The 8 Best E-ATX Cases of 2022
Extra large options for serious enthusiast builds
We updated this article in June 2022 after reviewing some of the new cases on the market. Our top picks remain the same this time, but we’ve highlighted some alternatives throughout the article.
There’s no tower like a full tower.
As we’ve seen in recent years, ATX and mATX form factors have become more popular for your average gaming build.
But if you are looking for the most powerful PC possible, there’s no beating an E-ATX computer case.
These monoliths offer incredible features across the board.
Whether it’s gaming, production, server builds, or streaming; I’ve reviewed and ranked the popular options (and some smaller cases that can handle EATX) for your next powerhouse PC.
Best EATX Case Overall: Fractal Design Define 7 XL
This case is simply fantastic.
It’s no secret that I rate Fractal highly for their work on creating the best silent PC cases.
But the new 7 XL model isn’t just great for noise reduction, it excels across the board as a premium chassis.
Let’s start with space.
The 7 XL is huge. For storage, it supports up to:
- 18 x 3.5″/2.5″ drive brackets
- 5 x 2.5″ dedicated positions
- 2 x 5.25″ optical bays
You will not need more storage than this case can host (unless you’re building a house).
This utility would also make it an incredible option for video editing/production/server builds.
So what if you’re like most gamers and don’t need that many drives?
That’s the beauty of Fractal’s high-end cases, they offer great modularity/customization.
This means you’ll be able to remove any unnecessary drive brackets and free up more space for a multi-GPU build and/or better airflow.
That includes GPUs up to 359 mm in length (549mm in an expandable open layout it needed) alongside 9 + 3 expansion slots.
You have the freedom here to install the best graphics card setup possible.
Source: JrRay25
Now how are you going to cool/overclock all of this hardware? Well, you have:
- 13 fan mounts across the case (120-140mm) with 3 high-quality quiet fans included.
- Great radiator support: up to 420mm top, 360mm front, 280mm bottom & 120mm rear.
Whether you’re looking for a water cooling case, air-cooling build, or a hybrid; the utility you get here for the price is incredible.
The 7’s internal size is so impressive it can act as an EE-ATX motherboard (but check dimensions beforehand for such models).
The front I/O panel is great. With 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.01 Type C, and the usual HD audio ports (all very stylishly integrated).
Finally, there is the build quality; with a large steel base and a slick, monolithic design, the 7 XL is gorgeous.
I’ve been consistently impressed with the sound-dampening panels on Fractal’s premium units and this offering is no exception. They seemed to have outdone themselves here.
There isn’t much we dislike about the 7 XL other than the price tag. There’s no denying it’s an expensive chassis and with all of the storage space, it might be more than some of you need. But for what’s on offer, it’s not out of a respectable range (even the cheapest cases on this list are in the same ballpark, it’s to be expected with E-ATX enthusiast builds).
If you prefer a transparent side panel, the window variation will still offer great sound reduction compared to other extended-ATX cases, with nothing sacrificed in the way of cooling or hardware space.
Simply put, the 7 XL is a brilliant high-value pick from a manufacturer on the top of their game.
If you’re looking for the all-around best E ATX case, this is my pick for you.
2022 mid-year update: While some enticing new E-ATX cases have come into the market, the Define R7 XL still comfortably ranks in our top spot; no other models have come close to the fantastic balance between storage, aesthetic, sound & price of this Fractal chassis.
Best E-ATX Case Runner-Up: Thermaltake View 71
We’ve raved about the 7 XL above, but the second-place option by Thermaltake is still a fantastic offering.
It’s hard not to talk about the design of the View 71 first.
With 4 beautiful, high-quality tempered glass windows surrounding the front, top, left and right sides, the case looks incredible.
Not to mention the 3 high-quality LED fans included in the RGB model. This would be a perfect basis for an RGB build or if you’re looking for something a little more flashy.
The build process and customization of this case are also top-tier.
Offering wonderful modularity for bays/other parts and a (largely) tool-free design, you’ll be well placed to get exactly what you want out of the case.
There are few storage bays here compared to the 7 XL, but still more than enough for most builds with up to 10 2.5″ / 7 3.5″ drives (or a mix).
