The floating PC case trend is about more than good looks

Date:
Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:48:14 +0000

Description:
Floating PC cases are becoming increasingly common, while other manufacturers are finding new ways to improve airflow beneath the graphics card.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Most PC cases keep the main chassis relatively close to the desk or floor, but a growing number of new designs are doing something much more fun, yet practical, with the space underneath.

Our favourites deliberately add a gap that gives the case a floating effect. Others take a simpler approach and raise the whole chassis on a stand or
base. Either way, manufacturers are paying much more attention to the underside of your PC. The new designs are definitely about style,
particularly as panoramic glass cases have become more popular, but theres a practical side to floating cases too.

Opening up the lower part of a build gives manufacturers new ways to get cool air towards one of its hottest components: the graphics card. Some designs
can also keep the PSUs airflow separate from the main component chamber.

Of course, not everyone wants to DIY a new build, so for anyone who would rather buy a complete system, its worth checking out our guide to the best gaming PCs . Why are PC cases starting to float? Panoramic cases, often
called fish-tank cases, have become increasingly popular, often replacing conventional mesh panels with extensive glass. While glass makes it easy to see your new CPU coolers built-in display , it does mean manufacturers need
to take a fresh approach with airflow.

One of the most distinctive new designs is the floating style, where the
lower part of the case is deliberately separated or recessed so the main body looks like its suspended above the base.

The Cougar CFV235 is one of our favourite examples. Cougar separates the PSU cabin from the main component chamber, leaving an open section between them that becomes part of both the cases appearance and its ventilation. Our colleagues over at Toms Hardware highlighted the designs 270-degree airflow when the CFV235 was unveiled , with air able to enter the floating section from several directions.

The DarkFlash Floatron F1 creates a similar visual effect in a different way, suspending the main chassis above an extended base that draws air in through the bottom and sides. The look certainly caught the attention of our friends over at PC Gamer at Computex 2026, where it was described as sort of ugly but also sort of neat . Image 1 of 3 DarkFlash Floatron F1 case (Image credit: DarkFlash) (Image credit: DarkFlash) (Image credit: DarkFlash) Image 1 of 3 View Original Image 2 of 3 View Original Image 3 of 3 View Original More are coming too. MSI showed its MPG VIXTA 300R Airflow PZ at Computex 2026 with a 75mm (3in) recessed section beneath the main chassis. PC Gamer highlighted
its innovative floating base design , which gives the case substantially more clearance underneath for incoming air.

Hyte also showed the upcoming Y50 RGB , which it describes as having a floating base and stepped internal floor. Toms Hardware noted its relatively affordable price, showing that this style is beginning to reach cheaper cases too. The floating look can also help airflow The empty or recessed space underneath isnt only decorative, and its a key way to bring air into the
lower part of the PC.

Exactly how that is achieved varies from case to case. The Cougar CFV235
turns the open section between its two chambers into a large ventilation
area. DarkFlash feeds air through the bottom and sides of its raised base, while MSI uses the space beneath the VIXTA as part of its lower intake
design.

So while the implementations differ, the space underneath is deliberately designed as part of the intake path.

This setup can be particularly useful for graphics card cooling. A GPU normally sits towards the bottom of a case, so cooler air entering below it can take a relatively direct path to the graphics card. Image 1 of 3 MSI MPG Maestro Vixta 300R PC case (Image credit: Future) MSI MPG Maestro Vixta 300R PC case (Image credit: Future) MSI MPG Maestro Vixta 300R PC case (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 3 View Original Image 2 of 3 View Original Image 3 of 3 View Original Floating-style options These are the options to consider
if the floating look is the priority, with both using the space beneath the main chassis as part of the design.

Cougar CFV235

This is our favourite option if you want the full floating look, with its
main chamber visibly separated from the PSU enclosure below. Today's best Cougar CFV235 deals 129.99 114.99 View 119.99 View 143.51 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

DarkFlash Floatron F1

The F1 uses an extended base with a thinner support column, which hides the PSU, making it a standout option for compact M-ATX builds with good airflow. It's a brand new case, and currently we can't see it in stock, but we've included it here for when it does become available. Today's best DarkFlash Floatron F1 deals 91.30 View 314.01 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices A raised base can achieve something similar You dont need the full floating style to get some of the same airflow advantages. Many manufacturers take a simpler approach and raise the entire chassis using a stand or customised legs.

