Difference Between Mid Tower vs Full Tower Case — Nanoxia USA
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June 12, 2017
Team Nanoxia
Are you ready for your next build but aren’t sure what type of case you need?
Trust me, you’re not alone.
Before you go buying your GPU, CPU, and all the other good stuff, it helps to know what type of build you’re going for.
Two of the most common PC cases you’ll find is the mid-tower and full-tower cases, but what exactly are the differences between the two? We break it down for you here.
| Mid Tower Cases | Full Tower Cases | |
| Motherboards | mATX, ATX | E-ATX, EEB, HPTX |
| PCI-E Slots | 7 — 8 | 7 — 10 |
| Fan Support | 6 — 7 | 10 — 12 |
| Better for Watercooling | — | Yes |
| Better Active Airflow | Yes | — |
| Better for Silence | — | Yes |
| Better for More Hardware | — | Yes |
| Better Cable Management | Yes | — |
| Most Commonly Used For | Workstation, Gaming PC | Homer Servers, DAW, Video Editing |
Generally speaking, mid tower cases are shorter/smaller than full tower cases which means they’ll have smaller motherboards, lesser fans, and expansion slots. Most mid-towers measure 18 inches or more in height, while most full tower cases measure 22 inches or more.
Full tower cases are best for those that want flexible upgrade paths so that you practically never have to replace your case. However, note that although bigger cases have better airflow, you can also risk having hot spots in certain areas of the case where the case fans do not reach.
When to buy a mid-tower case:
- You only need standard ATX motherboards with 1-2 GPU configurations
- Are conscious of price/space
- Better active airflow
When to buy a full tower case:
- Large motherboards for use with 3/4 way GPU configurations
- Large amounts of disk drives
- Advanced/custom water loops
- Special case mods or custom designs
- Want more ease and comfort with building in a case
Looking for your next quiet PC case? Check out our selection of award-winning Deep Silence computer cases.
Have questions? Tell us what is missing on our blog, talk to our team, and share your thoughts below.
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Comments
Ron — May 21, 2019
a squirrel got stuck in my pc and ate my cables. Now what?
Harry — February 28, 2019
Having an x399 zenith extreme .
what casing can I go for.
LINUS — February 22, 2018
can i use ramage vi extreme in fulltower case. i need your help. please sent email on help
Which Is Right for You? – Voltcave
PC Cases
Written by Azzief Khaliq
Last updated Oct 19, 2022
Affiliate Disclosure: When you purchase products through our links, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Picking out parts for your new PC but stuck on the case? We’ve all been there. The mid tower vs. full tower selection can be tricky, mainly because there are so many things to consider.
Given how much of a pain moving a completed rig into a new case can be, starting with the right size case is critical. Let’s go through both mid and full towers so that you can decide which is right for you.
At A Glance
As a rule, mid tower cases are smaller than full tower cases.
This means support for fewer motherboard sizes, fewer PCI-E expansion slots and drive bays, and more limited fan and radiator mounting options. However, they are often cheaper and lighter than full towers, and should be enough for most gamers.
Here’s a quick rundown of some defining differences between the two case sizes. Of course, there will always be exceptions to these numbers. Still, they’re decent ballpark figures that will give you a general idea of what to expect.
| Mid Tower | Full Tower | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | Around 18 inches tall | Around 22 — 25 inches tall |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, occasionally E-ATX | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX, XL-ATX |
| PCIe Expansion Slots | 7 — 9 | 8 — 10 |
| Drive Bays | 5 — 10 | 10 — 15 |
| Fan Mounting Locations | 6 — 9 | 10 — 15 |
| Maximum Radiator Support | 360 mm | 480 mm |
Mid Tower vs.
Full Tower: The Breakdown
Now that you’ve gotten a brief overview let’s go a bit more in-depth into some of the differences between mid and full tower cases.
Dimensions
Mid tower cases are the safe, middle-of-the-road option in PC cases. Generally hovering around 18 inches tall and long, they’re large enough to fit a high-end gaming rig in them without difficulty. They’re large enough to comfortably build in but not so large as to weigh a ton and take up a lot of space on your desk. A great example of a high-end mid tower case is the NZXT H710i.
NZXT H710i. Source: NZXT
Full towers, on the other hand, are the goliaths of the PC case world. Measuring at least 20 inches in height and length, they’re designed to fit a lot of equipment and accommodate the largest motherboards and graphics cards. Some, like Corsair’s Obsidian 1000D “super tower,” even have enough space for two motherboards.
Corsair 1000D. Source: Corsair
One benefit of full towers is that the increased room makes for a more comfortable building and upgrading experience.
Whether that’s worth the additional size and weight depends on your priorities.
Motherboard Support
One component that can still force you to go big is the motherboard. Most mid tower cases will fit ATX motherboards, perfectly adequate for the vast majority of gamers and setups. Some mid towers, like the NZXT H710i, will take so-called E-ATX boards up to 10.7 inches wide, like the MSI MEG Z490 GODLIKE.
However, go for an E-ATX board wider than 10.7 inches or an XL-ATX board for an AMD Threadripper system, and you’ll definitely be shopping around for a full tower.
