MSI logo alongside some tastefully undestated lighting underneath some of the M.2 shields. This combined with plenty of RGB connectivity onboard, gives you fantastic customization options when installing additional LED strips on your case.

The great header support and onboard design are the standout features from an RGB perspective, but on top of that is also MSI’s fantastic Mystic Light software. With an incredibly wide compatibility range to other LED parts (be it cases, fans, or GPUs) and a multitude of different effect options (anything from rainbow color cycles to lighting in beat with the music you’re playing). It’s hard to get a better base for your next crazy RGB PC build.

But the board isn’t just about being a light show. Featuring 4 x DIMM (DDR4 compatible) RAM slots, LGA 1700 socket for Intel gen 12 processors, 4 m.2 inputs and 3 x PCIe 3.0 (x16, CPU), the board has everything you need for a powerful multi-GPU setup should you desire. Also coming with a bunch of quality software and onboard utility that will expand your ability to effectively overclock your CPU and GPU.

And to round up is the set of great features available through the beautiful I/O port. Excellent HD-quality audio is outputted via a Realtek ALC4080 Codec; which surpasses what many independent sound cards achieve. Not to mention Intel Wi-Fi 6E wi-fi (and Bluetooth) capability. And of course, it includes all the usual ports you will expect to see with a nice addition of USB 3.1 Type C.

If this board fits in your price range, then know you haven’t just found the best LGA 1700 RGB motherboard for Intel 12th gen, but in our opinion, the best RGB motherboard for gaming with Intel.

Best Budget RGB Motherboard for Intel 10th Gen: ASUS ROG Strix B460-H

Asus seems to be on the top of their game when it comes to the best Intel motherboards with RGB header/lighting capability for the new 10th gen series.

If you’re looking at more of a budget combo; say something with an i5-10400, the B460 chipset is a great value proposition and this specific model comes with a great amount of RGB capability to go alongside it.

You’ll still be getting a motherboard with 1 standard RGB header and 1 addressable RGB header on top of the red LED ASUS logo sleekly shining on top of the I/O panel. Not as many headers as our top pick, but still enough to go alongside a sharp RGB PC case for a good looking build.

In terms of specs, this cheap RGB Intel motherboard still has everything you need for a decent gaming, streaming or general use build on a budget.

With 1 x PCIe x16 (CPU) & 1 x PCIe x16 (PCH at 4x mode), 2 x m.2 slots, still boasting the great S1220A audio codec as our top pick, and an I/O panel that still includes a USB C port, there’s plenty here to like. For the price? The Strix B460-H is matched by no other Intel RGB mobo.

Note: The Amazon listing talks about Bluetooth capability – this motherboard does not have this (if this is a concern for your budget build, know that Bluetooth USB adapters that work fine are incredibly cheap).

Don’t expect this board to offer the same kind of overclocking as our top pick. That said, if you’re getting a 10th gen i5 or similar, these CPUs aren’t particularly about OC’ing anyway.

RAM speeds will also be a tad hit (usually) compared to running a comparable build on a Z490 chipset. But that said, the differences will not be anywhere NEAR as noticeable as the price difference between this motherboard and the cheapest Z490 options.

For a budget gaming build with some beautiful RGB aesthetics, this B460 RGB board is everything you’ll need and easily our top choice for the best cheap RGB Intel motherboard.

Cheapest RGB Motherboard (Intel): ASRock B365 Phantom Gaming 4

This may seem a tad pricey for a “cheapest” pick, but this can be common for Intel motherboards. And truthfully, while there are cheaper LGA RGB options available, we simply can’t recommend any of them.

That being said, the B365 is a fantastic choice for someone looking for RGB style without reaching too far into their pocket. With some gorgeous RGB illumination on 3 parts of the board (logo, I/O panel, and underneath) + 1 x addressable and 2 x standard RGB LED headers, you have an impressive amount of lighting available here for the price.

ASRock also has its own software for lighting customization with Polychrome Sync. While not as highly regarded as some of the other offerings here, it’s still got all the central utility you’ll need to configure many interesting lighting formations.

The general features of the motherboard are decent. With 9th/8th gen intel support, 4 x DDR4 DIMM slots, 2 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slots, and the usual I/O ports included. The onboard sound won’t be quite as good as the other top offerings but for most users, it’s still going to give you the performance you need.

If you (and your wallet) like the look of the ASRock B365, then know you’ve still got everything you need here to set up an ambitious budget gaming PC build. The same goes for VR, streaming and production.

Best High-End Intel RGB Board: MSI MEG Z590 GODLIKE

With a price as long as its name, the MSI MEG Z590 GODLIKE is a beast of a motherboard (this being the hardest category on the list to decide, with other fantastic options available in this high-end category).

If the price isn’t a barrier for you, this is the best RGB motherboard you’ll find for Intel builds.

Firstly, the RGB utility: you’ve got some of the most gorgeous inbuilt lighting from the get-go with the large MSI logo and beautiful triangular light over the PCIe shield. On top of that is the 1 x 4-pin RGB LED header and 2 x 3-pin Rainbow headers, more than enough for even an intensive set of RGB lights. With the headers and onboard aesthetic combined, you’re going to have some fantastic, customizable case lighting.

Then there’s the general feature set and build quality. Which is pretty much as impressive as you can imagine and too quantitative to go over here. But to name a few highlights:

A fantastic array of onboard temperature control (from Frozr AI-controlled heatsink surrounding the board to the sophisticated heatpipe design for thermal dissipation).
Gen 4 PCIe & Lightning Gen 4 M.2 for unparalleled transfer speeds
An I/O panel with more USB ports than you’ll ever need (including 2 x USB 3.2 type C inputs both with Thunderbolt 4 capability, 8K display support & 10G + 2.5G LAN connectors) and audio ports powered by the fantastic Realtek ALC4082 Codec with ESS ES9218PQ Combo DAC/HPA
4 x DIMM slots, supporting RAM speeds up to 5600Mhz (this would be quite the build for video editing or high-end production).
Dynamic Dashboard II: see the area on the top right that brightly displays “Godlike”? That’s an OLED screen that you can customize to display the things you want to monitor most.

The list truly does go on, this board has been designed to provide the best overclocking facility available today.

If you’re looking for the best RGB motherboard money can buy for an intensive build alongside other very demanding components; then provided your wallet can handle it, this board is going to blow you away.

Best AMD RGB Motherboard Overall: GIGABYTE B650 AORUS PRO AX

As far as price vs performance goes, this is one of my favorite picks on the whole list.

Unfortunately, without getting to the ludicrous price points, AMD motherboards don’t seem to have as much onboard lighting as their Intel counterparts.

But the Pro AX still manages to be a great option for an RGB build; in addition to the tasteful logo LED on the I/O panel, the case boasts 2 x ARGB, 2x RGB & 1 x CPU cooler LED strip connectors. This is a a fantastic allotment for a mid-range motherboard and it empowers you to add a huge amount of lighting to your build. GIGABYTE’s Control Center software also offers fantastic customisability and (as the name suggests) control over your lighting.

Of course, we’re not just here for the RGB. That’s why I really like the PRO AX, it has everything I think you’ll want in an AM5 build; with 4 x DIMM slots for DDR5 RAM, quad M.2 slots, PCI 5.0 and a host of quality-of-life features to allow for more effective overclocking.

This is a great set of features; I’m really happy to see PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 on this board. This isn’t a given with mid-range picks at the moment.

The onboard Realtek ALC1220-VB CODEC will provide you with great sound through the available outputs (and some great onboard software to get exactly what sound optimization you’re looking for). Accompanying them on the I/O panel are the standard ports, with plenty of USB/display options and very impressively for the price point, a decent onboard wi-fi adapter.

Reading through this, I’m sure you’ll see why we’re so excited about the AORUS PRO AX. GIGABYTE has really created a fantastic option here and if it meets your desired RGB style, component requirement, and price point, then we can’t recommend it enough.

Best AMD RGB Motherboard Runner-Up: ASUS ROG Strix B450-F

Closely in second place is the AMD version of our top pick for Intel.

With the same very sleek LED logo in the top left I/O panel and two RGB headers on board, you still have great options to work alongside the fantastic Aura Sync software.

The reason this board didn’t take the same top spot as it did on the intel side is the lack of addressable RGB header and the slick “cybertext” logo also isn’t an LED in this version. This is likely due to the generally lower price point of AMD motherboards.

Aside from that, you have largely the same fantastic offering here for the AMD side: with 4 x DIMM dual-channel RAM slots, AM4 socket for 1st/2nd generation Ryzen chipsets, and 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 / 1 PCIe 2.0 x16. With a host of great onboard features if you wish to overclock.

The I/O panel is standard with everything you’d usually expect, this specific motherboard doesn’t have wi-fi inclusion (and is lower in price as a positive result) but does include the fantastic SupremeFX S1220A CODEC chipset for excellent high-quality audio.

If the Carbon AC doesn’t catch your eye, we love this ASUS offering and would be a fantastic foundation for an RGB gaming PC.

Best AMD Budget RGB Motherboard: ASRock B450 Steel Legend

While we’d recommend spending a little more to get the MSI PRO Carbon AC, this is still a great option for an AMD PC build.

The RGB options here are brilliant for the price. We have the addressable LED lights on the I/O panel and underneath the logo, as well 1 x addressable and 2 x standard RGB headers, plenty for nearly any RGB build and with ASRock’s Polychrome Sync software to customize them to your desire (not quite as good as the ASUS/MSI software but still perfectly decent).

The board includes the usual DIMM DDR4 slots, AMD AM4 socket, and 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. While not as feature-dense for overclocking as the other models above, you still have some onboard utility that puts it above a standard motherboard.

The I/O panel is also great for the price, with 6 USB 3.1 ports (including 2 x gen 2) amongst the other standard ones. While not the best on the list, the onboard audio will satisfy most.

As far as buying a cheap RGB motherboard goes, this is one of the best value offerings you can find if you’re not looking to spend a little more on the MSI PRO Carbon AC and still has everything you need for a cheap gaming build.

Best AMD High-End RGB Board: MSI Prestige X570 Creation

Just look at this thing.

Aesthetic is just one of the many areas the Prestige X570 excels at (there is little it isn’t good at, except friendliness with a budget!).

Firstly, this is the only AMD motherboard on the list that fits into the E-ATX form factor, giving you optimal space for your build if compactness isn’t a concern for you.

For the RGBs, you have stylish LED strips running across the I/O panel, and lighting underneath, both powered MSI’s great Mystic Light software; which will also give you control over the 1x 4-pin RGB, 2x 3-pin Rainbow & 1x 3-pin Corsair LED connectors available on the board (between these headers and the onboard lighting, you have the best options available on the market for an AMD RGB PC build).

The other quality-of-life features across this motherboard are fantastic. Anything from steel protectors around the PCIe ports to protect your beefy GPUs, to the auto-adjust Frozr heatsink designed to maximize the cooling/overclock potential for the best gaming PC build possible.

With top-tier wi-fi, audio quality, and the highest amount of USB ports and types on the list, the rear I/O panel is also second to none.

Simply put, if you’re building an AMD RGB PC build and want the best performance possible, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything that comes close to competing with the X570 Creation.

Best Micro ATX RGB Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G

If you’re looking at Micro ATX/Mini ITX builds and a motherboard with RGB headers/inbuilt lighting aplenty; there, unfortunately, isn’t a crazy amount on the market we’re willing to recommend right now (which is why this list only features Intel options for these categories).

That being said, thankfully the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G exists! It’s crowning feature from an RGB perspective is having both 2x Aura-Sync 4-pin and 2 x addressable 3-pin RGB headers onboard, fantastic for an mATX motherboard. Combined with the inbuilt addressable RGB lighting across the top of the I/O compartment, you’re going to have plenty of lighting utility to brighten up an RGB mini tower.

The motherboard includes 10th gen Intel processor support with its LGA 1200 socket, 4 x DIMM DDR4 RAM slots, and 2 x PCI-e 3.0 x16 inputs (you’re unlikely to need more for a mini-tower).

The I/O panel and additional features are good, with USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, high-quality audio (not the best on the list but still great for the average user), and great onboard wi-fi 6 (Bluetooth included).

If you’re looking to create a Micro ATX RGB PC, this is without a doubt the best motherboard to do so. If you’re really desperate for a Micro ATX RGB Motherboard for AMD, then check out the AsRock B450m.

Best Mini ITX RGB Motherboard: Gigabyte H470I AORUS PRO AX

Gigabyte has a very impressive offering for the smallest form factor and anyone after a decent motherboard with RGB headers.

It’s very impressive how many of the features are still crammed into this thing from the full form factor-sized models (accepting of course, that there are some removals).

The included RGB LED lighting shines underneath the back of one whole side of the board and is accompanied by 1 x addressable / 1 x standard RGB header connectors. This is all controllable through Gigabyte’s fantastic RGB Fusion 2.0 software. It’s hard to imagine you needing any more lighting in a tiny build like this!

The board boasts what you would expect for CPU and RAM, with an LGA 1200 socket and 2 x DIMM DDR 4 slots (sounds low, but is standard for RTX, and still more than enough for great RAM speeds). There is only one PCI-e 3.0 x16 slot. Again, this is standard for mITX, and I’m assuming you’re not looking at SLI or Crossfire in such a tiny RGB build!

Covering a huge portion of the board is an extended heatsink/thermal pad. This is going to be great to manage cooling in such a compact build, where the lack of space/airflow can often cause problems in gaming /production rigs.

That board also includes a fantastic ALC1220-VB Codecaudio unit, Intel 802.11ax wi-fi 6 adapter, Bluetooth, and a good amount of I/O ports for the size of the board.

For the tiny form-factor AMD builders out there, there’s also the AMD equivalent ASUS ROG Strix B450-I too (with some slight variations in specs but still a great option)!

