The Raspberry Pi phenomenon continues to capture the imaginations of hackers, hobbyists, and students around the globe. Over 37 million units have sold as of early 2023, powering projects from retro arcades to home automation. However, the core Pi board remains vulnerable – exposed components risk physical trauma, dust interference, and debris accumulation.
Choosing an enclosure should be one of the first investments you make before tackling any ambitious Raspberry Pi endeavor. Protecting your core compute module will pay dividends over time through improved stability, extended hardware lifespan, and increased performance.
Why a Case Matters
Unlike desktop PCs or laptops, the Pi lacks basic structural defenses. Key reasons to consider an case include:
- Prevents Physical Damage – delicate SBC parts vulnerable to drops, dings, etc leading to hardware faults or reduced longevity
- Dust & Dirt Protection – prevents particle ingress leading to electrical shorts and overheating
- Accessibility – well-designed cases allow easy plugging of external drives, sensors, cameras, and other accessories via neatly routed cutouts and openings
- Heat Dissipation – Crucial for maintaining acceptable core temperatures during periods of intense workload. Throttling and shutdowns possible if chipsets overheat from lack of ventilation
- Style & Convenience – Mounting holes, attractive exteriors, messaging add flair while portability helps securely transport Pi safely
Industry vet Ian McEwan compares an uncovered Raspberry Pi PCB to "running an expensive gaming PC motherboard as is without a case". Protecting the diminutive platform need not be expensive – even simple acrylic or plastic enclosures offer dramatic improvements over leaving the board exposed.
Types of Raspberry Pi Cases
Before selecting the perfect match, buyers should understand the benefits and compromises for various case materials available:
| Material | Thermal Pros/Cons | Style Variety | Cost Scale | Example Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic | Basic insulation, limited heat transfer | All colors and opacities | Budget ($5 – $15) | Vilros Clear Case |
| Acrylic | Transparent to showcase builds, ventilation varies | Large visual selection | Low – Moderate ($10-$30) | Freenove Acrylic |
| Aluminum | Premium thermal conductor, effectively draws heat from PCB | Often plain, some colors | Premium ($30+) | Flirc Silver |
| Wood | Natural insulating properties | Gorgeous natural wood finishes | High-end ($70+) | Hographene Walnut |
Premium aluminum stands above other alternatives for thermal dissipation thanks to a high conduction coefficient of 205 W/(mK) allowing heat to readily transfer into the large metal heatsink protecting internals. However acrylic and plastics shine for transparent builds or matching specific room decor needs on a budget. We‘ve selected 10 enclosures spanning requirements across the board.
Key Considerations Before Buying Your Case
- Intended Use: Mission-critical home automation demands more stringent cooling than an occasional Kodi streamer. Plan ahead – an inadequate case could throttle performance during future upgrades and workload increases.
- Accessibility: Well-designed enclosures route IO ports, card slots, GPIO pins, and other critical access points through easily accessible windows and openings. Ensure your peripherals, HATs, and hardware add-ons integrate cleanly without case obstruction.
- Drive Expansion: Some cases offer interior slots or mounting points for supplementary SD cards or SSD/HDDs increasing available storage – ideal for media servers or NAS Pis requiring jumbo repositories.
- Appearance: Beyond materials, preference plays a role too – sleek unibody finishes for minimalist entertainment rigs or transparent housing to showcase elaborate sensor payloads and LED strips on a robots.
- Cooling: Active cooling combines case ventilation and fans to keep thermals in check while passive cooling relies solely on conductive and convective heat transfer via internal case design.
With basics covered, let‘s showcase some stellar recommendations to protect your prized Pi over years of loyal service.
10 Great Raspberry Pi Case Options
1. Freenove Acrylic Case
Freenove‘s transparent acrylic enclosure ships as a DIY kit perfect for learning the basics of assembly before tackling advanced Raspberry Pi projects. Straightforward routing gives access to all essential ports, slots, and headers.
- Pros – High clarity material, snap-fit build teaches basic construction
- Cons – Single acrylic layer lacks insulation potentially allowing some heat creep
Overall a low-cost starter case to safely familiarize yourself with the platform.
