Introduction
Whenever a new graphics card releases on the market, the first question that we often end up asking is “do I need to buy a new case“. As the market becomes saturated with more options, we’ll see a number of new cards pushing the clearance boundaries even further, resulting in consumers having to rethink their component choices.
As we’ve seen with NVIDIA’s RTX 4000 range of graphics cards, many of the new market alternatives are rather large, which can cause clearance problems, or at the worst, installation issues. And this raises the question, are AMD‘s brand new Radeon 7000 cards going to cause the same issues? And if so, what case should I choose? In this roundup we’ll be answering these very questions with a roundup of the best cases for the Radeon RX 7700 XT. We’ll also be following this up with a buyers guide of the best cases for the 7800 XT too.
Suggested Article: AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT Review – Sapphire Pulse Edition
Our Recommendations
1. Montech Air 100 Lite
👑 The best budget case for the 7700 XT.
First up is the Air 100 Lite from Montech. A budget case that comes in black and white, geared towards price conscious consumers. The Air 100 Lite is equipped with a mesh front, a tempered glass side panel, and a modern set of IO. This case doesn’t have an insane set of features, but this is likely down to the price that this chassis comes in at. Whilst there are better options on the market when it comes to clearance, airflow, and design, the price of the Air 100 Lite is difficult to argue with, making it an awesome budget option.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Montech Air 100 Lite |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Micro-ATX |
| Fan Support | 8 x 120mm, 2 x 140mm |
| Motherboard Support | Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX |
| Max GPU Length | 330mm |
| CPU Cooler Clearance | 161mm |
Things We Like
Excellent price point: The Air 100 Lite comes in around the $50 mark, which is incredibly cheap for a modern option. Montech are really prioritising the budget side of the market here, and its great to see such an affordable case.
Plenty of GPU clearance: This chassis offers plenty of internal space, sporting a max GPU length of 330mm. As long as you haven’t crammed in a range of other massive components, you shouldn’t have any issues installing your new 7700 XT.
Things We Don’t Like
Lack of modern features: Although the Montech Air 100 Lite is a solid budget option, that’s all it really is. There’s no support for E-ATX motherboards, or 360mm radiators. What’s more, there’s also not a GPU support bracket, or many cable channels, so be aware that this case is lacklustre due to the lower price point.
Can’t install an ATX motherboard: Unfortunately, to add to the list of unsupported components, the Air 100 Lite only has space for Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX motherboards. If you’ve got an ATX board, you’ll probably want to rethink your case option.
Summary
Montech’s Air 100 Lite is an excellent budget case, geared towards consumers really looking to minimise their spending on their component choices. There isn’t much to be said about the features, but if you’re looking for a cheap chassis to install of your components, this case will definitely provide that.
Features: 3.8/5
Design: 4.3/5
GPU Clearance: 4.1/5
Value for Money: 4.2/5
Pros
- Extremely cheap.
- Mostly modern IO.
- Nice minimalist design.
Cons
- Lack of modern features.
- Doesn’t support ATX boards.
Where to Buy
Buy the Montech Air 100 Lite on:
2. Corsair 4000D Airflow
👑 The best airflow case for the 7700 XT.
Next up is the Corsair 4000D Airflow, one of the strongest and popular cases on the market right now. The 4000D Airflow is a case that we’ve looked at a mass of different times because it is plainly awesome. Corsair have maximised airflow by utilising a mesh front panel, so all of your components should stay nice and cool. There’s a mass of room larger parts, including 360mm radiators. You’ve got access to 360mm of GPU clearance, which is more than enough for the 7700 XT. And this chassis also supports E-ATX boards, so if you’re building more of a top-end system, there’s ample space for large and feature-rich motherboards.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Corsair 4000D Airflow |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | E-ATX, Mid-Tower |
| Colours | Black, White |
| Front Panel | 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x audio jack |
| Fan Support | 4x 140mm or 3x 120mm, 1x 120mm |
| Radiator Support | 1x 360mm, 1x, 240mm, 1x 120mm |
| Included Fans | 2x 120mm |
| Drive Bays | 2x 2.5″, 2x 3.5″ |
Things We Like
Perfect for modern builds: The 4000D has plenty of room for modern components such as E-ATX boards, or larger radiators, up to 360mm. There shouldn’t be any major clearance issues with this case, allow consumers to enjoy a hassle-free experience.
Excellent airflow: Corsair’s Airflow cases are some of the best in the market when it comes to thermals. If you’re worried about your case being an oven, we’d recommend taking a look at the 4000D Airflow, as you’ll have no trouble extruding thermals in your chassis.
Things We Don’t Like
Likely at the end of life: Although this is a case we absolutely adore, the 4000D Airflow has been around for quite some time. It is likely Corsair are gearing up to either revise this case, or bring out an entirely new model.
5000D Airflow offers more space: The 5000D Airflow is the younger sibling of the 4000D, but it is effectively a larger and slightly updated version. If you’ve picked up an AIB model, you might need to secure a larger chassis, and this is where the 5000D thrives.
