EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

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The 8 Best Clear PC Cases of 2024

For those looking to show off their beautiful internal builds

Clear PC Case

We updated this feature in June 2024. After reviewing the latest options, our top picks remain the same this time, but we’ve included a couple of decent alternatives where relevant.

Let’s look at a hypothetical:

You’ve dedicated loads of time and money into putting together your perfect build.

The hardware looks amazing and you plan to set it up as neatly as possible.

…but then most of the cases you’re looking at only have one small window showing the internals!

Thankfully, there’s been an emergence of beautiful, clear computer cases that give as much transparency to your build as possible.

I’ve reviewed all of the significant offerings and reviewed/ranked them below for a range of sizes/budgets.

1

thermaltake core p5 v2 2

Overall Best Clear PC Case

Thermaltake Core P5 V2

Our Rating: 9.75/10

2

Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic

Runner-Up Clear Case Pick

Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic

Our Rating: 10/10

3

Thermaltake Core P7

High-End Clear PC Case Pick

Thermaltake Core P7

Our Rating: 9/10

4

Thermaltake Level 20 VT

Best Clear Micro ATX Case

Thermaltake Level 20 VT

Our Rating: 9/10

5

Thermaltake Core P1

Best Clear Mini ITX Case

Thermaltake Core P1

Our Rating: 9.5/10

6

Thermaltake Tower 900

Best Clear EATX case

Thermaltake Tower 900

Our Rating: 9.25/10

7

Worth Considering

Thermaltake View 37

Our Rating: 8.5/10

Best Clear PC Case: Thermaltake Core P5 V2

The Thermaltake Core P series is the undisputed king of transparent computer cases.

The P5 is the best “all-around” pick.

A tempered-glass ATX case, it has a single window on the top and completely open sides, with its slim base being made up of SPCC steel.

The case can be orientated horizontally, vertically, or even wall-mounted.

So you’re well-positioned to ensure the non-transparent base is against a wall/your desk with the rest fully on display.

Inside room for:

  • 8 Expansion slots
  • VGA lengths up to 570mm (without drive reservoir)
  • 1 x accessible 2.5″/3.5 & 3 x hidden 2.5″/3.5″ drive bays

You’ll have plenty of space for a meaty GPU and good storage options for a gaming PC.

I really appreciate how most of the drives can be hidden in a case designed to be so exposed.

thermaltake core p5 v2 2

Some builders choose to keep the top glass panel off. Source: chief3630

The other impressive allotment is cooling. Despite not having a lot of fixtures, the case still manages to have room for either

  • 4 x 120mm fans
  • 1 x 480mm radiator

This may not seem like much for an ATX case.

But remember, this clear tower has excellent ventilation with airflow from 4 of its sides. Meaning you don’t need as much internal cooling (a nice value-add).

With some basic air/water cooling setup you have a chassis perfectly capable of decent overclocking. I was really pleased with the thermals I observed in a test build.

Don’t be intimidated by the lack of fixtures and mounts that you’d see in a traditional case. The P5 is actually quite beginner-friendly for building.

When taking off the glass panel during assembly, you have a lot of space to place around with and are not “reaching inside” plastic/metal casing like you are with other chassis.

Is there anything I don’t like about the P5? Honestly; not really.

It is pretty expensive considering its very bare-bones material. But what you do get is high quality and I have seen so many great looking builds inside that it feels worth the premium.

If you’re comfortable paying a bit of a premium for an amazing aesthetic, I can’t recommend the P5 (and the other P-series options) enough. I’ve not seen another fully visible case that better balances excellent build quality, style, and space.

2024 update: The P series is still the best choice for clear case builders. I think the P5 is still one of the better mid-range options, but you might want to consider the P3 if you have less of a budget or if the P5 is out of stock.

Our Rating: 9.75/10

Best Clear Case Runner-Up: Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic

One of the most renowned PC cases on the market, and for good reasons.

Lian Li’s flagship PC-011D model seems to tick every box most users need for a gaming ATX case and also ranks at the top of the list in our overall best PC case feature.

While a little more covered than the Core P5, I still think it warrants a good place on this list because of its full-length tempered glass panels on the side and front. It’s a lot more visible than a majority of options.

And with the rest of the exterior made between high-quality SECC steel and aluminum, even the non-clear sides look and feel excellent.

The case has great room for a mid-tower, with:

  • 8 expansion slots
  • VGA cards up to 420mm in length
  • 2 x 3.5″ & 4 x 2.5″ drive bays

There’s a very important USP over other chassis on this list: it’s a dual-chamber case.

