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There was a time when Personal computers fitted with water cooling systems were in high demand among gamers. Today, water cooling systems have gained popularity. Gamers are now well-aware of the benefits of cooler temperatures. Buying PC cases to build a water-cooling solution might sound tricky, but it’s easier than you might think. To help our readers find the best water-cooling cases, we’re reviewing a dozen of the most popular options available right now.
A water-cooled PC might look unconventional, but it’s ideal for keeping the CPU and the Graphics card cooler. With water cooling, you can overclock the CPU as well as the GPU to a higher frequency.
Types of Liquid Cooling or Water Cooling Systems
In general, there are two variants, namely custom loop water cooling and closed loop liquid cooling. In the former, the user needs to build their water cooling loops by using pipes, pumps, tubes, reservoir, coolant, radiator, and water. On the other hand, the closed loop liquid cooling is pre-built for immediate convenience. Often referred to AIO water coolers, these sealed units cannot be modified or opened. AIO liquid cooled graphics cards are also available for high-end GPUs.
While custom loop water cooling systems often perform better than AIO closed loop liquid coolers and air cooling systems, they’re far more expensive. Making a custom system is far more tedious than purchasing AIO or Air CPU coolers, too. For custom cooling systems, you need more space for cooling water block graphics cards and using multiple radiators. This makes it impossible to employ the custom water cooling option in just any random computer case. The good news is that there are special PC cases that are specially built for advanced and extreme water cooling setups.
What are the features of the best liquid cooling cases?
Usually, the best water cooling cases come with ample space for accommodating multiple radiators, i.e. more the 360 mm, pump and reservoir. Also, it should be fitted with full window tempered glass panels that provide a full view of the water cooled computer system.
Ready to learn more? Read on for our reviews of 12 of the best liquid cooling cases. First, here are some helpful tips to help you shop for liquid cooled PC cases to set up a high-end water cooling system for your CPU and GPU.
What You Need to Know Before Buying Liquid Cooling Cases
There are hundreds or maybe even thousands of liquid cooling cases available at different prices. These tips can help you narrow down your options.
Reasons Why You Need A Liquid Cooling Case
- Overclocking: A liquid cooler offers superior performance, working far faster than air coolers. If you’re overclocking CPUs and GPU units, you probably need a liquid cooling case.
- Ventilation: Fancy gaming cases lack proper space management. Most gamers consider this a trade-off, but it has its costs too since lack of ventilation means hot spots can develop and damage performance or the computer itself. With water-coolers, you don’t have to worry about this factor as they do not rely on ventilation.
Tips to Select the Best Liquid Cooling Case for Your Gaming Rig
Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for a water cooled PC case.
- Budget: The best cases are mostly priced at $500 and above. Don’t worry if your budget is lower – there are some cheaper units that do a pretty good job.
- Size & Usability: For avid gamers requiring top-notch performance, larger units are usually best. If you have limited space, go for something smaller.
- Design & Aesthetics: If aesthetics are important, have fun choosing something that appeals to you! Look for a liquid cooling case that comes with LED lights, a tempered glass exterior, and RGB fans.
- Cable Management: Cable management is something to consider, especially if you’re short on space. Built in cable controls, clips, and Velcro are popular options. Don’t worry if these aren’t included. You can easily manage cables on your own with external accessories.
- Sound Dampening & Dust Filters: For using your PC in a quiet environment, ensure the liquid cooling case comes with a sound dampening feature. A dust filter is essential for keeping your unit clean.
12 Best Water Cooling Cases
Below we have reviewed some of the best Water cooling cases as per different requirements and categories.
The Best Mid-Tower Liquid Cooling Cases
CORSAIR Obsidian 500D PC Case
The Corsir Obsidian 500D PC Case supports up to a 360mm water-cooling radiator. It comes with almost all the essential features needed for a mid to high-end liquid-cooling system. The case comes with glass side doors and includes removable fan trays.
Pros
- Can hold five fans measuring 120 mm each or 4 fans measuring 140 mm each
- The front panel comes with USB 3.1 Type-C port
- Spacious storage case supporting up to two 3.5 inch hard disc drives or three 2.5 inch hard disc drives
- Simple routing is possible due to the covers for the rear cable and the PSU
- Removable and integrated dust filters
- Appropriately designed to allow air flow inside and keep the components cooler
Cons
- Noise level could have been better controlled
- Front panel can appear to be Flimsy to some users
- No Installation Guide or documentation provided
- Materials used could have been better
Thermaltake A500 ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case
With a curved aluminum frame design, this mid-tower case comes with a tempered glass panel that offers easy access to the components in the system. The Thermaltake A500 Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case comes with a tool-free drive cage capable of holding a 6 2.5” or 3.5” SSD/HDD.