Summary
Corsair’s 4000D Airflow is one of the most popular and best priced cases on the market right now, ideal for those looking to build a modern system with the latest and greatest GPUs. While the 5000D might be a better option when it comes to space, the 4000D serves as an awesome entry point that focuses on thermals.
Features: 4.2/5
Design: 4.3/5
GPU Clearance: 4.4/5
Value for Money: 4.4/5
Pros
- Ample space for modern components.
- Massive focus on airflow and thermals.
- Competitively priced.
Cons
- 5000D Airflow has more space.
- 4000D is an older case, likely to be EOL.
Where to Buy
Buy the Corsair 4000D Airflow on:
3. NZXT H5 Flow
👑 The best minimalist case for the 7700 XT.
Our third case recommendation is the H5 Flow. NZXT have started to significantly improve their cases in recent months, with many of the new options offering better airflow and thermal capability, contrasting to their older, and much hotter cases. The H5 Flow is a particularly solid option based on its lower price, and excellent component support. NZXT always offer very well designed cases that provide a sophisticated minimalist aesthetic, and the H5 Flow is no exception. This compact mid-tower case is an excellent option for a number of consumers.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | NZXT H5 Flow |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX, Mid-Tower |
| Colours | Black, White |
| Front Panel | 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x audio jack |
| Fan Support | 2x 140mm or 5x 120mm |
| Radiator Support | Front: Up to 280mm Top: Up to 240mm Rear: Up to 120mm |
| Included Fans | 2x 120mm |
| Drive Bays | 2x 2.5″, 1x 3.5″ |
Things We Like
Well priced: NZXT cases generally tend to be pretty expensive, with their Elite models absolutely topping the charts versus market alternatives. However, the H5 Flow is actually one of NZXT’s more affordable options, striking a nice balance between features and pricing.
Super easy to build in: NZXT are also pretty well renowned for creating cases that are easy to build in, and the H5 Flow shares a similar story. This case is pretty easy to build in, there’s plenty of cable channels and management options, so there shouldn’t be much hassle getting your system put together.
Things We Don’t Like
Bottom fan is pointless: I fully understand what NZXT were trying to do here, but the execution was a bit poor. The ‘toilet bowl’ looking fan at the bottom of the case doesn’t really do much for airflow, beyond creating more noise in your case. So if you’d prefer silence, we recommend removing it or looking at another chassis.
IO could be better: NZXT have done their best here to include a modern set of IO, and its nice to see USB 3.2 options. However, there’s just two ports here. I feel NZXT could have included a couple of extra USB 2.0 options to provide consumers with more connectivity.
Summary
The H5 Flow from NZXT is a great compact mid-tower case, offering a minimalist design that focuses on airflow. There are some strange design choices such as the bottom fan, and the lack of rear IO, but if we put this aside, the H5 Flow is an awesome case that comes in at a very competitive price point in the current market.
Features: 4.2/5
Design: 4.5/5
GPU Clearance: 4.2/5
Value for Money: 4.3/5
Pros
- Well priced.
- Very easy to build in.
- Sophisticated minimalist aesthetic.
Cons
- Bottom fan doesn’t do much.
- Front IO needs improvement.
Where to Buy
Buy the NZXT H5 Flow on:
4. Cooler Master TD500 Mesh V2
👑 The best versatile case for the 7700 XT
The final case of this roundup is the TD500 Mesh V2 from Cooler Master. We’ve taken a look at this case in a full review before, along with the older and smaller sibling of this particular chassis. The original TD500 Mesh is one of our favourite cases, and when Cooler Master revised this chassis, we were overly excited. Overall the TD500 Mesh V2 hasn’t changed much versus its predecessor, but there’s been some solid versatility and usability changes that makes this case worth considering, such as the removable top panel, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C support, removable PSU shroud, and stronger hardware compatibility.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Cooler Master TD500 Mesh V2 |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | E-ATX, Mid-Tower |
| Colours | Black, White |
| Front Panel | 2x USB Type-A, 1x USB Type-C, 1x Audio Jack |
| Fan Support | 4x 140mm or 7x 120mm |
| Radiator Support | Front: Up to 360mm Top: Up to 360mm Rear: Up to 120mm |
| Included Fans | 3x 120mm ARGB |
| Drive Bays | 3x 2.5″, 2x 3.5″ |
Things We Like
Pretty cheap: The TD500 Mesh V2 comes in at a price point below $100, which is very competitive considering how feature-rich this case is. For consumers looking to pick up a more budget-oriented case, the TD500 Mesh sits at a great price.
Nice usability features: This case has some nice usability features which should make building much easier, such as the removable top panel, tool-less side panel, and included ARGB/Fan hub.