Overall, we’re really pleased to see that Gigabyte has created an mITX version of their mainstream boards that still feels nearly as impressive as its larger counterparts. We think you’ll love picking this up for your RGB Mini ITX build.

Best Z390 RGB Motherboard: Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER

Previously ranking as one of our top picks for the best overall Intel RGB mobo boards, the Z390 Aurus master is perfect if you’re looking to build a RGB build around a Intel 8th/9th gen CPU.

Boasting a very flashy set of LEDs across the logo, bottom left shroud, top right small logo, and I/O panel; this option certainly has some of the most onboard LED display out of the options in its price range (if you’re looking for RGB abundance).

The MASTER comes with multiple RGB LED headers and the RGB Fusion 2.0 software, a very respectable competitor in features to ASUSs’s Aura sync.

Aside from that, the motherboard is also well equipped for your gaming/production needs, with 4 x DIMM, intel 8th/9th gen support, and 3 PCI-e 3.0 x16 slots.

There’s a host of additional nice quality-of-life utility to this board. To name a couple of highlights: there are nice additional durability features for some of the case’s ports (particularly for the GPUs where this can be a problem), alongside an onboard thermal guard solution for your overclocking requirements.

The included ESS SABRE DAC ES9118 chipset will arguably provide the best high-quality audio of all RGB motherboards outside of the high-end options. With a wi-fi offering similar in quality to our top pick. The I/O panel includes everything you’d expect with USB 3.1 Type C.

Overall, if you prefer the style and feature offering of the Z390 over our top Asus choice, don’t fret: we’re still confident this board will be a fantastic choice for your RGB PC build.

Honorable Mention: MSI MPG Z390 Gaming PRO Carbon

While not quite getting one of the top spots, this item was effectively 3rd place in the “ATX motherboards with RGB lights” category back when Intel 8th/9th gen CPUs were the norm. We would still recommend if it better aligns with your style, price range, or hardware requirements (with an AMD version available too).

The PRO Carbon includes subtle lighting against the I/O panel and underside of the board, alongside the option to extend your RGB LED lights with 2 x 4-pin RGB, 1 x 3-pin Rainbow & 1 x 3-pin Corsair LED connectors. The biggest reason we wanted to include this on the list is that this amount of RGB headers included for the price is impressive and would give you a lot of customization options (especially working alongside the MSI Mystic Light software).

The case is great in the standard areas too, with 4 x DDR4 RAM slots, coffee lake CPU support & 3 PCIe3 x16 slots. The I/O ports being relatively normal but including good onboard audio also.

If you’re a fan of MSI, the board style, or anything else that is shifting you towards this, don’t be put off for it not getting a top recommendation; we’ve added it for a reason. It’s still a great base for an RGB PC.

Alternative Quick-Fire Picks (Best of the Rest)

While the above items are our overall top choices, to end our list is a few extra final picks that may be worth considering for very specific requirements/scenarios.

Best Alternative to Strix Z490-E: ASUS ROG Strix Z490-H

Very nearly taking our top pick over the Z490-E is its cheaper brother, the Z490-H.

While it has 1 less addressable RGB header and a tad less capability for overclocking, it’s still an incredibly stable RGB motherboard and worth considering if you check the differences and value the price decrease more than the changes.

Cheapest Z490 RGB Motherboard: ASUS Prime Z490-A

Only a little cheaper than the Z490-E but coming in with very similar features all still suitable for a powerful gaming build, the Z490-A is worth considering if you’re really trying to minimize spend while not compromising on RGB/chipset capability.

Budget RGB ITX Motherboard: ASROCK B460M Steel Legend

If you’re building an ITX RGB PC with a cheaper 10th gen CPU and feel the Z490 chipset is outside of your budget, then this ASRock B460 mobo is perfect for you.

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The 10 Best Gaming Laptops on Amazon in 2023

The 10 Best Gaming Laptops on Amazon in 2023

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 12, 2023

I significantly updated this feature in June to cover all the new releases over 2023. Now is a great time to buy a gaming laptop, with the 4000-series cards freshly released and likely to be the king of laptop GPUs for the foreseeable future.

There are thousands of different laptop on Amazon.

How are you supposed to decide exactly what’s best for your gaming setup (and wallet!)?

I’ve reviewed the notable options and ranked them to easily guide you through the best gaming laptops on Amazon today, for all different budget considerations.

Overall Best Gaming Laptop on Amazon (Mid-Range)

MSI Thin GF63

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Best Pick Under $1,500

Acer Nitro 17

Our Rating: 9.75/10

Read Review

Budget Pick

Acer Nitro 5 GTX 1650

Our Rating: 8.75/10

Read Review

Most Powerful Gaming Laptop Pick

MSI Stealth 17 Studio

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Cheapest Pick

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Our Rating: 7.5/10

Read Review

Overall Best Gaming Laptop on Amazon (Mid-Range Pick): MSI Thin GF63

I’ve been very impressed by what MSI offers in the laptop space for many years, and gaming is at the forefront of that.

For the top mid-range pick, I wanted to find the best gaming laptop for $1,000 on Amazon as this tends to be the most common price range my readers will enquire on. This choice is just a touch more expensive than that, but paying that bit more is definitely worth it, as you gain access to an RTX 4050 laptop.

This graphics card, as far as portable gaming goes, is the best you’ll get around the $1,000 mark. Many competitors offer RTX 3000 series cards at this price range. It’s a fantastic deal, especially when the device is well-rounded in its other specs.

With great performance, you’re going to be able to play a majority of games at 1080p high settings with excellent framerates. And it will be well future-proofed for big upcoming titles. If you’re looking to get high framerates & resolutions with max settings in intensive games, you’ll have more luck with our premium picks below or desktop options. But rest assured, most titles will look fantastic on the GF63

Working alongside the 4050 is a Core i7-12650H, 16GB DDR4 RAM & a 512GB NVMe SSD. Not only are these specs more than enough for ensuring the GPU isn’t bottlenecked by the hardware, but they’re capable of giving you a very smooth general-use experience with the laptop (be it web browsing, videos, or other program usages).

It’s annoyingly common to see laptops come with the latest GPUs but skimp on CPU or RAM to keep the costs low. That’s really why I rate the GF63 so highly, it’s the full package spec-wise.

Although I’m happy to see 512GB over 256GB that many other builds at this price come with, the main area that left me longing was the storage space. It will serve you initially but is a little low for a gaming PC if you’re interested in multiple large titles. There is another drive bay you can easily use to upgrade your storage should you need to. Don’t be fooled by lower price laptops that have larger drives; I’ve been through them and their specs suffer in other ways to compensate for this (especially GPU, which is more important for your setup).

The laptop is well-designed. One of the things I like about MSI the most is its ability to create sturdy, long-lasting PCs. With a good track record of thermal management for the powerful specs, a beautiful backlit keyboard, and a fantastic full HD IPS 144Hz screen.

If your budget is around the $1,000 mark, this is the best gaming laptop on Amazon for you.

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Best Gaming Laptop under $1,500 on Amazon: Acer Nitro 17

If you can stretch your budget a little further, the Nitro 17 is a fantastic laptop where you can expect a further ~30% improvement in games compared to our above pick.

Acer Nitro has been a common feature in my gaming laptop articles, they consistently manage to offer excellent value in this series over the years.

This is achieved here with the great combination of the RTX 4070 and Ryzen 7 7735HS, both fantastic specs for this price range. You can expect to comfortably play most titles in great settings, 1080p with a very high frame rate.

You have a wonderful screen to enjoy those high frame rates on too. Boasting a full HD, IPS, 165Hz panel with low latency and great color accuracy. The screen gives off vibrant pictures and a snappy response time to match the fast reaction needs of competitive gaming.

Working alongside the CPU and GPU is 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD. In all of the previous laptops I’ve featured in this price range, the manufacturer always skimps out slightly and provides a 512GB drive. So it’s really nice to see 1TB provided here (which feels more realistic as a storage size for serious gamers).

The list goes on: beautiful design, tactile RGB keyboard, good thermals, and solid build quality. I really like that this 17″ gaming laptop doesn’t feel like it skimps on any area and is a good all-around pick worth its price tag.

If you can stretch your budget to the Nitro 17, you’re going to love it. This machine is such a fantastic value for what you’re getting.

Our Rating: 9.75/10

Best Budget Gaming Laptop on Amazon: Acer Nitro 5 GTX 1650

You have to respect that with this budget, manufacturers are very limited on what kind of parts they can include. With that said, I’m pleasantly surprised by just how good this Nitro 5 model is for its ridiculously low price point.

Led by the GTX 1650, you still have a graphics card capable of running most games at fair settings/frame rates. If you’re playing older games/many of the popular titles that are well optimized (Fortnite, Overwatch, WoW, etc.), you’re still going to get great frame rates on them suitable for competitive gaming.

Accompanying the GPU is the very capable 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H, 8GB DDR4 RAM & a 256GB NVMe SSD. While you won’t get very far with high-end production work on this laptop (high-end video editing, rendering, etc.), it will still do very well when it comes to general use for things like web browsing, videos, and standard work if needed.

You have some easy options to upgrade this laptop also. Acer has sensibly installed 1 stick of 8GB RAM (instead of 2 x 4GB) to allow you to easily add a second 8GB RAM stick if you like. There’s also a 2.5″ drive slot if you wish to expand your storage.

Another reason we picked this as the top budget choice is that the laptop still has some impressive design features for its price range. With a good build quality, a 1080p IPS screen, and a USB 3.1 Type C port, you’re really getting a lot for your money here.

On top of being a great budget choice, I’d also suggest this is one of the best gaming laptops for beginners, kids, teenagers, or simply someone who’s behind on gaming and has some titles to catch up on alongside their general laptop use.

Rest assured, although it isn’t going to give you the same performance as our top picks, we still love the value of this Nitro 5 model. There’s a reason it’s one of the best-selling gaming laptops on Amazon.

2023 update: I’ve retained the Nitro 5 as the budget pick as I know some readers are very price focussed. With that said, if your budget can stretch to it, I would really recommend going for the IdeaPad Gaming 3, which boasts a HUGE upgrade for a relatively small price increase.

Our Rating: 8.75/10

Most Powerful Gaming Laptop on Amazon: MSI Stealth 17 Studio

Our next pick is for those looking for the most expensive gaming laptop on Amazon that is worth buying (not needlessly pricey for pointless bells and whistles).

There are some diminishing returns when comparing this laptop to our laptop pick under $1,500 for gaming alone (that said it has a whole lot more going for it). There’s a bit of an awkward zone between these two picks, where many manufacturers up the price by including more RAM, drive space, and better CPUs, but these are all secondary for machines that are already powerful enough when it comes to these specs).

Now with all that said, what you’re getting in the Stealth 17 the best laptop GPU available today: the RTX 3090 (I expect it to remain the best for a while too).

With some incredible additional specs to go with it. You can expect this laptop to perform about 60-80% better than the Nitro 17 in games. That is a fantastic improvement considering how great the Nitro 17 already feels. This would be perfect for someone looking for a VR-ready laptop or a reader who doesn’t want to compromise on game settings now or in the next few years.

Accompanying the powerhouse GPU is a beastly Core i9-13900H, 64GB of DDR5 RAM & a 2TB SSD. These are some seriously fantastic specs that will empower you to do some serious production work, with the Stealth 17 doubling as a 4k video editing laptop/suitable for other intensive tasks.

I was really quite impressed when I saw the design of the Stealth 17 in person. It looks and feels fantastic. The build quality is what you’d hope for in a premium gaming laptop and although the machine runs hot, the thermal solution is more than capable of keeping the device manageable.

And then there is the amazing display. On top of reaching great color accuracy and a sharp 3ms latency, it’s running at a very impressive 240hz QHD/1440p. Some laptops with these ultra-high refresh rates don’t have the specs to actually run games to take advantage of this, but the beauty of the Stealth 17 is that it does. Some premium gaming laptops will push their screens to 360hz @ 1080p, but I think that opting for 1440p is much better. The resolution increase will be more significant (I’d argue even for many e-sports enthusiasts) than the diminishing returns of 240hz vs 360hz.

I’m so impressed with this laptop. It’s a pricey offering but the specs, build quality and thermal solution are classic examples of getting what you pay for. If you’re serious about buying the most powerful laptop possible, this is the pick for you.

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Cheapest Gaming Laptop on Amazon: Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Now let’s be clear, I’m being very generous in calling this pick a gaming laptop and I would highly recommend you save up the extra money to at least get the budget Acer Nitro pick above for gaming.

That being said, I appreciate that some readers will be looking for the cheapest laptop for gaming on Amazon, even if that means some serious limitations.

This Lenovo laptop is impressive for its price point. With a capable Ryzen 5 3500U processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM & a 256GB SSD. You can still expect it to be a decent runner for general usage and office work.

For games, you’ll be relying on the integrated Vega 8 graphics; which still do a semi-decent job on older titles. You’ll be able to run games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and league of legends on lower settings.

Another credit to the IdeaPad 3 is that it has a nice build quality for its price. It’s a very slim, lightweight laptop that would be ideal for travel.

If your budget is very tight and you need a new PC now; then as long as you can respect that this is a light gaming PC, you’re still getting excellent value.

Our Rating: 7.5/10

Alternative Picks

The top 5 picks are our main favorite choices for your various budgets when considering the best gaming laptop on Amazon.

That being said, we’ve included some additional worthy choices for some other price brackets that are popular – we’d still recommend these laptops if they work for your budget.

Best Gaming Laptop under $1,200 on Amazon: ASUS TUF506IV-AS76

Between our top 2 picks is a choice that doesn’t upgrade the GPU, but does offer a fantastic design, upgraded processor, and impressive 1TB SSD. We featured one of the cheaper TUF models in our best 144HZ laptops feature.

