System unit. What are system blocks? The main characteristics of the PC case

Good day, dear readers, visitors, passing personalities and other creatures of this multidimensional universe! :) Let's talk about how to choose a case.

Well, we got to the next article, which, as it were, summarizes, or rather, wraps and packs all those components that we learned to choose earlier, based on articles from the already proven cycle with the label “selection criteria“, where the maximum detailed stories about how to choose one or another component of your computer or peripherals around it. As many remember, there were articles of choice, and much more.

As you may have guessed from the title, today we will talk about choosing a case for computer stuffing. We will find out what you need to pay attention to when buying it, whether it is worth overpaying at all, and other miscellaneous things.

Actually, I ask you to take your seats in the auditorium, we are starting ..

What do we pay for - introductory choice

When you buy any product, what do you pay attention to first of all? That's right, first on the packaging, then on the content, and only then on the price. In the computer world, the opposite is true, and the packaging of components (i.e., the case) is practically not given any attention.

Usually, when a person wants to buy a computer, the case in the list of components is at the very last positions, except perhaps in front of the mouse and keyboard. Here, the following logic is most often followed: “the first is the most powerful video camera, then at least 4 cores, 6 GB of memory, and the rest of some simple case.” Those. usually normal people are willing to pay for the content, not for the wrapper. In part, this position is correct, but here the wrapper is not just a beautiful candy wrapper, the case is a guarantor of the safety, stability and comfortable operation of the entire computer stuffing.

Banal life example

Recently, I witnessed how my friend saved on an "iron felix" - a case. He took a more expensive vidyuhi, a faster processor, a car of memory and decided to pack it all in a cheap (noname) case. What do you think happened? That's right, the trouble came from under the table: incomprehensible smells of burning, melting of conductors, overheating of the CPU and other "saved" bonuses began to appear.

Therefore, in order not to throw money away, you need to correctly plan your computer budget and be smart about buying a “packing box” of your components - a case. We will talk about the latter further.

How to choose a case and what to focus on

So, first of all, it should be said that there are no norms, canons and ideals in hull building. And therefore, you should not "be led" by bright phrases - the best, ultra-modern, etc., all this is heresy. If you disassemble the technical side, then you need to keep in mind (keep in mind when buying) that the following parameters exist:

Case type (form factor, size);
Material;
Cooling system ();
Structural elements, fastening;
Appearance, design, lotions.

Let's go through and analyze each parameter separately, but first, let's decide on the main structural compartments / departments of almost any case. Actually, by removing the cover of your system unit, you can find a lot of dust inside the following niches for installing computer elements (see image).

So the default is:

Place under (1). In modern models, it is more often located below;
Bays for installing floppy drives (2). A rarity for many buildings;
Cavity for installing the motherboard (3);
Niche for a processor with a cooling system (4);
Connector for installing a video card (5);
Peripheral connectors (mouse, keyboard, sound, hubs, etc.).

Now let's go directly to the parameters.

Type of shell

The modern computer case market is represented by many models, but there are certain standards in accordance with which they are produced. These standards are laid down in the so-called form factors, which ultimately determine the overall dimensions of the computer case.

The following frame sizes are available:

Mini-ITX ;
Micro-ATX;
ATX ;
EATX ;
XL-ATX;

You can also find such a classification of buildings (tower, as they are called):

SFF (Small Form Factor) - micro;
Mini Tower - mini;
Middle Tower - medium;
Big Tower - big;

The difference between the housing standards lies in the different size range intended for this housing. To estimate the dimensions, it is convenient to use the table (see image).

The visual size range clearly demonstrates the following image.

I think there is no need to say that the main criterion for choosing the type of case depends entirely on the tasks that you set for your computer counterpart. Those. mini and micro ATX are ideal options for the unassuming office users, for which their iron friend should simply fit well into the interior (without taking up much space), and, if possible, perform “hard” work in the form of “open-close-save” a document and other office fun :).

