Best Open PC Case Options For 2023

Pros

• Clean, simple design and construction.
• Vertical mount for GPU display.
• Excellent custom water-cooling support.

Cons

• GPU riser sold separately.

The Thermaltake Core series of Open PC cases more or less dominate the market. As a matter of fact, there will be more than one Thermaltake series that will be brought up for this open case list.

This variant, tagged as one of the simplest versions, has several price points, several colors to choose from. It also has a handful of customization and opens when it comes to things like chassis materials, window materials, overall construction and more.

The P3 is an excellent starting point for those looking to get into the Open Frame game without breaking the bank. It is reliable, easy to deal with, and offers a competitive price in comparison to its tempered glass case counterparts.

The vertical riser for the GPU is a nice addition to this open computer case and will help to display your graphical horsepower in all its glory.

COUGAR Conquer

Pros

• Professionally-machined.
• Excellent build quality.
• Sharp, premium design.
• Tempered glass window.

Cons

• Expensive.

The Conquer by COUGAR is a mean, aggressive and sharp Open PC case. The corners are pronounced, the design is confrontational and the entire thing makes you want to stare.

Heck, even the COUGAR badge on the front of the case is made to resemble Lamborghini, who is known for the same traits in their supercars. If you’re looking to make your build look like a supercar, you can’t go wrong with the Conquer Open Air PC case.

The machined panels, the automotive paint job, the GPU riser, the presentation… It’s all there, and it’s amazing and impressive to show off your hardware.

Be prepared to spend a pretty penny on it, however,  as it doubles the price of many open PC case available in the market. But hey, it looks cool!

Pros

• Additional panels versus P3.
• Tempered glass.
• Cleaner interior wall, and design.

Cons

• Expensive.

Again, it wouldn’t be an Open PC case list without multiple Thermaltake Core cases.

That’s for a very good reason, too: they have Open Frame PC case options at everywhere from $90 to $250. Stepping things up to the max, we have the Core P5 Tempered Glass edition.

The mounting wall has been cleaned up and organized, there’s now tempered glass involved, and you’re getting a few more panels out of the box. Specifically, one for the front and one for the top.

These panels should have alleviated much of your spillage and dust concerns, but of course, your mileage is going to vary widely.

This open computer case is excellently-crafted with an excellent design, sturdy feet, great glass and an overall great design not unlike the P3.

Pros

• Easy Installation.
• Open air case with handles.
• Reliable water cooling.

Cons

• Cable management.
• Bigger than any test benches so it may take up more space.

Who says test benches are plain and inferior than the tradeshow level builds, design wise? This piece of Open Frame PC case satisfactorily provides what test benches should offer while not slacking off on aesthetics and practicality.

If you are a person who loves completely open setup, easy-to-deal-with parts, offers considerable cable management system (for an open test bench that is), and  with reliable water cooling capabilities, this one's for you. Moreover, this open frame computer case comes in twenty different color combinations which is a huge plus!

Pros

• Tempered Glass panel.
• Mini ITX form factor.
• Affordable.

Cons

• None.

The P1 comes in our list as a unique Open PC case product. Not only is It a niche Open Frame computer case, but it’s also Mini ITX, which is a form factor that you don’t really see much of.

At least, not in regards to unique cases. There’s very little to be said here that hasn’t already been said about its bigger brothers.

It’s an excellent frame, it’s got a great design, and this one especially comes in at a wonderful price when compared to other tempered glass Mini ITX open air PC cases. If you’re looking into the P3 or P5 but you feel you need a smaller footprint for your build, look no further!

Pros

• The holy grail for custom water-cooling.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Massive and will definitely take up lots of space.

Ah, the P7 from Thermaltake’s Core lineup. This open computer case… well, it harkens back to times of gone when computers would consume entire floors of buildings.

This Open Frame PC case is massive and you would need to dedicate a considerable amount of space for it. Essentially, this is a Core P5 which is flanked on either side by two additional… walls, almost.

These additional panels are to be used for mounting water-cooling hardware, like radiators, reservoirs, and pumps. The walls are filtered to allow airflow and roughly double tie overall width of the chassis.

This model is like the perfect candidate to be mounted on the wall, but unfortunately, by doing so, you’d suffocate the additional panels for air if you mount anything onto them.

Pros

• Lightweight.
• Good starter case.
• Quiet fans.
• Good cable management.

Cons

• Plastic window.
• No replacement parts.

Modern-looking, sleek and lightweight, this PC case is one of the best starter cases you can find. It is also affordable and will give inexperienced PC builders less problems when it comes to cable management.

 Consequently, this white PC case has just the right size, not too big nor too small. You will also be surprised that despite its size, this PC frame comes with a cooling fan. However, for more effective and efficient cable management, this open-frame PC calls for a modular power supply.

The only problem you can encounter for this item is the plastic transparent window which is more susceptible to scratches and damages because of its quality. But all in all, the white PC open frame case will do well on your first PC DIY build.