Best Open Air PC Case In 2022
After an open PC case? Let's take a look at the best.
For PC enthusiasts, getting the best open-air PC case could be crucial to finishing off a stunning-looking build. Open-air PC cases have been around for some time and give you a unique and complete view of your system. If used correctly, open-air PC cases can make a mundane system build look outstanding and can elevate a build in terms of creativity.
These can be the perfect types of cases to house your water cooling loop design and offer you more aesthetically than some of the best PC cases out there.
The advantages of an open-air case are mostly aesthetics but there are a few other benefits to note. The open-air nature of these cases gives your system better thermals and improved heat dissipation. While ventilation might be at its best, you should be aware there is an increase in dust and a lack of protection from your surroundings with open-air cases.
Obviously, if you are planning a custom water-cooled build, then the chances are you don’t have to worry about dust protection. Any builders out there considering an open-air case for air or AIO cooled builds will want to clean your system much more frequently.
Our Top Picks
Our 5 Best Open Air PC Cases
In-depth Review
Thermaltake Core P5
Thermaltake Core P5
Thermaltake’s Core P5 is one of their ATX open-air PC cases, which can also be wall-mounted. The Core P5 is one of Thermaltake’s most popular open-air case options, piping the expensive P7 to the post.
The Core P5 is sometimes referred to as the coffee table, with its huge tempered glass side panel being a great place for your beverage (don’t try this at home!). This open-air case supports ATX motherboards and can easily house an impressive system, with plenty of water cooling room. The case is big enough to deal with the largest of GPU sizes and can fit a CPU cooler as tall as 7″.
The P5 supports radiators up to 480mm and is awash with modular features perfect for a custom loop builder. The case comes with four tempered glass windows that can be removed and almost close the case off entirely!
The Thermaltake P5 is available in black and white options and features a riser cable for vertical GPU mounting. Overall, the Core P5 is one of the best open-air PC cases on the market, and if you can afford it, you are going to be making some seriously cool custom loops.
InWin D-Frame
InWin D-Frame
The InWin D-Frame is the most unique looking Mini-ITX open-case to make it on the list, and that is largely down to its loud and highly portable design.
While being on the slightly expensive side, the D-Frame is a great smaller form factor case. This open-air PC case reminds us of a sand dune buggy, and the roll cage is an inspired design choice. This case from InWin can fit GPUs that are 13.4″ or under and there is enough room for a 6.5″ CPU cooler.
The D-Frame offers a colorful alternative to the wonderfully built Thermaltake Core P1 and is available in five different color options (mostly all as loud as the bright green we have here). This open-air case could be perfect for a LAN build, thanks to its small size and useful handle. Despite this case having a tempered glass window and a roll-cage, it only weighs 7.7 KG.
The big negative that comes with this case is the price tag. The InWin D-Frame is priced closer to the ATX cases on this list, which is a bit of a shame. Despite this price tag, if you can afford it, then you can potentially get some very creative builds going in this.
InWin D-Frame
InWin D-Frame
The Thermaltake Core P1 is essentially a smaller P5. This Mini-ITX open-air case is Thermaltake’s smallest offering in the category and is just as visually pleasing as its bigger siblings.
Despite its size, the Core P1 can fit a 15″ long GPU and has the clearance for a CPU cooler as tall as 6.7″. This clearance gives builders a bit of extra flexibility with the components they choose.
Unlike the others in the range, the P1 only features a single tempered glass panel and is technically more “open-air” than the others. The Thermaltake Core P1 can be wall-mounted, which could look particularly good with a case of this size. Despite its smaller form, the case weighs over 9KG without a system inside.
The Core P1 can support radiators as big as 240mm so you could fit in an AIO cooler if you preferred, but a case like this deserves to be water-cooled with a custom loop!
This case has a very nice-looking design and gives builders a smaller alternative to the brilliant P5 case. There is plenty of clearance with this case to get a high-end build going, and with the modularity, there is plenty to perk an enthusiast’s interests.
Cougar Conquer
Cougar Conquer
As far as open-air PC cases go, the Cougar Conquer has a design you won’t be forgetting. This mid-tower-sized case is modular by design and features an interestingly shaped tempered glass side window. The design is far from minimalistic like the D-Frame and looks more like a transformer than a PC case.
At 13.9 KG the Cougar Conquer is one of the heavier cases on the list, which can be forgiven due to the fact it isn’t as open-air as the others. Graphics cards as long as 13.8″ will fit inside this case along with any CPU cooler that is under 7.5″ tall. The motherboard can cater for any mobo size up to ATX meaning you have a lot of flexibility with the build you go for.
This case has two different radiator support options, 240mm room on the front and 360mm on the top. Along with the radiator options we see three LED fans pre-installed too for some stylish cooling.
This may seem like a hefty chunk of metal and glass but it’s a great canvas to put some interesting custom loop designs together. If you can afford it and don’t mind the lavish design, the Cougar Conquer is a great option.
Thermaltake Core P90
Thermaltake Core P90
There are some seriously unique looking PC cases in the open-air category, and Thermaltake has a good one here. The Core P90, with its angular concept, brings a fun new way to build into the mix. Part of the “P” range from Thermaltake, this open-air case is unique in its own right, and despite its size, it can be wall-mounted too!
The Core P90 gets its name from the 90-degree angle the case’s design sits at, and it is easily one of the heaviest cases on the list (17.2KG). With this type of case design, you can get some really interesting angled custom loops and make your build stand out.
The Core P90 can only accommodate for graphics cards as long as 12.6″. However, vertical mounting is an option with this case, thanks to the included riser cable. CPU coolers as tall as 7″ are good in this case also, with adequate amounts of clearance.
The Thermaltake P90 has radiator support for up to 480mm, and its modular design is finished off superbly with two 5mm thick glass panels.
If this case’s unique design doesn’t put you off, experienced systems builders can create something incredible with the P90 and its 90-degree angle.
Final Word
Selecting the best open-air PC case for your needs is highly important. This case is going to house your expensive components and protect them (albeit not as much in this category).
The best open-air PC cases offer a unique level of design you just don’t get from any other cases, and they are excellent for a custom-loop system. All of our recommendations will give you a seriously stylish build but make sure you have a little extra in the budget.
Have you recently purchased an open-air case? Let us know about your building experiences with one of these.