The Phanteks Evolv X2 offers wrap-around glass, but raises the base to help feed a bottom-to-top airflow layout.

The Tryx Luca L70 uses a 40mm (1.6in) X-shaped base to increase the clearance beneath the chassis. Tryx also showed a smaller Luca L50 at Computex 2026
with a bottom fan bracket that can sit flat or be angled towards the components.

These cases can still look partially suspended, but structurally the whole chassis is raised on a purpose-built base.

That extra clearance can be especially useful if the PC sits on the floor, because it keeps bottom intakes further away from carpet that might otherwise obstruct airflow. Raised-base options These cases lift the whole chassis to create extra clearance for bottom-mounted fans and intakes.

Tryx Luca L70

The Luca L70 sits 40mm (1.6in) above an X-shaped stand, with room for up to three 120mm or 140mm bottom fans. Today's best Tryx Luca L70 deals No price information Check Amazon We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Phanteks Evolv X2

Phanteks raises the chassis above its base and supports three 120mm fans underneath as part of its bottom-to-top airflow layout. It also scored 84% in PC Gamer's review, which praised its distinctive design and chimney-style cooling. Today's best Phanteks Evolv X2 deals 127.99 View 130.99 View voucher gift 130.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Does a lower intake actually improve cooling? The graphics card is often a major source of heat in a gaming PC, particularly at the high end, and Nvidias GeForce RTX 5090 , for example, has a total graphics power rating of 575W. If youre building around one of the models in our guide to
the best graphics cards , cooling it effectively becomes particularly important.

If youre adding or replacing case fans, PC Gamers guide to the best PC fans
is also a great resource.

Testing by PC Gamer and Toms Hardware suggests lower intake can make a difference, although the result depends on the rest of the case design.

PC Gamer gave the Corsair Frame 4500X 80% in its review and found that
adding three bottom fans lowered its GPU temperature by 4C. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future) Corsair Frame 4500X ATX PC case (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 5 View Original Image 2 of 5 View Original Image 3 of 5 View Original
Image 4 of 5 View Original Image 5 of 5 View Original Toms Hardwares review
of the Montech HS02 Pro similarly praised its focus on GPU cooling. The case, which is designed around three bottom intake fans, delivered the best GPU temperatures of the four cases in testing at the same noise level, while also allowing the graphics cards own fans to run slower than in any of the competing cases.

Theres an important catch, though. Montechs GPU-focused layout was less effective at cooling an air-cooled CPU. Your CPU cooler matters too, and Toms Hardware has a regularly updated guide to the best CPU coolers . Fan speed, dust filters, radiators and other internal obstructions can also change the result.

The tests support the broader idea rather than any one case style: getting cool air into the lower part of the chassis and directing it towards the graphics card can improve GPU cooling. A floating-style or raised-base design can make that easier, but neither guarantees lower temperatures on its own. Bottom airflow doesnt require a floating case Other manufacturers are
tackling the same airflow challenge without raising the case at all, using several different layouts to free up or make better use of the space below
the GPU.

In a conventional layout, the PSU usually sits along the bottom of the chassis, often beneath a shroud. That occupies space that could otherwise be used for a larger floor intake or fans closer to the GPU. Moving the PSU into a separate chamber, towards the front or to the top gives manufacturers more freedom to use that lower area for cooling.

One approach is to put the PSU in a separate side or rear chamber. The Antec Constellation C8 ARGB separates the CPU and GPU from the PSU and drives,
while the Corsair Air 5400 uses a dedicated chamber for the PSU, cables and storage. Lian Li's O11 cases use a similar multi-chamber approach. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Antec) (Image credit: Okinos) (Image credit: Antec) (Image credit: Corsair) Image 1 of 4 View Original Image 2 of 4 View Original Image
3 of 4 View Original Image 4 of 4 View Original Another option is to move the PSU towards the front. The Antec Flux M does this so the bottom can be opened up for a large mesh intake and fans beneath the GPU. The Okinos Air Cross and DeepCool's CL6600 take a similar approach, with the CL6600 also separating
its 360mm radiator into an upper chamber.

