Introduction
Nvidia‘s launch of the RTX 4090 was an overwhelming success, with the Founders Edition cards selling out almost immediately and AIBs being scooped up by consumers too. Despite some of our concerns on price, it is clear (at least for now) that an appetite exists for these GPUs. We’ve been lucky enough to test a vast array of RTX 4090 GPUs, making us very familiar with the best power supplies, CPUs and cases for the RTX 4090. Nvidia has yet again set the bar even higher for other GPU makers, namely AMD, putting Team Green the performance king yet again.
However, there is one (rather large) elephant in the room that needs to be addressed. This new GPU, although powerful, is quite literally massive. Users with smaller and more compact cases will need to rethink their options if they’ve decided to pick up this new entrant from Nvidia.
This leads me to my next question, what are the best PC cases that you can buy, that can actually handle the massive size and cooling requirements of the RTX 4090? We’ll be answering this exact question with a GeekaWhat case roundup, covering the best chassis’ that can fit Nvidia’s gargantuan GPU, the RTX 4090.
Suggested Article: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Review (Founders Edition Benchmarks)
The Best Cases for an RTX 4090 PC Build
Without further ado, here are the best cases to pair with an RTX 4090 PC build. We’ve covered a variety of options from cheaper, but versatile case options, up to expensive and more insane chassis types.
1. Lian Li O11D Mini
👑The best modular case.
You can configure this case in a number of ways to support a massive range of motherboards, custom cooling solutions, and of course – graphics cards. The O11D Mini is one of the few designs that is able to offer such vast modularity whilst providing plenty of space for a vast set of components. If you’re looking for a smaller, but surprisingly versatile case, the O11D Mini is an excellent option!
Key Specs
| Spec | Lian Li O11D Mini |
|---|---|
| Max GPU Length | 370mm |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX |
| CPU Cooler Height Clearance | 170mm |
| PSU Support | SFX/SFX-L |
Things We Like
Huge amount of modularity: If you’re the kind of consumer planning to dip your toes into some custom water cooling, or you’re planning on making use of the whole space, then this case is perfect. The O11D Mini is ideal for hobbyists and enthusiasts that plan on cramming their case with loads of components.
Full window into your build: One of the things we love about this case is the full view of the components. Both the front and side panel are tempered glass allowing you to show off all of your components in their full glory.
Dual-chambered design: The O11D Mini has a dual-chamber design which allows consumers to easily hide away cables and connectors, minimising the amount of awkward cable management that’s needed.
Things We Don’t Like
Difficult to build in: If you’re a first time PC builder, this case can be difficult to install components in. The modular design requires consumers to install different plates and move standoffs dependent on your motherboard size and component configurations which can be complicated.
Only allows SFX power supplies: SFX PSUs are smaller and designed for compact PC builds. However, they tend to be much more expensive even for lower wattages, which can be a difficult bullet to bite on top of the price of the case.
Summary
Lian Li’s O11D Mini is one of the best cases to pair up with the RTX 4090. Consumers have a huge amount of room to mount their GPU vertically or horizontally, with space for plenty of other components, including custom liquid cooling loops. The unique tempered glass design allows users to view their build in full, making it perfect for enthusiasts and hobbyists alike that prioritise function and form equally.
Pros
- Plenty of customisation and modification options.
- Vast support for liquid cooling.
- Glass front and side looks awesome.
Cons
- Can be difficult to build in.
- Somewhat expensive.
Where to Buy
Buy the Lian Li O11D Mini on:
3. NZXT H7 Flow
👑The best minimalist case.
Introduction
The NZXT H7 Flow is a case we’ve looked at before in a full review, and NZXT did a good job with this case. The more open mesh design aids with airflow which has been a previous issue with NZXT products. This case has a sleek and sophisticated design showing off the signature NZXT perforations. On the inside of the case is a compact yet spacious design capable of housing numerous 4090 GPUs with plenty of extra space. Cable management is also a breeze, you can use the wide channels and NZXT’s signature cable management bar to aid you in this process.
Consumers are likely going to need to purchase some extra fans, as the H7 Flow only comes with two 20mm preinstalled options. The biggest selling point of this case in our opinion, is the signature NZXT minimalist design. If NZXT know how to do one thing right, it’s providing an awesome aesthetic for their cases. If you’re the kind of consumers that prefers a simple yet stunning chassis, the H7 Flow might be the case for you!
Check out the full H7 Flow x RTX 4090 PC build guide:
Key Specs
| Spec | NZXT H7 Flow |
|---|---|
| Max GPU Length | 400mm |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX (up to 272mm) |
| CPU Cooler Height Clearance | 185mm |
| PSU Support | ATX |
Things We Like
Strong airflow: Although the H7 Flow doesn’t quite match the 5000D Airflow, the perforated front panel of the H7 Flow should easily aid thermals, allowing consumers to utilise a push/pull configuration.