Unsure what E-ATX and XL-ATX even mean? Here’s a handy image that might help:
Source: TWEAK
You should always choose the right motherboard for your needs first. Once you’re happy with your motherboard, find a case that will accommodate it. Never the other way around.
If you’re still trying to figure out what motherboard to go for, take a look at our guide to choosing a motherboard.
PCIe Expansion and Drive Bays
Mid tower cases vary when it comes to drive bays.
A case like the airflow-focused Phanteks Eclipse P400A only has four bays by default, with an extra four needing an optional bracket. Others, like the Fractal Design Define 7, boast six 3.5/2.5 inch mounts, two SSD mounts, and a dedicated optical drive bay from the factory.
Phanteks P400A. Source: Phanteks
This is where full towers excel. The additional slot or two of PCIe expansion might not seem like much. However, paired with the right motherboard, the extra space might be what keeps your multi-GPU rendering setup from overheating.
Full towers will also support a lot more drives. Want to fit 10 SSDs, five hard drives, and an optical drive into your rig? A full tower like the be quiet! Dark Base 900 is what you’ll need. If there’s even a small possibility that you’ll go down this route, a full tower is a good bet.
be quiet! Dark Base 900. Source: be quiet!
Regardless of whether you’re going for a mid or full tower, make sure your case of choice will fit your storage needs.
There’s nothing worse than needing an extra hard drive but not having the space to install it in your case.
Air and Liquid Cooling
It used to be that full tower cases would almost always have more fan mounting points than mid tower cases, with better airflow to boot. The recent glut of airflow-focused mid towers on the market has changed that, though.
For example, the Phanteks P400A and Lian Li LANCOOL II MESH have open layouts and unobstructed front panels that will fit three 120 mm fans.
Lian Li LANCOOL II MESH. Source: Lian Li
Cases like these will easily keep even the burliest gaming rig under control with good airflow, rendering full towers’ airflow and cooling advantage mostly irrelevant.
One area where full towers are still somewhat preferable is water cooling. Radiator-wise, the biggest you’ll fit in most mid towers will be a 360 mm radiator. While this is more than enough for an AIO CPU cooler or a simple loop, it can’t compete with the 420 mm radiators that full tower cases support.
A full tower won’t only give you space for a larger radiator, it’ll provide you with room for more radiators. This can be handy for cooling high-end, power-hungry components, especially if you’re overclocking.
Featured Lian Li O11 XL Build by Decidence
That said, both mid and full towers can accommodate custom water cooling loops. Several manufacturers make mid towers explicitly designed for that purpose, like Fractal Design. Their Define 7 has an open layout that’s perfect for a full-on custom loop with two radiators.
While both will work, a full tower will give you more room to work in when building your custom loop. You’ll have fewer issues placing things like radiators and pumps, too. This all makes for a smoother build experience overall.
Undecided on liquid vs. air? Our liquid cooling vs. air cooling article should point you in the right direction.
Mid Tower vs. Full Tower: The Conclusion
Unlike CPU or GPU performance, there isn’t an objective winner in the mid tower vs.
full tower choice. Neither is definitively better than the other, and both fulfill different needs. It’s possible to build a killer rig in both mid and full-tower cases.
There are undoubtedly optimal choices, but you can go with whatever you want as long as it fits your components. At the end of the day, it’s your choice. If you like the idea of putting a micro ATX motherboard in a full tower case, go for it! Want to try and cram in as much water cooling into a mid tower case? Be our guest.
That’s the beauty of PC building in a nutshell, really: it’s your rig, and you can build it however you want to. Have fun!
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All establishments in the tower Imperia Tower Moscow-City. Entertainment, food and restaurants, viewing platforms
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Over 50,000 visitors per month!
Sort 27 objects by:
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Average bill
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recall
2.5
OK
- Mixed
- Sushi
Cloud 53 (River)
1500 ₽
Average bill
per person
53 floor
Tower «Empire»
1
Review
Table reservation
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8 more photos
8 more photos
3.5
OK
Empire Lounge
₽
Average bill
per person
58 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
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4.
4
Good
Cutfish
2000 ₽
Average bill
per person
-1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
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3 more photos
3 more photos
4.4
Good
Umami Ramen Bistro
1000 ₽
Average bill
per person
-1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
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3 more photos
3 more photos
4.5
Excellent
Spot4
1100 ₽
Average bill
per person
-1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
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1 more photo
1 more photo
3.
8
OK
Pims
300 ₽
Average bill
per person
-1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
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2 more photos
2 more photos
5
Excellent
Karl Schnitzel
1100 ₽
Average bill
per person
-1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
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1 more photo
1 more photo
2.6
OK
Greek Street
1000 ₽
Average bill
per person
-1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
Hold an event
3.5
OK
Meeting rooms
₽
Average bill
per person
6 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
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3.