A third approach is to put the PSU at the top. Fractal Design's Torrent Compact combines a top-mounted PSU with expansive base intakes and support
for up to three 120mm or two 140mm bottom fans. The newer Hyte X50 and X50
Air use a top-mounted PSU canopy to open the floor for what Hyte calls Cold-Floor Cooling, with support for up to three 120mm fans beneath the graphics card.

Other cases improve lower airflow without relocating the PSU. The Montech
HS02 Pro builds its cooling around three intake fans in the floor, the Antec P30 Air puts two reverse-blade fans on top of the PSU shroud and feeds them through a lower-side intake, and the NZXT H5 Flow RGB 2024 supports two 120mm fans in the lower section to feed air towards the GPU. The Lian Li O11
Dynamic Mini V2 instead angles its bottom fan mounts upwards by 10 degrees.

Floating-style cases are the most visually obvious part of the trend, but the bigger shift is manufacturers redesigning the lower part of the chassis
around graphics card airflow, whether that means relocating the PSU, separating cooling hardware or simply finding better ways to direct cool air towards the GPU. Other bottom-airflow options These are our picks if
improving lower GPU airflow matters more than getting the full floating look.

Antec P30 Air

The P30 Air puts two reverse-blade fans on top of the PSU shroud beneath the graphics card, with a large lower-side mesh intake supplying them with air. Today's best Antec P30 Air deals voucher gift 64.96 View 69.57 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Okinos Air Cross

The Air Cross moves the PSU towards the front of the chassis and uses two 120mm reverse-blade fans beneath the graphics card to create a direct lower intake path. Today's best Okinos Air Cross deals 114.08 95.20 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

DeepCool CL6600

The CL6600 moves the PSU towards the front and uses two 120mm reverse-blade bottom fans beneath the GPU, while a separate upper chamber houses its 360mm radiator.

Antec Constellation C8 ARGB

The C8 ARGB comes with two 160mm reverse-blade fans in the floor, feeding
cool air directly towards the graphics card from below. Today's best Antec Constellation C8 ARGB deals 117.99 View voucher gift 129.95 View 132 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Corsair Air 5400

The Air 5400 pairs three 120mm reverse-rotor bottom intake fans with
dedicated ducts designed to channel that incoming air through the GPU
chamber. Today's best Corsair Air 5400 deals 239.99 119 View voucher gift 139 View voucher gift 159.95 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

NZXT H5 Flow RGB

The H5 Flow uses a more conventional chassis layout, but supports two 120mm fans in the lower section to feed cool air towards the graphics card. Today's best NZXT H5 Flow RGB deals 69.98 View 82.99 View voucher gift 99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini V2 Flow

Lian Li angles the bottom section upwards by 10 degrees to direct incoming
air towards the GPU, and the Flow version comes with three bottom intake fans already installed. Today's best Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini V2 Flow deals 84.84 View 94.99 View voucher gift 94.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Hyte Y70 Touch Infinite

Hyte combines a panoramic showcase design with room for up to three 120mm or two 140mm bottom fans. We gave the closely related original Y70 Touch 4.5 out of 5 in our review, praising its airflow despite the extensive use of glass. Today's best HYTE Y70 Touch Infinite deals 339.99 View 378.06 View voucher gift 379.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Lian Li O11 Vision Compact

Lian Li's glass-heavy showcase case offers extensive support for cooling beneath the graphics card and was named Best Case in the 2026 TechRadar Australian PC Awards. Today's best Lian Li O11 Vision Compact deals voucher gift 109.99 View voucher gift 109.99 View 205.08 190.73 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/the-floating-pc-case-trend-is-about-more-t han-good-looks


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