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Best Gaming Laptop under $800 on Amazon: Acer Nitro 5 RTX 3050

Inbetween our top overall and top budget picks is space for this fantastic Acer Nitro 5 unit – Getting an RTX 3050 for this price is still excellent if it’s as far as you can go.

Our Rating: 9/10

Second Best Amazon Gaming Laptop under $1,200: Acer Predator Helios 300

One other very decent option in this price range was worth calling out; this doesn’t have the same storage capacity as the ASUS laptop but has an improved thermal solution and fantastic 3ms response time which is why we ranked it at the top of our list for high-refresh-rate laptops, perfect for competitive gaming.

Our Rating: 8.75/10

Best Amazon Gaming Laptop under $1,500 Alternative: ASUS ROG Strix G15

Now if you’re up for spending a little more than our second pick, this is one of the top gaming laptops on Amazon by ASUS. And their ROG brand really stands out with its fantastic design. For the extra price, you’re getting 240Hz and more storage, so worth considering.

Our Rating: 8.75/10

Best Laptop under $2,000 on Amazon: CUK MSI GP65 Leopard

If you like the look of our best laptop under $1,500 pick, but want something with a little higher spec, this is a great future-proofed choice (it won’t get you much more performance in gaming, but it’s RAM, CPU, and storage are very impressive for other tasks).

Our Rating: 9/10

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The 5 Best 120hz Laptops of 2023

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 12, 2023

Reviewing the best high-FPS options for different budgets

I updated this article in June to cover any new releases in 2023.

It’s worth adding that many 2023 gaming laptops with 3000 series GPUs have moved towards 144Hz screens. I’d highly recommend checking out our overall gaming laptop feature which includes better offerings, but I’ve also pointed out in this feature where there might be a notably better 144hz alternative available.

60fps? That’s old-school!

Nowadays, the big laptop manufacturers have come out with some fantastic machines that can output double the standard 60fps framerates.

This is why today’s feature will be taking you through the best 120hz laptops on the market. I’ve reviewed and ranked them for gaming (and other uses) with lots of different budgets in mind.

Overall Best 120hz Laptop

Dell G15 RTX 3050 Ti

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Best Pick Under $800

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

Our Rating: 8.75/10

Read Review

Best 14-Inch Pick

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Read Review

Alternative Pick under $1,000

MSI GF65 Thin 9SD-252

Our Rating: 8.75/10

Read Review

Honorable Mention

ASUS TUF RTX 2060 Gaming Laptop

Our Rating: 8/10

Read Review

Overall Best 120hz Laptop for Gaming: Dell G15 RTX 3050 Ti

At the top of the list is an offering from Dell that represents fantastic value for its price range.

An RTX 3050 Ti laptop, this GPU can handle a lot for its price. If you’re into newer titles you can expect to achieve decent graphics settings on these (with nothing on the horizon that the RTX 3050 Ti couldn’t play in some capacity).

But of course, with its 15.6-inch 120hz display, where the machine really shines is its ability to play mid-tier games at very high refresh rates. This is one of the best laptops for Fortnite, Overwatch, and other competitive esports at 120fps.

Source: _i_am_sus

Working alongside the GPU is a Ryzen 7 5800H & 16GB RAM, great components to go alongside the GPU. We don’t expect you’ll need more than 16GB of RAM for a long time which is why even our longevity-focused picks have this capacity. That said, the RAM slots could be upgraded at a later date should you desire. These specs will be decent for business and personal use too (not just a gaming machine).

While there are some other compelling options below, I’ve picked this laptop as our top choice due is its fantastic reliable performance.

With great thermals, solid material, and a sturdy (+ beautiful) keyboard, this gaming laptop has been built to last. The similarly priced 120hz alternatives have some minor issues that we talk about below; while it was a very close race to the top pick, we think it’s worth paying an extra 5-10% for a laptop that is durable and doesn’t run very loudly.

Overall, the Desll G15 offers a fantastic value at its mid-range price and is our choice for the best 120hz laptop available today.

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Best Cheap 120hz Laptop under $800: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 RTX 3050

Now, we appreciate some readers will be looking for the best pick on a tighter budget.

It’s important to realize that if you want to achieve high-FPS gaming, you do need to have some horsepower. That’s where this Lenovo gaming laptop strikes a fantastic balance (we think it’s incredible that they’ve managed to produce a laptop capable of 120fps gaming at this price range).

Lead by its RTX 3050 graphics card, AMD Ryzen 5-5600H & 8GB RAM, this PC packs a decent punch for gaming.

Source: Litkid_05

You can still expect to achieve 120fps on Fornite, Minecraft, Overwatch, LoL, and other older competitive games (providing you play with the settings to around medium). An RTX 3050 will still be able to run newer titles, as long as you can limit your expectations (i.e. low settings, 30-60fps at 1080p).

We love also that despite the budget price-point, this Lenovo laptop is still of excellent build quality, and comes with all the usual quality-of-life features you expect on a good portable gaming PC (lit keyboard, Windows 10 included, and a decent thermal solution).

The one downside of the cheapest 120hz laptop on the market is its subpar battery life. You can expect a few hours for general use and 2-3 for gaming (but again, at this budget, you won’t find anything better).

You’re not getting the performance of a more expensive future-proofed laptop at this price, but the fact that you can have a machine that balances 120fps gaming for older esports and can still play most newer titles at lower settings/fps really is an impressive feat.

This is, without a doubt, the best cheap 120hz laptop available on the market today.

2023 update: There is an updated version of the Ideapad 3 which boasts a notably improved processor and DDR5 RAM. Its list price is $900, but I have seen it on sale a lot around the same price as our featured model. If the newer model is on sale or only slightly more expensive, I highly recommend the upgrade if your budget can accommodate it.

Our Rating: 8.75/10

Best 14-inch 120 Hz Laptop under $1500: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

If you’re after a more portable gaming PC than the rest of our choices, the G14 is one of the best examples of how to achieve an excellent lightweight high-refresh-rate laptop.

With an RTX 2060 Max-Q, its performance is slightly less than our top choice’s GPU (in the region of 5-10%, as Max-Q cards are made for ultra-thin laptops). However, the G14 also boasts a Ryzen 9 4900HS CPU. This is a fantastic edition and for CPU-intensive games, will gain back a lot of the lost performance from its GPU’s “Max-Q” label. You’ll still be able to use its great 120hz display for esports titles like Overwatch, Fortnite, and Dota 2

With 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, this machine has plenty of capability as a business and personal use laptop too.

Source: CrazyGelo

But perhaps the best of all of its unique features is its superb design and build quality. With a gorgeous aesthetic and thermal solution for its size (only 3.64 lbs and 0.7″ thick!), the G14 really feels like a very premium laptop built to last.

Finally, with the Max-Q and Ryzen 4000-series both being power-efficient iterations, the laptop has a superb battery life; which, alongside its build quality, really solidifies its place as a machine for portable gaming.

The G14 is comfortably our top pick for the most portable 120hz pick. I love that in its tight space, it still manages to pack a great punch.

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Best 120hz Laptop under $1000: MSI GF65 Thin 9SD-252

For those who can’t stretch to our top pick, there is thankfully a fantastic alternative MSI gaming laptop under $1000.

This is from the exact same GF65 range that has been featured many times on WIT. This model runs off a GTX 1660ti GPU. Which, while not as powerful as the RTX 2060, doesn’t run too far behind in capability. Typically, the difference is usually around 5-10% less FPS, which will still give you all the horsepower you need to use its beautiful 120hz screen for mid-range competitive esports (and enough power to still enjoy newer/upcoming titles).

Source: MSI

Alongside the GPU, you are getting the same fantastic processor as our top pick which is perfect for handling business and personal use laptop needs also. This edition has 8GB RAM instead of 16GB. However, you can simply upgrade that to 16GB at a later date if you need to.

With the same excellent build quality, keyboard, and trackpad as our top pick, we still rate this choice very highly (still including the nice quality of life features too, like a USB type C port and a 720p webcam).

It’s a great pick for those wanting something a little more than budget but a little less than our top pick.

Our Rating: 8.75/10

Alternative RTX 2060 Choice: ASUS TUF FX505 Gaming Laptop

As mentioned in our top 120hz laptop pick, although we love the MSI RTX 2060 offering, there is a cheaper choice in this ASUS TUF PC.

The price seems like wizardry for what you’re getting. The cheapest RTX 2060 laptop on the market, this model comes along with a respectable Ryzen 7 3750H, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. All of which are very worthy of accompanying this GPU and not leaving any bottlenecks for gaming or general use (this is certainly capable of similar high FPS/settings gameplay to the MSI laptop pick) and you’ll have the option to upgrade the RAM to 32GB in the future if desired.

As you would expect with an ASUS laptop, the aesthetic, RGB keyboard, and material for the exterior build are all very nice and perfect for a gaming machine. This 120hz laptop is also IPS, so we have no complaints about the screen.

Source: Faiz_

Where we decided to slightly give the edge to MSI’s offering as our top pick is in its thermals and reliable performance. A notable minority of users have complained of errors, blue screens, very loud fans, and some delays in getting a warranty replacement/repair with the FX505.

Now it’s worth saying that this is a minority, most users seem to be happy with receiving what is largely an insanely cheap budget RTX 2060 laptop for gaming. We just think it’s worth the extra money for the MSI offering as a piece of mind that you’re getting a unit that is unlikely to run into any problems (when you spend this kind of money, you want something that will last).

But with all that said, if you don’t mind the cons mentioned above, you are getting a fantastic GPU, specs, and machine at a mind-blowing price, this ASUS 120hz laptop has a lot going for it.

Our Rating: 8/10

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The 10 Best EATX Motherboards of 2023

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 11, 2023

Reviewing the best extra large motherboards for enthusiast builds

I updated this article in June after reviewing the latest E-ATX releases of 2023. Most of my top picks remain the same for this refresh, but I’ve added a couple of decent new alternatives where relevant.

Sometimes, ATX isn’t big enough.

Perhaps you’re looking for a motherboard form factor that can accommodate the most overclocking and be the basis for the most powerful build you can possibly think of.

We’ve put together this feature on the best E-ATX motherboards available after reviewing the decent options and marrying them up between price and quality.

Overall Best Intel E-ATX Motherboard

MSI MEG Z690 ACE

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

High-End E-ATX Intel Pick

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Read Review

Best AMD E-ATX Motherboard

GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Best X299 E-ATX Motherboard

Gigabyte X299X AORUS Master

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Read Review

Budget E-ATX Pick

MSI X299 Pro

Our Rating: 7.5/10

Read Review

Best XL-ATX Motherboard

Gigabyte X299X AORUS Designare 10G

Our Rating: 8/10

Read Review

Best Z490 E-ATX Motherboard

EVGA Z490 Dark

Our Rating: 8/10

Read Review

Intel vs AMD EATX Motherboards

While AMD usually takes the top spot in the mid-range Micro ATX / ATX motherboard sizes, Intel is king for E-ATX.

There are simply more good options available between the Z690 and X299 chipsets in this form factor when building a very high-end PC.

This is why we’ve primarily focussed this guide on Intel options.

That said, we do have a couple of great options for AMD HEDT CPU builds below. You can still build with whichever choice you like, there are just fewer options than Intel.

Now, let’s get to it:

Overall Best E-ATX Motherboard: MSI MEG Z690 ACE

One thing that instantly stood out to me over the Z690 ACE is its price point.

Many HEDT motherboards quickly approach the 4-figure range, but the ACE comes in at half that cost while still retaining a ton of great premium features.

Firstly, while the design may not be your primary concern, I was really pleasantly surprised at how gorgeous it was in person. High-end motherboards are slowly moving away from RGB and the ACE’s minimalist black and gold aesthetic is not just stunning, but a great foundation for a ton of different aesthetics.

That said, for you RGB lovers, there are plenty of headers on board (and also a helpful LED dip switch to turn them off as needed).

There’s plenty on offer between USB, M.2, SATA, and 2 x PCI-E 5.0 inputs. The ports are nicely-balanced bandwidth-wise and I think they’ll comfortably match the need of most enthusiast builds.

Larger than it looks when you see it in person. Source: JTDtom1984

I’m pleased with the overclocking results observed on the ACE, too. With decent results across both CPU and memory (even for the likes of a Core i9-12900K), we expect you’ll sooner be bottlenecked by the limitations of your cooling than of the motherboard. The overclocking failure recovery is an easy enough process by most standards too, which can be a huge perk when trying to maximize your settings.

So what don’t we like about this board? Well, not too much.

Even though the price is very slim by ATX standards, the one thing that comes to mind for me is that many users would be happy with an ATX board in the $300-400 range, even though I think the extra features and quality-of-life changes here are immense if you have the extra budget.

Aside from that, nothing notable comes to mind, the motherboard is great for installation, overclocking, thermal management, design, and onboard features.

If you’re looking to build an E-ATX powerhouse with forking out 4-figures, I think this is the best option you’ll find by a notable distance!

Our Rating: 9.5/10

High-End Best Intel E-ATX Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme

And now we come to the choice for those who care more for power than price. This MSI motherboard is simply incredible.

To start, it’s built on the Z690 chipset / LGA 1700 socket, which combined with the features below, easily makes this one of (if not the) best motherboard for the brand new Core i9-12900K and other 12th gen CPUs.

2 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
4 x DDR4 RAM slots with max speeds up to 6400 MHz+
Fantastic I/O panel with 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports
5 x M.2 storage outputs with optimized heatsink.

These specs, alongside the sophisticated cooling and fantastic layout, are simply mindblowing, and really shows the power of what a high-end Z690 motherboard can do.

Source: tikishark

You may be asking yourself, “why does this board have fewer max RAM/GPU slots than our runner-up pick”?

Well, while we love the high RAM/GPU approach, the Z690 GODLIKE has chosen alternate bandwidth allocations.

Each motherboard can only circulate so much power and this MSI offering puts more into its CPU chipset, overclocking potential, and other features.

