Not so long ago, there was a time when every PC case had a 5.25-inch bay for an optical disk drive (DVD/CD/Blu-ray drive). This is because back then optical disks were quite popular and were one of the preferred ways to store and transfer data, whether it is for games, operating systems, or software. Now the time has changed drastically, and the optical media is being replaced by high-storage USB drives, external hard drives, and cloud services for data storage and transfer. Due to this, case manufacturers have started to phase out the 5.25 bay in their latest computer cases, and it is now a rarity to see a 5.25-inch bay in a modern computer case. Also, with the removal of the 5.25-inch bay, cases have become more aesthetic, and the space on the front panel that was being used for fitting a 5.25-inch optical drive is now being utilized for accommodating the front intake fan or for fitting large radiators (280mm / 360mm).
Today, most users really don’t need an optical drive because data storage has now become cheaper with the falling prices of external hard drives and high-capacity pen drives. and even if you need an optical drive then you can always buy a USB-powered external optical drive and can use it for reading or burning optical media (DVD/CD). However, an external optical drive is not as reliable and fast as an internal optical drive, and if you do a lot of optical media (CD/DVD) reading and writing, then a 5.25-inch internal optical drive should always be preferred over the external ones. There are some users that do still want a 5.25-inch bay, because of their nature of work that involves the use of DVD / CD and Blu-ray Discs extensively. Also, a 5.25” bay has other uses too as you can fit a 5.25-inch fan controller in it or a 5.25-inch front panel with USB 3 ports / USB Type-C port or a card reader. There are some very good computer cases that still come with a 5.25-inch bay, and if you are looking for such a case, then here I am going to provide the list of best PC cases with 5.25” bays.
Best Mid Tower Cases with 5.25” Bays
Mid-Tower cases are favorite among users because they are of perfect size i.e. not too big nor too small. They all can fit ATX motherboards easily and some of them can even fit E-ATX motherboards. Also, you can find mid-tower cases in all budgets (low to high) as per your requirements and there are many companies that make them. Below are the best mid-tower cases with 5.25-inch bays.
Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case
[Compact, Easy to use, Practical, Value for Money]
A compact, elegant, practical, and value-for-money mid-tower ATX case from Corsair that is an all-rounder in every aspect. Even being labeled as a compact case, it is very spacious and can accommodate all of your high-end gaming components, including a high-end graphics card (420mm long) and a tall CPU air cooler (165mm). The case comes with three 5.25-inch bays, in which you can install an optical drive, fan controller, or other front panel ports.
On the front panel, you will find two USB 3.0 ports and audio ports. The airflow in the case is good and it has eight fan mounting points to install 120mm or 140mm fans all around the case. It has great ergonomics and installing the components is hassle-free in this case. The cable management is also done right, and the internal layout is very practical. The case looks good on its own, and that too without having any fancy RGB LED lighting or tempered glass panels. Other features of this case include dust filters, tool-free drive installation, and side panel thumbscrews. So, if you are looking for a compact, simple, and easy-to-use case that has solid build quality and is affordable too then you should totally go for it.
| Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case Specifications | |
| Form Factor | Mid Tower |
| Motherboard support | Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX |
| Drive Bays | 5.25” x 3, 3.5” x 4, 2.5”x 4 |
| Front Ports | USB 3.0 x 2, Audio |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| CPU Cooler Height | 165mm |
| Graphics Card Length | 420mm |
| Fans & Cooling | Front: 120mm x 2
Top: 120mm / 140mm x 2 Side: 120mm / 140mm x 2 Rear: 120mm x 1 Bottom: 120mm / 140mm x 1 |
| Features | Cutouts for cable routing and CPU cooling, Tool-free SSD, hard drive, and optical drive installation, Side panel thumbscrews, PCI-E expansion card thumbscrew mounts, Duster Filters (Front & PSU Intake), 240mm/280mm Radiator support |
Buy Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case
Thermaltake Versa H22 Mid-tower Chassis
[Mesh Front & Top Panel for Airflow, Pretty Cheap]
If you are looking for a budget mid-tower case with a 5.25-inch bay then Thermaltake Versa H22 is one of the best options. This ATX case comes with three 5.25-inch bays for an optical drive and other 5.25-inch accessories. The case has got perforated or mesh front and top panel for good airflow and ventilation and can support two 120mm fans at the front and one at the rear. The case has a traditional-looking design and you can find one USB 3.0 port and one USB 2.0 at the front for connecting your external hard drive or other USB devices.
