Desktop Computer Case Hardware Guide - December 2008

Desktop Computer Case Hardware Guide - December 2008

Deciding on a case depends mostly on the tastes of the consumer.  However, different cases are better then others when it comes to deciding between a gaming case or an office case.  Also the needs of the consumer come into play as different cases can handle more or less hardware such as video cards and number of hard drives.

Terms and Technologies

Drive Bay:	Drive bays are all the holding spots for optical drives, hard drives, or for any type of device that has to fit in side one of these bays.  There are three types of bays:  5.25" external, 3.5" external, and 3.5" internal.  The external 5.25" bays are for optical drives, while the external 3.5" drives are for floppy drives and usually media card readers.  The internal bays are for hard drives usually, but can also accommodate other devices such as liquid cooling components and such.
Expansion Slot:	Expansion slots are the number of slots on the back of the case for add-in cards and accessories.  Please see below for more information.
Tool-Free:	A tool-free case utilizes a type of screw called a thumb screw.  A thumb screw does not need the usage of a screwdriver to install or remove.  Tool-free cases also utilize other features that allow for addition and removal of devices such as hard drives, video cards, and optical drives without use of tools.
Side Window:	A side window is a piece of clear plastic that allows for viewing of components through the case's side panel.  Side windows come in a variety of shapes and adding one to a case change greatly change its cooling and acoustic properties.
I/O Ports:	I/O ports are the front mounted ports on the case.  These ports usually include USB and sound ports.  Some cases even include firewire or eSATA.

Features and Differences

The main difference between computer cases are the sizes.  Currently, there are four main sizes in use today for desktop usage:  EATX, ATX, mATX and mini-ITX.  The size designation is based upon the largest motherboard form factor that the case can accommodate.  To see the differences between motherboard form factors, please see the Motherboard Hardware Guide.  All bigger sized cases are able to fit a smaller motherboard size.  A mATX motherboard can fit into an ATX and EATX case, but an ATX board cannot fit into a mATX case.

 

EATX Case                                     ATX Case                         mATX Case                  mini-ITX Case

Not only does the size of the motherboard and components determine what sized case you need, but also the application as well.

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  EATX - This sized case is the de facto standard for workstation and server class system.  This sized case is also usually used on top of the line gaming systems with multiple video cards or liquid cooling setups to handle all the extra hardware.

  
  
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  ATX - This sized case is the most used size for desktop and gaming systems.  This sized case is the most flexible with the massive amount of case selections available.

  
  
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  mATX - This sized case is good for media center systems and for users who need a smaller desktop system.  Upgrades can be somewhat lacking.

  
  
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  mini-ITX - This sized case is for the user who needs a full desktop system in a very small space.  Upgrades and performance will be very limited compared to what is capable in a bigger system.

 

 

Size-Related Features

Cooling

 

Bigger cases are almost always designed to be able to handle more heat-producing components due to more air space, more fans, and larger and more powerful fans as well.

 

The smaller the case, the less internal space there is.  This means that the smaller cases usually run hotter because there is less air for the heat to dissipate into.  Also, some of the newest cooling solutions are quite big, and may not be able to fit into the smaller cases.  Also, many cases come with built-in fans, but they can be inefficient and very loud if used to their max settings.

 

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  EATX - Due to the fact that many EATX sized cases are designed for workstation use, the fans on these cases may be loud and fast unless designed for Enthusiast use.  Also, the large internal space also needs more airflow to keep components properly cooled.

  
  
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  ATX - Many ATX cases feature 2-4 fans with 1-2 front mounted fans and 1-2 back mounted fans for proper airflow.

  
  
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  mATX - Depending upon the style of case, this case could feature the same fan design as an ATX case or just use a single back mounted fan.

  
  
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  mini-ITX - This case size is designed for low-powered hardware, so this case size usually has no built in fans.  Therefore, proper consideration must be taken to ensure good airflow.

Drive Bays

 

Different cases come with different amounts of drive bays.  There are 3.5 inch drive bays for floppy drives and hard drives, and there are 5.5 inch drive bays for optical drives or expansion modules.  These drive bays are usually covered up by a thin plastic cover, and can be removed to put in a new component.  There are also internal drive bays for holding hard drives or other components.  Usually there is room for at least two hard drives and a few optical drives. If you are planning to populate the front with several optical drives, fan controllers, removable hard drives, and water coolers, please make sure you do not exceed the number of drive bays. 

 

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  EATX - These cases have the most drive bays, with up to 8 or more external drive bays, and up to 5 or more internal drive bays.

  
  
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  ATX - These cases usually have 5 or less external drive bays, and 5 or less internal drive bays.

  
  
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  mATX - These cases have the least, with some only having 1 external drive bay, and 2 internal bays.

  
  
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  mini-ITX - Depending upon the application of the case, there may be none or a single external drive bay.  Internal bays are also usually limited to a single bay.  These bay sizes may be notebook sized to lower the overall size of the case.

Expansion Slots

 

On the back of these cases, there are metal slots which are able to be removed, and expansion modules are able to be installed.  These include video and sound cards, extra USB ports, or anything else that needs a PCI slot. 

 

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  EATX and ATX - Because these cases utilize motherboards with the most expansion, these cases usually have at least 7 expansion slots.

  
  
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  mATX - If the case is a normal desktop case, it will usually have 4 expansion slots.  If the case is horizontal, it may only feature 2 expansion slots.

  
  
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  mini-ITX - Depending upon the application of the case, there may be one or none expansion slots.  Also, internal sizing may limit the type of hardware that can fit inside the case.

 

Non Size-Related Features

Input and Output Ports

 

Many cases feature ports on the front of the case, so the user does not have to plug commonly used items into the back of the computer.  The most commonly used ports that are on the front of most cases include 2 or more USB ports and microphone and line out speaker ports.  Some also include a firewire port or an eSATA port.

 

Extras

 

Some cases might also feature LCD displays on the front to show CPU temp, or anything else that is worth showing.  Some also feature carrying handles which makes a small portable gaming device easier to move from location to location.  Windows are another extra that make a computer stand out from the other closed-box system.