What Are Dual Chamber PC Cases?
Dual chamber PC cases are cases which have two separate compartments within the chassis. The main compartment is reserved for the main components such as the Graphics Card, Motherboard and CPU. The secondary compartment is used to hold the power supply, Storage Devices and Cables which do not need to be on display.
Essentially, Dual Chamber PC Cases are great at displaying your hardware in a better fashion compared to traditional PC cases. Along with this, dual chamber PC cases have better cooling as larger cases are better at dissipating heat, plus you can add more fans and radiators into these cases.
What Should I Look For In A PC Case?
When buying a dual chamber PC case, you should choose carefully as the PC case is actually pretty important when it comes to building a PC. Aesthetics is subjective, but you should pick a case you’ll enjoy looking at; ugly cases can be a turn off.
The PC Case Size Matters:
When you purchase a dual chamber PC case, one of the first things you consider is the form factor of the case. This slightly determines which type of motherboard goes with your case. For example, your ATX motherboard may not fit within a Mini-ITX case. Please refer to this table for more information on motherboard compatibility:
| Form Factor | Dimensions(length x width) | Supported Cases Screw holes |
|---|---|---|
| Extended-ATX | 305 x 330 mm | EATX Cases |
| Standard-ATX | 305 x 244 mm | Full/Mid ATX Cases |
| Micro-ATX | 244 X 244 mm | Full/Mid/Micro ATX Cases |
| Mini-ITX | 150 x 150 mm | Full/Mid/Micro/Mini ATX Cases |
Cable Management Support Matters:
Cable management is important for 2 reasons, it is important for airflow and general aesthetics. A cluster of cables will inhibit the flow of air in the system and cause components to be hotter than they should, and they also look unattractive. A decent PC case should have cutouts where you can run cables through so they’re out of sight.
PC Case Aesthetics Matter:
The presentation will always matter when you’re building a computer, and you should pick a PC case that fits the visualization of your build. The most popular PC cases come in neutral colors such as black and white, this is because they go well with every other color.
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| Image | Product Name | Specs & Features |
|---|---|---|
 | Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic | Brand: Lian Li Side Panel: Tempered Glass Material: Steel |
 | Corsair Carbide Series Air 540 | Brand: Corsair Side Panel: Acrylic Material: Steel |
 | Thermaltake Core V1 | Brand: Thermaltake Side Panel: Interchangeable Material: SPCC |
 | CORSAIR Crystal Series 680X | Brand: Corsair Side Panel: Tempered Glass Material: Steel/Plastic |
 | CORSAIR CRYSTAL 280X Case | Brand: Corsair Side Panel: Tempered Glass Material: Steel |
Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic
The Lian LI PC-O11 Dynamic is a Mid-tower dual chamber PC case which are the most common options when building a PC whether it’s for gaming or not.
The case can support up to EATX motherboards which means you have the option of more expandability with RAM and PCI-E slots. Also, it supports Mini-ITX motherboards which may look odd, but it’ll save you some money.
The front panel consists of aluminum and tempered glass whereas the side panel is mostly tempered glass, this is great for displaying the hardware. The actual body is steel which means this case will be quite durable.
The Lian LI PC-O11 Dynamic supports 120x360MM, 120x240MM, and 140x280MM radiators; If you’re looking for a liquid cooling solution, then you’ll have plenty of options for your radiator.
The Lian LI PC-O11 is compared to other dual chamber cases such as the Razer variant of the PC-O11 which basically has green USB ports and chroma sync.
Price wise, the Lian LI PC-O11 costs around $150 which is decently priced considering the build quality and the fact it’s a dual chamber PC case.
How Good Is The Cable Management & Compatibility?
| Case Type | Mid Tower |
| Front Panel USB | USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A |
| Motherboard Form Factors | ATX EATX Micro ATX Mini ITX |
| Full Height Expansion Slots | 8 |
| Internal 2.5″ Bays | 4 |
| Internal 3.5″ Bays | 2 |
Considering this is a dual chamber PC case, a decent cable management system is expected. All the cables will be excluded from the main chamber of the case, as well as power supplies and storage devices.
