DeepCool CH160 Plus or Jonsbo Z20 for a First Gaming PC Build?
Asked by
MellowHarbor27
I'm putting together my first gaming PC and can't decide between the DeepCool CH160 Plus and the Jonsbo Z20. The Z20 seems to offer more internal space and potentially easier building, but its many fan-mount options have me second-guessing the airflow setup. I've seen builds using different combinations of 120mm and 140mm fans, along with various top, bottom, intake, and exhaust arrangements. I'd rather not buy several extra fans just to chase small temperature improvements.
The CH160 Plus looks more straightforward. It seems like I could install four 120mm fans and use a simple, sensible layout without having to worry about as many configurations.
The planned system is a Ryzen 5 9600X with a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Vision MAX ARGB Black, an ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB, a B650 or B850 micro-ATX Wi-Fi/Bluetooth motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and a 650–750W power supply. My total budget for the PC is around £1,200–£1,300, so I'd prefer not to spend unnecessarily on fans.
I'm not chasing the lowest possible temperatures or absolute silence. I'll usually be gaming with headphones, and I have my own room, so moderate fan noise is fine. My main priorities are good-enough cooling, affordability, portability, and a build process that isn't unnecessarily complicated.
For this hardware and a first-time build, is the Z20's extra flexibility actually useful? Does the CH160 Plus's simpler layout make a meaningful difference, and which case would you choose?
Answers
Either case should be reasonable for this hardware, so the decision is mostly about handling and layout rather than a major cooling difference. The CH160 Plus is probably the less intimidating choice for a first build, while the Z20 gives you more room to adjust things later. I’d avoid buying a full set of fans up front: build the system with a straightforward layout, check temperatures and noise, and only add another fan if there’s a clear need.
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For a first build, I’d lean toward the case that keeps things simple. The Z20 has more options, but its usable space isn’t quite as generous as it appears. The upper cable channel can be cramped, especially when routing fan leads alongside the CPU power cable. Your planned components also shouldn’t produce an extreme amount of heat, so you probably don’t need an elaborate fan arrangement. Choose the case you prefer, use a basic intake-and-exhaust layout, and confirm the cooler and graphics card clearances before buying.
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I’d personally pick the Jonsbo Z20. The extra room and handles are useful in a small build, and you don’t have to fill every fan mount. Start with the fans included with the case, or add only the minimum needed for front or bottom intake and rear or top exhaust. The flexibility is optional rather than something you have to optimise immediately.
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MellowHarbor27: That’s helpful—the handles and portability are a big part of why I’m considering it. I was worried I’d need a complicated mix of 120mm and 140mm fans, but keeping the initial layout simple sounds much more manageable.