When one thinks of a computer case, two thoughts spring to mind:

The first is of gaming cases with side panel windows, chrome fan grills and enough neon lighting to make a red light district blush.

The second – the boring office computer that haunts many a cubicle dweller, with its cheap aluminium panels and broken power switch.

The cases we’re looking at in this article are neither.

The higher-end of the PC chassis market is home to large cases with presence. While they lack the neon, the chrome and the side panel windows – these cases turn heads simply due their massive size and presence, as well as the lack of cheap plastics and obvious cost-cutting.

Coolermaster ATCS 840

One of the largest cases available on the market today, the ATCS 840 will stand out in the crowd. Featuring a solid aluminium construction; a front face plate that could double up as body armour; vast array of 230mm fans; and did I mention the ability to support two power supplies?

The ATCS 840 is also a firm favourite among the modding community who feel at home in the large space between body panels.

Coolermaster ATCS 840

Lian Li PC-X2000F

So you want one of the tallest cases in the market? One that doesn’t conform to the usual case orientation? One that has optical drives pointing out of the sides? Then the Lian Li PC-X2000F might be for you.

Looking like it was hewn from a solid piece of aluminium, and then hand-crafted to perfection, the PC-X2000F stands out in a crowd. Legendary Lian Li quality comes standard too, which means your PC will most likely survive world war 3.

Lian Li PC-X2000F

Coolermaster Cosmos S

Probably the most flashy case on this list, the Coolermaster Cosmos S is a perennial favourite among high-end enthusiasts. One of the first cases to support 200mm case fans, the Cosmos S was a regular case for those who enjoyed a combination of high end hardware and lanning.

Handles on top of the case not only look great, but allow people to transport this behemoth to and from LANs with relative ease.

Coolermaster Cosmos S

Corsair Obsidian 800D/700D

The Obsidian 800D from Corsair might have bowed down to gamer wishes and included a side panel window, but that doesn’t stop the case from imposing itself on (or in most cases under) gamer tablets everywhere.

The lesser known 700D is available for purists who think the side panel ruins the presence of the Obsidian series. Sharing the same dimensions as the 800D, the 700D lacks the side panel window and hot-swappable sata drive bays.

Corsair Obsidian 800D

Silverstone Temjin TJ11

The Silverstone Temjin TJ07 was one of the most desirable cases ever to be produced, so much so that a few dedicated South Africans imported the cases at a ridiculous cost. The TJ11 has very large boots to fill, but it does so with much panache.

Similar to the Corsair Obsiadian 800D, the TJ11 comes in two versions – with and without a side window depending on your personal tastes. It also sports a full aluminium construction, and ships at a desk crunching 17.4kgs before you install components.

Not readily available in South Africa, the TJ11 is a very rare case, something enthusiasts will appreciate all the more.

Silverstone Temjin TJ11