HTPCs and horizontal cases have fallen out of fashion, but they’re kept alive by a loving community (myself included). Horizontal PC cases have many advantages, especially when it comes to space-saving. You can tuck them underneath monitors, entertainment centers, and TV stands for gaming or multimedia in general.
SilverStone Technology Grandia 11
Goodisory A09
Thermaltake Core V21
Fractal Design Ridge
Fractal Design Node 304
Best Horizontal PC Case Overall:SilverStone Technology Grandia 11
The style, the form factor, the I/O—theSilverStone Grandia 11has it all. It’s also one of the few horizontal PC cases that can fit an NVIDIA 40 series GPU horizontally!
It’s one thing to fit an RTX 4090, and it’s another thing entirely to keep it cool, let alone a high-end CPU at the same time. Luckily, the dual-chamber design of the SilverStone Grandia 11 keeps the heat generated by the two from mingling. You can fit a 240mm radiator in the main chamber while fitting two 120mm in the smaller chamber to help keep your GPU cool.
The cherry on top is at the front of the SilverStone Grandia 11, which is all mesh. No part of the case has acrylic or tempered glass panels. Other than the bottom of the case, each side has some form of ventilation.
In all ways but shape, the Silverstone Grandia 11 is essentially a mid-tower PC case. Given its dual-chamber design, cooling capabilities, and support for large graphics cards, it’s the king of horizontal PC cases.
Best Budget Horizontal PC Case:Goodisory A09
If you are considering a multimedia machine or perhaps a low-profile gaming PC, theGoodisory A09is a great option. Sure, it’s small, but with a little creativity, it’ll impress you.
You can rest easy knowing the Goodisory A09 won’t create any negative pressure because every side, but the bottom, has ventilation. That won’t be a problem, considering the CPU fan will be blowing heat out the top. Install a good CPU, and it’ll rock as a multimedia PC. There’s also just enough room to fit a riser cable and a low-profile GPU.
Given its dimensions, the Goodisory A09 is perfect for building a budget multimedia PC. Its very small footprint makes it easy to find a place for it, and it has built-in Wi-Fi antenna holes to lessen cable management woes.
Best Horizontal PC Case for Gaming:Thermaltake Core V21
It’s not often you find a case with a lot of customization options, but it’s necessary when building your dream gaming rig. With theThermaltake Core V21, the magic is in its modular design.
The Thermaltake Core V21 has no qualms about orientation; in fact, you can decide where the bottom of the case is. Each panel—one acrylic, two with vents, and the bottom—can be rearranged to your liking. Even the front panel, with a cutout for the I/O, can be turned any way.
The inside of the Thermal Core V21 is just as accommodating. In addition to your choice of a vertical or horizontal motherboard, you get two sets of fan rails, each of which supports 120mm and 140mm fans or a thick 280mm AIO. Regardless of your setup, a massive 200mm fan at the front provides ample cooling.
The Thermaltake Core V21 is bursting with customization, from panels that can be swapped to an I/O that can change directions. Thanks to its modularity, it plays out the same way internally, even giving you the option of mounting your motherboard horizontally or vertically.
Best White Horizontal PC Case:Fractal Design Ridge
TheFractal Design Ridgeis not only a stylish HTPC but also one that’s incredibly easy to work with, thanks to every panel being removable.
As slim as the Fractal Design Ridge is, you’d be surprised by how easy it is to work with. Normally, these cases have one or maybe two removable panels. The beauty of the Ridge is that every panel can be removed, making setup as painless as possible. It really comes in handy when you measure down to the millimetre.
Despite its form factor, the Fractal Design Ridge is hiding a few tricks up its sleeve. For example, you can mount not one or two, but four SSDs to the case. And it still has room for two 140mm fans and a PCIe 4.0 riser card. It would look killer with awhite motherboardto match!
Horizontal PC cases already have points in style, so why not go a bit further with a white case? The arctic white finish of the Fractal Design Ridge is striking enough, but even more so with the gray fabric cover at the front. The Ridge isn’t all style—it can handle GPUs 335mm in length, too!
Best Mini-ITX Horizontal PC Case:Fractal Design Node 304
If you’re set on working with a mini-ITX motherboard, theFractal Design Node 304is the horizontal PC case for you. It’s perfect for that middle-of-the-road gaming rig that’ll sit beautifully on a small desk or on your TV stand.
When you crack open the case, it’s immediately apparent the Fractal Design Node 304 is meant to store as much data as it can. It features three drive caddies, each of which holds two 3.5 or 2.5-inch drives for a total of six. At least five of those can be filled with all manner of video games, movies, and TV shows.
Two 92mm fans are pre-installed at the front, while a thick 140mm fan is ready at the back. With ventilation (and dust filters) on the sides acting as exhaust for your PSU and GPU, cooling won’t be an issue. Keep in mind that if you want a GPU 310mm in length—the maximum the Fractal Design Node 304 can handle—then you’ll need to get a smaller power supply and remove two of the HDD/SSD brackets.
Given its size and cooling performance, it’s hard to imagine the Fractal Design Node 304 as anything other than a mini-gaming rig. It even holds as many as six SSD/HDDs for all your storage needs!
Q: What is a HTPC case?
HTPC means “home theater personal computer,” which is simply a computer that incorporates features of a computer with a home theater device like a stereo or DVD player. For example, the case may be short and wide rather than thin and tall like a mid-tower case.
You may also refer to them as a horizontal case!
Q: Why would I choose a horizontal PC case over a vertical one?
A horizontal PC case would certainly add a bit of flair to a TV stand or tucked under a monitor that’s been mounted to the desk or wall. Like many cases, it’s mainly an aesthetic, but its shape does come in handy in niche situations.
Q: Is it okay to put PC components horizontally?
Yes, it is perfectly fine to install PC parts horizontally. What matters most is airflow, not orientation. The only component that may disagree is any water tubing you have installed.
Q: Do horizontal PC towers take up less space?
On average, tower cases take up less space since their footprint is much smaller than a horizontal PC case.