With a fantastic array of headers for an RGB build, wonderful LED lighting, and an OLED screen to act as a “dashboard” for your computer status, we love to focus on hard specs, but if you’re spending this much money on a motherboard, we appreciate the extra mile going in for aesthetic.

The ACE has a host of onboard features and incredible thermal solutions across the board, reviews are quickly finding that this is one of the best motherboards for overclocking available.

You’re going to achieve a fantastic high FPS 4K gaming build if tied with the right CPU/GPUs.

Maximus Z690 Extreme vs MSI MEG Z690 ACE

So with all that said, why do we give the ACE our top pick over the Extreme?

Well, while the Extreme does boast an even further capability in overclocking, bandwidth allocation and thermal management, we think that there is some level of diminishing returns, give it’s around twice the price of the ACE.

Although I sing the praises of a more minimalist motherboard aesthetic like the ACE, it’s also worth bearing in mind that the Z690 extreme is on the other end of the aesthetic; boasting plenty of gorgeous lighting in addition to its OLED screen. This wasn’t a major factor in reviewing the board for me as it’s largely down to personal preference. Really, both look great.

Do I think, dollar-for-dollar, the extra features of the Extreme are worth it over the ACE? No.

But, if budget is only a secondary concern, and your only question is “how do I achieve the most power”, then I think you’ll love this choice.

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Best AMD E-ATX Motherboard: GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master

2023 update: I’m pleased to say that there are finally a couple of good E-ATX options for serious AMD builders (without entering the 4-figure mark!) and the X670E stands as the tallest.

The X670 chipset is exactly what you want leading a premium build, giving you high-quality PCIe 5.0 & DDR5 compatibility, the AORUS is set up to accomodate rop range hardware.

Source: Alumx

Let’s break down the spec highlights:

1 x PCI Express x16 slot, supporting PCIe 5.0* and running at x16 (PCIEX16)
4 x DDR5 DIMM sockets supporting up to 192 GB – OC up to 6666
3 x PCIe 5.0 M.2 connectors
Very rich I/O connector availability, including multiple type C USB inputs
Incredible build quality, design and light features (including onboard lights and great RGB fan header connectivity)
Fantastic onboard audio and Wi-Fi

Without just posting all of the specs (available here), the highlights of this board are in its versatility for different types of builds; whether you want to focus on maximizing overclock on CPU, RAM, GPU, or a balance of all 3, there are good methods on board here for all build types.

What’s more, the thermal solutions across the board add to that potential, with benchmarks showing amazing OC performance on this board for RAM, CPUs, and GPUs.

At the top of its class, the GODLIKE is one of, if not the best X670 motherboard on the market.

If your heart is set on AMD and this is out of your price range, there is a more affordable offering in the GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX.

But if you have the budget, know that you really can’t get much better than this.

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Best X299 E-ATX Motherboard: Gigabyte X299X AORUS Master

2023 update: I have kept a couple of the old HEDT options in this feature because I appreciate there may still be some niche builders who value some of the unique features of the X299 chipset (like 8 DIMM slots) but I heavily suggest against these motherboards for a majority of users. If you weren’t already aware of HEDT motherboards before coming into this article, then please just stick to my main 3 recommendations above.

For most cases, we’d highly recommend our top pick as the chipset will better suit you for the latest Intel CPUs.

That being said, if you are interested in X299 for this chipset’s advantages in certain areas (e.g. RAM capacity), then the AORUS Master is a feature-packed option.

This board offers:

4 x PCI-e x16 slots, with the bandwidth capability to run a Multi-GPU gaming PC (SLI or CrossFire)
8 x DIMM outputs for up to 256GB DDR4 RAM up to 4333 Mhz
3 onboard M.2 storage outputs
A great I/O panel with good Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LAN outputs.
Beautiful RGB design with great onboard addressable headers for an RGB-centric build
Fantastic onboard ALC1220-VB HD Audio with an ESS SABRE9218 DAC chip capable of making the most for high-end headphones.

The above are just the highlights.

Source: ironbar

There are a bunch of additional onboard/BIOs features that make this a premium motherboard (anything from excellent onboard heatsinks to great build quality for durability in a heavy EATX PC Case).

At its price point, it’s the best motherboard for overclocking on X299 I’ve come across from various benchmark reviews.

With great inputs available for high-capacity graphics cards, storage, RAM, and cooling capability, you’ve got a great motherboard for video editing, gaming, streaming, and production.

As good as the Aorus Master is, it’s still on the CPU chipset that is becoming outdated compared to our top pick’s one, so bear that in mind.

That said, if your wallet is thick but not so thick that you’re looking at the pricier picks and are interested in building with an X299 CPU, then this is a great option.

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Best Budget E-ATX Motherboard: MSI X299 Pro

2023 update: For completeness, I’ve included the cheapest E-ATX board I can find that is worth recommending. But with that said, this board is running on a very old chipset and is only recommended for users already familiar with (and searching for) a HEDT board.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much in the way of more budget options for modern chipset E-ATX builds. So if you don’t have the budget for my top picks above, then please go with an ATX build instead with something like the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk, which is still more than capable of hosting a powerful build.

Whether for high-end gaming or production, we’d recommend the picks above. Especially the ones with more modern sockets.

That being said, what MSI manages to fit into this cheap EATX motherboard is insane for the price if you’re looking at a X299 chipset.

This includes:

8 x DDR4 RAM slots for up to 256GB memory (up to 4200Mhz)
4 x PCIe x16 slots with capability for up to 3-way SLI GPU builds.
2 x M.2 storage outputs
Decent RGB header options

Between these features, you still have the utility here for a high-end build for gaming, streaming, and other production rigs.

Source: flipflopsoncats

If you’re in the video editing business (or similar), it’s the RAM that offers an insane amount of future-proofing for memory (though to be clear, most users do not need to buy 8 slots worth of RAM).

You don’t have the same level of onboard features for overclocking/cooling as you do on the above boards, but it’s still capable of great clock speeds across your hardware.

The issue with this pick for budget builds is that it’s an X299 motherboard; we think most budget builders are going to significantly prefer Motherboard/CPU combos that are either LGA 1700 or AM4.

But if your goal is focused on the best cheap extended ATX motherboard, the MSI X299 Pro is the cheapest available.

Our Rating: 7.5/10

Best XL-ATX Motherboard: Gigabyte X299X AORUS Designare 10G

2023 update: The XL-ATX market is very slim these days, so much that there is no current recommendation for motherboards on the latest gen chipsets. We’ve kept this recommendation at the bottom of our list if you are happy to be after a X299 build (or TRX40) but in nearly every case, we’d recommend looking at our E-ATX picks above.

We’ll start by repeating what is said in our complete guide to motherboard sizes:

You don’t need an XL-ATX motherboard over an E-ATX one for a large high-end build.

The options above will give you more than enough for a premium gaming motherboard (or for production, streaming, etc).

That being said…

If you simply want more space to play with in a “super tower” PC case, we included this as it’s still a fantastic pick.

Source: GIGABYTE

A Socket 2066 motherboard, the AORUS Designare boast:

8 x DDR4 RAM slots for up to 256GB memory at
4 PCIe x16 outputs capable of 4-way CrossFire or SLI builds
A fantastic I/O panel including 2 x Thunderbolt 3 connectors
Great Onboard Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio
Gorgeous LED lighting with great RGB header support for an RGB build
Fantastic build quality with lots of port reinforcement, good for such a large setup

When you can combine this colossal graphics card capability with all of the onboard thermal solutions/excellent BIOs, you have one of the best gaming motherboards for overclocking.

Its price-point sits in between our top picks and high-end picks, and we’d say that’s about right for what it offers.

If you’re looking to build an absolute monstrous PC both in power and size, this is perhaps the best XL-ATX Intel motherboard available.

Our Rating: 8/10

Best Z490 E-ATX Motherboard: EVGA Z490 Dark

What a beast this is.

The EVGA Z490 Dark strikes an amazing balance between accommodating different types of high-end builders whilst also maintaining excellent value for its price.

Yes, it is an expensive motherboard. But considering many other competitive E-ATX picks are close to the 4-figure mark, this EVGA offering sits at around half of that.

We like the approach EVGA has taken with the Z490 Dark; specifically, they’ve reduced bandwidth consumption on certain elements that will not be used by an overwhelming amount of users.

The two main examples are the 2 dual-channel DIMM slots and max-2 SLI/crossfire GPU capacity (with 3 x PCIe x16 available onboard).

Sure, this sounds low if you’re trying to max out specs across the board, but the balance has been crafted around still providing enough capability for most powerhouse users, while also allowing you to push as much as possible with overclocking your CPU, GPU, and RAM all at an impressive motherboard price.

Source: GIGABYTE

To put it another way, 64GB of RAM (that could be 4800MHz+) and 2 (even 1) GPU on this board would make for a superb 4k gaming motherboard or high-end production desktop.

(If you’re one of the rare users who does demand more GPUs/RAM, say for very intensive rendering, video production, or a server PC build, then most of our other picks on the list accommodate just that).

Speaking of overclocking; this is, of course, the crowning jewel of the Z490 Dark. With an oversized VRM cooler, great quality-of-life features surrounding the board (including a unique layout specifically designed to better transmit heat/bandwidth between integral parts), and a great software interface for the BIOs, you are really set up here to push a lot out of your CPU and memory.

The other great SSD storage options that you’ll enjoy for a high-end build are 2 x M.2 110m (up to 32GBps) & 1 x U.2 NVMe.

With the fantastic Z490 chipset, this is one of the best LGA 2000 motherboards around, giving you compatibility with Intel’s 10th & 11th gen processors, you’ll be able to achieve some incredible processing power.

The EVGA Z490 has many more great features that we could take all day describing, from a good featured I/O panel to great onboard audio.

2022 mid-year update: Although I still rate the Z490 Dark well, this glowing praise is built from a time when the Z490 was an emerging chipset.

With that in mind, we’d say that a majority of users will be wanting to look at the Z690 top picks over this shoice.

If you’re looking for a build on an older chipset however, and don’t want to fork out double the price for the high-end picks, this is still a decent pick for you.

Our Rating: 8/10

Alternative Quick-Fire Picks (Best of the Rest)

The top 6 picks are our main choices for the best extended-ATX motherboards. However, we’ve included a couple more options just in case you have very specific requirements.

Alternative AMD pick: GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Xtreme

Coming in slightly cheaper than our top AMD pick, this is a great choice with many of the same features for slightly smaller budgets.

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Cheapest E-ATX Motherboard: EVGA X299 FTW K

Due to the volatile nature of Motherboard prices on Amazon, it’s possible that our top budget pick may be cheaper at the time you’re looking. But usually, the EVGA X299 is the cheapest option for EATX builds if you’re comfortable with the X299 chipset.

Our Rating: 7/10

Best TRX40 E-ATX Board: ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha

If you’re after the best E-ATX motherboard for AMD, but are more inclined towards the TR40 chipset over the mainstream CPUs, the Zenith II Extreme Alpha is your best bet.

Our Rating: 7.5/10

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The 8 Best 1080p Ultrawide Monitors of 2023

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 10, 2023

I updated this feature in June after reviewing the new ultrawide releases of 2023. None of the top choices have been this time around, but I’ve added a couple of good alternatives where relevant.

Ultrawide monitors make for some of the best screens for immersive gaming and media viewing, not to mention providing an aspect ratio perfect for extended productivity.

Which is why today’s feature is here to guide you through the best UWHD monitors available today at various price-points/specs.

Top Picks

Overall Best 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: Sceptre Curved C305B-200UN
Best IPS 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: LG 34WN650-W 34-Inch
Best Cheap 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: LG 25UM58
Best 1080p Super Ultrawide Monitor: Samsung 49-Inch CHG90

Best of the Rest: Quick-Fire Picks

34″ 1080p Ultrawide Alternative: Sceptre C345W-2560UN
Cheapest IPS 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: LG 34WL600-B
Mid-Range 1080p Ultrawide IPS Monitor: Philips 342E2E
Best 200Hz 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: MSI Optix MAG301CR

Overall Best 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: Sceptre Curved C305B-200UN

No monitor better encompassed what we think our gaming readers will be looking for than this fantastic Sceptre display.

Offering an unrivaled balance in picture quality, build quality, and price, the Sceptre C305B ticks all the boxes at a lower cost than we expected.

Note: We’ve based this top pick specifically around the best 1080 ultrawide gaming monitor. If you have no interest in gaming (or it’s at least not your main priority), the next 2 picks will be better suited for you.

To start, you are getting up to a whooping 200hz when using DisplayPort. Combined with its ultrawide resolution, this is a truly fantastic coupling of specs for competitive gaming/e-sports and playing through more immersive titles (if you haven’t played at high refresh rates before, it’s hard to overstate just how much they improve gaming).

On top of these leading specs, you’re also getting a display with a 90% sRGB color gamut, excellent blacks with its VA panel, and a 5ms GTG response time; you are well-positioned to have an excellent picture quality.

Freesync is also supported, enabling you to minimize ghosting/stuttering at the C305B’s higher refresh rates.

What makes us love this cheap 1080 ultrawide gaming monitor, even more, is that it’s not compromising on build quality too.

Built like a premium display should be; the stand/overall design is durable, the bezels are incredibly thin and there is even some subtle LED lighting on the back, which if your monitor is near a wall, will add some nice light-blend.

While we wouldn’t recommend any monitor speakers for an audiophile gaming setup, this display’s included sound is decent compared to many others we’ve experienced.

On top of everything else that’s great about this pick, it’s also a curved 1080p ultrawide monitor. Truthfully, there was enough going for this Sceptre display that we would’ve given it the top spot without this feature, but having curvature too will really take the immersion in gaming, media, and general use that extra bit further. If you’ve never used a curved monitor before, it’s something that is simply more impressive in person.

There is simply so much to love about the C305B.

