They say you have to look good to play good and although that may not always be true – when it comes to desktop computers – performance and good looks go hand in hand. What’s the point of having a machine that puts all the latest gaming titles to shame, if you don’t have the absolute best tempered glass PC case to show it all off?
If you’re in the market for new housing for your rig, but you don’t know where to start, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! We’ve singled out some of the best cases on the market and went out of our way to carefully analyze each and every one of them, front to back, so you can make a sound decision when the time comes. Let’s get started.
Recommended reading: Best White Tempered Glass PC Case
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Best for gaming  | Best for gaming |
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Before You Buy a Tempered Glass PC Case
Before you go out and start looking for the new tempered glass chassis, there are certain things to keep in mind. First of all, you need to know what kind of PC you are actually building. Are you building a flashy, RGB-galore gaming rig? Are you going for a modest workstation for your office or a living room media system?
Why is that important? Well, you need to consider your components. Everything needs to fit nice and cozy inside a case, with enough room and clearance to keep the airflow good and the components nice and cool. Cool as in ‘not warm’ – we already know it’ll look cool through a glass panel, that’s not what we’re worried about.
What to Consider When Buying a Tempered Glass PC Case
Now that we have a general impression of what we need from a case, let’s get into some additional detail and take a look at what we should consider before buying a new one.
Size
First things first – size matters. Before you even start fantasizing about new housing, you need to be aware of your components and their form factors. Think about the motherboard, the GPU(s), fans and radiators, possibly a hard drive and definitely don’t forget about that chunk power supply you’re going to need.
In general, what you need to pay the most attention to is the motherboard form factor, as it’s obviously the central piece inside the case itself. The main motherboard sizes are ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ATX – in order from the largest down to the smallest. In general, you don’t have to worry about fitting a Mini-ATX inside of a large case, but obviously, that doesn’t work the other way around.
Now, the cases come in many different sizes, but in general, it all boils down to this.
- Full-Tower Case – It’s the big boy in the family and it’s compatible with each and every motherboard out there. To be fair, the size of this thing is meant for housing additional chunky components, like high-end GPUs, rather than bulky motherboards.
- Mid-Tower Case – This is the middle child and often the standard most regular users gravitate towards. It’s compatible with all motherboard sizes.
- Mini-Tower Case – As you can tell by the name, this is a small case. You’re not going to fit a lot inside of it, including an ATX board, but it can still pack a punch.
Tempered Glass Panels
Another thing to consider would obviously be the main feature of the case itself – the glass panel. Or even multiple glass panels if you’re into that kind of thing.
Now, the main and arguably the only feature of the glass panel is to showcase the inside of your rig. With that being said, you’d want to find one that does that in the best way possible. If you got some serious RGB in there and a new 3000 series graphics card, you don’t want a panel that focuses only on the CPU and your Trident Z RAM, right?
Other than that, panels differ in thickness, which could be important for some, but not to most. Also, various textures and tints are available, but all of that pretty much boils down to personal preference.
Radiator Support and Air Cooler Height Compatibility
Radiator Support and Air Cooler Height CompatibilityKeeping everything nice and cool is absolutely paramount, so this is definitely something you should take into consideration. Most cases come with a preinstalled fan, or a couple of them, in the front and in the back. That could be enough for a mid-tier PC, but let’s be honest, the more cooling capacity you have, you can run your fans on lower RPM and have an overall quieter system.
In situations where you need a lot of cooling power, especially for your CPU, you have to make sure there’s enough space for it inside a case. CPU coolers and heat sinks can be quite tall, so, unless you want to make an incision in the middle of your brand new tempered glass panel – think about it.
Finally, if you decide to take the thermals to the next level and use water cooling, make sure there’s a dedicated space for a radiator and the fans. Sometimes you have to go triple-fan set-up and there’s just not enough room for it and that’s a bummer. Also, keep in mind that you’ll have to fit a reservoir as well as the piping in there if you were to opt-out for water cooling.
Front Panel Connectivity
If you wanted to go port-less you’d probably buy a MacBook. In general, most PC cases have standard front panel connectors in form of a few USB ports and a headphone jack that’s not hooked up in 9 out of 10 cases.
As far as headphone and microphone jacks are concerned – they’re optional. Audiophiles don’t use them and the rest of us have gone wireless. USB ports on the other hand are still very useful. Usually, you’d find one or two USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports and as of lately we’re being greeted by the USB Type-C port right at the front panel. All of them are welcome but don’t forget that you need to connect them to the motherboard first in order for them to work.