Pros
- Enough Space to facilitate versatile cooling options
- Can accommodate either 420 mm or a 360 mm radiator in its front, a 360 mm or 280 mm radiator on the top, and a 120 mm radiator at its back
- Comes with a dismantlable modular design accompanied with three dust filters
- Essential ports along with one Type-C and 2 USB 3.0 ports
- Easy Installation & Removal of Drives
Cons
- Doesn’t include an extension cable
- No USB-C port in the front panel
- Plastic trays can break if not handled with care
- The power button can be fragile
RosewillCullinan MX ATX PC Case
The RosewillCullinan MX ATX PC mid-tower gaming case is capable of fitting a 360 mm water cooling radiator on its front and a 260 mm liquid cooling radiator at the top. It is a handy case for both customized water cooling and AIO water cooling.
Pros
- Four pre-installed 120 mm cooling fans (3 in the front and one at the back)
- Can also accommodate GPU measuring up to 360 mm
- Made from a combination of steel, plastic and tempered glass
- Weighs 23 pounds with measurements of 22×20.5×12.4 inches (HXWXD)
- The front panel features 2 USB 3.0 ports and USB 2.0 ports
- Equipped with fan speed control and audio in/out port
- Has dust filters at the top and the bottom of the case
Cons
- The glass panel is dark making it difficult to see the components inside
- The material quality of fans appear to be average
- Long hours of usage might cause loud vibrations
- Doesn’t come with screws for the motherboard
Cougar CONQUER ATX PC Case
Based on COUGAR’s excellent design DN powered by aluminum framing, the military styled case offers unique aesthetics. The innovatively designed Cougar Conquer ATX PC case features an aluminum alloy frame that mingles strength and attractive appearance.
Pros
- Made of a superior aluminum alloy frame
- Side panels are made using 5 mm thick tempered glass
- Measures 10 inches wide, 27 inches thick and 22.8 inches tall
- Accommodates 360 mm water cooling radiator at the top & 240 mm water cooling radiator in the front
- Designed to support Two 120 mm cooling fans in the front and three 120 mm cooling fans at the top
- Supports graphics card measuring 350 mm
- Enough space to support three 3.5 inch HDD and four 2.5 inch HDD
Cons
- Feet attached to the case are screwed by bolts that are sometimes flimsy
- Pricier than some other options
- Setting up the entire system requires a decent amount of time
NZXT H700i PC Case
The NZXT H700i PC Case is advanced, beautiful and smart at the same time. It comes with an intelligent device that optimizes lighting and fan performance digitally. Also, the noise reduction feature gets high marks from users.
Pros
- Very Easy to build, proper cable management, and thermals are good too
- Supports two water cooling radiators up to 360 mm
- Looks are excellent thanks to the beautiful tempered glass panel
- Adequate room to fit three 120 mm and two 140 mm fans in the front
- Accommodates three 120 mm and two 140 mm fans while the rear has space for a single 12 or 140 mm fan
- Offered in 4 color combinations and made of elegant all-steel construction
- Unique Smart Device featuring HUE+ and GRID+ V3 digital controllers that allow effortless control for RGB lighting and CAM software to control the fans
Cons
- Rough usage might leave scratches on the sides
- Could have come with a better airflow
- Long calibration process
- Requires NZXT account to use the adaptive noise reduction feature
Best Full-Tower Cases for Water Cooling
Thermaltake Level 20 Aluminum PC Case
The Thermaltake Level 20 Aluminum PC tower case offers enough space to expand like any other Thermaltake tower case. It comes with 11 diver bays and offers room to fit in 6 2.5 and 3.5-inch hard disc drives, 2 2.5 and 3.5 inch HDD with bracket and 3 HDD with brackets.
Pros
- Offers enough space for the cooling systems
- The front part supports a 360 mm radiator and a 280 mm cooling system
- Additional space to fit a 120 mm radiator and a 140 mm cooling system at the back
- The side panel is made using 4 mm tempered glass
- Black interiors and gray exteriors give it a great look
- Very strong as made from SPCC and aluminum
Cons
- Riser isn’t included
- Model lightings are somewhat confusing
- Individual parts are made using thin plastic making it feel delicate
Thermaltake View 71 PC Case
Featuring tempered glass side panels, the Thermaltake View 71 PC case allows easy access to the components inside. It has a unique drive bay design that supports 7 3.5 inch hard disc drives and as many as 10 2.5 inch HDD. This tower case supports liquid cooling very efficiently.
Pros
- Front, as well as the top part, is designed for supporting two radiators where each measure 360 mm and 420 mm respectively
- The rear can support a 120 mm cooling system along with a 140 mm radiator
- Bottom accommodates 240 mm radiator making it an excellent case for customized liquid cooling
- Enough space for expansion as it comes with ten expansion slots having four slots of 3.5 or 2.5 inch HDD coupled with six slots for 2.5 inch HDD in the hidden drive bay
Cons
- More than the required number of holes where fans are mounted
- Doesn’t have a PSU cover
- Interior design is a bit outdated
- Only comes with two fans
COUGAR PANZER MAX PC Case
The Cougar Panzer Max full-tower case has ample space to accommodate many motherboards, storage devices, and graphics cards. It has been designed for supporting over four water cooling radiators in addition to 8 cooling fans.