Coming in at an incredible price range, we think anybody in the market after a full HD ultrawide monitor for gaming will simply love this pick.

2023 update: The C305B is still my top choice for the best 1080p ultrawide monitor. None of the new options I’ve reviewed balance price and quality better than this pick with the mid-range buyer in mind.

Best IPS 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: LG 34WN650-W 34-Inch

Our next pick is for those focussed less on a gaming monitor, and more on a very vibrant picture quality that’s perfect for media and general use (also perhaps best 1080p ultrawide monitor for Mac).

This LG display has one of the best picture qualities on the list, especially when considering its mid-range price.

Boasting an IPS panel, VesaDisplay HDR400, and an sRGB99% color gamut; the picture here is simply stunning, with excellent colors, blacks, and whites (particularly from the HDR400). This is easily our pick for the best 1080p ultrawide monitor for video editing and other production work.

With its core target focussed around being the perfect general use/office ultrawide monitor, this LG offering has some great quality-of-life features for users focussed on business software and general internet use; utility like flicker safe/reader modes, screen split, and ergonomic tilt/height options. It’s a nice, well-rounded display that meets its goals as a productivity monitor perfectly.

If you are still into gaming, we’re not trying to imply this LG 1080p ultrawide monitor isn’t more than capable of it. With its gorgeous picture quality and some decent game modes available, you can still have a quality, immersive setup on here (we just think that if you’re serious about gaming, the utility of the high refresh rate on the Sceptre ultrawide monitor or Samsung pick will be so beneficial for you).

With all that said, if you are focused on picture quality and great utility for a productivity/office monitor, this is easily the best IPS full HD ultrawide display for the job.

Best Cheap 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: LG 25UM58

Our next pick is arguably the most impressive display on the list.

Not because it’s the best, but because it’s an incredible budget 1080p ultrawide monitor. We’ve seen 16:9 full HD displays in this price-range with lower picture quality, so this LG monitor feels like it was made with some kind of wizardry to achieve a decent 1080p 21:9 display at this budget.

With an IPS panel, 99% sRGB color gamut, and up to 250-nits brightness, the specs here will still provide a decent enough picture for a nice office/budget gaming setup.

This 21:9 ultrawide display lacks support for Freesync, which isn’t as good as our top pick for hardcore gamers/those interested in esports, but will still be fine for many gamers who can’t stretch to the pricepoint.

As far as business and personal use go, we think the 25UM58 has the specs you need to create a productive visual workspace.

Perhaps the most important distinguishment between this and our other choices is that this LG display ultrawide display is 25 inches, versus the 34″+ of our other favorite choices.

This is a notable decrease. You still have a gorgeous workspace compared to traditional aspect ratios, though, but it’s probably the biggest reason why it’s still worth stretching to the better picks if you can.

Of course, at this price range, you’re not going to get the vibrance, low response times, high refresh rates, and fantastic blacks/whites as our other picks.

But we’re still floored by what a great option this is if you can only stretch to a budget display. The monitor even has bezels as thin as many of the more expensive picks which we would never expect usually with a budget pick.

If your wallet is tight but you still want a 21:9 desktop then this is, without doubt, the best cheap 1080p ultrawide monitor on the market today.

2023 update: I still highly rate the 25UM58, but wanted to make readers aware of the Philips 292E2E which often hovers around 5-10% more expensive but offers 4″ more screen space, slightly superior color, and, in my view, a more attractive design than our top LG pick; if you can fork out a little more, I think it’s worth the upgrade.

Best 1080p Super Ultrawide Monitor: Samsung 49-Inch CHG90

The last main pick on our list is for the best 1080p ultrawide screen money can buy.

Yes, it’s an expensive offering, but this Samsung ultrawide monitor is something truly special.

To start, this is a super ultrawide display.

Sounds like marketing jargon, we know, but it in fact means the CHG90 boasts a 32:9 monitor aspect ratio and a 3840 x 1080 resolution.

With standard monitors being a 16:9 aspect ratio, this Samsung offering is literally the size of 2 1080p monitors in one screen; and with its enormous 49-inch size, you really feel the presence of 2 monitors (effectively both 24.5 inches).

This dual monitor in one design makes this a beast of a productivity display, with pretty much limitless potential for business and personal use.

And combined with its QLED screen, 350-nits brightness & HDR support, the vibrant picture you will get on this display is simply phenomenal.

But there’s more; let’s talk gaming.

With a 144hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, stunning picture quality, and, of course, the 32:9 aspect ratio, this is one of the best ultrawide gaming monitors on the market.

It’s hard to overstate just how more immersive a normal ultrawide monitor can be; to get the extra screen width of the CHG90 takes this to a whole other level.

There is also a decent amount of support for this aspect ratio too. You may be worrying if you have a gaming PC powerful enough to run 3840x1080p 144hz, but this resolution has half the pixels of a 4k monitor, and there plenty of 4k 144hz displays on the market. As long as you have a mid to high-range setup, you should be able to run an array of titles here.

To top off the gaming features is built-in support for AMD Freesync 2, which is one of the best technologies available to minimize common monitor issues such as ghosting on high-end displays.

Then there is the build quality; this Samsung 1080p ultrawide display is gorgeous, with a sturdy, well-built frame. It’s worth mentioning that it doesn’t have speakers, but we think you’ll want a real audiophile solution for gaming/general use to appreciate how immersive/productive this display can be anyway.

Last but not least, this is a curved super ultrawide monitor. On top of everything else this display has going for it, its 1800R curvature offers an additional layer of immersion.

Between all the great features we’ve discussed, you probably realize why we rate this screen so highly.

If you have the budget, this is an incredible choice, and the best 1080p ultrawide monitor on the market; something truly special that will last you a long time.

Alternative Picks – Best of the Rest

While the top 4 picks are our absolute favorite options for gaming, media, and general/business use alike, we wanted to provide a few more quick-fire picks in case any of our readers have very specific requirements/briefly explain why we may not have chosen them above the top 4.

34″ 1080p Ultrawide Alternative: Sceptre C345W-2560UN

While we think the main Sceptre monitor we’ve recommended is the better choice value-wise, this is a great option if you happen to find it at a discount/if the top Sceptre choice is out of stock and you want something of similar quality.

Second Cheapest IPS 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: LG 34WL600-B

If you like the look of out budget 1080p ultrawide display pick but want something with a better design/picture quality, this LG monitor is a great pick “in-between” our top cheap and high-end IPS choices. We’d just say it will usually be worth picking up the top Sceptreor LG displays if possible over this.

Mid-Range 1080p Ultrawide IPS Monitor: Philips 342E2E

Operating in a similar space to the LG pick directly above, this is a good middle-ground pick for users focussed on a business/general use display (while we prefer our main picks, it would be decent on a discount).

Best 200Hz 1080p Ultrawide Monitor: MSI Optix MAG301CR

Our last pick is an MSI gaming monitor with a superb refresh rate; the main reasons we don’t rate this as highly as our top pick is its significantly larger price-range and user-reports of ghosting. We’d say this is only worth considering if you’re after a very high refresh-rate monitor and the other viable picks are not available.

1080p vs 1440p Ultrawide Resolution

Before we wrap up, we wanted to address the common question on the differences between 1080p and 1440p for ultrawide. Some users seem to think that 2560 x 1080 resolution is “not good enough” for ultrawide monitors. This simply isn’t true.

Of course, if you have the extra budget and a semi-powerful PC, 1440p ultrawide is a marvel to behold. But there is nothing wrong with 1080p, UWFHD monitors are still far superior and more immersive than their 16:9 counterparts and you can still expect a crisp image with full HD, making them a perfect budget ultrawide option; not to mention our Samsung monitor choice proves that this form factor has some incredible premium options too.

If your budget is more in-line with the cost of 1080p ultrawide, don’t fret! We think you’ll love the options above, with the top picks selected with a balance of the picture, high refresh rate, and build quality in mind, you can expect them to be excellent options for gaming, media, or general use.

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About the author

Kaelum Ross

The 10 Best InWin Cases of 2023

The 10 Best InWin Cases in 2023

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 10, 2023

This feature has been updated for 2023. InWin cases have been largely unavailable through 2023. If the item you want in the feature isn’t available, I’d recommend checking out either our best PC case list, or if you prefer to shop by brand, I have a comprehensive list and a top 10 for all the popular PC case brands available here.

InWin has been in the PC case business for a long time.

And nowadays, with their wonderful mix of style, build quality, features, and value, they’re one of the best manufacturers around.

We’ve put together this feature to guide you through the best InWin case for gaming, production, streaming, and more (whatever size/budget you’re looking at).

Top Picks

Overall Best InWin Case: InWin 303
Best Budget InWin Case: InWin 101
Best High-End InWin Case: InWin 925
Best InWin Micro ATX Case: InWin 301
Best InWin Mini-ITX Case: InWin A1 Plus

Best of the Rest: Quick-Fire Picks

Best InWin Budget Mini ITX Case: InWin Chopin
Runner-Up Best Premium InWin Case: InWin 905
Smallest InWin Case: InWin B1
Most Unique InWin Case: InWin D-Frame
Best Budget InWin Micro ATX Case: InWin BL040

Overall Best InWin Case: InWin 303

The 303 is InWin’s fantastic answer to creating a “jack-of-all-trades” ATX PC case.

For the price, you’re getting a really high-quality product.

Starting with the design, this InWin chassis has an SECC steel exterior and a thick tempered glass window on its main side (a white option is also available).

It looks and feels great, with many other cases in this price-range relying on plastic elements.

What’s more, the finish of the tower is beautiful. Combined with its slick LED lighting, the 303 looks way better than most in its price range.

Feature-wise, it has everything you would want out of an ATX case for gaming or other mid-level builds, with:

7 x expansion slots
VGA cards up to 350mm length
2 x 3.5″ & 2 x 3.5″ drive bays

Great specs for a mid-range PC with enough storage room to boot.

Cooling wise, you’re looking at:

Up to 7 x 120mm fans
Up to 1 x 120mm + 1 x 360mm radiators (can be combined wth 3 x 120mm bottom fans)

Combined with a unique (and effective) ventilation design that holds the PSU on the top side of the case, you have lots of cooling potential in this case.

You’d certainly be able to handle a multi-GPU build in here should you desire.

But alternatively, it would be a great case for overclocking with a standard setup also.

There are many other nice quality-of-life features on the 303 that give it this accolade, like the (largely) toolless design & alternate GPU install options for security.

Simply put, this is easily the best InWin computer case available for mid-range builders, with such a fantastic quality coming from its low price tag.

2023 update: The 303 remains our top InWin choice for 3 years running with its fantastic balance between price, quality, and feature set.

Best Budget InWin Case: InWin 101

If you’re looking for a cheap InWin case, they’ve created a fantastic option in this chassis.

While not quite the same overall quality as the 303, the 101 nicely captures the overall “essence” of what makes the 303 a great case.

The build quality for example still has the great tempered glass window and some SECC components (but with some of the exterior being plastic).

The finish is still decent, and you’re getting some minimal LED lighting to contrast against the rest of the case color (the white version also looking sharp).

You’re largely getting the same space availability too, with:

7 x expansion slots
GPUs up to 305mm in length (but can be extended up to 421mm when removing side-cooling)
2 x 3.5″ + 2 x 2.5″ drive bays
Air cooling: up to 6 x 120mm fans
Water cooling: up to 1 x 120mm, 1 x 240mm & 1 x 360mm radiators

As you can see, there’s still plenty of capability here for a powerful gaming/production PC.

The cooling capability in the case is still decent, albeit slightly inferior to the 303. But plenty for a single-GPU build.

If you’re building a budget PC, it’s hard to imagine you need more than what is offered here.

The 101 impressively retains a lot of our top pick’s quality for 2/3rds of the price.

We would go for the 303 if you could stretch to it for its improved aesthetic and cooling capability.

But know that if the 101 is the furthest your wallet can go, it’s still an excellent choice and easily the best budget InWin case around.

Best High-End InWin Case: InWin 925

If you’re looking to create the most powerful PC possible, regardless of price, oh boy, do we have the chassis for you.

The 925 is InWin’s answer to creating a HEDT case.

…and it is a very good answer!

Build-wise, you’re getting a beautiful brushed aluminum exterior that has been curved around edges for a truly unique aesthetic.

Stock photos don’t do the 925 justice.

Not only has the exterior been beautifully designed, but with its 2 full-length tempered glass side windows, you’ve got something special to show off your beautiful inner components.

But this case is far from just pretty.

An incredible feature-rich internal space is offered in the 925, with:

E-ATX Motherboard support
8 standard + 2 vertical expansion slots
VGA cards up to 420mm length
4 x 3.5″ & 3 x 2.5″ drive bays

It’s hard to imagine you needing much more capability/size than the 925 offers.

This would be an amazing case for a high-end gaming PC or production build (video editing, rendering, etc).

Cooling is another particular shining area.

With up to 9 x 120mm fans or 1 x 280mm & 2 x 360mm radiators (note, 1 360mm radiator requires removal of 3.5″ cage).

Combined with immense space and wonderful design for ventilation, this is a fantastic PC case for overclocking dual-GPUs (or more).

InWin 925 vs 928

The InWin 925 is essentially the slightly smaller version of the original 928, which retailed for over twice the price.

As good as the original case was, the 925 represents a very similar quality for much less cost.

This is of course a very expensive PC case. And with any premium product, there are slight diminishing returns.

But if you’re looking to build the most powerful PC you possibly can, this is one of the best cases around for it.

(Want something high-end but at a slightly lower price-point? Check out our alternative premium pick further down).

Best InWin Micro ATX Case: InWin 301

Another flagship model, the 301 is a great InWin mATX tower for those after a smaller form factor.

Built with the same design in mind as its bigger 303 brother, the 301 has the same SECC steel/tempered glass build quality.

The only notable design difference being the lack of LED lighting (but for around 25% less cost, logo/panel coloring still looks sharp).