The case does a great job in the rest of the size department too, with:
- Huge space for an SLI/crossfire PC build if desired (including vertical GPU install options).
- Up to 9 overall decent-sized fans (120mm-140mm).
- Good room to spare for decent ventilation and airflow.
Source: demoante
The View 71’s crowning feature for gaming, however, is its fantastic radiator compatibility, with:
- Front: up to 420mm
- Top: up to 420mm
- Right-side: up to 420mm
- Rear: up to 140mm
- Bottom: up to 240mm
It’s the best water cooling EATX case available in its price range.
Fractal Design Define 7 XL vs Thermaltake View 71
There is not much separating these cases in terms of quality, what will be best for you will likely come down to what your needs are.
I ranked the 7 XL in first place as I’ve had a lot of experience with both the case and the brand’s fantastic long-term quality. I also love the extent to which it excels at noise reduction despite the enormous size. The tempered glass of the View 71 is gorgeous, but it also makes the case a little fragile compared to many of the other picks here built to be somewhat sturdier at their enormous sizes.
But I’ll reiterate: it’s a very close race, which is why we rate the cases so closely overall.
If you happen to like the design more than the 7, aren’t as bothered about maximizing silence, or want to focus on water cooling, this is perfect for you.
Best Budget EATX PC Case: ASUS TUF Gaming GT501
The GT501 is very popular for a reason (many reasons, in fact!).
We appreciate this may not be quite as cheap as you’d hope for a budget pick, but we have to caution that if you’re looking at an extended ATX build, you’re going to want to spend more than you would on smaller form factors.
That being said, this offering is fantastic and the cheapest PC case we would recommend for a large build.
Despite officially being a mid-tower, you’re still getting great space for:
- GPUs up to 420mm long (with 7 PCI-e slots and an extra 2 for vertical installs)
- Up to 7 120mm fans or 2 x 360mm, 1 x 140mm radiator support
- 3 x 2.5″ drive bays & 4 x 3.5″/2.5″ bays
Source: ASUSTECHMKTJJ
What really gives this case incredible value though, is the 1 included 140mm rear fan and 3 pre-installed RGB fans which you can use alongside your other compatible RGB parts with Asus’s fantastic light control software (Aura Sync).
Despite the price and inclusions, the GT501 still manages to have a great build quality and plenty of features to make the build process smooth.
The carry straps on the top are a nice extra perk. Don’t underestimate how convenient these will be when you’re building in such a large tower, they’re heavy to move!
We’re really impressed by what Asus has achieved here in the price range. There isn’t really much separating it in terms of quality over our top picks. I do prefer the View 71/ Define 7 XL’s designs though, and if you’re in this category of an enthusiast setup, Ithink considering aesthetic is a worthwhile venture!
If you can’t afford our other top choices or prefer the design of the GT501, then know it’s a fantastic chassis and more than capable of building a gaming monster.
2022 mid-year update: We still highly recommend the GT501 as the best budget choice. If, however, you are looking for the cheapest E-ATX PC case available, darkFlash has made an impressive offering under $100 in the DLX22. We think that if you’re building an E-ATX setup, you probably want to be looking at a sturdy, higher-end chassis, but the DLX22 is one of the most impressive value offerings we’ve seen if you can’t personally justify the extra cost of the GT501.
Best EATX Case for Airflow: Corsair Obsidian 1000D
Now let’s be real. This is a lot of money to spend on a PC case.
And you can accomplish a lot with the other options available on this list.
But, if you’re one of the lucky ones that can afford this and want nothing but the best super tower for as much power as possible, this is it.
Let’s start with the crowning feature for high-end builds: dual system PC support.
What is a dual system PC?
It’s the ability to have a secondary Mini ITX motherboard (with its own dedicated parts) on top of your main E-ATX motherboard.
That means you can have another PC operating in your machine doing secondary tasks.
On top of the obvious production/gaming uses, this is one of the best streaming PC cases if you can afford it. Allowing you to play games on your main mobo, and stream with the secondary one.