The case is pretty compact in size, but can support graphics cards up to 315mm in length and 155mm tall CPU coolers. It has got pretty decent build quality (made of SPCC steel) and is ideal for building a home computer, HTPC, or budget gaming PC. Other features of this case include tool-free drive installation and cable management. Overall, a great no-nonsense budget mid-tower case with 5.25” bays.
Must Read: Best PC Cases with High Airflow for Gaming & Workstation
| Thermaltake Versa H22 Mid-tower Chassis Specifications | |
| Form Factor | Mid Tower |
| Motherboard support | Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX |
| Drive Bays | 5.25” x 3, 3.5” / 2.5” x 3, 2.5”x 3 |
| Front Ports | USB 3.0 x 1, USB 2.0 x 1, Audio |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| CPU Cooler Height | 155mm |
| Graphics Card Length | 315mm |
| Fans & Cooling | Front: 120mm x 2
Rear: 120mm x 1 (pre-installed) |
| Features | Top vents, Tool-free Drive installation, Perforated metal mesh front and top panel, Heighten foot-stands, Cable management |
Buy Thermaltake Versa H22 Mid-tower Chassis
Fractal Design Focus G Gunmetal Gray Case
[Front Full Mesh Panel, Transparent Side Panel]
Fractal Design is known for making top-quality computer cases, and here we have Fractal Design Focus G Gunmetal Gray Case. This is an ATX mid-tower case that comes with two 5.25-inch bays for optical drives, and a full mesh front panel that helps in achieving good airflow. The case has got six fan mounting points, and two Silent Series LL 120mm LED fans come included with it. This is a spacious case and can fit high-end graphics cards (380mm in length), tall CPU coolers (165mm in height) and up to 280mmm radiators for water cooling or AIO radiators.
The build quality of the case is pretty solid, and it does look very contemporary in design. The I/O ports are located at the front of the top panel and they include one USB 3.0 port and one USB 2.0 port. It also has a large windowed side panel, from which you can view all of the inner components from the outside. Other features of this case include Cable routing and management, Dust filters (top, front, base), Tool-free drive installation, Kensington anti-theft padlock bracket, Two vibrations dampened universal drive and Reusable ventilated expansion slot covers.
| Fractal Design Focus G Gunmetal Gray Case Specifications | |
| Form Factor | Mid Tower |
| Motherboard support | Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX |
| Drive Bays | 5.25” x 2, 3.5”/2.5” x 2, 2.5”x 1 |
| Front Ports | USB 3.0 x 1, USB 2.0 x 1 Audio |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| CPU Cooler Height | 165mm |
| Graphics Card Length | 380mm |
| Fans & Cooling | Front: 120/140mm x 2
Top: 120/140mm x 2 Rear: 120mm x 1 Bottom: 120mm x 1 |
| Features | Up to 280 mm Radiator support, Cable routing and management, Dust filters (top, front, base), Tool-free drive installation, Large windowed side panel, Kensington anti-theft padlock bracket, Two vibration dampened universal drive, Re-usable ventilated expansion slot covers |
Buy Fractal Design Focus G Gunmetal Gray Case
Corsair Obsidian 450D Mid-Tower PC Case
[Great Airflow, Spacious, Solid Build, E-ATX Ready]
Corsair Obsidian 450D is a high airflow mid-tower case that is very spacious and comes with great features. The case has two 5.25” bays for fitting your optical drive or other 5.25-inch expansion ports. The front panel of the case has a brushed aluminum mesh front that is resistant to scratches and allows for a good amount of air intake. Also, the case comes pre-installed with two 140mm intake fans at the front and one 120mm fan at the rear as an exhaust that is enough for providing good airflow. Moreover, you can optionally install more fans as the case has got seven fan mounting points in total. On the front panel, you will get two USB 3.0 ports and audio ports.
