Building a custom PC is fun, and you can multiply the fun by 100% if you know the nitty-gritty of PC cases. There are several types of PC cases you will find on the market. Suppose you need a case with a small size to avoid issues with installation and storage restraints. Horizontal PC cases are more fashionable for the job, and this article will lead you to the exact information for winning the best horizontal PC cases.
Finding the one case that suits your style, usage, and room decor, is a serious question. However, it would help if you were relaxed because you landed on the page that will introduce you to the world-class five picks strongly recommended by the experts. And I didn’t limit myself to the recommendations only but went through all the necessary tests and trials. I’ll help you with the finest decision making with no regrets and zero risks. So, let’s dive into the details below.
- Cooler Master HAF XB EVO Box
- SilverStone Technology Grandia Series
- Cooler MasterFrame 700
- Fractal Design Node 202
- SilverStone Technology GD09B-x
- Comparison Amongst the Best Horizontal PC Cases
- Buying Guide for the Horizontal Motherboard Case
5 Best Horizontal Gaming PC Cases in 2023
There are many options available in the market when I search for the best horizontal PC cases. Some have compact build with less space for extra bays and cooling, while some have plenty of space to set both cooling options.
However, for better liquid cooling, you may consider the best cases for water cooling. I have selected the top 5 sideway cases after personal usage experience you can trust to select your best horizontal PC case 2023.
1) Cooler Master HAF XB EVO Box Desktop Computer Case
Motherboard compatibility: ATX
Case type: Mini tower
Cooling method: Water
Material: Alloy steel
Hard disk form factor: 3.5 inches
Expansion slots: 7
USB ports: 2
I rate the Cooler Master HAF XB EVO Box Desktop Computer Case on top of all orders because of its unique features, such as flexible expansion options of up to 7, more storage capacity, and durable cooling solutions. It is super easy to use, and you can mount components without pro knowledge. Price is economical, and quality is top-notch.
Flexible Expansion Options with Max Storage
It is a part of a revolutionary series of cases by the manufacturer, and this newest model has flexible expansion options to get max devices in usage. You can also increase the capacity of storage seamlessly. Moreover, the top and front of the case are attractive, and you get nothing to question.
Durable Cooling Solutions and Super Easy to Use
The case’s cooling is so impressive, and you get around 7 fans on board to get the heating objects down. My team and I have been working closely with PC cases, and this horizontal PC case has most things in it that you crave. Above all, it is straightforward to use, and you can mount components with no potential hazard.
Premium Quality Material for Long Lasting
The material of making is another thing that I like in this case. Alloy steel is one of the most popular and dependable materials nowadays. It gives you the max return for your money, and you feel blessed to touch it for the first time because of its smooth and luxurious body. I found it one of the best horizontal PC cases for all potential reasons.
Positive
- One of the best performance delivery horizontal PC case
- It has multiple expansion slots
- It offers great reliable and dependable body
- The price range is very low
- It is a premium-quality case
Negative
- The aesthetics need to be improved
2) SilverStone Technology Grandia Series Aluminum HTPC Computer Case
Motherboard compatibility: ATX
Colour: Black
Cooling method: Air
Material: Aluminium
Hard disk form factor: 3.5 inches, 2.5 inches
Expansion slots: 8
USB ports: 2
When you have a bunch of the best horizontal PC cases to test, but don’t have enough time and money, the SilverStone Technology Grandia Series Aluminum HTPC Computer Case can save you from both ends. It is an ultra-compact case with a spacious room. It supports max expansion cards and positive air pressure for maximum cooling.
Ultra Compact Case with Spacious Room
It is the pinnacle of the spacious room, and you get it with a compact design. It can handle full-size components with super ease, and you need not worry about the PC size because you can fix it in your living room, gaming room, or wherever you want.
Supports Max Expansion Cards at A Small Price Range
It supports the number of expansion cards at a small price and what else a user can ask for when they get to save money with a quality product. It has some packaging issues, but you can ignore them easily. The interior has a soft wall to protect the case to the max.
Positive Air Pressure for the Ultimate Cooling
The air pressure is positive and takes excellent care of heating hazards. It gets the heat out of the case by using exhaust and other fans to help you get fresh air to the interior. Components can work optimally in a moderate environment, and you get the best return for the investment you spend on it.
Positive
- It submits multiple slots for storage devices
- The cooling method is superb
- Expansion slots are good enough to handle max number of devices on board
- It is an economical pick for all types of users
Negatives
- The manufacturer should provide more options for the colour scheme
3) Cooler MasterFrame 700 Open-Air ATX PC Case
Motherboard compatibility: ATX x2
Colour: Black
Cooling method: Water
Material: Tempered glass
Hard disk form factor: 3.5 inches
Expansion slots: 4
USB ports: 2
The Cooler Master MasterFrame, 700 Custom Test Bench/Open-Air ATX PC Case, is undoubtedly one of the best horizontal PC cases. I conducted tests and found it furnishes the best cooling support. It has an open-air design, and solid making material extends the life of the case. Moreover, it gives unlimited hardware support.