Source: six60six
With VGA card support of up to 400mm, 5 x 3.5″ / 6 x 2.5″ drive positions, and an overall huge size allotment in the case, you’ll have more than you need to create the best multi-GPU PC you can.
So how can you overclock and cool all of this?
The case offers fantastic air/water cooling options with:
- Front: 8 x 120mm fans or 2 x 480mm radiator (the best we’ve ever seen on a front panel).
- Top: 3 x 140mm fans or 1 x 420mm radiator
- Rear: 2 x 140mm fans or 1 x 240mm radiator
It’s really hard to imagine needing more cooling even for the most expensive gaming PC.
The 1000D also has one of the best front I/O panels in any case. With 2 x USB 3.1 type C ports (on top of 4 x USB 3.0 & 2 HD audio ports). All topped off with very stylish RGB backlighting.
There are more perks to talk about in this case, from amazing build quality to great ease-of-use build features. But you’d be here all day reading if we went through each one!
The only real downside (and the reason we won’t give this case a straight 10/10 rating) is that we expect many users simply won’t need what’s on offer here. The extras included in the 1000D vs the Define 7 XL & View 71 are only for the absolute most powerful PC builds.
That said, not only is it one of the best dual system PC cases money can buy, but its utility would be incredible even for a standard one-motherboard setup.
If you can afford its hefty price tag, boy are you in for a treat.
Best Quiet EATX Case Runner-Up: be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900
While the Corsair 1000D is the undisputed powerhouse for expensive gaming builds, and we love our top Fractal pick for quiet builds, we’ve included this option for anyone focusing on a silent PC with a higher budget.
We’ve written previously on the quietest cases available and the Pro 900 was our pick for the top high-end option.
The internal dimensions are fantastic. Suitable as an XL-ATX case, you have room for 2 x 5.25″, 10 x 2.5″, and 5 x 3.5″ drives (with options to extend further with additional bays if needed).
Similar to the 7 Xl, this space is made more valuable by the very high level of modularity available. With multiple ways to remove unused bays/other components to maximize airflow and space for parts.
This comes in handy, for example, if you want to install very large GPUs. Up to 470mm if the HDD bracket is removed.
The Pro 900 supports up to 9 fans with 3 silence-focussed 140mm ones pre-installed.
Source: ElectricSheepsDream
For water cooling, you can get up to 2 x 420mm and 1 x 140mm radiators in here, offering plenty of potential for overclocking.
With thick SECC/aluminum surrounding much of the case and a great tempered glass window should you choose the transparent option, I was really impressed with the sturdy build quality.
To top it off is a feature-rich front I/O panel. In addition to the usual USB 3.0/audio inputs, you’re getting a USB 3.1 type C port, a universal fan controller, and (on the Rev. 2 version) a wireless QI charger.
Define 7 XL vs Dark Base Pro 900
Both cases perform similarly in terms of decibel-level tests, so you’re not really getting an improvement in noise reduction with the extra cost of the Pro 900.
What you’re really paying for is to have even more space on offer for certain hardware, the largest we’ve seen in any silence-focused built.
I think the 7 XL will satisfy even the most significant of requirements, but if you see the dimensions/layout of the Pro 900 as a bonus, then by all means go for it.
If you liked the look of the 1000D but it was perhaps out of your price range, or you were keen on still building a quiet gaming PC, you can’t go wrong with the Pro 900.
Best Dual Chamber EATX PC Case: Corsair 680X
I love the 680X. It’s not the first time it’s been highlighted on What in Tech.
What is a Dual Chamber PC Case?
Nearly all (decent) cases come with “compartments” behind the motherboard for cable management and (sometimes) SSD placement.
Dual chambers take this one step further and have a dedicated “mini-case” in the back to not only offer you ample room for cables, but also the space to hide your other “uglier” components (PSU, HDDs, etc).
This is great for making the build process super easy and maximizing ventilation on your best-looking hardware. Allowing you to show them off clutter-free.
Speaking of showing off, this case’s build quality and design are top-tier.
With 3 tempered glass panels, a high-quality steel/plastic construction mix. In the RGB version, you’re also getting 3 included controllable RGB fans.
