Many of us feel the constant urge to upgrade our PC, but getting new PC parts has been increasingly challenging lately. Whether it's due to limited launch availability, scalping of components, or the current AI boom causing memory shortages, it feels like there's always a factor preventing a purchase or upgrade at a reasonable price. The positive outlook is that not all worthwhile upgrades need to focus solely on performance. You can upgrade your monitor , peripherals like gaming keyboards , gaming mouse , speakers , or gaming chair . But one of the best and affordable ways to get your upgrade fix while feeling like you've got a new PC is to put your existing system in a new PC case.
A PC case generally lasts through more than one build, so it’s critical when choosing a new chassis that you consider what parts you have and future upgrades to larger, potentially more power-hungry components as prices drop. And while you’re changing cases, it’s a great time to reapply your thermal paste (if necessary) and do any other cheap or useful maintenance, such as blowing the dust off components. You can even upgrade your cooler; our best CPU coolers list can help you do so on the cheap, while you're at it.
Good airflow aside, a primary motivator for purchasing a new PC case is aesthetics. Modern case designs offer far more variety than a simple black box, significantly enhancing the look of your entire setup. Since cases are typically kept for a long time, choosing one you enjoy looking at is important.
In recent years, we’ve seen wood accents in cases, like the popular Fractal Design North (which made our best PC cases list), and more standard designs, like ‘fish tank’ style cases, and the increasing popularity of rear-connect-compatible chassis for the spate of back-connect motherboards we’ve seen. Are you into old-school styling? There are cases like that too, including the Thermaltake Retro 260/360 TG and Silverstone’s FLP01 and FLP02 that exude 80s and 90s PC vibes.
Fractal Design North
$139.99 at Newegg $171.99 at Amazon $217.49 at Best Buy $271.07 at antonline The Fractal Design North offers a refreshing take on the modern PC case, pairing strong airflow with a distinctive wood-slat front panel that stands apart from RGB-heavy designs. Built with Fractal’s renowned quality, it delivers both style and performance in a clean, refined form. Its intentionally minimalist look makes it an ideal choice for builders who want a powerful system that blends seamlessly into a living room or workspace rather than standing out. Pros Exceptional thermal performance
Solid 3.5-inch drive support
Gorgeous design
PWM fans
Movable fan hub
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