What to bounce off

If your goal is a moderately solid and productive unit, then the ATX is just what the doctor ordered. Well, the most trump card for those who like to be smarter is the XL-ATX standard case (aka Full Tower). As I said, the main criterion for choosing one or another type of case depends on the "metric" of the motherboard that you want to put there to perform the corresponding tasks. Also, the size of the case directly affects the quality of cooling inside, which means the lifespan and performance of all components.

Note:
Mini-ITX - the smallest, usually come with a built-in low-power PSU (up to 350 W) and are designed for an "inch" board size.
Micro-ATX is a typical desktop solution for home users. It has a slightly more intelligible dimensions and also often comes with a built-in 400-500 W power supply. In general, it allows you to build on your site a completely satisfactory “middle peasant” in terms of performance.
ATX - often sold without a built-in PSU and gives the user complete freedom of expansion.
EATX and XL-ATX are excellent, high-performance (including server and powerful gaming) solutions for linking several graphics subsystems and computing cores.

Let's move on to the "material" component of the body.

Housing material

It would seem, what's the difference what the body is made of, not paper, and okay. But no, the material is important, because it must provide not only high-quality cooling, but also a certain degree of protection against mechanical damage and vibration. Most often, the case material for premium models (with a price of 8 tr.) is a metal such as aluminum.

It is he (not counting copper) that has a good ability to dissipate a large amount of heat. You should not think that if the material is not aluminum, then the case will not cope well with its tasks, by no means. Most models of the mid-price (mass consumer) segment are made of special steel SECC - steel coated with a galvanized zinc solution.

An important point when buying will also be the build quality and the thickness of the case walls themselves. Regarding the first, it should be said that it is not worth buying (seemingly to you at first glance) all-metal cheap Chinese cases. Most often, the so-called noname models are made from low-grade stamping, and the build quality leaves much to be desired, i.e. there are various backlashes, vibrations and gaps due to the fact that the components of the case are loosely fitted to each other.

Note:
It is not entirely correct to think that the entire body is solid metal, you can often find plastic elements in the design of various panels, clips, mounts - this is normal.

The wall thickness is also a significant parameter. If it is less than 0.5 mm, then most often you should not pay attention to such a case, because at the slightest vibration the roar will be such that no earplugs will help. Therefore, try to choose a wall thickness of the case from 0.5 to 1 mm.

Cooling system or "carlsons" in the case

Of course, the case is not only a protector from damage, but also a ventilation shroud for all the components of your PC, providing the necessary “chill” to its hot elements. However, the rule "the more" wind blowers "in the case, the better" does not work here. It all depends on the competent organization of the ventilation process (air circulation) by installing coolers in the right seats.

In other words, 4-5 factory fans are far from always a guarantee of high-quality cooling of computer innards, because ventilation is created not by the number of "turntables", but by air currents. And if the latter intertwine, collide and interfere with each other, then there is no need to talk about any effective process for removing hot air.

A conditionally common ventilation scheme for housings is the following (see image).

In this scheme, one or more large "slow" fans are installed at the inlet, drawing in fresh room air. At the exit (back wall of the case) there is a slightly smaller fan, but more “nimble”, blowing out.

This design allows you to create a decent thrust in a closed space and the body begins to work like a large cooling turbine, i.e. cold air, stretching through all the hot components, cools them and is thrown out.

About twists separately and how to choose a case based on them

Such a standard design is often supplemented with “twists” at the top and side walls of the case, which also work for blowing. In general, to create a high-quality cooling environment inside the case, you must be guided by the following simple rules:

More twists doesn't mean better;
The air flow must be solid and unidirectional, without being broken down by various additional flows;
Hot air always rises and cold air sinks down, so do not lay the vertical block on its side;
Loose cables in the housing can disrupt the movement of air masses;
Big fan blades are better than small ones. create more airflow with fewer revolutions.

It is also worth paying special attention to the fans themselves, or rather, to the volume of air that they can “pump” into the case per unit of time (minute). This technical parameter is called CFM (cubic feet per minute). The volume of circulating air inside the enclosure must be constantly updated. And in order to calculate by the dimensions of the case what kind of fan it needs, you need to resort to simple mathematics:

Multiply the parameters (length, height, width) of the case in mm and find out its area;
Determine fan CFM.