Cool minimalist design: NZXT are well known for their signature minimalist aesthetic that features on their cases. The H7 Flow is no exception with a rather simple matte colouring that features across the entire chassis.
Easy cable management: NZXT cases are renowned for being very easy to build in, and their signature cable bar and deep channels will aid users when managing any pesky cables.
Things We Don’t Like
Only has two preinstalled fans: Despite being the airflow model of the H7 range, the Flow only comes with two fans. We expected the H7 Flow to at least offer RGB models or an extra fan, saving the end-user some money.
No colourway options: In the earlier days of NZXT we were used to seeing their signature black and red design, but NZXT seems to have shifted their focus to just black and white on their chassis’.
Summary
NZXT’s H7 Flow is a minimalist and sophisticated chassis with plenty of room for large components. It is a little bit lacking in terms of unique features, but the competitive price point and awesome aesthetic makes it worth a consideration.
Pros
- Extremely good airflow.
- Sophisticated and minimalist design.
- Reasonably priced.
Cons
- Only comes with two fans.
- Doesn’t support large E-ATX boards.
Buy the NZXT H7 Flow on:
4. Thermaltake Core P3 TG Pro
👑The best looking case.
Introduction
Thermaltake‘s Core P3 TG Pro is one of the coolest cases we’ve had in the office. The open test-bench style design offers plenty of airflow whilst keeping the aesthetic fresh. The open design provides plenty of space with a mass of different configurations for fans, radiators and even custom cooling. This case is also designed to be mounted on a wall giving you an alternative way to hide your PC away, or put it on display. And with a max GPU length of 450mm you’ll have no issues installing any of the 4090 SKUs vertically or horizontally.
The Core P3 TG Pro is one of the more unique cases that we’ve had in the office. This particular design is reminiscent of an open-style test bench, and we’re a big fan of the overall look. This case has plenty of room for large components due to the lack of side panels, clearance shouldn’t be much of an issue here for the majority of consumers.
We recently built a gaming PC, featuring Zotac’s RTX 4090:
Key Specs
| Spec | Thermaltake Core P3 TG Pro |
|---|---|
| Max GPU Length | 450mm |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX |
| CPU Cooler Height Clearance | 180mm |
| PSU Support | ATX |
Things We Like
Unique open-style design: I’m a massive fan of the open design that the Core P3 offers. Consumers can mount their case on a wall if they choose to, but this case is also relatively easy to build in due to the lack of side panels.
Huge amount of GPU clearance: The Core P3 TG Pro offers a ridiculous amount of GPU clearance, making it ideal for larger graphics cards including the third party AIB models.
Modern front IO: The front IO of the Core P3 offers a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port, two USB 3.0 Type-A options, alongside HD audio providing easily accessible ports for peripherals and accessories.
Things We Don’t Like
Rather expensive: Due to the unique design of the Core P3, this case is quite expensive. If you’re trying to be a bit more price conscious with other components, this case might not be a great choice.
Will be a dust magnet: Although the open-style design does add to the overall aesthetic of the case, consumers will need to be aware that dust will settle must easier in this case, as there isn’t much of a metal chassis to block it.
Summary
Thermaltake’s Core P3 TG Pro is a refreshing and unique take on the traditional ‘box’ style case. This case offers a huge amount of clearance for the RTX 4090, with a plethora of different component configurations straight out of the box.
Pros
- Unique test-bench style aesthetic is awesome.
- Case can be wall-mounted.
- More than enough clearance for even the largest GPUs.
Cons
- Quite expensive.
- Design won’t be for everyone.
Where to Buy
Buy the Thermaltake Core P3 TG Pro on:
5. Corsair iCUE 5000T
👑The best RGB case.
Introduction
We’ve taken a look at Corsair’s iCUE 5000T in a full review, and needless to say, this is an incredible case. With more RGB that you can shake a stick at, and plenty of room for a variety of different components, you won’t be disappointed. You’ve got plenty of room for big coolers and GPUs, and the biggest bonus is that all of this can be customised within Corsair’s industry leading iCUE software.
Using the iCUE software is incredible easy and makes syncing up lighting and patterns for your peripherals and accessories an absolute breeze. Corsair’s iCUE 5000T is perfect for consumers wanting the max amount of RGB possible. This case has all the lighting you could ever want with room for more dependent on the components you’ve chosen.
We recently used the iCUE 5000T to build a 4090:
Key Specs
| Spec | Thermaltake Core P3 TG Pro |
|---|---|
| Max GPU Length | 400mm |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX |
| CPU Cooler Height Clearance | 170mm |
| PSU Support | ATX |
Things We Like
Perfect for RGB lovers: The iCUE 5000T is one of the few cases with this much RGB. Strips lines the top, bottom, and sides of the case, it comes preinstalled with RGB fans, and has an RGB hub.