This mid-tower case can up to E-ATX sized motherboards, high-end long graphics cards (up to 430mm length), 165mm tall CPU coolers, and up to 360mm Radiators for AIO liquid coolers. Other features of this case include Transparent Window Side Panel, Black Anodized Brushed Aluminum Front Panel, Modular Drive Cage System with Lateral SSD Bays, Dust Filters for Intake Fans. Tool-free Drive Installation, Cable management. This is a great case for building a mid to high-end gaming PC or work PC. So, if you are looking for a premium mid-tower case with 5.25-inch bays that is spacious, durable, has great build quality and high airflow then you should consider it.
| Corsair Obsidian 450D Mid-Tower PC Case Specifications | |
| Form Factor | Mid Tower |
| Motherboard support | Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX, E-ATX |
| Drive Bays | 5.25” x 2, 3.5” / 2.5” x 3, 2.5”x 2 |
| Front Ports | USB 3.0 x 2, Audio |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| CPU Cooler Height | 165mm |
| Graphics Card Length | 430mm |
| Fans & Cooling | Front: 120/140mm x 2
Top: 120mm x 3 / 140mm x 2 Bottom: 120mm x 2 Rear: 120mm x 2 |
| Features | Up to 360mm Radiator support, Transparent Window Side Panel, Black Anodized Brushed Aluminum Front Panel, Modular Drive Cage System with Lateral SSD Bays, Dust Filters for Intake Fans, Tool-free Drive Installation, Cable management |
Buy Corsair Obsidian 450D Mid-Tower PC Case
be quiet! Pure Base 600 Silent Case
[Super Silent, Premium Looks & Quality, Liquid Cooling Ready]
If you are looking for a silent case with 5.25” bays then be quiet! Pure Base 600 is a perfect choice. This is a premium quality case that comes with two 5.25” bays optical drives and plenty of 3.5” and 2.5” for HDD and SSDs. For sound reduction, the case comes with sound dampening or sound insulation pads at the top, front and side panel. Also, the case is very spacious and can fit long graphics cards (425mm length), tall CPU Coolers (165mm height), and up to 360mm radiators.
For airflow, it comes pre-installed with two Pure Wings 2 fans, one 120mm at the rear and one 140mm at the front. You can optionally install more fans for enhancing the airflow inside the case. It also includes a 3-speed fan controller to control the fans speed, based on your needs (silent or maximum performance). Other features of the case include Anti-vibration decoupled HDD / PSU, Dust filters, Cable management, and Tool-free drive installation. Overall, a great high-quality case for building a silent work PC or gaming PC.
| be quiet! Pure Base 600 Silent Case Specifications | |
| Form Factor | Mid Tower |
| Motherboard support | Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX |
| Drive Bays | 5.25” x 2, 3.5” x 3, 2.5”x (2+6) |
| Front Ports | USB 3.0 x 2, Audio |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| CPU Cooler Height | 165mm |
| Graphics Card Length | 425mm |
| Fans & Cooling | Front: 140mm x 2 / 120mm x 3
Top: 140mm x 2 / 120mm x 3 Rear: 120mm x 1 |
| Features | Up to 360mm Radiator support, Sound insulation mats (top, front, side), Anti-vibration decoupled HDD / PSU, Dust filters, Cable management, Tool-free drive installation |
Buy be quiet! Pure Base 600 Silent Case
Deepcool Tesseract SW Mid-Tower Case
[Spacious Budget Mid-Tower Case]
A very popular budget mid-tower case with 5.25-inch bays for fitting optical disk drive (ODD), fan controller, or expansion ports. The case has got a metal mesh front panel and six fan mount points for better airflow. One 120mm LED fan at the front and one at the rear come pre-installed with the case. Also, it is quite spacious and can fit all high-end gaming components including graphics cards up to 310mm in length and tall CPU coolers that are 168mm in height. However, this case is not meant for AIO or liquid cooling as it can only support a 120mm Radiator. The I/O ports on the top of the front include one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0 port, and audio ports. Other features of the case include tool-free drive installation, cable management, and a transparent windowed side panel. Overall, a decent case that can be used to build a work PC or a budget or mid-range gaming PC.