Let's say for a case with dimensions of 253x502x563 mm, the volume is 2.52 cubic meters. ft. A 70 CFM fan is required to renew the air every two seconds. Very often inside the case you can find large air outlets in the form of tubes on the side surface for cooling the processor (see image).

So, the benefits of them are rather doubtful, but they introduce their “interference” into the harmony of the air flow, because. block the natural circulation of air, and in exactly the same way as the wires that are not tucked into the casing do. It is also worth mentioning a not particularly necessary component of the ventilation system of the case - dust nets.

Their efficiency is extremely low, tk. literally after 2-3 months of active use of the computer, they are tritely clogged with room dust, and this again prevents normal air circulation and contributes to overheating of the computer components. In general, such pipes are rarely really effective.

By the way, we talked about how to properly deal with dust inside the system unit in our article called, so read on and don’t dust :)

Fastening: tongue and groove. Body Ergonomics

It would seem that what the screws have to do with it, but that's what it has to do with it. Very often, in cheap cases, everything is fastened in the old fashioned way with the help of motley screws, the replacement of which turns into dancing with a tambourine. I unscrewed 5 things, while I screwed 3, the fourth one rolled away, and one was completely lost in the dark bowels of the case, climbed to look for it (took a flashlight) and along the way scratched itself on the steel edges of the panels, how do you like such a prospect?

High-end case manufacturers have long since solved these problems with a system of plastic rivets and fasteners, as well as the installation of skids for hard drives traveling on wheels. Everything is flexible, movable and comfortable (see image).

Such things (plugs, additional mounts, clips, shelves) have a positive effect on the ergonomics of the case or, in other words, its functional "convenience" for the user. Those. ergonomics, if you like, is the expandability of your case, its ability to easily transform during modernization, including changing its external and internal world appearance.

Running cables inside the case is also an important ergonomic point, because how easily they can be hidden also depends on the cooling inside the case. On the other hand, the wires should always be within walking distance in case a new drive or drive needs to be connected, and not cause the user to experience a “tug of war” syndrome. This is when the wire does not reach the socket of the device, but we still pull it there, because. there are no more options.

Appearance, design and "tricks"

What user does not like to show off his body? Yes, one that does not have this case :). We are all human and we all want to surprise someone with something. For some computer users, this “surprise” is the design of the case. Here is an example for you (see image).

It should be understood that design is a purely individual thing, many are ready to sacrifice functionality for the sake of various flashing lights, lights and nozzles, and this is a personal matter for everyone. However, do not forget that the case in strict colors with a minimum number of lights, sensors and other tinsel will always look stylish and elegant.

Of the necessary design gadgets, it should be noted that there are various types of connectors on the front (or top) panel of the case. By default, always displayed: headphones / microphone and USB. Those who obviously lack such a “gentleman's set” can easily take a case with a “reserve”, where there is an eSATA port for connecting a portable hard drive, a cooler speed control and a couple of modern ultra-high-speed USB 3.0 ports (see image).

Phew, it seems that we have finished with the practical and theoretical part, now let's summarize in order to assimilate all the material presented as well as possible and learn how to choose the right PC case the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions and Frequently Answered Choices

So, remember the following tips, and such an event as buying the right case will become a habit for you :).

Decide on the tasks that your PC will solve (office, gaming, etc.);
Based on the tasks, select the desired dimensions of the motherboard and case for it;
The material of the body walls should be from 0.5 to 1 mm thick;
Do not purchase nonname models, look at the professionals in their field: Cooler Master, Zalman, Inwin;
A cooling system of 3-4 fans is enough for efficient heat dissipation;
Do not save on the block, it must have significant power, otherwise your filling will sooner or later be covered with a copper basin;
The best location of the PSU in the case is from below;
Make sure that there are plastic elements for installing hard drives and drives;
Try to buy a body that is free of various screws and tongues;
Pay attention to the presence of additional connectors on the front panel of the case;
Remember, a high-quality case begins its “price offer” from an amount of 6,000 rubles.