Pros
- Can accommodate radiators measuring 360 mm in size
- Both the front and top panels are enough to support radiators anywhere between 120 mm to 360 mm
- The rear section has the capacity of supporting 120mm radiator, and the bottom supports 140 mm cooling system
- The case is capable of accommodating six different types of motherboards and four dual slots for 390 mm graphics cards
- Additionally, space to fit in 6 storage devices
Cons
- Latches lack locking mechanism required for securing the chassis
- No added functionality or openings on the shroud
- The dust filter is on the floor so you have to tip the system over for cleanout
CORSAIR GRAPHITE 780T PC Case
Featuring the unique trailblazing design, the Corsair Graphite 780T Full-Tower PC case is characterized by huge expansion space and generous cooling mechanism. The device is built to satisfy the needs of all hardcore gamers. It has space for 9 HDD and as many as 12 large cooling fans. The case comes with easy maintenance shortcuts like tool-free removal of its side panels, graphics cards or the HDDs. It also features a three-speed fan control button along with other handy options for its external connections at the front panel.
Pros
- Space to accommodate 360 mm radiators that may be placed in the front or the top
- Will fit small radiators measuring up to 240 and 140 mm
- In addition to water-cooling systems, it features the dual 140 mm fans and a 140 mm exhaust fan promoting easy airflow
- Latched side panels offer easy access to the internal components
- Multiple ports in the front facilitate easy device management
- The three steps LED gauge guides users about optimal cooling and noise
Cons
- Somewhat inconvenient cable-management
- Smaller area for HDD trays to play
- Lacks USB 3.0 to 2.0 adaptor
- No Internal Lighting
Be Quiet! Dark Base PRO 900 PC Case
Flexible and silent, the Dark Base Pro 900 PC Case is excellent for gamers with high standards concerning design, compatibility, and modularity. It comes with a motherboard tray and HDD slots having enhanced possibilities. With features like 3 Silent Wings 3 PWM fans, stepless dual-rail fan controller, capacity to accommodate radiators measuring 420 mm, etc. this is certainly a performer.
Pros
- Relocatable motherboard tray makes it adjustable for three different heights
- Fully compatible with XL-ATX and E-ATX motherboards
- Three pre-installed silent wings facilitate the quiet operation
- Modular HDD slots support 5 HDDs, two optical drivers, and 10 SSDs
- Functional PSU Shroud offers the option to hide PSU thanks to the detachable cover plates
- Full Circuit Airflow system smooth meets the extreme requirements of overclocked systems
- 8 PWM fan connectors divided over two rails with switchable modes creates separate cooling zones
- Fitted with elegant fully windowed side panels made from tinted and tempered glass
- LED illumination features six switchable colors making it easy to locate LED strips inside the case
Cons
- PSU Mounting is somewhat odd looking
- Lacks additional filtering while using the 3rd front fan
- Has lesser HDD cages than the original 900 Pro
Best Super-Tower Cases for Liquid Cooling
CORSAIR OBSIDIAN 1000D PC Case
Weighing 65 pounds, the Corsair Obsidian 1000D is a massive case that never fails to impress users. It provides ample space for multiple cooling options. As many as 18 fan mounts in addition to four 480 mm radiators can be accommodated comfortably.
Pros
- Two radiator mounts can be fitted in the front ranging anywhere between 120 to 480 mm
- Back of the case can hold a single 240 mm or 120 mm radiator, while its top has space for a single 140 or 420 mm water cooling system
- Comes with built-in control for both fan and lighting
- Super-easy installation of fans and radiators thanks to the telescoping radiator trays
- Expanding the build is not difficult as it supports as many as five 3.5 inch HDDs along with six SSDs
Cons
- Made of average quality materials making it vulnerable to breakage
- The noise level on more prolonged use can be more than expected levels
Thermaltake Tower 900 PC Case
Last in this list is the Thermaltake Tower 900 that is made using thick tempered glasses besides offering superior expansion capacity. The device comes with a modular design that is very easy to dismantle allowing you to build the entire system from scratch using the integrated panels, racks, mounting arrays, and brackets.
Pros
- Unparalleled cooling due to the capacity of featuring dual 560 mm liquid cooling radiators
- Multiple mounting points on both sides of the case providing ample space and placement options
- Features the modular drive bay design allowing the users to easily install a single 5.25 inch HDD, six 2.5 or 3.5 HDDs and two 2.5 inch HDDs.
Cons
- Slightly heavy for some people to lift
- More expensive than some other options
- Made of average quality materials
Verdict
With so many different options, each with their own positives and negatives, we hope that our reviews made it easier for you to create a shortlist – and ultimately find the best liquid cooling case for your unique needs. Once it’s set up, you’ll find that your PC performs better than ever.