It’s not every year that the two biggest chip manufacturers in the world, Intel and AMD, release a new line of processors. In 2011 gamers everywhere are scrambling in order to incorporate the latest in PC innovation and technology so that they can easily play new release games like Battlefield 3, Gears of War 3, Elder Scrolls V, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.
It’s a fact, maintaining proper air temperature for your computer’s internal components makes them perform more efficiently and last longer. For those looking to build a new custom gaming pc in 2011 we’ve put together a list of the top rated and bestselling PC cases of the 2011. Cases were rated given data from various manufacturer sites along with feedback and data we’ve received. Rating is as of July 1, 2011.
Top Gaming PC Cases 2011 – 2012
| Brand / Model Number | Price | Product Description / Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Cooler Master HAF 912 Mid Tower ATX Case (RC-912-KKN1) | Material: SECC/ ABS Plastic, bottom-mounted PSU, 4 x 5.25" external, 6 x internal 3.5", 7+1 expansion slots, Front I/O: 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Audio, 1 x Speakers, 1 x 120 mm front fan, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA, 1 x 120 mm rear fan, 1200 RPM, 17 dBA. Comes with a standard 2 year parts and labor warranty. | |
| Cooler Master HAF X Full Tower w/ SuperSpeed USB 3.0 w/ Window w/ Black Interior ATX Case (RC-942-KKN1) | The Haf X Full Tower is the flagship of Cooler Master's HAF or high air flow series. Features include a GPU air duct with fan for SLI cooling, Rugged black coated interior, Spacious interior for larger component parts, Advanced cable management with rubber grommets, Power supply partition to conceal cables, Adjustable VGA card holder to support heavier GPU cards, 9 slots support 3-way and 4-way SLI, and Quad CrossfireX, Up to 1 x 230 mm red LED fan and 3 x 200 mm fans, Air duct to cool the latest graphic cards, USB 3.0 on front I/O panel, and SATA Dock for easy installation without the need of removing side panel. Comes with Front: 230 x 30 mm red LED on/off fan x 1, Side: 200 x 30 mm fan x 1, Rear: 140 x 25 mm fan x 1, and has optional Top: 200 x 30 mm fan x 2, VGA Fan Duct: 120 x 25 mm or 120 x 38 mm fan x 1, and VGA Holder: 80 x 15 mm fan x 1. The power supply is bottom mounted. | |
| Corsair CC600TWM-WHT Special Edition Graphite Series 600T Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case - White | User-swappable side panel window or mesh insert housing up to four 120mm fans Optimize airflow and keep your system neat and tidy using the intelligent cable management system. Front panel includes USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Headphone, Mic, and a four-channel fan controller. Install or upgrade your CPU heatsink quickly with the easy-access backplate cutout. Keep your system cool with the dual 200mm fans and rear 120mm fan Access your hardware faster than ever with easy side panel removal. Built-in compatibility for SSDs in the six hard drive bays gives you the flexibility you need. Easily accessible dust filters keep the cool air flowing over your valuable components. |
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| Corsair Obsidian 650D Aluminum Mid Tower ATX Enthusiast Computer Case - Black CC650DW-1 | Material: Steel, bottom-mounted PSU, 4 external 5.25", 6 internal 3.5", 8 expansion, Front I/O; USB 2.0 x 2, USB 3.0 x 2, IEEE 1394 x 1, Headphone x 1, Mic x 1, 4-channel Fan Controller; 1 x 120mm Fan, 2 x 200mm Fans and includes a 2 year parts and labor warranty. | |
| Cooler Master Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP No PS Mid Tower Case | Case Material: Steel / Plastic, 5 external 5.25", 5 internal 3.5", 7 expansion slots, Front I/O Ports; USB 2.0 / Audio / e-SATA; 1 x 120mm Red LED rear Fan, 1 x 140mm Red LED front Fan, 1 x 140mm top fan, and includes a 1 year parts and labor warranty from Cooler Master. | |
| GAMMA Classic Series ATX Mid Tower Interior Steel Chassis | This inexpensive case from Gamma has 6 fan capability and includes one rear 120mm fan. Punch holes for the motherboard for quick installation. Designed to fit long GPU (10.5 inch). | |
