If you’re building a computer and don’t know what size case to get, What is the best brand or Pc case? The information in this article would be helpful to you. There are a lot of factors to think about when deciding between a mid- and full-size tower, but this article will help you narrow down your options.
Do I Need a Full or Mid Tower?
It is difficult to specify a clear winner in terms of CPU or GPU performance when choosing between a mid- or full-sized tower. Size is the primary way in which these two differ from one another, but their functions are also distinct. More important than the actual dimensions of your PC is the size you choose.
- In fact, the average height of a medium-sized tower cis between 17 and 18 “It’s primarily used for playing games and surfing the web on the web.
- A full-sized case is 20-22 “a lot, and it’s primarily used for things that require a lot of processing power, like Adobe’s Illustrator movie editors.
- A full-sized tower with liquid cooling is recommended for CPU-intensive tasks such as video editing, streaming, or simultaneous gaming and streaming. A medium-sized tower should suffice for casual gaming.
What’s A Full-Sized Tower Good for?
When you need a lot of processing power, like when you’re editing videos or streaming content, a full tower is your best bet. Due to its large size, a full-sized tower can house a variety of components, including those that require liquid or water cooling. They typically also have great airflow options for efficiently cooling down computers that tend to run hot (like those used for video editing).
- Full-sized cases are more expensive but offer better cooling, more room for storage and video cards, and more room for optical drives.
- They’re bulkier than mid-cases, more difficult to move around, and can have dead-air zones where the fans can’t reach.
- Use every fan slot on a full-sized tower to prevent hot air from collecting inside the case.
What’s A Mid-Sized Tower Good for?
Most gamers today use mid-range towers for their PC setups. They can accommodate the two to three graphics processing units (GPUs), the six to eight expansion bays (expansion cards), and the two to three motherboards necessary for today’s games. Because of their diminutive size, mid cases are superior at controlling heat and can accommodate as many as six fans.
Liquid cooling systems cannot be accommodated in mid-tower cases because they are significantly smaller than full-tower cases. However, if you intend to play video games, this will not be a problem.
Liquid cooling systems’ primary use is to reduce the temperature of CPUs that have become overworked. When it comes to keeping your computer cool, nothing beats the airflow and efficiency of a mid-sized tower.
Mid Tower Vs Full Tower: The Breakdown
Now that you have an overview, let’s delve a little deeper into the distinctions between mid and full-tower cases.
Dimensions
Mid tower cases are the tried-and-true standard for computer enclosures. They are typically around 18 inches in height and length, so even the most powerful gaming rigs will fit comfortably inside. They’re a good size for a building, but not so big that they’ll take up too much room on your desk or weigh you down. The NZXT H710i is an excellent premium mid tower case.
However, full towers are the PC case equivalent of a mountain. Sized to hold numerous components and the largest motherboards and graphics cards, these cases are at least 20 inches in height and length. Several “super towers,” such as Corsair’s Obsidian 1000D.
There’s more space in full towers, which makes it easier to construct and upgrade. Depending on how important you find those features, they may not be worth the extra bulk and weight.
Motherboard Support
The motherboard is one component that may still require you to upgrade to a more capacious system. ATX motherboards are supported by the vast majority of mid tower cases, making them suitable for most gamers’ setups. The NZXT H710i is a mid-tower case that supports motherboards up to 10.7 inches wide, including the MSI MEG Z490 GODLIKE.
However, if you’re using an AMD Thread ripper processor and you want an E-ATX motherboard wider than 10.7 inches or an XL-ATX board, you’ll need to look into purchasing a full tower case.
It is imperative that you select a motherboard that is suitable for your needs. Once you have settled on a motherboard, you’ll need to track down a suitable case. The inverse is never the case.
PCIE Expansion and Drive Bays
Different mid-tower cases have different numbers of drive bays. The Phanteks Eclipse P400A, which prioritizes cooling, comes with only four drive bays and requires an additional bracket in order to accommodate eight drives. The Fractal Design Define 7 is one alternative, and it comes pre-configured with a dedicated optical drive bay, two SSD mounts, and six 3.5/2.5-inch mounts.
Here is where full towers really shine. Adding one or two PCIe expansion slots might not seem like a big deal. However, if you have a multi-GPU rendering setup and a good motherboard, the additional room could be the key to preventing your system from overheating.
Full towers can accommodate many hard drives. Looking to install 10 SSDs, 5 HDDs, and an optical drive? Full bell tower mode, just like to be quiet! You’ll want Dark Base 900. A full tower is a safe bet if there is even a remote chance that you will take this path.
Make sure your mid-tower or full-tower case has enough space for your components. One of the worst feelings is realizing you need an additional hard drive but don’t have any free slots in your case to put it.
Air and Liquid Cooling
The standard practice used to be that full-tower cases would have more fan mounting points and better airflow than mid-tower cases. However, the recent market saturation of mid-towers with an emphasis on airflow has altered this.
The Phanteks P400A and Lian Li LANCOOL II MESH are just two cases with room for three 120 mm fans thanks to their spacious interiors and unobstructed front panels.
Such cases provide sufficient ventilation to keep even the most powerful gaming rig cool and quiet, negating the need for a full tower.
Water cooling is one field where full towers are still slightly favored. A 360 mm radiator is typically the largest that can be installed in a mid-tower case. This is adequate for an AIO CPU cooler or a straightforward loop, but it pales in comparison to the 420 mm radiators supported by full tower cases.
A full tower not only allows for a larger radiator but also allows for additional radiators to be installed. Overclocking makes this useful for cooling high-end, power-hungry components.
Modular water cooling loops are supported in both half and full tower sizes. Several companies, including Fractal Design, produce mid-towers that are made for this purpose. The Define 7’s open design allows for a full-blown custom loop with two radiators.
Both will function, but a full tower will provide more space for you to construct your unique loop. Radiators and pumps, for example, will be easier to install. When put together, these factors result in a more streamlined construction process.
Size Considerations
You want enough space for airflow in your tower to accommodate everything. If you want to know what size you absolutely need, check your motherboard’s specifications. In order for your tower to work with the motherboard, both must be compatible.
There will be more space for cable management, additional graphics processing units (GPUs), and liquid cooling tubes if you go with a full tower. The most common type of motherboard, the ATX form factor, can be used in either a full or a mid-sized computer case.
Conclusion
In choosing between mid- and full-sized towers, it’s difficult to determine a clear winner in terms of performance. Since each serves a unique purpose, it’s impossible to say which is superior. It is possible to build a killer rig in both mid and full-tower cases.
There are the best options to consider, but you can use anything that works with your parts. It’s your decision in the end. You can use a micro ATX motherboard with a full tower case if you like.