| Deepcool Tesseract SW Mid-Tower Case Specifications | |
| Form Factor | Mid Tower |
| Motherboard support | Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX |
| Drive Bays | 5.25” x 2, 3.5” x 4, 2.5”x 3 |
| Front Ports | USB 3.0 x 1, USB 2.0 x 1 Audio |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| CPU Cooler Height | 168mm |
| Graphics Card Length | 310mm |
| Fans & Cooling | Front: 120mm x 1
Rear: 120mm x 1 Top: 120mm x 2 Side: 120mm x 2 |
| Features | All metal mesh front panel, Tool-free drive installation, Cable management, Dust filter, Patented air intake channel along with the front panel, Transparent window side panel |
Buy Deepcool Tesseract SW Mid-Tower Case
FSP CMT230 Mid-Tower Case
[Mesh Front Panel, Stylish]
FSP CMT230 is a sleek, elegant and modern mid-tower case that offers two 5.25-inch bays for ODD. The case comes with a mesh front panel and includes six fan mount points. Here, two 120mm Blue LED fans come pre-installed at the front and one at the rear. The front I/O ports consist of two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and an audio port. The case can support high-end graphics cards up to 373mm in length and very tall CPU coolers having 179mm height and up to dual 280mm radiators. Other features of this case include Detachable Mesh Top Cover, Cable management, Too-free drive installation, Transparent Window Side Panel, and Dust Filters. This is a great case for building a gaming, enterprise, or a stylish home PC.
| FSP CMT230 Mid-Tower Case Specifications | |
| Form Factor | Mid Tower |
| Motherboard support | Mini-ITX, Micro ATX, ATX |
| Drive Bays | 5.25” x 2, 3.5” x 2, 2.5”x 2 |
| Front Ports | USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 2, Audio |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| CPU Cooler Height | 179mm |
| Graphics Card Length | 373mm |
| Fans & Cooling | Front: 120mm/140mm x 3
Top: 120mm/140mm x 2 Rear: 120mm/140mm x 1 |
| Features | Up to 280mm (x2) Radiator support, Detachable Mesh Top Cover, Cable management, Too-free drive installation, Transparent Window Side Panel, Mesh Front Panel, Dust Filters |
Full Tower Cases with 5.25” Bays
Here is the list of some of the best full tower cases that come with 5.25-inch drive bays for fitting an optical drive (CD/DVD/Blu-ray), fan controller, or other 5.25-inch panels with USB 3.0 ports and SD card slots. Full-Tower cases are relatively expensive, are pretty big in size, and can support up to E-ATX, and XL-ATX motherboards. This makes them less popular among the general masses, so here I am just listing their models and not the complete specs. However, you can check their complete details, pricing, and features by going through their links, which are given below.
- Corsair Obsidian 750D Full-Tower Case
- Rosewill THOR V2 Full Tower Case
- Corsair Graphite 780T Full-Tower Case
- Phanteks Enthoo Pro Full Tower Case
Mini Tower Cases with 5.25” Bays
Here are some good mini-tower cases that come with 5.25-inch bays for fitting an Optical Disk Drive (ODD). These cases support up to Micro-ATX motherboards and are great for building a budget PC for gaming, work or for HTPC.
See also:
- Best LAN Party Cases with Carrying Handle
- Best Super Tower Cases for Workstation & Server
- Best Open Air PC Cases for Enthusiasts
- Best PC Cases with Lots of HDD Bays for NAS/Server
Final Words
In the current day and age, it is becoming somewhat difficult to find a good case that supports a 5.25-inch bay, because the optical disk media is losing its importance. I am reiterating that this is because external hard drives have become so much more affordable and their capacity has also increased tenfold. Also, transferring data using a high-capacity USB drive saves a lot of time too because you don’t have to wait for 15 minutes on average to burn a standard 4.7GB DVD. Having said that, there are certain situations where some people do need a 5.25” bay, mainly because of their specific requirements. So, if you are one of them then you can select the best case with a 5.25” drive bay from the above list, according to requirements. If you have any queries regarding the topic, then do let me know in the comment section below.
(*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through the links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!)
![ATX 3.1 PSU List in 2024 [PCIe 5.1 Compliant with 12V-2×6 Connector]](https://graphicscardhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ATX-3.1-PSU-with-12V-2x6-connector-211x150.jpg "ATX 3.1 PSU List in 2024 [PCIe 5.1 Compliant with 12V-2×6 Connector]")
This site is awesome, read through a few different articles now.
Thanks for the appreciation.
The FSP case is the closest I’ve seen to “stylish” when it comes to cases with optical drive bays. Seriously, why do they almost universally have to look ugly??
Good job on the article. If you find anything that looks close to the beauty that the old G5 Macintosh Pro (aluminium) case that had optical support, please do an update to this article.
Cheers.
Mark
Sure, I will keep a watch.