Vast amount of component configurations: The 5000T is quite a large case needless to say, and it has a huge amount of space for large motherboards, radiators and fans. Definitely ideal for enthusiasts.
Unique angular chassis: Although the iCUE 5000T does follow a more traditional box design, the angular accents on the chassis add some extra depth that provide some extra flair to the case.
Things We Don’t Like
Very heavy: The machined metal and angular design, whilst it makes the case look better, does add plenty of heft to the case. For those that need a more portable setup, the 5000T is a very heavy chassis.
One of the most expensive case options: As you can expect, the RGB strips, fans, and unique design do start to add up in terms of cost. The 5000T is an awesome case, but you’ll need to put some money aside for this option, as it is not a cheap chassis by any means.
Summary
As we’ve seen from the 5000D Airflow, Corsair knows how to make a case, and the iCUE 5000T is no exception. The unique angular design provides some additional flair, with the ridiculous amount of RGB offering a plethora of lighting options and colours. Overall, if you’re looking for RGB, this is definitely the case to pick up.
Pros
- All of the RGB!
- Comes with four pre-installed fans.
- Angular accents look awesome.
Cons
- Very expensive.
- Extremely heavy.
Where to Buy
Buy the Corsair iCUE 5000T on:
6. Cooler Master HAF700 EVO
👑The best high-end case.
Introduction
The HAF700 EVO from Cooler Master is another case we’ve looked at in a full review, and spoiler alert – it is insane. Fit with an LCD display, a ridiculous amount of RGB, more fan and cooler space than you could ever need, and an infinity mirror to show off all of your components in style. And as you can see from the image we’ve provided, you’ll have no issues installing any of the RTX 4090 GPUs, with the 490mm of space. This case was able to house various RTX 3090Ti builds that we’ve done over the course of the RTX 3000 lifespan.
Although this case is overkill for the majority of consumers – we all love to see insane PC builds, and the HAF700 EVO definitely fits this prerequisite. The sheer size and clearance of this case is enough to fit a ridiculous set of components, and is perfect for enthusiasts that can afford the best parts money can buy.
Key Specs
| Spec | Thermaltake Core P3 TG Pro |
|---|---|
| Max GPU Length | 490mm |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX, SSI CEB, SSI EEB |
| CPU Cooler Height Clearance | 166mm |
| PSU Support | ATX |
Things We Like
Awesome LCD display: The front panel of the HAF700 EVO offers an LCD display which can be fully customised to your heart’s content. Whether you’d prefer GIFs, RGB lighting, or system specs, this LCD panel can display a variety of different things.
Ridiculous clearance and internal space: The HAF 700 EVO has a huge amount of space inside. There is enough room to fit two entire PCs within this chassis, alongside multiple radiators, fans, and more.
Glass front panel: Alongside the LCD display, consumers will also be able to notice the glass sheets located on the front panel. This is one of the more unique design elements that comes with the HAF700 EVO.
Things We Don’t Like
Extremely expensive: As you can probably imagine, this case does not sit at a low price point. Consumers can expect to pay $500 or more for this particular case due to its various features and design.
Overkill even for the RTX 4090: As much as the 4090 is an insane graphics card, the majority of consumers won’t need a case this big to support it. As much as the HAF700 EVO is awesome, this won’t be worth picking up for the average consumer.
Summary
Cooler Master’s HAF700 EVO is one of the best cases we’ve ever had in the office. It offers a gigantic set of features, it looks awesome, and can fit a myriad of components, and it comes with an LCD display. Although this case is very expensive and extremely overkill, you get what you pay for.
Pros
- Comes with an LCD display.
- Supports a vast array of component configurations.
- Perfect for enthusiasts.
Cons
- One of the most expensive cases on the market.
- Overkill for most consumers.
Where to Buy
Buy the Cooler Master HAF 700 EVO on:
How to Tell if a GPU Fits into a Case.
One of the biggest factors to consider when picking out your case is whether the GPU actually fits. Now yes, if on the manufacturers website it tell you that your case has about 10-20mm more than the max GPU length, it will technically fit. But the biggest issue is that your GPU could effectively suffocate your case, drastically increasing the thermals of your build, and worst case scenario – causing damage to other components.
Finding the right balance between compatibility and ample space is pivotal in ensuring that your graphics card doesn’t hurt the thermal efficiency of your build. The RTX 4090 is huge, and will technically fit in many cases. NZXT’s latest H5 cases are a prime example of this. You can fit an RTX 4090 in this case, but should you? Probably not! The thermals are weak, and the smaller size means that there’s less room for other components to breathe, worsening performance and overall temperatures.
