Computer Cases – Pick The Perfect Computer Case
Monday, November 28th, 2011Choosing the right computer cases for you isn’t always an easy task, there’s lots of factors that you’re going to have to take into account like will my computer case still fit the latest parts in acouple of years, is there enough room for my CPU cooler, fan slots, HDD slots and so on!
You’ve got to start off by selecting a computer case that appeals to your personal tastes, you don’t want it to be an eyesore and being something that you regret. Once you have found one that looks good to you then there are a few other attributes about computer cases that you should be aware of.
Front USB/3.5mm jack
Does it have front USB and 3.5mm jacks? It almost doesn’t make sense to have a computer case without front usb and 3.5mm jacks.They both come in handy for hooking up digital cameras, Bluetooth/wireless adaptors, plugging your headphones and downloading images. This enables you to avoid pulling the computer out to search for ports in the back, especially if you’re only in a tight space say at a Lan. Almost all motherboards have ports for the front and the rear. These days your will also find that there’s hard drives docks on top the latest computer cases, such as the Thermaltake Overseer Full Tower.
How does the motherboard install into the case? If possible try to find a case that has a removable backplane for mounting, you’ll find that most cases these days do have the feature. The backplane is able to be removed from the case to mount the motherboard, having the ability to remove the motherboard gives you more room to work making less percentage of error, you just have to remember that you have to put the backplane back in. Installing a motherboard in a computer case without a removable backplane can be cramped and be hard to see what you’re doing with your head blocking the light finding yourself with a torch in your mouth. Of course, if the computer case is a full tower then it may not be necessary for it to have a removable backplane. The removable backplane feature becomes more important if the computer case is a mini ATX or just really old.
What kind of motherboard do you have? There’s serveral sorts of motherboards that are made to fit certain cases and do certian jobs. The major form factors are: Micro ATX, Full ATX (commonly referred to as ATX), and Extended ATX. Every computer case should denote which motherboard form factors it accepts. If the case doesn’t describe which motherboard form factors it accepts then it’s best to move on; you run the risk of buying a computer case that doesn’t fit your motherboard. Physical measurements of a motherboard are mostly unimportant. As long as the form factors of the case and motherboard match then you should have no problem with installation because lets face it, nobody is going to make a motherboard for a full ATX system that doesn’t fit!
If the case comes with a powers supply, what size is it? You need to ask yourself this important question because most of the time the power supply will be too small for your application, unless you’re running a Mini ATX system then it’s always ideal to find a case with the power supply already in it. Having an undersized power supply can lead to erratic computer operation, most often denoted by frequent rebooting.
How many device bays will your computer need? It is necessary to know how many 5.25″. 3.5″ and 2.5″ bays you’ll need in your computer case. If you’re installing four cdroms in your computer then it will be necessary to have a case with at least four 5.25″ bays. You’ll also need a certain number of 3.5″ and 2.5″ bays, but you can simply buy 3.5″ to 2.5″ converters if your computer case didn’t have enough bays.
Will your CPU cooler fit in that case? These days most cpu coolers are 150mm high, and most mid tower ATX cases are are only 140mm wide, and if you’re also adding in extra case fans it can prove to cause a problem. Simply measuring the width won’t work as you’ll also be mounting it on the motherboard on top your CPU, so it’s best to be safe then sorry and measure it and take at least 3cm off.
Location
Will the physical dimensions of the computer case fit into your location? Be sure to pick a computer case that fits inside whatever space you have designated for your computer. Pay close attention to the overall height, width, and depth. You’ll also want to put your case in a place where it isn’t going to over heat and dust won’t build a new city inside of your case and clogs up all your parts.
Head over to Warcom and take a look at our massive range of computer cases!
-Michael







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