So apparently only the frigging ugly cases have 5.25 bays. That’s just great. None of the cases you reviewed will look okay in my rather feminine living room. Seriously, not even one white, grey, or predominantly glass clase? Not one?
That is the sacrifice to make with cases with 5.25″ bays.
You might want to investigate before complaining and dismissing off everything. I can’t comment otherwise, but Fractal Design offers white versions of their cases. Personally I don’t think the Focus G works terribly well in white. The Define R6, which has one slot for optical drives, looks better. Whether that’s good enough for what you’re looking I don’t know. But I’d imagine there’s others if you kept looking.
I like the looks of the Cooler Master CM694.
The DARK BASE PRO 900 BLACK rev. 2 also supports optical drives and is way better than anything in this list
Thank you, Akshat. This information is deeply appreciated!
Although Expensive the TT Core W100 and W200 with P100 and P200 Pedestals respectively are very good and high end. Both require knowledge of cases and the ability to use tools such as a screwdriver. One with a Ratchet mechanism is recommended. It’s a fun thing though to be able to say you actually assembled your case. Beware both are behemoths and with the wheels stand at least 4 feet tall. The W100 is super roomy and Handles my needs perfectly for my primary computer. I haven’t had the pleasure of working with the W200, however it is capable of holding to full size systems.
Thanks Akshat.
Just what I am looking for. I need to add my blu ray & have latest I/O ports on a 2nd 5.25″ bay. Besides, I don’t like the lights and glass side covers.
Good Job.
Thanks!
So glad I came across this site before I bought the wrong case. Saved me an headache 🤣🤣
It is difficult to find a mud tower case allowing optical drives that also supports USB Type C on the front panel . . .
Hey dude. It’s me again. I want to ask something that not quite relevant to your post. I’m sorry. So, i’m planning to buy 4k bluray drive which is Pioneer BDR-212UBK. I’ve already learned that to play 4K bluray you need intel sgx that I have no problem because I have intel core i9 processor. But, you also had to use Intel HD onboard card with HDMI port. So I’m going to buy rtx 3070 for gaming, and I want my computer can also play 4k bluray. I’m preparing 2 scenario like this Image >> https://imgur.com/gE7RvoX <<.
Do you think scenario A will work if I plug 2 cable(HDMI+DP port) to one 4k monitor, then can I switch which source I want to use between the VGA card and the onboard VGA? (I want to switch to nvidia if i want to gaming or everything, then I want to switch to onboard if I want to play blu ray)
Do you think scenario B will also work? So if I plug 1 HDMI cable to my 4K tv, then I plug 1 cable to my 2k monitor for gaming and pc use only?
Can I switch between onboard and gpu card in windows setting? Thank you very much
On laptops with onboard+discrete GPU, it is possible but I am not sure about the desktop.
I’ve been building/using PCs since around 1986 or so…have run the gamut of data storage devices from tape to floppies to zips to CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray. Have even tinkered with a few thumb drives. I do NOT make use of cloud services…not secure, lose your data, etc. I make DVDs and Blu-ray disks to share videos with friends and family. Thumbdrives may work OK for those having equipment that’s compatible, but I believe most folks still have either a DVD or a Blu-ray player in their entertainment system. I currently have two combo CD/DVD/Blu-ray drives mounted in my system, along with a Card Reader. Sadly, looking at the inventory today I don’t see many cases that will meet my requirements for a new PC build! Those that have at least 3ea 5.25″ bays continue to place USB and audio ports directly ABOVE the space in which the optical drives are mounted…causing much grief if anyone has devices plugged into the ports with cabling dangling in front of the optical disks…when trying to open or close the optical drive trays! I don’t want a case that looks like a flying saucer on my desk…I want a FUNCTIONAL case instead!
any cases with 4_ 5.25 bays that also have usb-c types up front ?
also if they have usb 3.0 does that mean not 3.1?
I don’t think there is any.
be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2
Does any of these include a dust filter on the top of the case?
Seems rather fruitless to have the top open for everything in the air when the system is off.
Wish they could have a lid for those not putting fans there.
Great article by the way, the best on the internet.
Some offer dust filters on the top e.g. FSP CMT230 (has a removable top dust filter). In others, you can install 120mm fan dust filters on top. Thank you for your appreciation.
Antec DP502 Flux white has an optical drive bay.
Unlike the Focus G, it is all white, including interior.