Compatibility wise, your CPU cooler if opting for air must be less than 155MM tall, and your graphics card has a maximum of 159MM clearance.
The side panel radiator slot can accept radiators up to 50MM thick. Additionally, the case can support up to 2 power supplies.
What Is The User Experience?
Experience wise, the case is quite spacey; you can cram a lot of cables in the back of the case, so it suggests cable management is simpler than traditional tower cases. You also have two locations where you can place your power supply depending on what size it is.
Users reported that the case has excellent airflow; you may even experience a big decrease in temperature due to the ambient air being much cooler compared to traditional Mid-tower cases. Also, there are plenty of water cooling options, so if you want to go down that route, you’ll find plenty of room to place your radiators.
A negative experience with this case is the fact the rear chamber might not be able to accommodate your radiator of choice. Ensure your radiator meets the case specifications to avoid this issue. On top of that, users have reported the user manual not being user friendly.
Features Of The Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic
The Lian-LI PC-O11 has the capability to house up to 3 radiators without interference. This will be beneficial for advanced liquid cooling solutions such as custom loops.
The case also has dual power supply capabilities for efficiency. The drive caddy can be swapped for a second power supply or be switched for the lower position.
Double layer cable management design, you can remove cables from the main chamber of the case by utilizing the angled motherboard tray and the back side cable management bar.
Advanced dust collection system utilizing 4 dust filters which two are located in the secondary chamber for the PSU, Cables & Drives, and one on the top and bottom of the PC case.
Pros
- The case exposes the interior of the chamber better than most dual chamber cases. This case is perfect if you’re trying to show off your build as you can see the inside even from the front panel of the case.
- Multiple radiator support. You can place up to 3 radiators as it has fan mounts on the top bottom and inside the case. This is great if you’re looking for an advanced cooling solution.
- Easy cable management. The case is designed with cable management in mind, so it makes it hard for you to cable manage it badly.
Cons
- User manual not friendly. The documentation is quite vague which can lead to confusion especially for someone that has never used this case before. To circumvent this issue, it’s recommended to watch reviews on YouTube.
Corsair Carbide Series Air 540
The Corsair Carbide Series Air 540 is a cube style dual chamber PC case which is a Mid tower ATX case. It has an acrylic side panel where you can see the inside of the case through.
The Air 540 can support EATX motherboards for more expandability if you’re going for a really powerful PC build. It also supports Mini ITX motherboards if you want to use one for some reason.
The Air 540 uses acrylic glass instead of tempered glass which means the glass may be more prone to scratches, and may become foggy over time. The actual chassis is made of steel which is quite durable.
The Air 540 and the Crystal 680X are often compared with each other, the Air 540 is cheaper and features acrylic glass instead of the more scratch resistant tempered glass which the Crystal 680X has. The Crystal 680X is definitely the more fancy option as you’re able to see your RGB fans as well as the inside of your case better.
Price wise, the Air 540 comes in at around $140, and it also has a two year long warranty.
How Good Is The Cable Management & Compatibility?
| Case Type | Mid Tower |
| Front Panel USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A |
| Motherboard Form Factors | ATX EATX Micro ATX Mini ITX |
| Full Height Expansion Slots | 8 |
| Internal 2.5″ Bays | 4 |
| Internal 3.5″ Bays | 2 |
The dual chamber air 540 has a separate compartment for the drives and power supply to drive away the heat from the CPU and GPU.
As for cable management, the case is quite roomy, and the management of the cables is simple even for beginner builders.
Compatibility wise, the maximum GPU length is 320MM; you should have lots of clearance for your GPU.
The maximum PSU length is 250MM, most power supplies are under 250MM in length, even the 1600W EVGA T2.