Size-wise, you’ve still got room for:

4 x expansion slots
GPU lengths up to 310mm
1 x 3.5″ / 2.5″ & 2 x 2.5″ drive bays
Air cooling: Up to 5 x 120mm fans (2 require a PCI-e slot).
Radiators: Up to 1 x 120mm & 1 x 240mm (could be combined with the 2 PCI-e slot fans)

Of course, with the M ATX form factor, you’re getting a slight reduction in specs.

But you still have plenty of storage, cooling, and GPU capacity here.

And combined with the 300 series’ great internal design (with top-side PSU placement) the ventilation will be great for a small gaming/enthusiast PC.

We love that InWin managed to capture the essence of the 303 in a different form factor, for a suitably lower price without any notable sacrifice (aside the ones expected from the reduced dimensions).

If you’re looking for a smaller PC, know this is easily the best InWin Micro ATX case available for your build.

Best InWin Mini-ITX Case: InWin A1 Plus

Then there are those builders looking for the smallest PC case form factor possible.

InWin has been a particularly great manufacturer of mITX towers for years now, and at the top of that pile is the A1 Plus.

We have featured the A1 plus many times across What in Tech.

With its fantastic balance between feature-set, aesthetic, and (very small) size, its InWin at the top of their game.

Starting with the striking design, this is easily the best mITX RGB case around,

With the inclusion of 2 high-quality InWin Sirius Loop 120mm RGB fans and the whole unit resting on a transparent RGB base, the case looks wonderful as soon as it’s powered on.

The secret bonus being all of these RGB components are fully addressable, with the ability to sync them up to whatever color/pattern you like.

On top of the lighting, the unit itself is beautiful and well built; with a thick tempered glass window and solid SECC steel exterior.

It’s another example of stock photos not really demonstrating the aesthetic. Powered on with your parts installed, it’s an incredible look.

But we also like the A1 Plus because of its great space (considering the dimensions), with:

2 x expansion slots
VGA length up to 320mm (impressive for ITX)
2 x 2.5″ drive bays (often just 1 in this form factor)

As with any build this small, you’ll only be getting one GPU in here.

But the space for that single GPU is excellent, you can achieve a good amount of storage here too.

And you’ll easily be able to cool it (not something we can always say with ITX cases) with the option for up to 4 x 120mm fans (including the 2 ARGB ones included).

This is excellent for the size, and other little details like the QI wireless charger on the top of the unit give this case such a premium, feature-rich feel.

You may be thinking the price for the A1 is a tad high.

Well, on top of the build quality and addressable RGB aesthetic/cooling, you’re also getting a 650W PSU included.

While there are some complaints of the PSU quality around, we would say for a large majority of builds, the supply will cover what you’re looking for in an ITX build.

It was, for instance, testing and working with a GTX 1080TI gaming build.

The price may seem high; but with all things added in, you’re really getting some incredible value with the A1 Plus.

Not only is this the best InWin mITX case, but one of the best mITX cases available from any brand.

Best of the Rest – Alternative Picks

While the top 5 are our absolute favorite picks, we’ve included a few more quick-fire options that are still great for specific purposes (appreciating some readers will have some unique requirements ).

Best InWin Budget Mini ITX Case: InWin Chopin

As much as we love the InWin A1 Plus, if you’re looking for a much simpler build (e.g. general use or media) then the Chopin is a great option.

With its inclusion of a 150W PSU, its an incredible budget unit. Just note you’ll be relying on a build with onboard graphics (no GPU power availability).

Runner-Up Best Premium InWin Case: InWin 905

As great as the 925 is, the 905 is the best option for those after a premium case with a bit less of a price tag (or a great alternative if the 925 is out of stock).

With an incredible aesthetic, build quality, and capability in cooling/size, if this is as far as your budget can go for a high-end tower, know it’s an amazing pick.

Smallest InWin Case: InWin B1

Those looking for something extra small will love the B1.

Similarly to the Chopin, it comes with a PSU suitable for very basic usage (think HTPC or a normal browsing PC).

While we wouldn’t recommend it for anything complex, it’s a great value offering for those limited builders.

Most Unique InWin Case: InWin D-Frame

Featured many times on What in Tech, the D-Frame is the highest of innovative PC case-building without sacrificing performance.

If you want something that stands out, the D-Frame is the best InWin case for it.

Best Budget InWin Micro ATX Case: InWin BL040

Finally is a pick for those who are after an mATX PC with a bit more of a traditional design (or after something that can be lain horizontally).

While we give a slight edge to the 301, we added the BL040 as it meets a different kind of aesthetic.

If this is more what you’re after in a case, know it still performs great.

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The 15 Best Thermaltake Cases in 2023

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 10, 2023

After reviewing all of the cases from this great brand, here are our top picks

I updated this article in June to cover Thermaltake’s latest releases in 2023. There are no big changes to the list this time around, but I’ve added a couple of great alternatives for certain picks that run into stock issues.

Rivaled by very few in size, Thermaltake is one of the biggest and best manufacturers in the PC case business.

They’ve been in the game for a while, and it shows in their enormous line of fantastic towers today.

If you’re looking at their fantastic line-up, you’ll quickly realize there’s a lot to choose from.

Which is why today’s feature breaks down the best Thermaltake cases for gaming, production, streaming, and more (for all different sizes & budgets).

Top Picks

Overall Best Thermaltake Case: Thermaltake Core P3
Runner-Up Best Thermaltake Case: Thermaltake H200 TG RGB
Best Budget Thermaltake Case: Thermaltake S100
Best EATX Case / Premium Pick: Thermaltake Tower 900
Best Thermaltake Micro ATX Case: Thermaltake Level 20 VT
Best Thermaltake Mini ITX Case: Thermaltake Core V1

Worth Considering: Thermaltake P-Series

Best of the Rest: Quick-Fire Picks

Best ATX Case Alternative for Performance: Thermaltake Core X71
Best Premium Alternative: Thermaltake View 71
Best Budget Case Alternative: Thermaltake V200
Most Unique Case (Budget): Thermaltake Versa N24
Most Unique Case (Premium): Thermaltake AH T600

Overall Best Thermaltake Case: Thermaltake Core P3

What a fantastic chassis this is.

Featured several times previously on What in Tech, the Core P-series is the best there is when it comes to high-visibility PC cases.

Our top pick from this iconic range is the P3; which strikes the best balance between cost and spec for most mid-range gaming/enthusiast builds.

The build quality of the P3 is fantastic. With a beautiful, thick tempered-glass surrounding the top side and a base made up of high-quality SPCC steel.

It’s deceptively sturdy, with options for vertical, horizontal, or wall-mounted placements (it’s also by far the best wall-mount case available should you be inclined).

The P3 is a mid-tower (ATX compatible case) with room for:

8 x expansion slots
GPU lengths up to 450mm (if radiator reservoir removed) with vertical install options
Hidden 2 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ and accessible 2 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ drive bays

This is a decent spec for an ATX case, you’ll have all the room you need in here for any of the mainstream GPUs.

We like that it manages to retain a good amount of storage capability considering the chassis is so exposed and focussed on high visibility (drives often get “shafted” in cases like this).

Don’t be intimidated by the way the Core P3 looks compared to a more traditional chassis.

It’s deceptively easy to build in because you have lots of room to play around with (no awkwardly leaning into a case!).

Finally is the cooling, which this tower simply excels at.

You have the capability for either 3 x 140mm fans or up to 1 x 420mm radiator.

While this may not sound like much for cooling, the P series units are the best Thermaltake cases for airflow, with their open-air design.

So essentially, you can get amazing cooling/overclocking potential with fewer fans – a real bonus in terms of value too.

If you’re after something extra special, capable, and with excellent value for your next build, it’s hard to find better than the P3.

2023 update: The Core P3 remains my top Thermaltake pick for 2 years running. If you want a more traditional PC case then there are better options below, but I think the Core P3 best encapsulates the heights of Thermaltake: great quality, design and space/airflow for your hardware.

Runner-Up Best Thermaltake Case: Thermaltake H200 TG RGB

As much as we love the Core P3, we know that many of you will be looking for more of a “traditional” PC case.

If that’s you, Thermaltake has a great option in the H200 TG RGB.

At an impressively low price-tag, the case comes with the aesthetic, build quality, and size that is perfect for most mid-range gaming/production builds.

With a well-finished SPCC steel exterior, tied with a nice full-length tempered glass window and slick RGB light, the case looks and feels great powered on.

This is one of the flagship Thermaltake ATX case offerings, with:

7 x Expansion slots
VGA length clearance of 320mm
Up to 2 x 3.5″ or 3 x 2.5″ drives (or 1 of each), all hidden
Up to 6 x 120mm fans with 1 included (great for the price)
Or up to 1 x 280mm + 1 x 240mm radiators

These are all pretty standard specs for a mid-tower case.

And we don’t mean that badly, the great thing about the H200 is that it ticks all of the expected boxes that you need for typical builds.

The only area it is lacking on a tad is storage capability, but there is easily enough here for gamers and most common builds.

Though if you’re looking at something very high-end or for high-storage production (video editing, etc.) then see our top premium pick below.

The cooling capability of the case is great for the price range.

With enough room to comfortably cable manage also, you have the ability to avoid main-chamber clutter (helping airflow and aesthetic).

The H200 accomplishes everything the average gaming build needs, and does so with a nice style and build quality.

If this is the kind of budget you had in mind for a PC case, know it’s an excellent choice.

2023 update: The H200 is still my top pick for a more traditional-style Thermaltake case, but I’ve seen it run into stock issues over the last few months. If it’s not available, I’d recommend looking through the rest of this list or going for the Thermaltake V250.

Best Budget Thermaltake Case: Thermaltake S100

There are plenty of cheap Thermaltake cases on the list that are excellent for their value (including our runner-up pick directly above).

But the cheapest among them is the S100.

And what’s more impressive is the case still offers a good amount of utility for its price tag.

With a gorgeous minimalist design, tempered glass window, and SPCC steel exterior, you’re still getting some really impressive quality.

The S100 is a Micro ATX case, which we often recommend for budget builds because they are typically cheaper (as are mATX motherboards). In fact, we rate this as the best Micro ATX case available today.

This case is also on the larger side of the form factor too, so no concerns for newer builders about trying to build something intricate.

With space for:

4 x expansion slots
VGA lengths up to 330mm
2 x 2.5″ & 2 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ drive bays
Up to 6 x 120mm fans (with 1 pre-installed)

Some of these specs are really impressive for a cheap mATX case.

You comfortably have all the storage, GPU, and cooling capability you’ll need for a budget gaming build here.

The fact that this all comes in such a nice design and build is really an impressive feat.

Not only is this the best budget Thermaltake PC case, but one of the best for tight pockets from any manufacturer.

2023 Update: The S100 is easily still our top budget PC case pick for Thermaltake, but we’ve seen it occasionally run low on stock. If this is the case for you, check out our cheapest PC case features for more options.

Best EATX Case / Premium Pick: Tower 900

What an absolute beast of a chassis the Tower 900 is.

If you’re looking to build the most powerful PC possible, whether gaming, editing, server, or other high-end production builds, you’ll find few better than this.

Featured several times on What in Tech, there is so much this unit has to offer.

Starting with the build quality: you’re getting a very high-quality SGCC steel exterior with 3 thick, tinted tempered glass windows.

Not only is it one of the most durable PC cases we’ve ever come across, but its one of the best chassis to show off your internal parts (stock photos do not do it justice).

With its “super tower” form factor, the T900 has space for:

E-ATX motherboard compatibility
8 x Expansion slots
GPU lengths up to 400mm
1 x 5.25 “, 6 x 3.5″ / 2.5 ” and 2 x 2.5″ drive bays

Whatever your build requirements, it’s hard to imagine needing more than the internal spec offered here.

And what’s more, the Tower 900 is one of the best modular cases today.

This means it gives you a huge amount of customization potential, like removing bays and reservoirs you don’t need for better airflow/aesthetic.

Speaking of airflow…

The Tower 900 is the best Thermaltake case for water cooling, air cooling, or a hybrid solution (and one of the best from any brand).

With up to:

13 x 120mm fans
1 x 560mm & 1 x 480mm radiators (which can be combined with 5 x 120mm fans)

The specs speak for themselves; with an insane combination of top-of-the-line build quality, modularity, space, and airflow design.

Simply put: if you’re looking to build the most powerful rig you possibly can, this is easily the best Thermaltake computer case to accomplish it.

Best Thermaltake Micro ATX Case: Thermaltake Level 20 VT

If you’re looking for a “traditional” micro ATX case for your next build, we’ve already got you covered with our top budget pick above, the S100.

If however, you’re after the best innovation that Thermaltake has created for the form factor, that’s the 20 VT.

With its thick SPCC steel frame being accompanied by 4 tempered glass windows, this is a fantastic high visibility / clear PC case, perfect for showing off your Micro ATX components.

Despite its very transparent design, it’s still very sturdy compared to other mATX chassis and would make a great portable PC case.

The space is impressive for its cube design/size too, with:

5 expansion slots
VGA lengths up to 350mm (great for mATX)
3 x 2.5″ & 3 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ drive bays
Fan cooling: up to 7 x 120mm + 1 included high-quality RGB 200m fan on the front
Water cooling: up to 3 x 240mm & 1 x 120mm radiators

Let us re-iterate: for the form factor, these are really good specs.

And when a manufacturer goes for a unique, cube PC case shape, those dimensions also tend to hurt the internal capability.

But clearly that hasn’t happened here; you have everything you need for a gaming, streaming, or production PC.

What’s more, the case has a great little dual-chamber on its bottom.

This will allow you to hide cables and “uglier” components (HDDs, etc); perfect for a chassis so focussed on high visibility.

The L20VT is great, and easily one of the best Thermaltake towers if you’re looking for a balance between form factor and capability.

