The choices for a PC case have never been more diverse than they are today. Gamers can create a custom setup if they want not to use a low-cost prebuilt PC. Nonetheless, a PC’s casing is its most noticeable component and can also determine which parts fit in its chassis. System builders must therefore choose the most affordable PC case to satisfy their needs and adjust to changing configurations.
The picking procedure is made more difficult by the fact that even reasonably priced cases come in a variety of sizes and styles. A prospective purchase’s suitability for the kind of system being built should be taken into account by the buyer. Larger mid-tower and full-tower cases are necessary for PCs and servers with high storage requirements.
Table of Contents
- No 1 ASUS AP201
- No 2 Lian Li O11 Air Mini
- No 3 Phanteks P400A
Top 3 Best Budget PC Cases In 2025
No 1 ASUS AP201

A few weeks ago, the Asus Prime AP201 was released. When I started building my new gaming PC, I knew that good ventilation and a small form factor were important, and this MicroATX enclosure exceeded my expectations and more for only $80.
Although it has drawbacks and isn’t the best value among PC case options like the MSI MAG Forge 112R and the Corsair 4000D Airflow, it has several fantastic characteristics that, in my opinion, make it a fantastic little tower. The Prime AP201 is one of the greatest little towers in my opinion because it supports radiators up to 360mm in diameter, has a ton of mesh fittings for airflow, and has enough room for contemporary coolers and GPUs. It also comes in white and offers options for mesh and tempered glass side panels, so you have an excellent choice to fit your style.
The mesh side panel is ideal for both RGB-enabled and non-RGB designs, which is one feature I enjoy. Naturally, builds with no RGB lighting at all will appear neat and simple, but even those with lighting will look fantastic in this enclosure because the light may seep through the ventilation patterns. To illustrate how the illumination appears with and without the mesh side panel attached, here is a side-by-side photo (please disregard the color difference): Speaking of ventilation patterns, Asus claims that its mesh design allows for excellent airflow thanks to more than 57,000 precisely machined 1.5mm holes throughout the enclosure.
Pros
- Very easy to build in
- Cable management is good
- Dual support for 360mm radiator in top and bottom
- Mesh on every panel
- ATX or SFX PSU can be used
Cons
- No front fan or front fan mount
No 2 Lian Li O11 Air Mini

The Lian Li O11D Mini is a great case to tinker around it. Because of its tiny footprint, you must choose carefully which parts to include, but the end product is an excellent PC case that can adapt to your changing computer needs. The majority of the body is composed of brushed aluminum, but the front and side panels are constructed of glass.
The finish is excellent, and this case really looks premium, whether you choose it in black or white. Your connecting options are located at the top and include a power button, headphone jack, two USB Type-A ports, and one USB Type-C port. When the power button is turned on, a light blue ring surrounds it and flashes red to show that the HDD is active.
The O11D Mini’s acrylic fitting that lies flush with the ports was one feature we didn’t like. Dealing with this is a nightmare because fumbling about to plug in USB devices is sure to scratch the acrylic. To improve the case’s endurance, we sincerely hope Lian Li had just carried the aluminum treatment to the ports as well.
Unfortunately, fans are not included in this case, so make sure your present or intended build has enough fans to support cooling appropriately.
Pros
- Includes 3 PWM Fans
- More cooling options
- Supports ATX PSU
- Compact-ish, for an ATX case
- Affordable at $110
Cons
- Ditches aluminum panels for steel
- No longer as ITX-focused
- Ugly bottom air filter implementation remains
No 3 Phanteks P400A

Better airflow, some good RGB fans, and a decent build quality are all features that the Phanteks Eclipse P400A brings to an old classic, but it doesn’t do much to innovate beyond that front panel. Since then, the Eclipse lineup has grown to include nearly every price range while maintaining that overall crisp, clean design.
aesthetic look with various improvements and new models along the way. With the P300, and P350X aimed at the budget end of the market, the more premium P400S appealing to those looking for the original Eclipse with sound dampening and a fan controller, and of course the latest, the P600S, being a complete redesign of the styling and featuring.
The new Evolv X internal frame and layout. With the P400A, Phanteks isn’t looking necessarily for any revolutionary change in overall design. However they are leaning on fixing one of the case’s biggest criticisms, aka its lack of front access to external air. The P400A comes in two main variants, each with two separate color skus (black or white).
Pros
- Strong airflow performance
- RGB fans look impeccable
- Good internal layout for hardware
- Easy to build in
Cons
- Same internal frame as 2016’s model
- Front I/O a bit dated
- No Vertical GPU mount
- No support for roof mounted 240mm AIO
Q: What size PC case should I buy?
The motherboard/CPU combination that a consumer chooses for a PC construction will determine whether they should buy a mini-ITX, mid-tower, or full-tower case. The selection is also influenced by the amount of desk space available, storage needs, and financial constraints, as the majority of medium-sized and large cases can accept a broad variety of motherboard sizes.
Q: How do I know if my components will fit in a PC case?
Even the smallest PC cases are made to fit the most popular parts in a compact space. To make sure that storage bays can accommodate a sufficient number of hard drives and that long graphics cards will fit, it is still best to review the case’s specifications.
Q: How can buyers save money when purchasing a PC case?
To save further costs, look for cases with two or three pre-installed cooling fans or RGB controllers. Power supplies may still be included in some circumstances, however this is less usual now.
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