And for CPU coolers, the air cooler height must be under 170MM, and the supported radiator sizes are : 120MM; 240MM; 280MM; 360MM
What Is The User Experience?
The cable management experience is reported to be quite easy. Many users have stated that the cable management is straight forward; you can get a great looking system with very little effort.
Don’t underestimate how big this case is, it has a lot of space for hardware and cables. Users have experienced lower temperatures due to the fact that the case is decently large.
Users have stated that you have to be extra careful when handling the side panel as it can scratch easier than tempered glass panels.
Features Of The Corsair Carbide Series Air 540
The Corsair Carbide Air 540 comes with fans which provide decent airflow to the CPU and the GPU. It has custom AF140L intake and exhaust fans which provide decent airflow.
Direct Airflow Path Design. This feature’s purpose is to deliver cool air to the CPU, GPU, Motherboard, Memory, and other PCIE components without the power supply and drives increasing the ambient temperature a lot.
Built for advanced water cooling. You have more options when it comes to hiding your pumps and tubing so they don’t interfere with the main build.
The PC case is designed for fast, easy and satisfying builds. You get a tinted flush-mount side window to show off your hard work.
Pros
- You have a large amount of space within the main chamber. This allows for advanced water cooling solutions such as custom water loops, and it can support large graphics cards.
- The cable management is simple. The PC case is designed for fast and effective builds, you can easily hide the cables, power supply, and storage devices in the secondary chamber without them influencing your main components.
- Great for first time builders. If you’re a beginner and you ever get stuck, the manual is user friendly; you wont need to resort to using YouTube when building in this case.
Cons
- Acrylic side panel may scratch easier compared to tempered glass side panels. Extra care is required when cleaning; be mindful of which fabric you are using when wiping the side panel.
Thermaltake Core V1
The Core V1 is a Mini-ITX option if you’re going for a dual chamber build, It features an interchangeable side panel which you can switch accordingly to fit your build.
The Core V1 can only support Mini-ITX motherboards which is great for conserving space, but you’ll be sacrificing expandability when going for this case. This is the perfect dual chamber case if you’re going for a niche build.
This dual chamber PC case has great customizability in terms of switching out the side panel windows. You can use a glass window if you want to show off your build, or use a ventilation side panel for better thermals. The actual build is SPCC steel which is durable.
Since this is a Mini-ITX dual chamber case, you can only install 1x120MM or 1x140MM radiator in the front panel. Fan support, you can install 1x120MM or 1x140MM, or 1x200MM at the front, and the rear supports 2x80MM fans.
The Thermaltake Core V1 is compared to the Core V21 which is an interesting comparison as the V21 can support dual system builds which can hold a completely different set of components. The V21 does have dual chamber support as well, and they’re both Mini-ITX PC cases.
Price wise, the ThermalTake Core V1 will cost you around $51 which is quite cheap for a dual chamber PC case, but it makes sense considering its much smaller and uses less components than larger cases.
How Good Is The Cable Management & Compatibility?
| Case Type | Mini ITX Tower |
| Front Panel USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A |
| Motherboard Form Factors | Mini ITX |
| Full Height Expansion Slots | 2 |
| Internal 2.5″ Bays | 2 |
| Internal 3.5″ Bays | 2 |
The ThermalTake Core V1 is divided into two chambers, the upper chamber is where you will keep your main components. The lower chamber is for the PSU and the cable management.
Compatibility wise, the CPU cooler has a max limit of 140MM, and the PSU length limit is 180MM.
You will only have 2 full height expansion slots so you’ll need to use these slots wisely as you don’t have a lot of expandability.
What Is The User Experience?
As for user experience, if you’re going to use an SFX power supply, then cable management should be straight forward as the cables are much smaller than ATX PSUs. Since it’s a dual chamber case, there will be a sizable amount of space dedicated to PSUs and cables.
Users have experienced this dual chamber case being larger than most Mini ITX cases, and the case is perfect if you’re looking for a cube build. If you want to look at your build, all you have to do is look down through the window or look through the side panel holes.
