Airflow cases

Airflow cases are mid tower PC cases with a mesh or heavily ventilated front panel, designed to pull cool air across the CPU and graphics card. They suit gaming and workstation builds that run hot. Our range covers over 80 models from Corsair, Fractal Design, Montech, Thermaltake and Deepcool, mostly in black, with some white options.

How to choose an airflow case

Motherboard support. Most airflow cases in our range take ATX, micro ATX and Mini-ITX boards. A few also accept EATX or CEB, which matters only if you are building on a large workstation board. Check the exact list before buying, as it differs between models.

Fan positions and radiators. Most cases list a 120 mm rear fan position, and some also accept 140 mm. Look at how many fans are included, because a case with two or three front fans already fitted saves you buying them separately. If you plan to fit a liquid cooler, check which radiator sizes the front, top and roof can take.

Graphics card and CPU cooler clearance. Long, thick graphics cards and tall air coolers are the usual reasons a build does not fit. Compare the maximum card length and cooler height in the case specification with the dimensions of your parts. Many cases have 7 expansion slots, which gives room for the bigger cards.

Storage bays. Modern builds often use M.2 drives on the motherboard, so bays matter less than they used to. Cases in our range typically offer 1 or 2 bays for 3.5 inch drives and between 2 and 6 for 2.5 inch drives. Count what you actually need for bulk storage before choosing.

Dust and noise. An open mesh front lets in more dust, so look for removable dust filters that you can clean easily. Mesh panels also let more fan noise out than a solid front. If a quiet PC matters to you, choose a case with good filtering and fit larger, slower fans.

Airflow case brands we carry

• Corsair: known for the 4000D Airflow, a popular mesh-fronted mid tower, and for its iCUE ecosystem of lighting and fan control.
• Fractal Design: a Swedish brand known for clean Scandinavian styling, with the Meshify series built around a angular mesh front.
• Montech: focused on mesh-fronted cases that often come with several fans in the box.
• Thermaltake: a long-established case maker with a large catalogue, including many tempered glass designs.
• Deepcool: also a major CPU cooler manufacturer, so its cases are designed with cooler and radiator fitment in mind.
• NZXT: known for tidy cable management and its H series cases.
• Cooler Master: its HAF line made high-airflow cases well known among enthusiasts.
• MSI: best known for motherboards and graphics cards, which makes its cases an easy match for an MSI build.
• ADATA: known for memory and SSDs, and sells gaming cases under its XPG line.

Also in our range: Endorfy, GAMDIAS and Darkflash.

Airflow case FAQ

What is an airflow case?

An airflow case is a PC case with a perforated or mesh front panel that lets fans draw in air with little resistance. The air passes over the components and leaves through the rear and top. This usually keeps the CPU and graphics card cooler than in a case with a solid front.

Are airflow cases louder than other cases?

They can be, because the open front lets more fan noise escape. The difference depends on the fans and how hard your components work. Larger fans running at lower speeds help keep an airflow case quiet.

Which motherboard sizes fit an airflow mid tower?

Most mid tower airflow cases fit ATX, micro ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards. Some models also take EATX or CEB boards. The specification of each case lists the supported sizes, so check it against your motherboard.

How many fans does an airflow case need?

Two intake fans at the front and one exhaust fan at the rear is a common starting point. A top exhaust fan helps if you run a powerful graphics card. Many cases arrive with some of these fans already installed, so check how many are included.