These tips will help you make the right choice!

In a nutshell, something like this.

Indeed, it allows you to change the goods within 14 days without any questions, and even in the event of warranty problems, the store will take your side and help solve any problems. The author of the site has been using it for at least 10 years (since the time when they were part of Ultra Electoronics), which he advises you;

, - one of the oldest stores on the market, as a company has been around for about 20 years. Decent selection, average prices and one of the most user friendly sites. In general, a pleasure to work with.

The choice is traditionally yours. Of course, no one canceled all sorts of Yandex.Market there, but from good stores, I would recommend these, and not some MVideo and other large networks there (which are often not just expensive, but flawed in terms of quality of service, warranty work etc.).

Afterword

The author of the project strongly recommends (for high-performance solutions) tower (Full tower) cases from ChiefTec. An example can be seen at the link that is given above in the article about dust cleaning. Why? It's simple:

The size of the case is large and allows you to install any board and other components without any problems and interference (video cards are extremely long, and the number of wires with a large number of components can be significant, which interferes with air circulation in a small case)
Hard drives are placed in a separate block and have their own mounts (sled without bolts for a screwdriver), as well as, more importantly, fans for a perpendicular and almost independent cooling system, which means sensible air circulation
Almost everything is thought out in the case, starting from the number of additional bolts on the cross beam and ending with the possibility of installation inside the UPS case.

But - to each his own. This is so, as a personal opinion.

Well, our next iron article came to an end, in which we learned how to choose the right case. Now the only thing left is to go to the store and, with a clear conscience that you know everything, purchase the treasured piece of iron.

Happy shopping ladies and gentlemen!

P.S. For the existence of this article, thanks to a member of the team 25 FRAME

P.P.S. If you have questions, misunderstandings and other miscellaneous, as well as additions, thanks, thoughts, etc., then leave them in the comments - we will be happy.

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PC Chassis Planning

First of all, you need to think about installing the system unit at the user's workplace - where the case will stand. There are not so many placements: on the table, under the table or near the workplace. Hence the requirements for the dimensions of the device, its weight and form factor. Not all buyers know that PC case manufacturers produce their products both vertically and horizontally for user convenience.

Also an important factor in planning the placement of the system unit is the presence of fresh air in the room. In case of poor heat dissipation and installation below the level of the desktop, it is recommended to purchase a vertically installed system unit. If you need a compact device, and there is ventilation in the room, then it is better to give preference to a system unit with a horizontal arrangement - you can install it under the monitor or near it.

Case Form Factor

In the computer market, a buyer can get confused if he is faced with the choice of device form factor. Many abbreviations, the difference between which in appearance does not have much difference. To make it easier to navigate, professionals recommend using only three terms that sellers themselves will use when buying:

mini-case - compact dimensions allow the device not to take up much space, and light weight makes it possible to transport the system unit without much effort (in analogy - a huge laptop);
regular case - most system units on the market (about 90%) have standard PC case sizes (180x410x385 mm);
tower case - based on expensive system blocks of this type, all gaming solutions for customers are implemented, because ease of installation and decent ventilation will always come first.

Complete with power supply

There is a belief that all PC cases that come with power supplies in the kit are consumer products. This is partly true, because most manufacturers of budget devices benefit from making money on the sale of two devices, rather than on one thing. However, well-known world brands, focusing on user requirements, often supply expensive cases with powerful power supplies. Naturally, the price of such solutions is an order of magnitude higher than consumer products.

In this situation, after all, IT specialists are advised to give preference to buying a case and a power supply separately. The calculation of the PSU power should be based on the total electricity consumption of all installed components, and not vice versa. In addition, in the computer market, power is always calculated with a margin (30% minimum).