Users have reported having problems installing 4 drives which the case is advertised to be able to do. You may experience problems mounting 2×2.5″ drives due to there being no brackets or screw holes.
Features Of The Thermaltake Core V1
Advanced Ventilation. The Core V1 has mounting points to support all types of cooling systems whether its Air, AIO, or a Custom Loop; there is also a large 200MM fan pre-installed in the front.
Interchangeable Side Panel. Symmetrical panels allow the user to swap between different side panels to fit the style of your build. You can choose to use the glass side panel for presentation, or a side panel for cooling performance.
Chambers Concept. The Core V1 is a dual chamber case which is divided into two separate chambers. The upper chamber is reserved for cooling performance for the main components – CPU, GPU, Memory, Motherboard. The secondary chamber is made to house the PSU and cable management.
Pros
- Interchangeable side panels means you can modify the case to fit the style you’re looking for. You can pick between a glass side panel or a metal side panel with ventilation holes. So basically you can pick between presentation or cooling performance.
- The cable management is pretty easy considering it’s a Mini-ITX case. There is plenty of room to store your cables, and the air flow is excellent.
- The case can fit an ATX case, but this will be harmful for your cable management as the cables are longer as well as the power supply being larger.
Cons
- The case may be too noisy. The pre-installed fans can be too loud, so you may have to swap the fans out and use quieter units.
CORSAIR Crystal Series 680X
The Corsair Crystal Series 680X is a dual chamber mid tower PC case with a clean looking tempered glass side panel which is great for showing off the components.
If you’re looking for expandability, this case allows for EATX motherboards to be installed; EATX motherboards allows for more RAM and PCIE components to be installed.
The chassis mostly consists of steel and tempered glass which makes for a durable case. Be careful when handling tempered glass as it can crack into many small pieces.
The Crystal Series 680X is very similar to the Corsair Carbide series 540 as they’re both dual chamber mid tower cases. The 680X features a better side panel if you’re looking to show off your build more, and the Corsair carbide series 540 is a more budget option.
Price wise, the 680X is an expensive option costing around $264 dollars. It is a beautiful case perfect for many cooling solutions.
How Good Is The Cable Management & Compatibility?
| Case Type | Mid Tower |
| Front Panel USB | USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A |
| Motherboard Form Factors | ATX EATX Micro ATX Mini ITX |
| Full Height Expansion Slots | 8 |
| Internal 2.5″ Bays | 4 |
| Internal 3.5″ Bays | 3 |
The Corsair Series 680X already has 4x120MM fans pre installed, you can leave it how it is as they’re configured to deliver cool air and exhaust the warm air.
There are 3 LL120 RGB fans which is great if you’re looking for an RGB build. You can disabled the lights either way.
The supported radiators are: 120MM, 140MM, 240MM, 280MM, and 360MM. Your GPU must not exceed 330MM, your PSU must not exceed 225MM, and your CPU cooler must not be taller than 180MM.
What Is The User Experience?
Someone has stated the case being easy to construct your build in. This is a great experience which this case offers, you can easily disassemble the front bottom and top which gives you access to tight spaces for cable management.
The case is said to offer amazing cable management support with tons of places to zip tie the cables for tidiness, but it may be tedious depending on the length of your cables.
You may need to accommodate a fan in the secondary chamber to keep your drives at an appropriate temperature. The rear chamber may keep in a lot of hot air.
Features Of The CORSAIR Crystal Series 680X
High quality airflow. The Corsair Crystal Series 680X comes with fans pre installed which are configured to deliver heat to the components that generate the most heat which are your GPU & CPU. You’ll have 4 of these fans which deliver cool air and exhaust the warm air.
The case comes with a Corsair lighting node PRO which is a RGB controller. You can utilize Corsairs ICUE software which will give you a lot of RGB profiles. Make sure to use ICUE compatible components.
Three crystal clear tempered glass side panels which are located on the front panel, the roof, and on the hinged side panel. This is great for showing off your build.
