New and Used PC Cases | Best Computer Cases for Gaming

A PC Case, also often referred to as a PC chassis, is the thing that holds the motherboard along with all other necessary elements that a PC needs. No more than a couple of decades ago, computers used to come in a couple of standard sizes with exceptions being very rare. Nowadays, as the popularity of building your own computer is through the roof, there are plenty of cool PC cases that you can choose from. Coming in different shapes, sizes, and colours, the chassis is no longer only a box to hold computer components, it is also an accessory that makes you smile whenever you turn on the PC that you built yourself!

PC Case Sizes

Computer cases are usually categorized according to their size, or more specifically, the size of the motherboard they can house. Choosing the right size is crucial, so when getting a PC case, make sure you will be able to fit the motherboard you plan to use inside.

• Mini-ITX cases fit a motherboard 6.75 x 6.75 inches big;
• A Micro-ATX case will support a motherboard measuring 9.63 x 9.63 inches or smaller;
• An ATX case, by far the most popular, can hold a motherboard up to 12 inches long and 9.63 inches wide;
• XL/EATX cases can hold motherboards up to 12 inches long and 13 inches wide.

Just because a case is capable of fitting a large motherboard, it does not mean that you have to max out on its size, you can always go smaller. However, you can never fit a larger motherboard than a case is made to hold.

You may also come across other terminology to describe the size and shape of PC cases, the most common ones are:

• SFF (small form factor) – tiny cases used to fit Micro-ATX or even smaller motherboards;
• Desktop cases have a horizontal design and monitors are usually placed on top of them;
• Mini-Tower, Mid-Tower and Full-Tower are all vertical, tower-like designs that most users are familiar with, with each being bigger than the other in the order mentioned here.

Knowing the size of the case that you need is essential, once you have that figured out, the fun can begin. Choose a case that fits your budget as well as your needs and start building that PC you have been dreaming of!