Manufacturers of expensive PC cases

It is clear that all buyers want to give preference to a well-known brand, but often you have to pay a lot for the name of the manufacturer. And if we are talking about recommendations, then you should take a closer look at the following brands in the computer market:

Zalman. The company is known to users for its solutions in the field of cooling systems, so there is no doubt that the manufacturer will provide decent ventilation for its product. Choosing a PC case from the entire line of the company will be the best purchase for the future owner.
thermaltake. The most expensive representative of the American manufacturer differs from competitors in a recognizable design. Basically, all the company's solutions are implemented in the form of tower cases designed for overlockers: a lot of free space inside, excellent ventilation and external attractiveness find their customers anywhere in the world.
Aerocool, Chieftec, Gigabyte, Fractal Design. These manufacturers make decent PC cases. But their desire to conquer all niches confuses many potential buyers. If the issue of price is a priority, then it is worth taking a closer look at these brands.

Cheap class of system blocks

For budget class devices, the main criterion is the build quality. Attention must be paid to the material of manufacture. In most cases, to reduce costs, the manufacturer uses a very thin metal, which, along with low strength, has sharp edges at the joints, due to which many users can cut their hands when installing components. The best budget PC cases come without a power supply.

However, it is low-cost solutions that attract many buyers, because manufacturers, trying to stand out in the market, provide their solutions with additional functionality: liquid crystal displays, card readers, bright neon lights and many other features that can draw attention to the product. Here it is up to the buyer to decide what is more important for him: quality or price.

Development of the direction of modding

Many owners of personal computers, trying to stand out among their peers, prefer to make a PC case with their own hands. For these purposes, a special device is purchased called Dremel (Dremel), which is used to modify the system unit. The main advantage of this improvement is the manufacture of the case for the specific needs of the user at minimal cost. Having bought the cheapest device on the market, you can create a real masterpiece on its platform, which, with its functionality and ease of use, is able to compete with elite cases.

Naturally, the presence of a metalworking tool for these purposes is not enough. You need to have design skills and knowledge in the field of computer technology. To ensure decent ventilation inside the case, it is recommended to cut windows on the cover of the system unit for installing additional coolers. A luminous one will help to give a beautiful look. The main thing is not to forget the basic rule of modding: you must not violate the integrity of the frame of the supporting part of the structure.

Do-it-yourself case from scratch

There are a lot of people who create a PC case from scratch with their own hands. However, only a few think why manufacturers make system units from steel or aluminum, because plastic is much cheaper. It's all about the static voltage that each component installed in the case has - the excess current is taken over by the metal frame of the device, which plastic or wood will not do.

And if the user has the idea to create a case with his own hands, then you need to take care of creating a metal circuit inside the device, it is also called mass. Before making a PC case, you need to carefully calculate the dimensions of the supporting structure, create blocks for installing components and combine all the elements into one electrical circuit. Otherwise, all devices inside the system unit may simply burn out.

Finally

As a result, it turns out that before choosing a PC case, a potential buyer must first determine the price. The next step is the performance requirements of the system: it requires decent cooling, and compactness is a priority for an office PC. People who want to create a case with their own hands will definitely need knowledge of physics and a special tool for metal processing. The choice, as always, is up to the user, but do not forget that the cost of components installed inside the system unit is much higher than the price of the case, respectively, all modifications of the carrier device proportionally affect expensive equipment.

Oddly enough, but often before buying a new computer, people do not always think about the size and type of future PC (form factor). Most often, this falls on the shoulders of sellers who are not always interested in the needs of the CUSTOMER, simply put - what kind of case was caught - they put it in that one ... However, often this parameter is important, both for the user and for the computer itself. How important is it? Many important parameters depend on the form factor of the PC (and on the correct choice of it, of course ...): ease of use, noise level, case temperature, and from this follow: the “health” of the components inside (primarily hard drives - which store your information - and this is known to be the highest value), convenience of work, etc., etc. ... So, how to choose the right size of the system unit of the future PC?