Best Thermaltake Mini ITX Case: Thermaltake Core V1

This is one of the most popular mini ITX towers of all time (and for a good reason).

The Core V1 is a tiny, console-sized PC case.

But despite that, it still manages some impressive internal specs and a very nice build quality for the price (it’s one of the most featured cases on What in Tech).

With an SPCC/tempered glass exterior and multiple effective mesh panels; the case is sturdy, looks unique, and does pretty well airflow-wise (for an ITX case).

With room for:

2 x expansion slots
2 x 2.5″ & 2 x 3.5″ hidden drive bays
Graphics cards lengths up to 285mm
1 included 200mm fan + space for 2 x 80mm fans

These specs are really impressive for the dimensions.

To put it in context, we’ve seen larger ITX cases with just 1 x 2.5″ drive bay, and way less cooling capability.

The fact that the drives are also hidden is a cherry on top (because why build an ITX case without a clean aesthetic?).

Yes, the GPU length clearance is a little low, but that’s what you can expect with mITX.

This is still one of the best ITX cases for gaming because you’ll be able to fit a good portion of mainstream cards in here.

(If you’re looking at something like a GTX 3090, then you should look at the other larger form factor picks above).

Overall, we’re really impressed with how much the Core V1 has to offer.

With such a small price tag, you get a great fan, build quality and capability for your tiny build.

This is not just the best Thermaltake ITX case, but arguably one of the best chassis of all time for the tiny form factor.

Worth Considering: Thermaltake P-Series

Our top Core P pick is the fantastic Thermaltake P3, as it caters to the most common mid-range gaming/enthusiast builds.

That said, there are other P-series cases of different sizes/price ranges that are also fantastic. We’ve broken them down briefly below for different needs.

Thermaltake Core P1

The Mini ITX choice – this is one of the best options if you’re building a smaller machine and want to show off the internal components (with great space/airflow for the size too).

Thermaltake Core P5

Very similar to the P3, but with more height/depth for freedom in your build and additional glass side panels (if you would prefer a more closed-off case that still has high visibility).

Thermaltake Core P90

For those after something extra unique, the Core P90 retains all of the great performance/build quality that the traditional P series units have and adds a second chamber to separate your “less attractive” parts, great for airflow and aesthetic.

Thermaltake Core P8

Just look at this thing, it speaks for itself.

If you love the high-visibility aesthetic that the P-series offers, and also want to build the most powerful machine possible within it, the Core P8 is your best choice.

Alternative Picks – Best of the Rest

While the above are the best Thermaltake cases most needs, we’ve included a few other quick-fire picks that may be worth considering if you’re picky.

Best ATX Case Alternative for Performance: Thermaltake Core X71

If your budget doesn’t quite go as high as the Tower 900, you’re not interested in the P-series but still want a case with excellent airflow and specs for a powerful build, the Core X71 is a fantastic “middle-ground” option.

Best Premium Alternative: Thermaltake View 71

While we think the Tower 900 is the best choice for your next high-power build, the View 71 is still a great option if you prefer the design/RGB inclusion.

Best Budget Case Alternative: Thermaltake V200

Very popular for a reason, the V200 offers beautiful design at a cheap price.

Performance-wise you’re not getting the best case here.

But if your requirements are modest for cooling, and you’re more focussed on getting the best looking PC case for the least cost, the V200 is perfect.

Most Unique Case (Budget): Thermaltake Versa N24

An excellent case for the price and part of our Unique PC Case feature, if you’re after something different that still performs impressively for a low price-point, the N24 is a great option.

Most Unique Case (Premium): Thermaltake AH T600

Last but not least is a case perfect if you want to balance great performance with a one-of-a-kind aesthetic.

The AH T600 manages both of these wonderfully and is a true marvel in innovation if you have the budget for it.

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The 10 Best RGB PC Cases of 2023

The 10 Best RGB PC Cases of 2023

By
Kaelum Ross

Updated June 9, 2023

I updated this feature in June after reviewing the new PC cases on the market in 2023. Most of my top picks remain the same this time, but I’ve added a few alternatives for certain options that sometimes run into stock issues.

Let’s be honest: aesthetics are a massive factor when buying a PC case.

Sure, you’re going to want the fundamentals like decent cooling, hardware space, and build quality..

But why not both?

We’ve put together this feature after many reviews to highlight the best RGB computer cases for a beautiful build. We’ve chosen them not just based on lighting, but their overall quality and value.

We’re aware beauty is in the eye of the beholder which is why we’ve included a lot of different case designs; including options for different sizes, budgets and RGB types.

Overall Best RGB PC Case

Corsair iCUE 220T RGB

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Runner-Up Best RGB PC Case

MUSETEX Phantom 907

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Read Review

Best Budget RGB PC Case

AeroCool Klaw

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Read Review

Best High-End RGB Case

Asus ROG Strix Helios GX601

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Best RGB Micro ATX Case

Antec Dapper Dark Phantom DP301M

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Read Review

Best RGB Mini-ITX Case

InWin A1 Plus

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Wildcard – Worth Considering

Segotep Phoenix

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Read Review

Worth Considering

darkFlash Phantom DR12

Our Rating: 9/10

Read Review

Corsair iCUE 220T RGB Tempered Glass Edition

Overall Best RGB PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS*

REASONS TO BUY

+ Beautiful aesthetic

+ High quality build and fan inclusion for the price

+ Decent layout for a neat, mid-range build

REASONS TO AVOID

– Slightly smaller than most ATX cases for big GPUs

Our Rating: 9.5/10

This is an awesome chassis from Corsair, one of the best case manufacturers in today’s market.

The exterior is made of good quality steel and thick tempered glass on the side/front.

These windows are slightly tinted, which may sound counter-intuitive for an RGB-focused case.

But having strong LED lights shine through tinting actually provides a way more sophisticated look and, in our experience, looks better than a fully transparent window (don’t worry, they’ll still be bright!).

Speaking of lights…

A lot of this list is focused on cases with in-built LED lighting (instead of relying on LED fans), but the iCUE 220T packs an incredible value with 3 x CORSAIR SP120 RGB PRO fans.

These are addressable RGB fans each including 8 separate LEDs.

You’re then also getting an iCUE Lighting Node CORE fan controller included, easily allowing control of your 3 included fans (and up to 3 more) with the fantastic Corsair iCue software.

The combination of the tinted windows, fantastic lighting of the fans, and control from the iCue is why we rate this case so highly for RGB builders (especially at its modest price point).

But the 220T isn’t just a pretty case.

Source: grdud

The case is a compact mid-tower designed for an ATX motherboard (or smaller).

With space for:

7 expansion slots
VGA lengths up to 300mm
2 x 3.5″ & 2 x 2.5″ drive bays

We love how there’s good room for a powerful gaming GPU despite it being about 30% smaller than the average ATX tower. We would have liked to see an extra 20mm or so of GPU space as there will be some cards that won’t fit in here. If this is the case for your preferred card, we’ve got many larger choices below.

Cooling-wise, you’ll have room for:

Up to 6 x 120mm fans (with 3 included)
Up to 1 x 360mm, 1 x 240mm & 1 x 120mm radiators

This is an impressive amount considering it’s one of the smallest ATX cases, many larger options offer fewer allotments.

Also included is a full-length PSU shroud to aid your cable management. With a layout that aids itself nicely in building a clean setup, the 220T is deceptively capable of good ventilation despite its glass front and would manage well for overclocking.

Tied with further RGB hardware you can achieve an incredibly unique aesthetic.

But even out of the box, the iCUE 220T still looks amazing. We give it the top spot because it’s not just gorgeous in its RGB potential, but also in its build quality, cooling, and value.

2023 update: While the iCUE 220T is still our top pick, we’ve seen it occasionally run out of stock over 2022. If this is the case for you, we can also recommend the mesh edition, which may have a more understated look, but also comes with some improved airflow on the front of the case; featured here on WIT.

MUSETEX Phantom 907

Runner-Up Best RGB PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Unparalleled value at its price-point

+ Nice spacious case for airflow/parts

+ Plenty of RGB inclusion/control

REASONS TO AVOID

– Fans/build quality slightly inferior to pricier options

– Smaller manufacturer

Our Rating: 9.25/10

We don’t often give such a small manufacturer a high accolade.

But MUSETEX has created a really impressive PC case for RGB builders at an insane value point (we nearly gave it the #1 pick and think that many of you may prefer it over the Corsair 220T).

The build quality is great; with a steel exterior and 2 sturdy tempered glass windows covering the side and front panels.

A lot of the cases great value comes from its 6 x pre-installed RGB fans. These are also connected to a fan controller that works with an included remote with plenty of features.

It might not be made for the top-of-the-line Corsair/ASUS RGB software.

But you’re getting an incredible amount of customization. Anything from static colors to having your lights change to music/your voice.

It’s hard to imagine needing much more out of an RGB ATX case.

Source: Bojangles

The 907 has good space too, with:

7 x expansion slots
Maximum GPU lengths of 380mm
3 x 2.5″ & 3 x 3.5″ drive bays

This chassis is slightly larger than the 220T, with a good amount of room for more hard drives/SSDs and pretty much any mainstream graphics card (including RTX 3090, 3080 & 3070s).

It even boasts support for EATX motherboards (though we recommend our high-end pick below if you’re looking for an EATX RGB case).

Cooling-wise, you’re already set with the 6 x included fans and some good cable management/airflow features.

If you are looking at liquid cooling, we’d recommend the other cases on this list (as much of the value of the 907 comes from the fans).

Corsair 220T vs MUSETEX Phantom 207

So with all that said? Why do we rank the Corsair case over this MUSETEX offering?

It’s close, but we slightly prefer the 220T with its higher quality build & tinted windows giving off a more elegant RGB aesthetic (if you like a more “vibrant” case, the 907 will suit you more).

We also have a whole host of experience with Corsair, their cases, and customer service. MUSETEX isn’t a bad manufacturer, but they’re smaller and less “reputable” than Corsair. It’s not a deal-breaker, but a nice bonus to purchase from a brand with a long history of high-quality towers.

With all that said, the value of the Phantom 907 is fantastic. There’s so much included in the price tag. We really think your decision should largely come down to if you’re comfortable buying from a smaller brand and which cases you prefer aesthetically.

AeroCool Klaw

Best Budget RGB PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Great aesthetic/build quality for its price

+ Ticks all the boxes for a good budget build

REASONS TO AVOID

– Worth spending more on the other picks if possible

– Some weird layout choices makes building a little tougher

Our Rating: 8.5/10

If possible, we’d recommend forking out slightly more for one of our other top picks.

That being said, the AeroCool Klaw is an impressive offering if you’re looking for a mid-tower RGB case on a very tight budget.

With an SPCC steel exterior, ABS plastic front, and tempered glass side panel, you’re still getting a fairly good build quality. Though expectedly not quite on par with our pricier picks.

But the RGB is where this case really shines.

Included you’ll have:

3 addressable RGB strips running down the front of the case (all controlled via a button on the front I/O panel)
3 pre-installed RGB ring fans (also fully addressable)

These fans aren’t the same quality as our top picks, but for the price, it’s a very decent value point.

The Klat also has space for:

7 x expansion slots
GPUs up to 370mm
2 x 2.5″ /3.5″ & 4 x 2.5 ” drive bays

Source: Aerocool

If you’re building a budget gaming PC, we assume you’re looking at a single GPU setup, which this case can definitely perform well with.

Cooling-wise, you can have up to 6 fans (with the 3 RGB 120mm fans included).

If you’re looking at liquid cooling, we’d recommend investing in one of the more expensive cases we review in this list.

The cable management/airflow won’t be quite as decent as our top offerings but you’ll still be able to cool a budget build without concern.

If you’re looking for the cheapest RGB PC case possible, there’s one even cheaper with the AeroCool Bolt.

But we’ve chosen the Claw as our top pick because, with just a little bit more money, you’re getting the 3 RGB fans included. So we consider it the best value point for those with a slim wallet.

Sure, we’d recommend our other picks over the Klaw, but if this is the only option that fits your budget, you’re still going to have a great time building here.

2023 update: We’ve seen the Klaw occasionally run into stock issues; if that’s the case, we also recommend the Antex NX260 or the MUSETEX DT-N1 as the cheapest alternatives that are still worth your time.

Asus ROG Strix Helios GX601

Best High-End RGB Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Unrivalled build quality & design

+ Great spacious layout for high-end hardware

+ Plenty of cooling/cable management potential

REASONS TO AVOID

– Fairly expensive

– High-quality build makes it heavy and large

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Oh boy, this is an amazing case.

Popular for a reason despite its high price point, the GX601 has so many great features.

The exterior is largely a thick aluminum, easily the best material for PC cases. It gives a sleek look and better build quality than the usual steel/plastic hybrid options.

Then there are the 3 thick, tempered glass windows on the front, left, and right sides.

These are tinted slightly while still being bright enough to allow your hardware and RGB components to shine through (we find this looks way better than non-tinted).

Finally, there’s the beautiful front panel addressable RGB lighting that has a tempered glass etching to allow your inner lighting to shine through the front ASUS design (we’ve not seen this in a case before!). The RGB is also nicely controllable with the front I/O panel button or the Asus Aura Sync software (one of the best on the market).

Source: mgkhn

This means that you could have RGB fans on the front accommodating the pre-installed lighting.

It’s hard to express how good the GX601 looks through stock photos, it looks so much better in person. This is truly one of the best-looking PC cases once your high-end gaming build is setup and running.

But enough on design, because this chassis excels across the board, with:

8 + 2 vertical expansion slots
Maximum 450mm GPU length
2 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ & 4 x 2.5″ drive bays pre-installed with up to 9 total (enough space for even the most SSD-heavy builds)
Great I/O panel with 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 & 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Type C), LED/fan control, and the usual HD audio ports.
Good quality, easy-to-use dust filters

It has the most space out of all the cases on the list, also making it our top pick for anyone looking for the best RGB EATX case.

