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These days, most PC cases can house at least a single 240mm AIO, making most cases suitable for water cooling your CPU. But if you want to run a custom loop for both the CPU and GPU, the situation changes. Many cases don’t have support for custom loops, don’t have space for pumps and hardline tubing, or cannot house multiple radiators at once.
If you want to find the best water cooling cases capable of hosting custom loops without issues, well, just scroll below and check out our list. It features picks for every form factor along with a couple of extra choices. We have water-cooling cases for people who want a simple and quality enclosure for their future build and for those who want to show off their custom loop build in all its glory. All of the cases listed below are well suited for custom water cooling loops as well as AIO cooling systems.
Before we start, we recommend checking out our list of the best 140mm case fans so you can further improve the thermals inside your case. Next, our best fan control software article includes a number of apps that can be used to lower your system noise while keeping the same thermal performance. Finally, read our best PC stress test tools article to find out the best apps for stress-testing your newly built liquid-cooled PC.
Fractal Design Meshify 2: Best value water cooling case
The Meshify 2 from Fractal Design is the best water cooling case for most people. It’s relatively compact, although not the smallest mid-tower case, while offering room for up to a 420mm radiator on the top along with up to 360mm radiator on the front and another 280mm radiator on the bottom of the case.
The Meshify 2 is also quite spacey, with plenty of room for tubing, water blocks, and the pump. Do note that if you decide to build a custom loop, you’ll have to say goodbye to the optional HDD bracket. The good news is that, even without one, the Meshify 2 can take up to eight 2.5” SSDs or two SSDs and six 3.5” HDDs.
Airflow is pretty good, and the chassis features perfect cable management. The case also looks quite nice, is available in three colors, and comes with a glass side panel. Finally, the Meshify 2 isn’t the cheapest housing around but its price is more than alright for the package you’re getting.
Phanteks Enthoo Evolv X Glass: Best water cooling case for custom loops
Seeking the best liquid cooling case? The Phanteks Evolv X Glass is a top pick for custom loops. It features side RGB lighting, accommodates 420mm (front) and 360mm (top) radiators, and provides superb cable management. While spacious for a mid-tower, note that GPU temperatures might be higher with AIO cooling than mesh cases. It supports dual system setups (second ITX system needs an extra mounting plate) and offers a vertical GPU mount option. Its main con? Price.
If you’re interested in dual system PC housings, check our list of the best dual-system cases. If you’re intrigued by the possibility of mounting your GPU vertically but don’t like the Evolv X Glass, we have a full list of the best vertical GPU cases you can visit.
be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 Rev. 2: Best full-tower water cooling case
Considering a spacious case for a custom loop? The be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 Rev. 2 is your best bet. Ideal for water-cooling, it can accommodate 420mm radiators both front and top. Expect minimal noise, good airflow, and sleek aesthetics. It includes two RGB strips for ambiance and offers a modular design, simplifying radiator installation. Storage-wise, it fits up to seven 3.5” and fourteen 2.5” drives. Plus, two 5.25 drive bays for those with Blu-Ray drives.
Thermaltake Tower 900: Best show-off case for custom water-cooling builds
Thermaltake’s Tower 900 is designed for showcasing custom loop builds. This spacious case easily accommodates ambitious designs with dual 560mm radiators. Most of its elements can be removed to leave a cube skeleton, ideal for intricate dual-loop systems. Its modular design has optional mounting arrays, drive brackets, and three glass panels for a panoramic view of your setup. Storage-wise, it supports six 3.5” drives, eight 2.5” drives, and a 5.25” bracket. Despite its size and price, it’s a top pick for elaborate liquid cooling showcases.
Thermaltake Core P5 Titanium Edition: Best open air watercooling case
Thermaltake’s Core series stands out in open-air cases, especially for custom liquid cooling builds. The Core P5, in particular, is both stunning and functional. Compact enough for wall-mounting, it supports a 480mm radiator. Working inside is straightforward, with features like a vertical GPU mount, capacity for four 2.5” or 3.5” drives, and a modular design for a 90-degree motherboard mount. This ensures compatibility with long GPUs. For those preferring a semi-closed look, an optional kit offers three tempered glass panels.
Cooler Master MasterBox NR200: Best mini-ITX water cooling case
The Cooler Master MasterBox NR200 shines in the ITX category for its custom loop support, making it a top ITX liquid-cooling case. It can fit a 280mm radiator on the side and another 240mm one on the bottom—enough for high-end components like the 5900X CPU and RTX 3080 GPU. However, the radiator positioning means your loop is hidden. For a visible setup, the NR200P model offers a glass side panel, though it accommodates just one 240mm radiator.
Besides custom loops, the NR200 is apt for AIO builds, supporting a 280mm side radiator and three-slot GPUs. Storage-wise, it fits three 2.5” drives or two 3.5” HDDs. Both the NR200 and NR200P offer value, giving an affordable foundation for compact custom builds.
Corsair Crystal 280X RGB: Best mATX liquid-cooling case
When it comes to mATX cases, the Crystal 280X RGB from Corsair is an excellent choice for a custom liquid-cooled build. It doesn’t have the best airflow, but it does support dual 240mm radiator loops, which should be enough for virtually any CPU and GPU combination.
On top of that, the case is highly attractive and one of the best-looking PC chassis on the market. See-through glass panels look perfect in combination with RGB case fans and some RGB strips, and the dual chamber design makes cable management frustrations a thing of the past.
Now, you’re limited to GPUs up to 300mm in size. However, if you’re going with a full-on water cooling build, you should be fine since most GPU PCBs are shorter than 300mm. When it comes to the storage drive support, there are two 3.5” bays and three 2.5” bays. Not great, not terrible. The price is a bit higher, but it’s worth it just for the design.
Lian Li O-11 Dynamic: Water-cooling case with best design
The Lian Li O-11 Dynamic, co-designed with renowned overclocker Der8auer, stands out as a best-looking water cooling case. Not only is its design visually striking, but it also boasts impressive airflow and thermal performance due to its side-mounted intakes, ideal for radiators and fans. The dual-chamber design ensures pristine cable management. As a mid-tower, it showcases components with clear front and side panels. It can accommodate two 360mm radiators simultaneously, though motherboard heatsinks need caution. Storage options include up to three 2.5” or 3.5” drives. The case also features a vertical GPU mount, and for RGB enthusiasts, the O11 Dynamic Razer Edition adds an RGB flair.
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