HDMI ports can be found on the front panel, but it’s not a common sighting. We’re still waiting for the AR/VR boom. Once that happens, we can probably expect front panel HDMI connectivity more often.
Cable Management
The days of sloppy cable management are a thing of past, especially with a glass side panel. A solid case has plenty of options for cable management. Most of them have holes that allow you to route your cables underneath the motherboard and the back panel, so you can have clean looking front.
However, it’s not enough for holes just to be there, they have to be positioned properly – especially if you’re going for a lot of RGB. You need to seamlessly route the cables front the front to the back, without the back looking like a chaotic mess.
Drive Support
Finally, you have to think about storage as well. Even though SSD’s are taking over, some may still need an additional hard drive for media storage. SSDs you don’t have to worry about, they don’t take up space whatsoever, hard drives on the other hand still do. In that case, you’ll need to look for a case with designated drive bays, so you don’t have to worry about where you’ll fit you HDD.
Tips for Buying and Using a Tempered Glass PC Case
When it comes to shopping for a perfect case you have to take all of the things we’ve talked about into consideration and our tips for you would be to:
- Do thorough research and compare several different cases.
- Know what kind of rig you are building and shop accordingly.
- Find a case for your components – not the other way around.
Our Top Picks for 2022
Now that we’ve covered all of the things that you need to know before you go shopping, let’s take a look at some of the best tempered glass PC cases on the market. Keep in mind that each one of these has already been well-received and reviewed, so if you do decide to go for any of these – know that you will be satisfied.
Pros:
- Great Design
- Quality Materials And Craftsmanship
- Very Spacious
- Great Acoustic Performance
Cons:
- Comes Without Preinstalled Fans
- Quite Heavy
- Could Be Less Expensive
If you’re looking for mid-tower that can fit a water cooling system and still have plenty of room while still looking nice and clean – this just might be the case for you!
This sleek-looking mid-tower comes with two glass panels – front and side, which makes this case look absolutely gorgeous from all angles. It’s a really quality build, with steel and brushed-aluminum as build materials, which means it’s pretty sturdy and heavy at just under 10 kg. It also comes in two colors – black and white.
The front panel, the brushed-aluminum portion of it, comes equipped with 2xUSB 3.0, 1xUSB Type C, a non-labeled microphone and headphone jack and a power button. Both back, top and bottom panels are mostly perforated for better ventilation, although the case itself comes without preinstalled fans. Fan mounts are equipped with washable, magnetic dust filters, which do a pretty good job of keeping the dirt out of the case.
Lian Li O11 Dynamic is sizable enough to fit an EATX motherboard, which is great for a mid-tower. The rear panel is equipped with 8 PCI express slots, has space for 6 storage drives and we don’t know who would do this, but you even have the option to put two power supplies inside this case. Since it is pretty wide, you have more than enough room to work with, which makes this case more than suitable for large radiators (three 360mm radiators that is) and water cooling.
As far as cable management goes, it doesn’t get much better than this.
In conclusion, this case packs a serious punch. The thermals, in this case, are great, airflow and ventilation are amazing. The design of the case is impeccable, both aesthetically and ergonomically. You have more than enough room to put virtually any hardware inside it and you can even mount the GPU sideways, but that’ll cost you an extra $50 for the mounting bracket. However, this case is a bit on the heavier side if that means anything to you.
Pros:
- Great Design
- Quality Materials And Craftsmanship
- RGB Fans And Strip Included
- Great Thermal And Acoustic Performance
Cons:
- Only Two Front Panel Ports
- No Drive Caddies
- Could Be Less Expensive
If you’re looking for an elegant, minimalistic chassis with double glass panels, RGB fans, a lot of clearance and all of that for under $150 – look no further.
This is a premium housing, build from high-quality materials, steel and two tempered glass panels in a more sleek, sharp-edged, minimalist design. It comes in two colors – black and white, with the white being a far more popular option. Even with a lot of RGB, this chassis would still look elegant, rather than futuristic and over-the-top flashy.
One thing that’s not quite so good about this one is the lack of front panel ports – there are only three of them. A USB 3.1 Type A, USB Type C and an audio jack – that’s it.
The inside of it is where it gets better. You can fit any motherboard inside this mid-tower and you have enough clearance for 165mm CPU cooler, which is more than enough in most cases. There’s enough clearance to fit a 381mm long GPU, which can also be mounted vertically. On the rear side you can find 7 PCIe slots. The lower compartment houses up to two hard drives and a power supply and the back panel leaves enough space for proper cable management.
As far as thermals go, the situation is pretty good. The chassis comes equipped with two front and one rear fan, but you can replace the front fans with a 240 or 280mm radiator if you decide to switch to water cooling.