With this room, you have everything needed for a high storage/multi-GPU enthusiast builds dedicated to gaming, streaming, or production/video editing.

And to cool all of that hardware, you’ll also have:

Up to 6 x 140mm fans (4 high-quality ones included)
Up to 1 x 420mm, 1 x 360mm & 1 x 140mm radiators

6 fan mounts may sound low, but these are 140mm which perform notably better than 120mm.

Tied with excellent cable management facilities and a good overall design for airflow, you’ve got an amazing PC case for water cooling & air cooling alike, capable of overclocking an intense gaming setup.

A small but nice detail is the included straps on the top of the tower if you need it to operate as a LAN party PC case (fair warning though: this thing is heavy).

Yes, this tower is expensive.

But compared to the other cases on this list and out of all of our experience with in-built RGB options, this ASUS offering is one of the real standouts for high-end builds.

If you’re building something truly special and are looking for the best RGB full tower on the market, you’ve found it.

Antec Dapper Dark Phantom DP301M

Best RGB Micro ATX Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Great ARGB aesthetic for the price

+ Surprisingly spacious for mATX

+ Good cooling options

REASONS TO AVOID

– No RGB fans included

– Lighting may be too minimalist for some tastes

– Build quality is mostly good, but some lesser elements are not found in cases like the Corsair 280X

Our Rating: 9/10

Don’t be deceived by the bizarre name. This is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a Micro ATX case with decent RGB capability.

From one of the “OG” gaming PC case manufacturers, Antec has created a great design with the DP301M.

With a largely SPCC steel (plus some plastic), tempered glass window, and a unique “boomerang” RGB strip on the front, the case has a great aesthetic and build quality.

That RGB strip is also easily controlled from the front I/O panel with a single button.

Naturally, with an RGB mini-tower form factor, you’re getting less space than an ATX case.

But there’s still impressive room in here for:

4 expansion slots
GPU length up to 360mm (great for an mATX tower)
2 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ & 2 x 2.5″ drive bays

Source: Ingreen

With the decent GPU allowance and storage, we’re pleasantly surprised by the space. It has a good design to accommodate airflow/cable management, alongside:

Up to 6 x 120mm fans (with 1 included)
Up to 280mm top & 120mm rear radiators (could be combined with 2 x 120mm fans on top)

This is really impressive for mATX, definitely still suitable for some decent overclocking in a small gaming build.

Looking for a high-end RGB mATX option? If you have the budget, the best choice is the CORSAIR Crystal 280X

We’ve raved about the 280X in our dual-chamber guide and recommend it if you can stretch to it.

With that said, we’ve focussed on the DP301M for a reason. We think it will reflect a more reasonable budget for most and love its understated lighting.

When considering the average mid-range PC and value, this is easily the best mATX RGB case available.

2023 update: The DP301M is also sadly occasionally out of stock right now. There isn’t another Micro ATX option on the market with a decent amount of built-in RGB, so if you’re unlucky on its availability, I would recommend either getting a slightly larger case for your build from the options above or going with an mATX case that has great ARGB fans like the Lian Li 205M MESH.

InWin A1 Plus

Best RGB Mini-ITX Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Incredible build qualtiy and ARGB aesthetic

+ Balances compact dimensions with a decent layout for ITX builds

+ Decent thermals for an ITX case

REASONS TO AVOID

– Slightly expensive

– Included PSU could be better

Our Rating: 9.25/10

And then there are those of you looking for nice lighting in the smallest form factor.

Recommended multiple times on other What in Tech features, the A1 Plus is a fantastic RGB ITX case.

With an excellent quality SECC steel exterior and a thick, tinted tempered glass window, the tiny tower sits on a beautiful transparent RGB base.

We don’t really come across many other towers with such lighting.

And what’s more, it comes with 2 high-quality InWin Sirius Loop 120mm ARGB case fans (fully addressable).

It packs great space for the form factor too, with:

2 expansion slots
VGA length up to 320mm (great for ITX)
2 x 2.5″ drive bays
Wireless QI charger on the top (very unique/impressive for the size)

This may all sound super low, but we’re very impressed with the incisions compared to many of its Mini ITX case competitors.

Source: SpiralCaseMods

This would be perfect if you’re looking for a portable case or if you’re simply someone that likes their builds as compact as possible.

On top of the 2 included RGB case fans, you could include a further 2 x 120mm fans (or 1 x 120mm radiator).

Having up to 4 fans in a chassis this small is a great feat. It really stands out as one of the top ITX choices for cooling.

Additionally, the case comes included with a 650W PSU pre-installed.

We will say the power supply is a slight letdown. If you’re getting a very powerful GPU, CPU, and motherboard, you may want to invest in another and use the base one as a backup.

But for the average ITX gaming PC, it will be able to handle things if this sounds like overkill for you.

If you’re looking for a very cheap RGB Mini ITX case, then a good backup is the Cooler Master Case H100.

This case still boasts impressive capability for the size and comes with a 200mm RGB fan.

But without question, the InWin A1 Plus is our top choice.

Honorable Mentions

While the above choices are the best RGB tower cases available, if you’re looking for a different flavour, we’ve included some extras we’d still highly recommend.

Segotep Phoenix

Wildcard - Worth Considering

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Beautiful, unique RGB lighting

+ Fairly spacious for a mid-range build

REASONS TO AVOID

– No front airflow or fans included

– A little pricey; the premium is for the design

Our Rating: 8.5/10

I’m sure you can tell from the image why we wanted to include this.

Boasting a fantastic design, the case’s front panel has incredible LED lighting that can be synced with the most popular RGB software if you have an addressable header on your motherboard.

You’re also getting good build quality, with a tempered glass panel and 0.8mm thick SPCC steel.

The Phoenix has made a couple more design choices that truly make it one of the more unique towers on the market.

Firstly, it’s an inverted case, with the side panel on the right side. Perfect if you’d rather your case sit on the left side.

Next, the case is designed with sideways motherboard mounting. i.e. the rear I/O panels and cables come out of the top of the case instead of the back.

We actually really like this design choice as it means your I/O panel ports are really easily accessible (no reaching behind the back of the PC).

It also means your GPU will hang directly downwards, you won’t find many other builds that look like this!

Source: FpsMafia

The Phoenix is an ATX RGB mid-tower, with space for:

7 expansion slots
VGA lengths up to 320mm
2 x 3.5″ & 2 x 2.5″ drive bays

Pretty standard for an ATX chassis, perfectly suitable as a mid-range gaming case.

For cooling, there’s space for:

Up to 5 x 120mm fans
Up to 1 x 360mm & 1 x 240mm radiators

Not particularly impressive for its size, but still enough for some decent graphics cards.

The cable management and airflow design also aren’t as good as our top picks which were the main reasons this case missed out on the spots taken by the 220T and Phantom.

But that being said, this is perhaps the most unique case on the list.

If you really want to stand out, the Phoenix is still a great option.

darkFlash Phantom DR12

Worth Considering

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

+ Stunning glass + RGB fan aesthetic

+ Great value for the build quality and fan inclusion

REASONS TO AVOID

– Airflow is serviceable but not the best due to the glass coverage

– Some layout decisions make building “hands-on”

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Last but by no means least is a great option if you’re looking for a PC case with RGB fans (and a lot of them).

We’ve included the DR12 as it’s a great “mid-range” choice for a lot of different build types.

To start, it has 3 very sharp, full-length tempered-glass windows (left/right sides and front).

But the case’s crowning design feature is the 6 pre-installed 120mm RGB LED fans.

Combined with the high-quality glass windows, these fans beautifully illuminate the front and rear of the build.

The DR12 is a mid-tower, with space for:

7 x expansion slots
GPU card lengths up to 359mm
2 x 3.5″ & 3 x 2.5″ drive bays

Pretty standard specifications here but a good balance for either a gaming or streaming build.

Source: JLewis198038

As far as cooling goes, given the tower includes 6 RGB fans, you’ll be wanting to focus on air cooling.

You can add a further 5 x 120mm fans if you wish, totaling 11 x 120mm fans.

That’s a crazy amount for an ATX case.

One downside though is the airflow. While not awful, is not the best in the DR12.

This is a tad disappointing given how clearly aligned to air cooling the case is.

But given the sheer quantity of fans you can install, you still have a great PC for overclocking here.

(If you were inclined, you could even use the spare space we talked about using for 5 extra fans on radiators for an air/water cooling hybrid build).

Overall, with specific consideration to the fantastic value the 6 RGB fans add, this is a great RGB ATX case if you like the design.

More RGB PC Case Options?

There are some more RGB computer cases floating around.

But we simply wouldn’t recommend them over the above choices.

For example, we know a lot of gamers may be looking for an NZXT RGB case.

While you can easily add RGB fans to NZXT towers, we’ve focussed specifically here on PC cases that have RGB elements included (either fans and or/in-built lighting) at a great value.

We’d push you towards the above for anything from a gaming/streaming PC to a production/video editing computer.

That being said, If you wanted an alternate idea, you could create a cool “RGB” computer by:

Purchasing a clear PC case as a foundation
Installing RGB fans that will give you lighting in your transparent tower
- The best RGB case fans are easily the Corsair LL120s, expensive but worth it (a good cheap RGB fan alternative is the Thermaltake Pure 12 3-pack)
Buying an RGB motherboard that will give you the best onboard lighting and RGB header capacity for additional lighting

If you’d prefer to add your own RGB fans to a case that doesn’t include any lighting by default, we’ve included 2 final quick-fire picks below that are premium, large, and the cases that could include the most RGB fans (purchased separately):

Best Premium Case for RGB Fans: Corsair Obsidian Series 1000D

This is a monstrous case with the capability to host up to 18 x 120mm fans in a wonderful presentation and everything you need for a high-end gaming build.

If you want to see an example of how effective RGB fans can look in this case, check out our more detailed review included in our EATX Case feature.

The only reason this case doesn’t get a high ranking in this list is because we’ve focussed on cases with included lighting, if that’s not important to you in building your RGB PC, this is a wonderful high-end option.

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Best Looking Case for RGB Fans: Thermaltake Core P8

Featured many, many times on What in Tech, the fabulous Core P8 can host up to 18 x 120mm RGB fans all highly visible in the cases 3 x tempered glass, high-visibility layout.

If you have the budget to purchase this great case and RGB fans, it’s one of the most amazing aesthetics you can achieve. Check out our full Core P8 review on the premium case spotlight.

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! After reviewing countless options, these are the options that really stand out to us as the best RGB PC cases.

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed by what to pick, we would recommend focusing on these factors:

Price: are you interested in budget, mid-range, or high-end?
Size: are you looking to build something small or huge? ITX, mATX, ATX or eATX? What sized GPU/PSU/CPU cooler are you looking for? This will narrow things down a lot.
Aesthetic: So you’re looking for an RGB case, but do you want one understated and sophisticated like our top Corsair 220T pick? Or something a little more vibrant like the MUSEXTEX offering? You can also think about if you’re more interested in in-built lighting or simply buying a clear PC case with lots of visibility for RGB fans.

If you’re clear on these 3 areas, finding the perfect case from this list (or some of our other features) will be a piece of cake!

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About the author

Kaelum Ross

* 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.

EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

The 10 Best Horizontal PC Cases in 2026

Reviewing the best picks for home theatres, horizontal cabinets and more

A note on size

SilverStone Technology GD09B

Overall Best Horizontal PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS*

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

Cooler Master HAF XB EVO

Runner-Up Best Horizontal PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

OUR RATING: 9.5/10

Thermaltake Core P5 V2

Best Premium Horizontal Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

OUR RATING: 9.5/10

Thermaltake Core P1 vs P3 vs P5 vs P7 vs P8 vs P90:

Thermaltake Core G3

Best Budget Horizontal PC Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

OUR RATING: 9/10

SilverStone ML04

Best Horizontal Micro ATX Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

OUR RATING: 8/10

Fractal Design Node 202

Best Horizontal Mini-ITX Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

OUR RATING: 9/10

SilverStone GD08

Best Large / E-ATX Horizontal Case

SPECIFICATIONS

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

OUR RATING: 9/10

More Options:

Budget Horizontal ITX Case: Thermaltake Core V1

Alternative Slim PC Case: Antec VSK2000

Alternative Mini PC Case: In-Win CE685

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Overall Best Gaming PC Bundle: Skytech Archangel RTX 4060 Ti & Dell S2721HGF

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Most Powerful RTX 4090 Gaming PC Bundle: Skytech Azure 4090 Edition & Dell S-Series S2719DGF

Cheapest Gaming PC Bundle under $650: Alarco GTX 650 & ViewSonic VS2210-H

Alternative Gaming PC Accessory Combos

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Best High-End Gaming Accessory Package: Logitech G502 + SteelSeries Apex 5 + Corsair MM300

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The 15 Best RGB Motherboards of 2023

Quick Tip:

Best Intel RGB Motherboard Overall: MSI MPG Z690 Edge

Best Budget RGB Motherboard for Intel 10th Gen: ASUS ROG Strix B460-H

Cheapest RGB Motherboard (Intel): ASRock B365 Phantom Gaming 4

Best High-End Intel RGB Board: MSI MEG Z590 GODLIKE

Best AMD RGB Motherboard Overall: GIGABYTE B650 AORUS PRO AX

Best AMD RGB Motherboard Runner-Up: ASUS ROG Strix B450-F

Best AMD Budget RGB Motherboard: ASRock B450 Steel Legend

Best AMD High-End RGB Board: MSI Prestige X570 Creation

Best Micro ATX RGB Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G

Best Mini ITX RGB Motherboard: Gigabyte H470I AORUS PRO AX

Best Z390 RGB Motherboard: Gigabyte Z390 AORUS MASTER

Honorable Mention: MSI MPG Z390 Gaming PRO Carbon