Pros
- Very easy to build in. You can easily deconstruct the front, bottom and the top of the PC case to access tight areas for cable management.
- There are plenty of options in the secondary chamber for cable management. You can utilize the many locations for zip ties to keep your build neat and tidy.
- Aesthetically the case is very pleasing as it comes with pre-installed RGB fans which you can configure to your liking. Plus the clear tempered glass side panels allow the user to peek inside the case.
Cons
- You may need to install a fan in the secondary chamber just to keep the cables, storage devices, and the power supply running at an appropriate temperature.
CORSAIR CRYSTAL 280X Micro-ATX Case
The Corsair Crystal is a Micro ATX dual chamber PC case which is slightly larger than Mini-ITX PC cases. It has tempered glass on the side panel, top and the front of the case.
The Corsair Crystal 280X can support Micro ATX and Mini ITX motherboards, so this case will have a little more expandability compared to the ThermalTake Core V1.
The use of tempered glass means this case is great for showing off your components. You’ll be able to install RGB fans in the front panel for added lightning effects.
The Corsair Crystal 280X is basically a Micro ATX version of the Dual chamber Corsair Crystal 680X. If you like the 680X but want to downsize, then this case will offer more compression.
Price wise, it’s similar to mid tower dual chamber cases which may be due to all the included fans this case has to offer.
How Good Is The Cable Management & Compatibility?
| Case Type | MicroATX Mid Tower |
| Front Panel USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A |
| Motherboard Form Factors | Micro ATX Mini ITX |
| Full Height Expansion Slots | 4 |
| Internal 2.5″ Bays | 3 |
| Internal 3.5″ Bays | 2 |
The Crystal 280X is a Micro ATX dual chambered PC case which means you should be able to adequately hide your power supply, storage devices and cables in the secondary camber.
For any liquid cooling solutions here are the compatible radiators: 120MM, 140MM, 240MM, 280MM.
As for the clearance side of things, the Crystal 280X allows GPUs up to 300MM long, PSUs up to 180MM long, and CPU coolers up to 150MM tall.
What Is The User Experience?
Cable management is reported to be quite easy once you get a hold of it. There isn’t a lot of space in the back compared to the 680X, but you should be able to get it done with short enough cables.
Your build will look fantastic once everything is put together. Many users like how clean their builds look once fully completed, and the tempered glass panels can really show it off.
It may be difficult to install mATX sized motherboards inside this case even though the case supports Micro ATX motherboards. For an easier experience, we’d recommend you use an Mini ITX motherboards if you don’t mind sacrificing expandability.
As for airflow, the top tempered glass panel can restrict airflow which will limit your cooling options. If you want, you can remove the top glass panel which will greatly improve airflow.
Features Of The CORSAIR CRYSTAL 280X Micro-ATX Case
Three Panel Tempered Glass. This PC case is really made for aesthetics as the top front and side of the case is made of tempered glass which puts the case on display. The front panel can expose your RGB fans as well.
Fully Filtered. The front roof bottom and PSU both have filters to prevent dust from clogging up the system. This further enhances the aesthetic aspect of this PC case by keeping everything dust free.
Stunning RGB Control Software. This PC case comes with an internal ICUE controller for RGB lighting, and the case also has two RGB fans pre installed for aesthetics and cooling. You can cycle through various profiles pre installed.
Pros
- Cable management is quite easy although this is an mATX case. You can use up to an ATX power supply, but they might come with long cables which will hinder your cable management.
- Beautiful case. This case is made to be flashy and put on display. You can see the inside of the PC case from the top, and side. The front panel has tempered glass to show off the RGB fans.
- Great if you’re looking for a smaller build. This PC case isn’t too large which is a good thing since dual chamber cases can be massive especially the ATX variants.
Cons
- It can be a struggle to install mATX motherboards, and this is a bad thing if you’re a beginner. We recommend you use an ITX motherboard to save some time.