Test Bench Mode with Extra Cooling Support
You can lay it down on the desk or the floor. It gives you a feel of a test bench. It provides your component with an excellent living room and shows the user. Moreover, tempered glass is making material that gives the best view of the interior.
Open Air Design and Solid-Making Material
It has an open-air design with solid making material and a transparent view. It has quick-access filters to clean them quickly for the max airflow. The ventilation system is also suitable for turning things in your PC’s favor. Moreover, you get a considerable warranty backup to feel secure while buying and using it.
Unbeatable Hardware Support
The hardware support of this PC case is so good and strong. You get the ultimate clearance, and the other is no compatibility issue that can impede your way of gaining the max out of your PC. I found it a gentle piece of cover for your PC’s components.
Positive
- It provides you with quick-access filters
- Ventilation system is good enough to impress you
- The design is smart and intelligent
- The aesthetics are so beautiful
Negative
- PSU capacity needs to be reviewed
4) Fractal Design Node 202 Black Mini-ITX Computer Case
Motherboard compatibility: Mini ITX
Colour: Black
Cooling method: Air
Material: Alloy steel
Hard disk form factor: 3.5 inches
Expansion slots: 4
USB ports: 2
There are numerous best horizontal PC cases in the market, but the Fractal Design Node 202 Black Mini-ITX Computer Case is unique and valuable. It has a sleek design with dust free interior. Versatility and expansion options are the key reasons I picked them up. Compatibility and clearance are super good, and the price is low.
Sleek and Elegant Design with Dust Free Interior
It has a sleek design with intelligent edge-to-edge compactness. I found it state-of-the-art product in horizontal PC cases. The one thing I liked most, in this case, is its dust-free interior. The pattern of the net on the face of the filters is so good. It extends the life of the components hugely.
Versatile Case with Multiple Slots for Expansion
It is a versatile case with multiple slots for expansion, allowing you to get the necessary devices on board. You can also increase the storage capacity you need, and I bet you will find it a fantastic tool to hold your PC components tightly and safely.
Premium Compatibility and Thermal Design
Usually, PC cases have compatibility issues, and you’re fortunate enough to land in this section as this case is 100% Clear to provide you with hardware support and compatibility with the other components. It has a thermal design with a unique body that asks for less space to serve you enormously.
Positive
- The price range is super low
- It provides you with an elegant and intelligent design
- The cooling options are good to deal with overheating
- It comes with a dust-free interior
Negative
- Expansion slots need to be increased
5) SilverStone Technology GD09B-x Home Theater Computer Case
Motherboard compatibility: ATX
Colour: Black
Cooling method: Air
Material: Aluminium
Hard disk form factor: 3.5 inches
Expansion slots: 7
USB ports: 2
I found the SilverStone Technology GD09B-x Home Theater Computer Case a complete cover for all the needs you anticipate from any of the best horizontal PC cases. It has 7 expansion card slots and air vents with multiple fans, leaving a good mark for safe usage. The design is unique, and the price is comparatively low. Let’s find the details below.
7 Expansion Card Slots and Easy to Use Functionality
When the user gets seven expansion card slots, and the process of using the case is simple and sound, it is true bliss. The moment unboxed it; it left a strong mark on my mind to believe in its authenticity, reliability, and powers.
Air Vents with Multiple Fans for Cooling
Air vents with multiple fans can create an excellent room to avoid heat and to get fresh and healthy air for the components. You can also make changes in the placement of the fans, and there is nothing significant I found that could stop me from picking it up.
Multi-Purpose Mounts with Unique Design
It has multi-purpose mounts with a unique design. You can connect the diverse components, and with the help of software, you can have the max control of the PC. It is black with an aluminum body to serve your gaming, content creation, and other assignments for the years to come. It styles your life and makes you a pro user.
Positive
- It submits a spacious interior room
- The design is so attractive and useful
- It takes good care of your budget lines
- The cooling solutions are good to boost the performance
Negative
- Finishing needs to be improved a bit more
Comparison Amongst the Best Horizontal PC Cases
| Specs | Cooler Master HAF XB EVO | SilverStone Technology Grandia Series | Cooler Master MasterFrame 700 Custom | Fractal Design Node 202 Black | SilverStone Technology GD09B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motherboard compatibility | ATX | ATX | ATX x2 | Mini ITX | ATX |
| Cooling method | Water | Air | Water | Air | Air |
| Material | Alloy steel | Aluminum | Tempered glass | Alloy steel | Aluminum |
| Hard disk form factor | 3.5 inches | 3.5 inches, 2.5 inches | 3.5 inches | 3.5 inches | 3.5 inches |
| Expansion slots | 7 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| USB ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Buying Guide for the Horizontal Motherboard Case
It is important to buy a good PC case as it is responsible for the performance of the internal components and overall build. Do you know how to buy the best horizontal PC cases for your computer. Don’t worry, we are here to help you to buy the best horizontal motherboard PC case. This buyer’s guide will enable you to know what is important for selecting your computer case.