Source: jjzeng21
Note: This is a bit of a rogue pick as the 680X, officially, is an ATX case.
However, there are multiple examples of users who have installed an E-ATX mobo here and its dimensions do seem suitable for such a build.
I wanted to include it as a dual-chamber setup would be great for the very demanding builds you tend to get when building a huge, E-ATX desktop.
But sadly there aren’t any great dual-chamber full towers I can recommend (a great option is the Corsair Air 540, but despite supporting E-ATX officially, it is smaller than the 680X).
Just check the size requirements of your desired mobo before you purchase.
With that said, although you’re not getting the size of a super/full tower, you can still:
- Fit 3 x 3.5″ HDDs and 4 x 2.5″ SSDs in the hidden chamber
- Support multiple GPUs up to 330mm (with vertical install capability)
- Install a good number of cooling options:
- Up to 8 x 120mm / 7 x 140mm fans
- 4 water cooling radiators up to 280mm, 360mm, 280mm & 140mm for top, front, bottom, and rear respectively
If you’ve got the size requirements figured out, the Corsair 680X is a fantastic case for those looking for a special aesthetic and would be great for a large RGB PC build.
Best Looking EATX PC Case (Wildcard): Thermaltake AH T600 Snow Helicopter
OK, look at this thing.
This may not be to everyone’s taste, but I simply had to feature it as a great E-ATX open-frame case option.
Looking like a transformer halfway through turning into a chassis, the design is simply incredible and perfect if you’re craving a unique build.
The build quality is what you’d hope for at the price tag. From a brilliant case manufacturer, the entire exterior is made of high-quality steel, tempered glass, and has great removable/modular options to make your build process easier. I was really pleased with how easy it was to work in this case, you don’t always get this for unique-looking cases.
Source: RoyalDovahKiing
The T600 isn’t just about the exterior though. You’re still going to be able to create a powerhouse, with:
- GPUs of up to 440mm (if water pump removed, 300mm while installed)
- Up to 10 x 120mm or 7 x 140mm fans
- Up to 1 x 480mm and 2 x 320mm liquid cooling radiators
The biggest spec weakness is the drive availability, only offering space for 2 x 3.5″ or 3 x 2.5″.
This is very low. I expect because they wanted to only included spaces where they can be hidden given the case’s focus on design.
With that being said, even for an expensive gaming pc, you can easily manage with this amount (installation of M2 storage is also an option with the right motherboard).
You’re of course paying a premium for the cases’s aesthetic.
But wow, it looks fantastic! And it still has everything you need to create a well-cooled, overclocked, multi-GPU machine.
Honorable Mention: Phanteks Enthoo Primo
Don’t be deceived by this pick being so low down the list.
The Primo was very close in the consideration for runner-up and deserves nearly as much attention as much as the Thermaltake View 71.
The case seems deceptively large due to how slim it is, there’s a lot of space to play around with here:
- Up to 5 x 5.25″ and 6 x 3.5″ / 12 x 2.5″ drives
- Up to 10 140mm fans with 5 pre-installed (including 2 LED ones on the front)
- GPU size allowances up to 515mm (just note this is if the reservoir bracket and HDD cages are removed)
- A 30mm cable management area in the back of the case
And finally, the Primo is a beast of a liquid cooling case.
Source: FastRedPonyCar
With 5 separate spaces for decent-sized radiators (1 being a side installation with an HDD cage removed), it’s one of the best water cooling options in today’s market.
The manufacturing quality is fantastic. Largely made of a mix between steel and aluminum.
You’ll have plenty of modular capability during your build. I had a easy enough time removing unneeded elements and once done, really felt like it offered great additional airflow for the slim form factor.
Reading this, you’ll see why I’ve still included it despite not getting the runner-up spot.
The only reason we didn’t rank this above the View 71 is the slightly higher price point.
But if this is in your range and you like the design/features, you won’t be disappointed.
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About the author
Such a review should have pictures to make any sense. Right now all I see are broken links.
Hi there – the article does have a picture for each product. I can only think you have an old browser or a connection issue for them not to appear – either way the purchase buttons will take you to the product listings where you can view more pictures of each case – all the best!