Graphics cards are better than ever before—they’re also much bigger. Take the ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 Astral OC, for example, which is 14.1” long and 5.9” thick and takes up 3.8 slots worth of expansion ports on the back of your PC case. It’s not the only behemoth out there, either. Even less power-hungry cards measure around 13 x 5.5”, taking up a significant amount of room. Considering the weight of these cards, other components, and the necessary airflow you need to cool your equipment, you could be playing a dangerous game when it comes to the overall dynamics and balance of your system. So today we are going to look at a couple of different chassis and find the best PC case for your brand-new graphics card.
First, we need to explain why a bigger case is important. Looking at dimensions and determining if something can fit is only half the battle. As it turns out, airflow is really important and so is making sure you have enough space for air to circulate efficiently. So, when we are looking at cases, we want to make sure that we pick ones that aren’t just big enough to fit your card but are also breathable to prevent heat buildup. After all, greater power draw equals more heat, and we want to prolong the lifespan of your system as much as possible.
Fractal Design North XL Case
I personally own the Fractal Design North XL case, and since I moved my components into this larger form factor, I have to say I genuinely love it. Not only is the style great with the wooden accented panels, but there is enough room on the inside to fit graphics cards up to 16.3 inches! It also is incredibly breathable thanks to the mesh front panel hiding behind the wooden slats, a mesh opening at the top, and a fully perforated back panel, which offers a ton of utility.
The front panel comes with three 140mm preinstalled fans which kickstart your cooling capabilities right off the bat. They are also placed in a position that doesn’t directly impact your available length for your GPU, which is great if you are concerned about air circulation. Although, you will need to install an exhaust fan at the rear panel, and because of the perforated design, you can easily fit a 140mm fan. If you are looking to combine style and performance, you can’t go wrong with the North XL.
Corsair FRAME 4000D RS ARGB
Designed for keeping your system cool and offering ample room for larger graphics cards, the Corsair FRAME 4000D RS ARGB is a great choice. Not only does it support graphics cards up to 16.9-inches long, but it also has an integrated graphics card holder to keep it from sagging and causing potential damage to your motherboard.
When it comes to airflow, the front panel offers a unique mesh material with three 120mm fans included. You can install fans at the top and on the back panel as well, thanks to Corsair’s InfiniRail fan mounting system. This gives you lots of potential for accelerated airflow. There is also a model that doesn’t include any fans so that you can install your own.
Antec Performance 1 FT
The Antec Performance 1 FT is an interesting case as it offers room for your larger graphics cards and ample space for fans, but it is kind of tight for a full-tower case. It can support GPUs up to 15.7-inches long, which isn’t a whole lot of extra clearance between the front of the card and the front of your case. But there is some good news, that inch or so of clearance is just enough as the fans are installed in a separate chamber consisting of space between the frontmost panel and mounting points. This gives you a clean look while also promoting positive airflow.
Perhaps one of the coolest features of the Antec Performance 1 FT is the top front panel of the case. It features an LCD display that can show you temperature information in real time with Antec’s free iUNITY software. A dedicated button allows you to switch between CPU and GPU cooling information, always giving you information when you need it the most. When you combine that with general monitoring software and hardware, you can easily obtain great performance without compromising cooling.
NZXT H7 Flow
With a breathable front panel, a multitude of fan mounting points, and enough room to install graphics cards up to 16.1-inches long, the NZXT H7 Flow is an outstanding case that promotes both function and style. This is a very basic and simple case, nothing too out of the ordinary here, which has always felt like one of the best reasons to get an NZXT case.
Front, side, and top panels can all be removed to assist with installing your components, but they also support various fan arrays and radiators. What is great is the core design of the H7, which places the power supply sideways which allows for the installation of fans on the bottom of the case. These can be equipped in either push or pull configurations. Ideally, pushing air upwards directly into your graphics card is most beneficial. This allows you to support larger form factor GPUs and keep them cool.
ASUS ROG Hyperion GR701
Want enough room for, well, everything? Fit it all inside the ASUS ROG Hyperion GR701, a massive case designed to house all of your components, including graphics cards up to 18.1” long. It also has enough room to store advanced, liquid cooling components. Some graphics cards are sold with integrated water blocks, which saves room because you don’t need the massive cooler. But it also requires a bit of finesse as you’ll be using custom piping to route the liquid as well as room to work in.
As I said, airflow is important, and the Hyperion offers a ton of it if you stick to traditional cooling methods. You get massive radiator support, giving you enough space to fit two 420mm radiators and a slew of fans, four of which are preinstalled. Most importantly, there is a built-in graphics card holder that prevents graphic card sag from affecting the rest of your build. It does come with a hefty price tag, but I will say that this is a case that will last you a long time and throughout multiple builds. There is even an included tool set to help you with the installation of your parts making this a case you buy for a lifetime rather than a case you buy for a single build.
There you have it, five of the best PC cases for large graphics cards. If you want a more in-depth look, make sure you hit the links above to see what else these cases have in store for you!