In summary, with NZXT H510 Elite, you get a well-built, good-looking case with lots of room to work with and a great thermal and acoustic performance. The only thing you could take away from this case is the lack of ports as we’ve previously mentioned and one could argue that the price of the unit is a bit high.
Pros:
- Great Design
- Quality Materials And Craftsmanship
- A Lot Of Clearance
- Great Front Panel Connectivity
- Great Acoustic And Thermal Performance
Cons:
- Comes Without Preinstalled Fans
- Bit On The Expensive Side
If you’re in the market for a tall, sleek chassis with loads of ports and clearance – this is what you’re looking for.
Another product from Lian Li that has certainly made a splash when it was first introduced. On the outside, Dynamic XL is basically a taller, bigger version of the Dynamic model, which obviously means there’s more room for cooling and storage, but there’s even more to it. It’s a quality build, as you would expect from a high-end case. The side and front panel are made out of tempered glass while the rest of the body is either steel or aluminum. Once again, it comes in two colors – black and white.
Once again, the chassis is very well vented, with air vents on all sides, with two, main, large ones on the solid side – both of which are covered with dust magnetic dust filters. On top of that, the front panel is equipped with 2xUSB 3.0 ports, a USB Type C port, a headphone and microphone jack with the additional two USB 3.0 ports at the bottom. It’s safe to say that ports won’t be an issue for this one.
Interior is easily accessed and offers a lot of room. Dynamic XL is a storage king. It can hold up to four HDD drives, as well as six SSDs – which is more than you’ll probably ever need. There’s more than enough room for fans all over this chassis, more precisely on the side and rear panel. However, once again, even though this one can fit up to 3 340mm radiators – it also comes without fans, which might be an issue for some.
In summary, this is a really quality case in every aspect, but once again, Dynamic series continues to disappoint with the lack of fans right from the box, which should be kind of given considering the price point.
Pros:
- Great Value
- Great Design
- Solid Acoustic And Thermal Performance
- Comes With 3x120mm Fans
Cons:
- Sub-par Front Panel Connectivity
- Lacks USB Type C
- Limited Cable Management Options
If you’re in the market for an affordable, well-performing and unique looking PC case – you should go with the flow.
Another mid-tower on our list, Corsair 275 Airflow comes with a unique looking front panel that also serves as a vent for two front-mounted, out-of-the-box included, 120mm intake fans. There’s not much to say about build quality or materials – everything’s pretty much standard as you would expect it by now. Once again, it comes in black and white, as you might’ve expected. One thing that might surprise you is that it comes without any RGB light strips pre-installed.
The front panel comes equipped with only two USB 3.1 ports and an audio jack. No USB Type C on this one.
The chassis comes with three out-of-the-box 120mm fans, two in the front and one in the rear, with room for three additional 120mm fans. So, you have the option to choose from 6 fans or multiple radiators (360mm front, 240mm top and 120mm rear) – that’s entirely up to you. Inside of the case leaves enough clearance for 370mm long GPU (which can also be mounted vertically, with a separately purchased adapter) as well as 170mm for CPU tower clearance. Naturally, it can fit any ATX motherboard or smaller, but that’s a given considering it’s a mid-tower. Additionally, the case houses up to two 3.5″ HDDs as well as two 2.5″ SSDs. So, from a storage and space standpoint – the case is pretty much solid as they get.
One of the drawbacks of this case, apart from lack of front side ports is somewhat mediocre cable management. The holes are somewhat off-positioned and in most cases, you end up with jammed cables under the back panel. Also, some could dislike the lack of RGB, but whether that’s a disadvantage is up for a debate.
All in all, for under $80 – it doesn’t get much better than this case.
Pros:
- Minimalist Design
- Best Value Option
- Innovative Cable Management Approach
- Great Acoustic And Thermal Performance
Cons:
- Limited Front Panel Connectivity
The H-series is widely recognized as one of the best in the PC building community and H510 is one of the highest regarded. It’s easily the best bang for the buck out there coming in under $70. Once again, it’s a mid-tower that comes in three colors – but if we’re being honest, white is the clear winner here.
The design is by far the most simplistic we’ve seen so far on our list. Other than a tempered glass side panel, the rest of the body is pretty straight-forward, maybe even too minimalist for some. The front panel is a solid piece of SGCC steel and at a first glance – you can see that the chassis doesn’t seem to have a lot of air vents, other than a narrow back panel one and the top one.