I’d argue the balance is finding a case that offers 50-100mm extra on top of the length of the GPU. This means there will be plenty of space between your front panel and the far right side of your GPU. It will also leave room for a front water-cooling radiator, something many 4090 buyers will likely need for their high-end CPUs. The point we are making here, is that the RTX 4090 needs to fit when you take into account all of the other components you are likely to need for a top-tier PC build.
How Big is the RTX 4090?
If you’re still in the buying process and you’re figuring out which RTX 4090 you want, it is worth nothing that some are bigger than others. Many of the AIBs (brands like MSI, ASUS & Gigabyte) have created new shrouded designs that end up being chunkier and bigger than that of the Founders Edition. Below we’ve created a table that shows the dimensions of a variety of RTX 4090 cards, so you’ve got an idea of how big they are.
The AIB designs are often larger to facilitate better cooling and higher clock speeds, better facilitating overclocking.
| GPU | Dimensions |
| Nvidia RTX 4090 Founders Edition | Length: 304mm Width: 137mm |
| Gigabyte AORUS RTX 4090 Master | Length: 358.5mm Width: 162.8mm |
| Zotac Gaming RTX 4090 AMP Extreme AIRO | Length: 355.5mm Width: 149.6mm |
| Palit RTX 4090 GameRock OC | Length: 329.4mm Width: 137.5mm |
| ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC | Length: 357.6mm Width: 149.3mm |
| MSI RTX 4090 Suprim Liquid X | Card: Length: 280mm Width: 140mm Radiator + Fans: Length: 274mm Width: 121mm |
As you can see from the above table, all of these GPUs vary in size both in width and length. The most interest thing to note here is that the Suprim X Liquid and Founders Edition are actually the smallest cards out of the bunch. However, the Liquid Cooled MSI card comes with the added 240mm radiator that you’ll need to install somewhere inside your case.
The biggest card here is the RTX 4090 Master from Gigabyte, which has a very hefty heatsink. You’ll need to accommodate for this when picking out a case, but the advantage is you get access to larger fans and heatsinks with these bigger cards, which will help with thermals and overclocking.
Why You Can Trust Us
The GeekaWhat team is a group of enthusiasts and geeks who are extremely passionate when it comes to recommending the best bang for buck options in the PC gaming and tech space. With a plethora of components coming into our offices from major brands, the editorial team tests all of them to determine which are the best options to feature. They act entirely independent of any brands or third parties, and their remit is to find and recommend products that they would personally buy with their own money.
How We Picked the Best Cases for the RTX 4090
Picking out cases to pair up with the 4090 was quite simple in the grand scheme of things. Due to the extreme size of this GPU, many case options are automatically ruled out because they simply won’t fit. After doing this, we then established which cases offered 50mm of clearance and above. Although there are many cases that can support the size of the RTX 4090, you may find your GPU struggling for air if there isn’t enough clearance.
Ensuring that your components have enough room to breath and enough space between them is vital for thermals. Ultimately if you don’t have enough clearance, you won’t be able to install your components correctly, resulting in damage. You can read full reviews of some of the cases that we’ve covered in this roundup. We’ve looked at some of these cases in more depth covering the various features, and designs.
Conclusion
Best Overall Case for the RTX 4090: Lian Li O11D Mini
Lian Li’s O11D Mini is one of the best cases on the market right now. The unique front and side panel design provides a wide window into your build. The chassis also supports numerous component configurations, with options for custom liquid cooling loops. This case can be difficult to build in, but some perseverance will net you an awesome build.
Read our Best PC Cases guide or Buy the Lian Li O11D Mini on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need to Worry about Motherboard Support?
Yes! Although most cases tend to support Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, and ATX motherboards, not all chassis’ follow the same design. You’ll want to check the manufacturers website to check your motherboard is supported in your chosen case.
What Power Supply Do I Need for the RTX 4090?
As a general rule of thumb you’ll want a 1000W power supply as a minimum for the RTX 4090. However, the size of your PSU will be dictated by the case of the manufacturer. Most cases support ATX as standard, but you may need an SFX or SFX-L PSU in your case instead.
How Much Clearance Do I Need?
We normally like to say that 50mm-100mm is the ideal amount of clearance you’ll need for your graphics card. But this ultimately depends on your other components. If you’ve got plenty of radiators or fans, you may need more.
What is the Difference between Mid-Tower and Full Tower?
Quite simply – the size. Mid-Tower PCs are more common and will only reach a certain size. The iCUE 5000T is a good example of a large mid-tower case. A Full Tower is the biggest chassis you can buy which will be able to fit the most amount of components. The HAF700 EVO is a prime example of this.