This means it has a second compartment fully dedicated to hiding your “uglier” parts; think PSU, hard drives & cables.

I think this is a great bonus add for those after a clear case. It gives you the freedom to fine-tune how your build looks and make sure only the parts that you want on show are visible.

Lian Li Dynamic PC-O11

I’ve seen so many builds in the PC-011 and they never disappoint. Source: jerameyj

It also maximizes the airflow to your key components that need it (i.e. GPUs and CPU).

Despite the split compartments, the PC-011 still has room for:

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

I’ve seen great thermal results in the case despite how much of it is covered. Both watercooling and air cooling builds have excelled in overclocking due to its great internal layout.

The reason I don’t give this case the top spot over the P5 is because it’s significantly more covered.

But if you prefer the 2-window approach of the PC-011 to the very transparent presentation of the P5, then I truly don’t think you can find a better case on the market.

Our Rating: 10/10

Best High-End Clear Case: Thermaltake Core P7 & Core P8

2024 update: The below focuses on the Core P7, our original high-end pick. However, Thermaltake has created another fantastic option in the Core P8 , check out our full review in our premium PC case feature.

For our most expensive case pick, we’re back to the P-series.

The premium model is an incredibly unique case and I’m sure you can tell why from its monolithic aesthetic.

The central body is similar to the Core P5 (just sized up for EATX motherboards / a full tower form factor).

But on top of that are two side panels on the left and right side designed to host and show off extra fans/radiators.

If you check out some of the build/stock photos on the product listing, you’ll see just how incredible this case can look, especially if you’re building an RGB setup.

The cooling potential is crazy for a see-through PC case with so much ventilation:

  • Up to 12 x 120mm fans
  • Up to 3 x 480mm radiators

The fact that there are so many cooling allotments despite the case also being large open-air is quite the achievement. I was really impressed by thermal benchmarks here. There’s capability here to run a very intensive build.

Thermaltake Core P7 2

Few cases offer more freedom of expression while building. Source: ittypartspicker

You have the room in the main case for a monstrous multi-GPU build too, with:

Between all the cooling options, space, and open-air case design, this is one of the best overclocking towers available today.

Let’s be real though; this is a very expensive choice.

And for many gaming builds, the Core P5 and others on this list are more than enough for what you’ll need and I recommend them more over the P7 for that reason.

But if budget isn’t a big concern and you want the most power/style you can possibly get, this is one of the best clear computer cases available.

Final note: If you like the look of this high-end chassis but it’s a little out of your price range, you can also consider the Core P90 as a great middle-ground option.

Our Rating: 9/10

Best Clear Micro ATX Case: Thermaltake Level 20 VT

This list may seem a little Thermaltake-heavy

But there simply isn’t any other manufacturer that has come out with clear chassis as good as them (in so many prices/size ranges).

This next offering is for those looking for the best clear mini-tower case.

The L20 VT is covered with 4 tempered glass panels: left, right, top, and front.

These exposed angles and the small form factor would make it fantastic for an on-desk setup.

Due to the solid build quality of the case overall (SPCC steel), it’s still more than sturdy enough to act as a portable/LAN Party case if needed.

Thermaltake Level 20 VT 2

The space is really excellent for Micro ATX too, with:

  • 5 expansion slots
  • VGA lengths up to 350mm (great for mATX)
  • Up to 7 x 120mm + 1 included high quality RGB 200m fan on the front
  • Up to 3 x 240mm & 1 x 120mm radiators

This case is also the smallest dual-chamber tower on the list.

With hidden compartments for PSUs, drives, and some of your cables.

There aren’t many see-through computer cases with full/open exposure for Micro ATX.

But fortunately, the Level 20 VT is such a good offering it hardly matters.

With excellent build quality, deceptive internal size, beautiful presentation/style, and unparalleled cooling options for a Micro ATX tower, this is an easy pick if you’re looking at this form factor.

Our Rating: 9/10

Best Clear Mini ITX Case: Thermaltake Core P1

The last Core P case on our list is the smallest one available – perfect for mITX builders.

What I really like about the P1 is that it manages to maintain the excellent build quality of its larger brothers.

With an SPCC steel base and the same signature open-air setup (+ a thick tempered glass top).

Stock pictures really don’t do the P1 justice; with its compact size and high visibility, I’ve never seen a build completed and powered on that doesn’t look beautiful.

Note also, that even in this tiny option, the Core P1 still has dedicated wall mounting support and looks great in this format.

