Perfect setup cable management is something that all of us aspire to achieve. You might have the latest and greatest devices, but they’ll lose their shine if cables are strewn all around your desk like ramen noodles. Of course, cable management inside the PC is just as important.
And it’s not just about having a neater PC than the next guy—it can also lower dust buildup, allow for proper airflow, and make upgrading components easier. So, let’s look at seven PC cases that have features that make cable management a breeze.
What Makes a PC Case Good for Cable Management?
For most people who go about developing a setup, cable management is an afterthought. But if you keep it in mind during the planning stage, it can make it much easier later on. Using a modular PSU is one option, but the biggest step you can take is getting a PC case that comes with cable management features.
Although most cases these days come with basic cable management features, like velcro straps and rubber grommets in the motherboard tray or tie-off points and wire covers. In addition, good build quality, a tempered-glass panel, and proper airflow make it awesome too.
If this is your first time buying a PC case, there are some tips you need to keep in mind as well other than cable management. I talk about those in this article. For now, let’s dive into the list…
Top 7 Best PC Cases for Cable Management in 2022:
1. Lian Li O11 Dynamic – Best Overall
SPECS:
- Form Factor: E-ATX
- Motherboard Support: E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX
- Front I/O: 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2, 2x USB 3.0, and Audio In/Out
- Fans Included: No
More than four years old at this point, the Lian Li O11 Dynamic is still one of the best tempered-glass PC cases you can get. Developed in collaboration with overclocker der8auer, it is able to support up to three 360mm AIOs!
Of course, airflow suffers a little thanks to the tempered glass front and side panels. Fortunately, there are side and bottom intakes to keep temps under control. If that’s a huge deal for you, there’s also a variant called the O11 Air which you can check out.
Now, let’s talk about cable management. Since it has a dual chamber design, it allows you to put all the extra visible cables (PSU, drives, and various power cables) on the other side, allowing for a neat look and more room for components.
All in all, the Lian Li O11 Dynamic is an excellent PC case with good cable management features. It has enough room for the craziest water-cooled build you can imagine while still being relatively beginner friendly.
Pros
- Dual-chamber design for cable management
- Supports up to six SSDs and three HDDs
- Good design and build quality
Cons
- No fans included
2. AeroCool Cylon – Best on a Budget
SPECS:
- Form Factor: ATX
- Motherboard Support: ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX
- Front I/O: 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, Audio In/Out, SD, and microSD
- Fans Included: 1x 120mm
Most PC gamers generally set aside the majority of their PC budget for internal components like CPU and GPU, leaving less for the PC case. Fortunately, there are many budget-friendly PC cases out there, and one of the best ones among them is the AeroCool Cylon.
It includes most of the features that premium cases have: an RGB light on the front panel, an acrylic side window, and a removable PSU dust filter. It only comes with one 120mm rear exhaust fan. So, you’ll have to use the available space to add up to three 120mm intake fans for better cooling. There’s also enough space to slap in a 240MM radiator in the front.
Even if this cooling setup works with your current components, it might prove limiting whenever you upgrade in the future. So, that’s something to keep in mind. Overall, the Aerocool Cylon hits all the right notes in terms of being a good budget-friendly PC case for cable management.
Pros
- Includes PSU shroud for easy cable management
- Supports SD or microSD memory card too
- Support GPUs up to 371mm long
Cons
- Solid front panel has negative impact on temps
3. NZXT H510i – Best Value for Money
SPECS:
- Form Factor: ATX
- Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, MicroATX, and ATX
- Front I/O: 1x Type-C, 1x USB Type-A, and 1x Audio In/Out
- Fans Included: 1x Top 120mm and 1x Rear 120mm
Don’t forget about NZXT. The H510i is one of the best ATX cases from the company. Coming with two 120mm case fans out of the box, it allows for a 280mm AIO radiator at the front.
There’s a lot of thought put into the cable management experience with the H510i. It includes a PSU shroud, multiple grommets and holes, and a lot of extra space to route cables. Most important of all, it includes pre-installed channels and straps for minimum effort on your part.
Overall, the NZXT H510i is an amazing case from NZXT, as many user reviews agree. It’s available in both black and white, so you can go for the one that matches your setup. With good build quality, design, and airflow, it checks all the boxes.
Pros
- Allows for vertical GPU mounting
- Includes USB Type-C port
- Includes Smart Device V2 for controlling RGB lighting and fans with NZXT CAM
Cons
- Expensive
4. Corsair Crystal 280X – Best for White PC Build
SPECS:
- Form Factor: Micro-ATX
- Motherboard Support: Micro ATX and Mini ITX
- Front I/O: 2x USB 3.0 and Audio In/Out
- Fans Included: 2x 120mm
Going for a white theme and maintaining good cable management goes hand in hand. White usually stands for minimalism, and having untidy cables everywhere goes against that. The Corsair Crystal 280X is a good micro-ATX cube case to go for in that regard.
