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When you’re building a PC, it’s not just the selection of components that matters. The case those components will go into is also very important. And while there’s a host of flashy cases with a lot of RGB and futuristic looks, there are many people who would, instead, opt for some a minimalist PC case.
Minimalist computer cases aren’t flashy. On the contrary, they’re made to blend in, attract as little attention as possible, yet provide adequate room and cooling for the components that are inside. And in the past few years, there’s been an influx of such cases, from various manufacturers, at various sizes and price points. Therefore, below, we have reviewed the top minimalist PC cases. They’re all impressive in one way or another, and there’s certainly something for everyone. Let’s take a look at them.
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NZXT H510
NZXT have been at the top of the
minimalist cases game for a good while now. The H440 and H500 were some of the
most popular power supplies, so there’s no surprise the H510 is following those
footsteps. It’s the successor to the H500, which makes some small but notable
improvements, and keeps everything we loved about the H500.
First up, this is a mid-tower
case with a tempered glass side panel, which allows you to showcase your
build’s internals. It’s ready for water cooling and has a few locations for a
radiator and fans, up to 240mm. There is a removable bracket at the front panel
and the PSU intakes, made for this. You’ll also get two NZXT Aer F120mm fans
included, to help with airflow.
At the top you will find the
front I/O, which includes a USB 3.1 Gen 2 connector, as well as a USB Type-C for a bit of future-proofing. Even though it might be a bit pricey, the NZXT
H510 is definitely one of the best minimalist PC cases.
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Corsair Carbide 275R
Corsair has been building cases for quite a while now, but most of their newer models all have one thing in common – they’re very minimalist looking. Their panels are very simple, and even the ones that come with RGB lights can be made stealthy. The Carbide 275R is one of their best sellers, and there are quite a lot of reasons for that.
To begin with, it comes in either white or black, and you can get it with a solid side panel, a windowed one, or with a full-on tempered glass. If you like to show off your build, a white case with tempered glass on the side is the way to go. On the inside, you’ll get subtle, white accent lights that help the components’ visibility.
Make no mistake, even though this is a compact, mid-tower ATX case, it still has quite a lot of room for components inside. And it’s not just that, but you also get built-in cable management compartments which help you make your build as clean as possible. Add to that the excellent cooling capabilities and plenty of expansion slots and drive bays, and you’ve got yourself an excellent minimalist computer case.
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DeepCool Macube 550
While DeepCool are usually
popular for budget-oriented cases, and products overall, the Macube 550 is a
slightly more expensive option that aims to be a simple, minimalist case that
will fit just about any system inside. It’s a full tower case which allows you
to fit up to an E-ATX motherboard, and if installed vertically, an up to 420mm
GPU. This is more than you’d expect, which is why we say the price is
justified.
The entire thing is built with
0.8mm SGCC steel, and you have a tempered glass side panel with aluminum bar.
The build quality is quite honestly, phenomenal, and it’s obvious this is a
case meant to be used for a good, long time. There are plenty of cooling
options with the Macube 550, with two intake channels at the front and room for
a water cooling reservoir at the front, side or rear. Note that if you want to
go for an air cooler, the height limit is 186mm.
With a front I/O that consists of
two USB 3.0 ports, one 3.5mm audio port, and one 3.5mm mic port, the Macube is
a very well rounded out case. If you have a large motherboard and GPU, this
might be perfect.
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Metallic Gear MG-NE510_SR01 Neo Series
While Metallic Gear may not be the first brand that springs to mind when discussing high-end minimalist cases, their Neo Series case is actually a very good case. It comes with a simple silver design that looks great, as well as plenty of features that will help you build out your system with ease.
To begin with, aside from the plain-looking panels, an interesting aspect of the case is the tempered glass side panels. Yes, plural. The case doesn’t only let you showcase your build’s components, but it will also let you display how good (or bad) you are at cable management. Depending on your taste, this can be a pro or a con.
While this is a mid-tower case, the steel chassis and aluminum exterior can actually hold quite a lot of hardware inside. The design is pretty space efficient, so even larger graphics cards or CPU coolers can fit inside as well. There are a few fans included with the case too, and airflow and cooling are generally pretty good. All things considered, if you don’t want to pay too much for the brand, but want a good case for a good price, this can be a great minimalist computer case.
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Fractal Design Define R6
From the Node series, to the new
Meshify models, every case in Fractal Design’s lineup is just about perfect for
minimalists. But none does it better than the Define R6, a mid tower case
that’s optimized to make your build as silent as possible. If you don’t mind
spending a good chunk of money on a case, the Define R6 is one you should
definitely take a look at.
The entire case looks really
nice, including the full-size tempered glass side panel which is scratch
resistant. The push-to-lock latching mechanism is very well thought out, too. The
PSU shroud will hide the PSU cables, as well as the HDD trays, and make for a
very clean inside look.
