PC Cases

For most gaming PCs, checking and cleaning dust filters every few months is a good starting point. How often your PC needs cleaning depends on its environment, airflow and usage, with homes containing pets, carpets or higher levels of dust potentially requiring more frequent cleaning. Keeping filters and air intakes clear helps maintain airflow and cooling performance.

Graphics card compatibility varies considerably between PC cases. Check the case's maximum GPU length, width and slot clearance against the dimensions of your graphics card before buying. This is especially important with large high-end graphics cards such as GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 models, and when front-mounted radiators or fans reduce the available GPU space.

Mesh panels generally prioritise airflow, making them a great choice for cooling high-performance components. Tempered glass is popular for showcasing RGB lighting and internal hardware, while many modern glass cases use side, bottom or alternative intake vents to maintain good airflow. The best choice depends on the individual case design as well as whether you prioritise cooling or appearance.

A PC case can indirectly affect gaming performance through cooling and airflow. If CPU or GPU temperatures become too high, components may reduce their clock speeds to control temperatures. A well-ventilated case with correctly positioned fans helps your components maintain good operating temperatures during demanding games.

A mid-tower case typically supports standard ATX motherboards and provides enough room for most gaming PC builds. Full-tower cases are larger, offering additional space for large graphics cards, bigger radiators, more storage drives and complex cooling setups. For most gamers, a mid-tower provides the best balance of size, compatibility and expandability.

For most gaming PCs, three to five case fans provide plenty of airflow. A common setup uses two or three intake fans at the front or side and one or two exhaust fans at the rear or top. Higher-performance systems may benefit from additional cooling, but good airflow and fan placement are more important than simply adding more fans.