| Cooler Master Elite Mid Tower Case, RC-310-BWN1-GP (Blue) | Available in blue, orange, red, and silver the Cooler Master Elite Mid-tower case accomodates both ATX and micro ATX motherboards. Specifications include Drive Bays: 11External Bay: 4x 5.25", 1x 3.5", 7 expansion slots, Internal Bay: 6x 3.5", Front I/O Panel: 2x USB 2.0 Ports; 1x Audio(Support HD Audio); 1x Mic; and Optional 1x IEEE 1394. Comes with 1x 120x25mm 1200rpm 17dBA Rear Fan. | |
| Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Full Tower Case with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 - (RC-932-KKN5-GP) | Key Features for the Haf 932 include a rugged case for protection of high-end peripherals, equipped for unparalleled cooling performance, finger-press buttons for quickly maintaining or upgrading 5.25 inch drive devices, two SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connectors at the front, Removable HDD racks and cable management system for better cable routing and neatness important for air management and overall performance, 5 internal bays, and 7 front accessible bays. | |
| Antec Three Hundred Gaming Case External 3 X 5.25; Internal 6 X 3.5 2*Usb2.0 | The Antec Three hundred is a high performance enclosure built with gaming enthusiasts in mind. This versatile mid-tower case is large enough to house even the largest of video cards, up to six hard drives and three optical drives. Three-speed, top and bottom fans, a washable air filter, a perforated front bezel, and the option for three additional fans that will help keep your system cool and dust-free. | |
| Cooler Master HAF ATX Mid Tower Case, RC-922M-KKN1-GP (Black) | This mid tower case from Cooler Master gives you incredible cooling options by allowing top to bottom 7 cooling fans (up to 3 200 x30mm fans). You also get ruggedly strong protection and the same easy installation features that you get with the full-sized Cooler Master Haf 932 Tower case. | |
| Antec Nine Hundred Steel ATX Ultimate Gamer PC Case (Black) | Antec is a favorite among gamers for PC builds and the Nine Hundred is one of Antec's bestselling Gamer PC cases. It comes with a unique Top mounted 200mm TriCool exhaust fan to cool even the hottest system. The bezel in the front is perforated for additional air take, comes with Two front loaded HDD cages for up to 6 hard disk drives, HDD cages act as air ducts to take air in more efficiently. An Optional middle 120mm fan bracket is available to cool the hottest graphic cards or CPU, and it comes with Two more120mm TriCool blue LED front fans to cool hard disk drives. The power supply is mounted on the bottom in order to accommodate the large top fan. | |
| Cooler Master Elite 360 RC-360-KKN1-GP ATX Mid Tower/Desktop Case (Black) | The Elite 360 is another great mid-tower option which can accommodate ATX or Micro atx motherboards. Option of adding 80mm bottom and rear fans, 120mm top and side fan. | |
| Antec Sonata III 500 Quiet Super Mid Tower ATX Case (Black) | The Sonata is a super quiet case which features metal double hinge doors which open up to 225 degrees. Its constructed from .8mm cold rolled steel to give it maximum durability. The Sonata II also comes with a washable air filter to help you keep the dust out and the cool air in. Additional features include front-mounted USB, eSATA, HDA, and AC'97 audio in and out ports. | |
| NZXT Crafted Series ATX Full Tower Steel Chassis - Phantom White | Immense Performance: 7 fan capability (Front fan 1x140mm, Top 2x200mm fan, Side 1x200mm and 2x120mm, rear 1x120mm) Maximum Compatibility: Large Heat sinks, Graphics card support 350mm, and E-ATX support Large Expandability: Space for 7 hard drives and five 5.25 bays Five 20W per Channel fan control totaling 100W Cooling Sytems: Front 1x140mm, Side 1x200mm, 2x120mm (included), Rear 1x120mm (included), Top 2x200mm (1xBlue Led 200mm included) |
Overall we like the affordability of the NZXT and Cooler Master Elite and the super cooling options of the HAF ATX series. Antec continues to provide some of the best gamer-designed cases and cooling options available.
We hope you found what you were looking for. If you’ve come across a case that you believe should be in our top 10 gaming pc cases list, then leave us a comment below. If you didn’t find what you were looking for, then here’s another great article featuring the 50 best gaming pc cases for 2011 – 2012.