Does a Bigger PC Case Mean Better Cooling?

Does a Bigger PC Case Mean Better Cooling?

With the passage of time, PC cases have shrunk a lot in size. From beefy and heavy computer cases to the ones that easily fit in your computer bag, we have a lot of computer case sizes on the market. But are smaller size cases affecting your cooling performance? And does a bigger size PC case means more cooling? Well, let’s find out.

PC cases protect the outer body of your computer from environmental factors. There is a versatile variety of PC cases and all of them are designed to cater to the hardware of different sizes.

The dimensions of a PC case also decide how much room there would be for the fresh air to circulate and cool down the components. Obviously, the temperature inside a PC case could rise quickly due to hardware packed closely to each other.

On the contrary, there’s enough space in large-size PC cases for air circulation, which in some cases does affect the cooling. But before we dig down into this detail, it’s worth knowing about some basic types of PC cases.

Types of PC Cases

Here are some of the most common types of PC cases you’ll find in the market:

Mini – ITX PC Case

As it’s crystal clear by its name, a mini case is one of those cases that are known for being smaller and portable. They usually weigh between 7-8 Kg. And they are an easy fit in confined spaces and easy to upgrade.

Mini ITX cases are also known as small form factor (SFF) PC cases. These types of cases support mini-ITX motherboards.

There’s quite limited room in mini-ITX PC cases to install extra peripherals. As there is limited space for adding peripherals, you’ll end up having hardware closely packed into each other.

This may result in heat build-up inside your mini-ITX PC case. And due to limited spots for adding case fans, it’s difficult to suck more heat off a mini-ITX PC case.

Mid-Tower PC Case

Mid-tower cases are the most popular among gamers and content creators as they offer plenty of space for upgrades. People prefer them because they are neither too big nor small, a perfect standard size. Mid-tower PC cases are affordable and have enough room to add extra hardware.

Mid-tower supports micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, E-ATX, and standard ATX motherboards. Generally, there’s decent space in a mid-tower PC case for fresh air to circulate. Also, you can mount more than two case fans on a mid-tower PC case, which helps in cooling down your PC case.

Full-Tower PC Case

This is the biggest size PC case that you’ll find on the market. These are also expensive as compared to mid-tower and mini-ITX PC cases. If you are planning to fit bulky peripherals inside your case, then a full-tower pc case would give you plenty of space to hoard them.

Full-Tower PC cases support all types of motherboards from Mini-IT to E-ATX. Generally, these types of cases are ideal for buildings and servers. The main purpose is to pack more hardware without compromising on performance.

There’s plenty of space for air to pass through a full-tower case and cool down your components. Also, you can add multiple case fans on a full-tower PC case for better cooling.

But, does the size of a PC case matter in cooling?

Yes, the size of a PC case plays a huge role in cooling down your hardware. All that matters is the airflow. Bigger cases support more airflow, thus more fresh air comes in and circulates inside your PC case.

The more tightly you pack the components inside a PC case, the more heat they will produce as there would be less space for the fresh to pass through. Moreover, smaller PC cases offer less room for cooling solutions as compared to bigger PC cases.

Well, the airflow inside a PC case is a whole science, airflow can be improved and it can be made to work better on your existing PC case as well, but if you are trying to build a new PC you should always consider a case that supports intake as well as exhaust fans.

Your PC case should have at least one intake at the front and one exhaust fan at the back to lower the temperature inside your PC case. You can also opt for the best PC cases that promote high airflow by spending as low as $100.

At least two big intake fans and one exhaust fan with air filters on the front are what will be making good airflow inside your PC case.

The smaller case will have less room for fans and in the worst cases, there will be only one slot for the case fan, which is not a very suitable situation for any PC.

Are bigger PC cases better for cooling?

Yes, because bigger PC cases have a large room for air intake and there are enough fan mounts that you can install to promote better airflow.

Not only that, but you can also use water cooling and other new cooling methods or techniques available in the market to keep your system, clean, calm, cool, and mess-free.

So, while choosing a PC case, always remember, the bigger the better!

Can case size affect the gaming or content creation performance of a PC?

Yes, case size matters a lot for so many reasons. The smaller case means you will have very limited features because of the limited components it supports and less room for expansion. This also means that high-end games, apps, and tasks are supported well by bigger PC cases. So once again, the bigger, the better!

Conclusion

Choosing the right fit PC case for your PC is extremely important because, at the end of the day, it will help in improving the airflow and installing more peripherals.

A good PC case gives you enough room for adding bulky peripherals without compromising on the airflow performance. We highly recommend going with a mid-tower pc case as it offers the best value for your money.

But if you are a professional content creator or a hardcore gamer, then you may need a full-tower PC case that hoards bulky performance-based hardware.