5
OK
Cloud 53
30000 ₽
Average check
per person
54 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
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3.5
OK
Conference room
₽
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per person
53 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
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13 more photos
13 more photos
3.5
OK
Orion
₽
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per person
43 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
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12 more photos
12 more photos
3.5
OK
Moscow-City Viewing Museum
₽
Average bill
per person
56 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
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3.
5
OK
CEO ROOMS
₽
Average bill
per person
8 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
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3.5
OK
Imperia Sky Loft
₽
Average bill
per person
43 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
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3.5
OK
- American
- Russian
Engine
DvizhOK is a unique cafe with a street racing atmosphere. Each visitor, just opening the doors of the establishment,…
300 ₽
Average bill
per person
0
Reviews
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15 more photos
15 more photos
3.
5
OK
- Japanese
- European
Vysota57 Lounge
A spacious, luxurious hookah bar is located above the observation deck — on the 57th floor. Thanks to the huge pano…
1500 ₽
Average bill
per person
57 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
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Hold an event
3.5
OK
- Australian
- Central European
Donut
Pyshka is a cafe that is a self-service fast food restaurant with a large number of tables….
₽
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per person
0
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2 more photos
2 more photos
3.
5
OK
ABC Kitchen
ABC Kitchen — a cafe in the passage between Afimall and other MIBC towers near the entrance to the Imperia multifunctional complex. Institution…
700 ₽
Average bill
per person
1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
Hold an event
3.5
OK
- Italian
- Russian
Misha Fisher
Misha Fisher is located in the passage connecting Afimall with other Moscow City skyscrapers. The establishment offers…
₽
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per person
0
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16 more photos
16 more photos
3.
5
OK
- Russian
- Italian
City Tower
City Tower is a restaurant with a multi-level interior decorated in light colors and elegant wooden furniture….
₽
Average bill
per person
1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
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1 more photo
1 more photo
3.5
OK
- Chinese
- Street food
Duckit
Duckit is a late-night fast-food cafe in the Imperia multifunctional complex that serves Asian cuisine….
500 ₽
Average check
per person
-1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
Hold an event
3.
5
OK
- Fast food
BB & Burgers
₽
Average bill
per person
1 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
Hold an event
2 more photos
2 more photos
3.5
OK
- European
- Sushi
Nebo Lounge&Bar
1200 ₽
Average bill
per person
53 floor
Tower «Empire»
0
Reviews
Table reservation
Hold an event
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General map of Moscow-City objects
Test and review: In Win GRone (IW-BX141GR) — «big tower» at an affordable price
If you need a large case, then buying a «medium tower» is unlikely to satisfy.
In Win recently introduced a new GRone «big tower» (IW-BX141GR) with a reasonable price. The case appeared in Europe at a price of about 110 euros, while it is able to accommodate an E-ATX motherboard and up to eight hard drives or SSDs. In addition, In Win allows you to install a powerful cooling system inside, and in the package you will receive as many as five 140mm fans. If necessary, double or triple CBO heat exchangers can be installed.
» Photostrecke
We recently tested the In Win H-Frame, which delighted us with its innovative design. However, it is certainly not suitable for everyone. Our test lab has received a new Grone case with a slightly different concept. It captivates with a good set of functions and a «delicious» price.
In Win decided to richly equip the case with fans. It can accommodate ten 120mm or 140mm fans in total, with five 140mm fans already pre-installed. The front fans are equipped with red LEDs and give a nice look.
Chassis cooling efficiency can be adjusted using the on/off fan controller. If you prefer a water-cooled system, you can install a 360mm heat exchanger on top and 240mm on the bottom inside.
The number of drive bays will be sufficient for most needs. You get three optical drive bays, eight 3.5″ or 2.5″ bays. Screwless assembly is provided for 3.5″ and 5.25″ drives, as well as for expansion cards. In addition, a tray for «hot» connection of drives is installed on the top panel of the case.
The design of the case stands out with rather sharp edges and is clearly designed for gamers. In Europe, the case is offered in two colors: white and gray; in Russia, at the time of publication, we did not find it. In addition, you can purchase a case with a solid side panel or with a panel equipped with a window. The GRone version with a window will cost 110 euros, without a window the case costs 10 euros cheaper.
Before we get into the detailed tests, let’s take a look at the unboxing and first look video of In Win Grone.
Alternative version available on YouTube.
Grone In Win comes with user manual, mounting accessories, power supply mounting rubber pads, cable ties and two fan adapters.
Chassis specs in tabular form below:
| Chassis specs: In Win GRone |
|
| Manufacturer and model: | In Win GRone |
| Material: | Steel (0.8 mm SECC), plastic |
| Dimensions: | 245 x 562 x 593 mm |
| Form factor: | mATX, ATX, E-ATX |
| Drive bays: | 3x 5.25″ (external), 8x 2.5″ or 3.5″ (internal), 1x 2.5″ or 3.5″ (hot-swap tray) |
| Fans: | 2x 140mm (front, red light), 1x 140mm (rear), 3x 120/140mm (top, 1x 140mm pre-installed), 1x 140mm (HDD rack), 2x 120/140mm (bottom, optional) , 1x 120/140 mm (on the back of the CPU, optional) |
| Weight: | Approx.
|