As far as ports go, it’s a pretty modest set-up. On the top of the chassis, you can find a power button, an audio jack, a single USB 3.1 and a USB Type C port and that’s it.
The H510 comes equipped with two 120mm fans, one on the roof and one in the rear of the chassis and these two perform exceptionally well, which is not what many would’ve expected. If you do want however to make a switch to water cooling – you can. However, keep in mind that with front water cooler installed – you’ll lose some GPU clearance, so that’s something to keep in mind. As far as clearance goes – it’s pretty solid for a mid-tower case. You get 381mm clearance for GPU (325 with water cooling) and a 165mm clearance for a CPU cooler – pretty standard numbers.
Now, cable management is tackled in a typical NZXT fashion, where instead of routing cables through holes, you have a cable management bar which can also double as a reservoir mounting bracket.
Pros:
- Incredible Acoustic and Thermal Performance
- Brilliant Design
- Comes With 3x120mm RGB LED Fans
- A Lot of Clearance
Cons:
- Limited Front Panel Connectivity
- Not Great for Cable Management
- Visible Power Supply
- A Bit on the Expensive Side
If you’re a gamer and you’re really looking to showcase your rig in all its RGB, tempered glass glory – this is the case for you.
With four, yes, four tempered glass panels and steel frame this one is certainly one of the most unique-looking cases we’ve covered so far. Crystal 570X is certainly a statement piece. It does come with a statement-level price, as well, at around $180 at the moment. As you’d guess, all that glass wouldn’t leave too much room for ports on the front panel – as you only get 2xUSB 3.0 and a headset and microphone jack in the front. You do have a power and reset switch and 3-button RGB controller beside, but those aren’t ports.
One of the best things about this chassis is its thermal performance. It comes equipped with 3 120mm RGB LED fans, which justifies the hefty price tag. The front panel leaves more than enough space for radiators if you want to go with water cooling, which we can’t really say for the roof mount. The inside of the chassis is fairly spacy, so there shouldn’t be any clearance issues (170mm for CPU cooler and 370mm GPU). There are two slots HDD slots alongside 2 SSD slots as well on the back side of the chassis. The rear panel is also equipped with 7 PCIe slots.
As far as cable management goes, everything’s transparent so you might want to use some good looking Velcro ties and have everything nice and tidy. But if you’re looking for something extra clean – it’s just not going to happen.
All in all, it’s a really flashy, unique looking case. The thermal performance is great, it’s quiet, it shines brighter than a diamond – what else could you want from a gaming case? Well, a couple of additional USB and USB Type C ports, but what can you do. It’s a great product nevertheless.
The Advantages of a Tempered Glass PC Case
PC’s have come a long way – both in performance and in design. It was only a matter of time before something like see-through chassis were introduced and now they’ve become a standard. But, what makes them so special? Why should anyone consider using a tempered glass chassis instead of an old fashioned one?
Well, first of all, you strike a perfect balance between great performance and great looks. Tempered glass provides a modern touch to your PC, while also providing a better working environment. Tempered glass is far more durable than plastic or aluminum and it is also been proven to be a much better noise insulator, which is really important when the fans start spinning while you’re playing some demanding game or doing some other CPU or GPU intensive task. So, to sum it all up, you get:
- Perfectly balanced performance and looks.
- A more durable PC case.
- Better noise cancellation.
FAQs About Your New Tempered Glass PC Case
Finally, we’ve decided to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. As a first-time tempered glass case owner, you might have some question or dilemmas, considering you haven’t previously dealt with chassis like these, so we’ve decided to help you.
Why Use a Tempered Glass PC Case?
As we’ve already mentioned – it’s about the looks and the performance. If you’re a PC enthusiast, you should definitely give a product like this a try.
How to Get Caution Sticker of Tempered Glass PC Case?
If the chassis comes with an ugly sticker that’s bothering you, just peel it off. If there happens to be any residue left over, you can use alcohol to wipe it off.
How To Clean Tempered Glass On PC Case?
To clean your panel, you first have to remove it and then use a mild, non-abrasive glass cleaner. You can spray it directly onto the glass or on a cleaning cloth and just wipe the glass down.
How Easily Does Tempered Glass Break On A PC Case?
Tempered glass is usually between 4 and 6mm thick and it doesn’t break or scratch easily when used regularly. You’d have to drop it do break it.
There are numerous tempered glass PC cases on the market at the moment. All of them have unique features that make them stand out from the crowd. Some are better, some are worse. In the end, it all comes down to what do you want and fits your needs.
We’ve tried and hopefully succeed to successfully present you with six chassis we deem best at their respective fields. We hope you’ve found what you were looking for in this article.