In terms of cooling, you have
three fans preinstalled, and there are nine fan positions in total. You can
have up to a 420mm fan at the top, 360mm at the front, or 280mm at the base, so
there’s plenty of versatility. The front I/O includes USB Type C ports with up
to 10Gbps transfer speeds and fast charging support, and make the Define R6 a great cases.
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darkFlash Micro ATX Case
Minimalist PC cases are often similar to each other. Therefore, when you have something that actually stands out, it’s worth taking a closer look at. Such is the case with the darkFlash DLM22, a minimalist case that’s simple, yet has an interesting feature we don’t see very often – a door opening side panel. While most opt for a fully removable panel, with the darkFlash you simply open it and you’ve got full access to your internals. Note, though, that if you’re constrained with space around your case, this may do more harm than good.
Aside from that, the case really fits a minimalist theme. The panels are all simple and look really stunning. The case is compatible with a 240mm liquid cooler, which is a welcome addition, and there are multiple cable management helping points. Cooling is excellent, you can have up to 6 fans inside and there are plenty of both intake and exhaust locations. With a maximum 330mm GPU length and a maximum CPU cooler height of 160mm, you can be sure that you can put pretty much any hardware inside the case. An excellent all-around case.
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Rosewill Prism S-Lite
Rosewill’s mid-tower Prism S-Lite ATX case is an interesting proposal. You won’t get the “boring” single color panel design that’s common with other minimalist cases. Instead, you’re getting a sleek, sophisticated design with an angular white design at the front. It still fits the minimalist theme, but it looks a lot better than say, brushed aluminum, especially in white.
On the inside, the Prism lets you build just about anything. There are plenty of options for expansion and upgrade, and you can easily fit a radiator vertically if you’d like to liquid cool your CPU. The PSU shroud at the top lets you hide any extra cable lengths, and there’s an interesting addition you don’t see every day – a GPU brace. Large, heavy GPUs may sag and stress your motherboard, but the brace will hold them tight.
The Prism does come with plenty of storage slots – two SSDs at the front, two SSDs in the removable trays, and two more HDDs or SSDs in the removable cage. With this many options, and this many layouts available, the Rosewill Prism S-Lite is definitely one of the most minimalist PC cases, especially if you appreciate a more dynamic design.
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Daven Mid Tower GT101
Minimalist PC cases, especially good ones, often end up costing quite a bit. Yes, you get a great design, excellent cooling and plenty of layout options, but sometimes they’re just out of your budget. Enter the Daven GT101. Daven isn’t one of those well-known brands, but that doesn’t mean their cases are bad – quite the contrary. The GT101 is actually a very well thought-out case and one that won’t break the bank.
For starters, it comes in a very minimalist-looking black design. Even though this is a mid-tower case, you can easily fit a 360mm graphics card inside, but you’re somewhat limited to a 200mm ATX power supply. There are plenty of cooling options – you can use standard fans or up to a 280mm radiator at the front if liquid cooling is your preferred choice.
On the side, you get a tempered glass side panel which can be fixed with screws, and lets you showcase your build with pride. There are two dust filters on the case, and both are removable if you’d like to clean them. All things considered, the Daven GT101 is a great PC case for users who are on a budget, yet want something that looks and performs well.
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Phanteks Eclipse P400
Phanteks are a household name when it comes to cases. They’ve got some truly great options, including the Evolv and Enthoo, but today we’re looking at the Eclipse P400. With glacier white panels and a tempered glass side panel, this is a stunning minimalist computer case. The body is completely metal, including the steel exterior, which does give it a somewhat industrial look.
There’s a hidden front I/O area, as well as an RGB downlight and RGB power light with its on/off switch. You also get the option to upgrade to internal RGB lighting, aside from the 300mm LED strip you’re getting anyways. But if you’re going for minimal, there’s no need for that. On the inside, the PSU and drive bays are hidden with covers, to help with the aesthetics.
Also on the inside, you’ll find two Phanteks fans, one at the front and one at the rear, and there’s room for up to a 360mm radiator. With Phanteks’ Velcro cable ties and additional cable compartment, cable managing the Eclipse P400 should be a piece of cake. The dust filters are magnetic, so you can get them out quickly for cleaning, which is only the icing on the cake of an already excellent minimalist case.
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Thermaltake Versa H17
Thermaltake’s Versa H17 will be, for many of you, boring. A black, brushed aluminum look, with no tempered glass side panel and just a couple of I/O ports at the top, does fit the minimalist theme, but it may be too much for some. However, if you want an inconspicuous build, but still need a good case that fits your components and gives them adequate cooling, this may be great for you.
Those solid panels have one great quality – silence. The Versa H17 is one of those minimalist cases that silences whatever is going on inside your case, and you’ll notice the difference immediately. Not many micro ATX cases do that well.
While we’re on the topic of micro ATX, you’d be surprised that the Versa can fit a 350mm GPU if you remove the front fan. This is impressive for such a compact case. The optimized ventilation and room for a 280mm radiator at the front will make sure all of your components are well cooled. If that’s not enough, you can add fans at the top as well, to add some more ventilation.
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