Horizontal Vs Vertical:
We can discuss all day about horizontal vs vertical pc case difference. Normally there are two types of orientation available: one is vertical, and the second is horizontal. Orientation doesn’t matter much for some people, but design and orientation are a must when buying the PC case.
Both of the cases have equal performance and features. But the horizontal cases are very popular among the users as they occupy less space and look beautiful. You may go for any type of orientation you like to use s there is no evident orientation effect on the performance.
Durability in Build Quality:
The second thing that matters a lot when buying a PC case is the build quality. Build quality means that how durable is the PC case. The chassis, mostly made from good material, protects the motherboards, graphics card, and other expensive components quite well.
You should go for only those PC cases with a strong frame to last longer. All the PC cases included in our list are good quality and sturdy material with a great build.
Dimensions of Case:
The size of the PC case only depends on the hardware requirements, so choose that one that meets all the requirements. The motherboards have different specifications and sizes, so the PC cases need to match the specific motherboard sizes.
That’s why you may go for a full tower, mid-tower, and mini ITX cases that are more common. Horizontal cases may give you extra options for standard ATX, micro ATX, Mini ITX, E ATX, etc.
Ease of Installation:
Since old time screws are the main tools for the installation, but in the modern age, there is no need for any screw as the manufacturers switched to tool-free design. Now you can set all the PC components without screwing anything.
There are many other benefits of the best horizontal PC cases. They have a tool-free design that you can easily disassemble anytime by yourself without any special tool or needing an expert to use their specialized tools to make changes in the setup.
Cable Management:
Cables are the most important part of any horizontal ATX case as they connect the components to the motherboard. There are many cables to deal with, which you need to connect from the motherboard to the GPU, drives, and other components.
Sometimes assembling the cables becomes a difficult task if you do not have a proper place for them. A spacious PC case can solve this problem very well. So, choose that case that has enough space to keep the cables intact and properly managed.
The proper assembling of the cables is very important because it gives a clean look and saves them from any damage. There are tie points and even amazing chambers to hide the wiring in some of the PC cases.
Drive Bays:
The number of the drive bays is all about the matter of personal preference. It depends upon how many and what kind of drives you want to use with it. The PC cases which we have reviewed in the list have different drive bay options. So, it only relies on your decision while buying the right case for your motherboard.
Now, all of the latest models of ATX computer cases have drive bays, making the process easy for the placements. These drive bays are perfectly matchable with 2.5-inch, 3.5-inch, and 5.25-inch drives.
However, there are some models which have extra space for HDD/SSD. If you want to increase the ability and features of your case, then investing in a spacious and pricier case can work for most users.
Airflow System:
Good airflow for the PC case is an essential thing. In a horizontal mini ITX case, the airflow can get restricted due to the compact design of the case.
Make sure that before making a purchase that your PC case doesn’t restrict the airflow in any case so that your system remains cool and performs well during playing games without interruption.
Aesthetics:
Everyone wants a PC case that looks beautiful in design. There is a large range of horizontal PC cases available in the market which offer attractive designs. Find out the tempered glass sides as they look stunning while you start them for gaming. You may set for RGB lighting options if you need a gaming-centric look.
These PC cases are in different price ranges. When you want to buy a horizontal case, you may look first for your budget. We try our best to cover horizontal motherboard cases for every budget. It is up to you to find the case that meets all the requirements and matches your budget.
There is a broad range of PC cases starting from $100 and may go more than $500 or more depending on the features. The price range may vary with cooling features, the gaming rig, and the capabilities you want.
Among the best horizontal PC cases, there are plenty of decent options. Your buying decision can get affected by the features you want and product pricing. All the cases offer diverse features with good overall performance.
BEST ONE RECOMMENDATION
If you have no budget limitation and want some solid horizontal PC case for all-around needs, Cooler Master HAF XB EVO Horizontal Gaming PC Case fits well. During our testing, we found this case an excellent choice for gaming and graphics-intensive use. It fit well for everyone due to better airflow, storage options, and good cable management.
ATX cases that reside parallel to the table or ground are known as horizontal PC cases. They are best for users who need a small place. Aesthetically they look excellent according to the room environment. They also give a clean look and have sufficient space inside them with the good build quality.
There is not even any problem with the placement of the computer while lying on its side. You can convert the tower case to horizontal without any problem. But you may face a problem when you want to insert a disc into the computer while it is sideways. It is better to select the best horizontal PC case if you want to put them horizontally.
Airflow matters more than the orientation of the cooling system. For most cooling systems, either fan or liquid cooling, orientation does not matter much. You only need to ensure that there is no blockage or extra pressure on the liquid cooling pipes.
The size of the best horizontal PC cases depends on the motherboard. A huge E-ATX card takes up a lot of space for the large PC, so a large space is required. These large cases can handle all sizes of components. If you want to go with a smaller motherboard, you can choose a compact horizontal PC for a sleek look.