Things We Don’t Like
Not much of an improvement versus the original revision: Although the V2 version of the TD500 Mesh is a solid option, not much has been changed versus the original version. If you’ve got a V1 of the TD500 Mesh, it probably won’t be worth upgrading to the V2.
Removable PSU cover is pointless: The removable PSU cover on the TD500 Mesh only serves as a feature to enhance the aesthetic. PSUs don’t really add much when it comes to design, so having a cover to “look” at your power supply seems redundant.
Summary
Cooler Master’s TD500 Mesh V2 is an awesome chassis that focuses on usability and versatility. Although there isn’t much of an upgrade versus the original V1 model, this case serves as an excellent option for those looking to build a feature-rich PC without having to break the bank.
Features: 4.5/5
Design: 4.6/5
GPU Clearance: 4.7/5
Value for Money: 4.6/5
Pros
- Very well priced.
- Extremely easy to build in.
- Support for large radiators and motherboards.
Cons
- The PSU cover is effectively pointless.
- Doesn’t provide much of an upgrade versus the V1 chassis.
Where to Buy
Buy the Cooler Master TD500 Mesh V2 on:
How Does the 7700 XT Perform?
The 7700 XT is one of AMD’s brand new graphics cards, catering to the 1440p gaming side of the market. In this second we’ll be briefly delving into some gaming benchmarks to give you an idea of how the new cards perform.
Starfield @ 1440p
The first game that we decided to run was Bethesda’s brand new space-based RPG title – Starfield. Unfortunately, as you’ll see from our data, performance is generally weaker on average versus other games that we’ve tested. This isn’t really down to the hardware of the cards, but more down to how unoptimised Starfield is. Regardless of this, the 7700 XT pushed through and remained strong, offering an average framerate of 74FPS, which we were pretty happy to see.
Hogwarts Legacy @ 1080p
First off in Hogwarts Legacy, the Radeon RX 7700 XT sits at the front of the pack with an average framerate of 111FPS at 1080p. Although 1080p gaming is primarily CPU bound, its nice to see that this new card can easily outperform new GPUs like the 4060 Ti and 4070 without any problems.
@ 1440p
At 1440p we’re seeing a similar situation, with an average framerate of 92FPS. This isn’t quite the advertised ‘high refresh rate’ benchmark that AMD has advertised, but I’d say that 92 frames is still more than reasonable. Hogwarts Legacy isn’t a particularly fast-paced game, so ensuring you can enjoy smoothness isn’t that much of a priority here.
Overwatch 2 @ 1440p
Next up is Overwatch 2 at 1440p. This game isn’t that GPU intensive, due to the visual fidelity of this title. For this reason, the 7700 XT copes extremely well versus all of the other modern and old-gen options we’ve benchmarked in this title. We saw an average framerate of 270FPS which is awesome, consumers can enjoy buttery smooth gameplay, with minimal stutters and hindrances.
The 7700 XT does unfortunately get beat out by an older-gen option, the RTX 3080 Ti, which goes to show how capable RTX 3000 options are. But regardless of this, the 7700 XT easily copes with this game at 1440p, and is a definitive winner for Esports titles.
Why You Can Trust Us
Whenever a new component or product comes into the GeekaWhat office, our team of writers and benchmarks get to work testing and evaluating it. After putting it through various gaming and productivity benchmarks, the results are used to create an extensive overview. In this overview, we’ll compare the product in question’s quality, value, and features to the rest of the market.
If you’re interested in learning more about our editorial team and promise, head to the About Us section on our website.
How We Tested the Best Cases for the 7700 XT
In order to test and evaluate the best cases for the 7700 XT, there are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:
- Airflow
- GPU Clearance
- Versatility and Usability
- Aesthetic
- Value for Money
Conclusion
Best Case for the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT: Cooler Master TD500 Mesh V2
Finishing up this roundup, we’ve picked out the TD500 Mesh V2. This case is by far one of the best options when it comes to usability, and it is incredibly feature-rich. Consumers can install a massive variety of different components without any clearance issues, and all for a pretty reasonable price point.
Read our full TD500 Mesh V2 review, or Buy the TD500 Mesh V2 on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Clearance Do I Need for the 7700 XT?
The reference model card comes in at 266mm, which means that the majority of AIBs will be 300mm or bigger. You’ll want to aim for around 50-100mm more than the reference card, to ensure there’s no installation problems.
Will My Radiator Impact Clearance?
Yes it will. Radiators are quite thick, so a front mounted radiator can affect your building process and installation time. Just double check the size of your radiator versus the GPU length to ensure there’s no problems.
Is the 7700 XT Good?
Yes it is. The 7700XT comes in at a pretty reasonable price point and is capable of handling 1440p and 4K gaming. It easily beats out the RTX 4070 in most titles, which is awesome.
Will an AIB Card Fit in these Cases?
Yes most AIB cards shouldn’t pose any issue. The Sapphire Nitro+ AIB card for instance is 320mm long, so even the Montech Air 100 Lite technically has enough clearance without any front fans installed.