If you can overlook the solid front panel, this case has decent airflow. You get two Corsair LL120 RGB fans in the box along with Lighting Node Pro to control RGB lighting using Corsair iCUE. Beyond that, there’s room for up to six 120mm cooling fans or a 240mm radiator at the top, front, and bottom.
To help you out with cable management, this case has a dual-chamber design. So, in the main compartment, you can have all your RGB-studded components and hide all the untidy cables related to your PSU and storage drives at the rear. In a nutshell, the Crystal 280X is a great micro-ATX case!
Pros
- Suitable for all-white setups
- Dedicated storage compartment
- Two 120mm RGB fans included
Cons
- Expensive
5. Cooler Master HAF 700 Evo – Best E-ATX
SPECS:
- Form Factor: E-ATX
- Motherboard Support: E-ATX, ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX
- Front I/O: 4x USB 3.0, 1x USB-C, and Audio In/Out
- Fans Included: 2x 200mm and 3x 120mm
Looking for a big and aesthetically-pleasing E-ATX PC case? With plenty of space for high-end components and an edge-lit RGB glass grille front panel, the Cooler Master HAF 700 Evo might fit the bill.
It comes with two 200mm Sickleflow ARGB Fans and some smaller 120mm fans too. If you’re building something insane, you can fit a 480mm AIO radiator at the side; a 360mm one at the front, top, or bottom; and a 240mm one at the rear. So, suffice to say, cooling isn’t going to be much of an issue. In addition, being able to remove the top panel gives you easy access to components for tweaks or upgrades.
Now, for the cable management part. For that, there’s a PSU shroud and space behind the motherboard which can be used to hide all extra cables. Of course, all of this comes at a high cost. So, it’s only suitable for a small category of users. If you like what you see and can afford it, go for it.
Pros
- Cutting-edge and futuristic design
- Five USB ports
- Enough room for server-class motherboards and triple-slot GPUs
Cons
- Very expensive
6. SilverStone PS15 PRO – Best mATX
SPECS:
- Form Factor: Micro-ATX
- Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX and MicroATX
- Front I/O: 2x USB 3.0 and Audio In/Out
- Fans Included: 3x 120mm fans
Most of the cases we’ve discussed so far in this article have sleek and cutting-edge designs. If you’d like to go for something that has a traditional design, the SilverStone PS15 PRO is worth checking out.
The best feature of this case is the mesh front panel, which has two 120mm ARGB intake fans behind it. For exhaust, there’s a 120mm non-RGB fan. There’s also enough space to install a 240mm AIO radiator at the front. This gives it impressive cooling performance and you won’t need to buy any third-party fans at the beginning either.
For easy cable management, there’s also a cutout in the motherboard tray for a 12V ATX power cable. The top and bottom filters are also removable for cleaning. So, it’s a great case overall.
Pros
- Mesh front panel for better airflow
- Comes with three fans
- Traditional tower design
Cons
- Mediocre build quality
7. G.Skill Z5i – Best Mini-ITX
SPECS:
- Form Factor: Mini-ITX
- Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX
- Front I/O: 2x USB 3.0 and 1x USB Type-C
- Fans Included: No
Before I learned about the Z5i, I thought that G.Skill only manufactured RAM sticks. Apparently not, because this Mini-ITX case is pretty awesome! The first feature you’ll notice when you look at it is the five-sided pentagonal design with dark-tinted 4mm-thick curved tempered glass panels. Talk about a futuristic design.
But as you might expect, this case isn’t the best in terms of airflow. It can support a 280mm AIO and two 140mm fans at the back. Since there’s a CPU cooler height restriction, you’re better off just using an AIO to cool your CPU, but keep in mind that your GPU will likely suffocate for airflow.
I won’t deny it, the G.Skill Z5i is definitely designed to put aesthetics over efficiency. That being said, it could be a perfect option for those who want a futuristic-looking PC in their setup. If you have one, your friends and other PC gamers will definitely ask about it when they see it in your room!
Pros
- Excellent design
- Includes USB Type-C port
- ARGB underglow lighting support
Cons
- Only PCIe 3.0 extension cable included (not 4.0)
- Limited airflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Accessories Should You Buy to Make Cable Management Easier?
It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: you’ve got your case and all the components that’ll go into it, and now it’s PC building time! But before you get into it, ensure you have access to side cutters, double-sided tape, and a magnetic screw cup. In addition, you could also buy a cable mesh and cable management box to neaten up the cables in your setup.
What Are Some Cable Management Tips?
Cable management is not only about typing down cables and calling it a day. They need to be focused on functionality and run either vertically or horizontally. If you haven’t started building yet, it helps to plan out your cable management to get a visual idea. For a walkthrough of this process, check out this video by LTT.
Wrapping Up
For any pre-built PC with bad cable management, your only option is to unplug everything, lay it out on a desk, and start putting it back together in a neater way. But when you’re building a PC from scratch, you have the opportunity to get it right the first time around!
In this article, I introduced you to some of the best PC cases with cable management features to make that process easier. I hope you found the right one for your PC build. Happy streaming!
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