2. Flirc Raspberry Pi 4 Case
Flirc‘s rugged aluminum case directly contacts the Pi PCB transferring heat into the metal body acting as a giant heatsink. Side channels allow access to GPIO and ports.
- Pros – Premium cooling potential protecting SoC and other ICs, solid aluminum build quality
- Cons – On the basic feature side
A YouTuber measured the Flirc dropping idle temperatures by over 20°C demonstrating aluminum‘s efficacy.
3. CanaKit Raspberry Pi Case Fan
This Fan attaches seamlessly to Flirc‘s case adding active forced convection for the ultimate heat protection. Fits Canakit branded heat sinks too.
- Pros – Black colorway, robust aluminum housing, stacked cooling capabilities
- Cons – Slightly bulky footprint
The oversized fan pulls ample air through the case vent holes to cool things under load.
4. Sabrent M.2 NVMe USB C Enclosure
While not technically a traditional case, Sabrent‘s USB C external SSD enclosure allows adding fast M.2 NVMe storage via the Pi 4‘s Type C port to conveniently boot and store data.
- Pros – Lightning quick transfer speeds, plug and play installation
- Cons – No advance internal cooling features
Excellent cost per GB proposition to run caching servers.
5. SUNFOUNDER Robotics Case
This spacious acrylic chassis gives working room for add-on components like camera modules and joysticks when building Pi robot rigs. The transparent body showcases electronics.
- Pros: Roomy interior to mount accessories, fun see-through style
- Cons: Limited protection compared to aluminium metal which could be an issue for permanent outdoor robotic installations due to sunlight UV degredation over time.
Easy wiring channels makes connecting additional boards simple.
6. Vilros Clear Acrylic Case
Vilros transparent case is an inexpensive basic option. The removable lid allows clean access with an integrated sprite to hold the GPIO port cover and prevent losing it!
*Pros:* Budget-friendly pricing, simple foolproof design
Cons:* Non-slip base or mounting options
The snap-on build makes installation painless.
7. C4Labs Cloudlet CASE
This versatile enclosure works in horizontal and vertical orientations with adequate airflow thanks to the crystal clear acrylic build.
- Pros: Multi-position functionality, sleek rounded corners
- Cons: Lack of active cooling could limit performance potential
Easy access permeates even in compact vertical mode making plugging accessories a breeze.
8. Smraza Heavy Duty Case
Smraza‘s rugged design acts like a vault protecting internals from dust and liquids with silicone port coverings and steel border frame. Meets IP67 ingress protection standards.
- Pros: Fort Knox level security, metal grid venting for passive airflow
- Cons: Industrial aesthetic, bulky footprint
Its hardcore build makes it overkill for basic home usage but ideal for industrial automation projects.
9. KKSB HEATSINK Case
This black plastic clamshell accommodates third party Raspberry Pi heatsinks helping manage thermals. A standard 40mm quiet fan mounts inside too.
- Pros: Spacious interior for cooling accessories
- Cons: Basic feature set otherwise
Attractive subtle dotted exterior diffuses LED HAT beams nicely.
10. RetroFlag NESPi CASE+
Nintendo fans will adore the vintage styled NESPi CASE+ which resembles a classic game system. HDMI and USB ports route out the back.
- Pros: Nostalgic design, quiet internal cooling fan
- Cons: Focus lies more on retro aesthetic
Its charming form factor spruces up entertainment centers.
Final Thoughts
Weighing factors like budget, thermals, expandability, and personal style preference allows narrowing which case best suits your needs. Acrylic offers flashy transparent visibility while plastic and aluminum provide more rugged protection. Consider airflow requirements too – active cooling adds fans but increases cost. Remember to handle bare PCBs carefully avoiding debris/moisture during case installation.
As demanding Pi applications emerge, future-proof slightly oversizing cooling capabilities now for added headroom avoiding throttling down the road. With enclosure basics covered, browse hobbyist forums like the official Raspberry Pi /r subreddit to read first-hand user experiences and troubleshoot niche issues around specific cases. Your perfectly protected Pi will churn out years of loyal service.