Thermaltake Core P1

The tiny case still manages full-sized GPUs. Source: Flyinlow23

You’ll be getting good space for mITX, with:

  • 5 expansion slots
  • VGA lengths up to 380mm
  • 2 x 2.5″ accessible & 1 x 3.5″ / 2.5″ hidden bays

Obviously, this is much more limited than a mid/full tower.

But if your focus is on the smallest build possible, you have more options here for a portable gaming build than a lot of other similarly sized chassis.

Cooling-wise, you’ll be looking at either 2 x 140mm fans or 1 x 280mm radiator.

Alongside the open-air case design, this is more than enough for a single-GPU build.

The case is the cheapest of the P series, but it shares the premium price tag relative to other ITX options (which are usually cheaper due to their smaller size). My same point applies to this version; I think the premium is worth it if you’re really after a gorgeous aesthetic.

With excellent build quality, deceptive internal size, beautiful presentation/style, and unparalleled cooling options for a Mini ITX case. The P1 is unmatched in its form factor for a high-visibility build.

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Best Clear EATX case: Thermaltake Tower 900

So what if you’re looking for the most space possible?

The Tower 900 is a fantastic option for Extended-ATX motherboard builds.

Dubbed “the fish tank PC case”, the Tower 900 has 3 full-length thick, tinted tempered-glass windows.

They provide an excellent presentation for a monstrous build alongside the rest of its rock-solid SGCC steel exterior.

Speaking of monstrous builds, you can certainly create one here, with:

  • 8 Expansion slots
  • VGA lengths up to 400mm
  • 1 x 5.25 “, 6 x 3.5″ / 2.5 ” & 2 x 2.5″ drive bays

Note this is in a case that is extra-long. If tied with an appropriate motherboard, these space provisions will give you room for a Quad-GPU build.

You’ll be able to overclock them well with the incredible cooling on the Tower 900 too.

Thermaltake Tower 900

Trust me; it’s larger than it looks. Source: Jaz11

It’s the largest dual-chamber case we recommend. With space to hide all your storage drives, PSU, and cables.

This gives maximum airflow to your GPUs/CPU in the main chamber (and makes them look as neat as possible).

That great airflow can then be combined with:

  • 13 x 120mm fans
  • 1 x 480mm & 1 x 560mm radiators

You can add air cooling to your water cooling build too if you prefer. If you install both of these radiators, there will still be room for 5 further 120mm fans on the top, rear & HDD cage.

The Tower 900, simply put, is one of the best cases for cooling and overclocking available today.

You will get diminishing returns compared to an ATX/Micro ATX case as we detail in our complete case size guide. These form factors are suitable for most builds.

But if your concern is less on budget and more on asking “how do I make the most powerful PC possible?”, here’s your answer.

Our Rating: 9.25/10

Worth Considering: Thermaltake View 37

While not taking one of our top picks, the View 37 has some great factors going for it.

The biggest one by far is style.

The design is very unique; with a curved window covering the full length of the left side/top.

Paired alongside its included addressable RGB fans, it’s one of the coolest-looking cases in its price point.

For a mid-tower chassis, you’re getting excellent room too, with:

  • 8 + 2 (vertical mount) expansion slots
  • VGA cards up to 410mm (without front fans)
  • 3 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ accessible & 8 x 2.5 /4 x  3.5″ hidden drive bays
  • Up to 8 x 120mm fans
  • Up to 1 x 420mm, 1 x 360mm & 1 x 120mm radiators
Thermaltake View 37 2

The lack of an edge between the top/side glass looks very slick. Source: JTricky

The storage capability in this case is a particular standout.

With the drive bays here, you have room for an HTPC, server, production, and/or video editing build.

Note the airflow design of this case isn’t quite up to the standards of some of the other options on this list.

But there’s still great cable management utility and it’s good enough to achieve decent overclocking on a multi-GPU build.

The case even claims to support E-ATX motherboards. Though this may be a tight squeeze and we’d recommend the larger options above if you were looking at a huge build.

One important note: the View 37 is a clear plastic PC case.

It still has a sturdy SPCC steel exterior but the window is not tempered glass like the rest of our picks.

But if its curved window design, excellent space, or decent price-point appeal to you, know we’ve included it for a reason and would still highly recommend for a clear PC case RGB build.

2024 update: Hopefully you’ve found what you’re looking for in the picks above, but one more fresher case that is worth a quick shout-out is the HYTE Y60 – it offers a great single-glass, dual chamber aesthetic at a good mid-range price.

Our Rating: 8.5/10

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About the author

Picture of Kaelum Ross
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.

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