To begin with, I propose to consider them in more detail in turn:

In the beginning, it must be said that the dimensions of a PC are formed not only from the dimensions of the case itself. The size of the case must also correspond to the dimensions of the components - the motherboard in the first place, the video card, the power supply and other devices. For example, you can't put an ATX format motherboard in a miniTower case, or a GeForce 9800GTX video card in the same case - it simply won't fit. And if it does fit, it will get so warm that a small space will not allow efficient heat removal, and overheating will threaten all devices ...

So, let's look at the form factors of cases - their size can be said to be directly proportional to the capabilities of the future PC, because. it determines the size of the components that can fit into it. And modern components are often large (for example, powerful video cards). Therefore, in a sense, we can give such advice: the more powerful the PC is planned, the larger the case ...

Full Tower: The dimensions of such a case: width 15-20cm, height 50-60cm. Such a case has from 4 to 9 bays for 5.25 inch devices (example: DVD-ROM drive), has from 6 to 12 bays for 3.5-inch devices (example: hard drive), has the ability to install seven expansion cards (for example, a TV tuner, sound card). Also, such a case can accommodate a full-size ATX motherboard (we will talk about their sizes later). To put it simply, cases of this type are the largest, and the capacity of various hardware is huge. But here, of course, everything depends on the motherboard - how much it allows you to connect hard drives, expansion cards (which then find a place for themselves in the open space of the case), etc. Application: Basically, for powerful computers, focused exclusively on high performance, because. such system units contain a lot of fast components, which are known to generate a lot of heat, and in such a large case, cooling is not difficult.

Middle tower (Mid Tower): Perhaps the most common size among home desktop computers. Its dimensions: width 15-20cm, height 43-45cm. These cases can accommodate a full-sized ATX motherboard, a full-sized power supply, multiple hard drives, and quite a few hard drives. Application: It can be said - universal. The dimensions are acceptable for both high-performance PCs and regular medium PCs. home computer. The space inside the case allows airflow to circulate inside, usually without hindering the cooling of the case and devices. I recommend it for PC builds - if your PC size requirements are normal, and if you don't need a computer "on the shelf".

Mini Tower: Mainly distributed in the sector of office computers. Due to their small size (width 15-20cm, height 33-35cm) they allow you to install a few: (1-2 optical drives, 1-2 hard drives and about 4 expansion slots) and medium or lower performance devices. Firstly, because of the size, and secondly, because of the heating. There is not enough space in such a case - and therefore the requirements for the temperature of devices are higher, so as not to create nasty fan noise and overheating of devices. But in such a case you can fit components that are quite enough for office work with text, presentations and spreadsheets.

Mini PC (Small Form Factor): With their dimensions (width 20 cm, height 18-23 cm), they can accommodate a maximum of 2 expansion slots, few hard drives and imply a compact power supply. This implies that the user will mainly use the components built into the motherboard (which, by the way, is also small) such as integrated video and sound. By appearance these cases resemble household appliances. Their use is as office PCs or as the basis of a home theater. There is no question of cooling here, because. there are very few devices and they, according to their purpose, emit a little heat.

There are also form factors. Micro PC(which are even smaller compared to Mini PCs, but due to their size they have even more limitations) and desktop (horizontal cases that are on the table), but they are less common and it is unlikely that you will have to mess with them.

So, we looked at the form factors of cases. I hope you choose something suitable for you. If not, you can seek individual advice.

In the following articles from the form factor cycle, we will generally consider the form factors of the components of the system unit and other devices.

With this article, our site continues a whole cycle of useful materials, the purpose of which will be to facilitate the choice of any product from the thousands of options offered on the market. Agree, the choice of a specific model of a device always takes a lot of time, which can be spent usefully. In today's material we will talk about choosing a case for a personal computer.

Introduction

The case is the home for all the components of a personal computer, and experts recommend not skimping on it. The point is, a good PC case can last you many, many, many years. The filling inside is relatively easy to replace, and an excellent high-quality and functional case will allow you not to worry about its safety and cooling. There are a great variety of cases - a model can be selected for every taste and for a computer of any purpose and size.

The choice of case determines the number of components that you can use in your PC, the ease of assembling them together (for example, due to a convenient internal cable management system), the quality of the overall cooling and the safety of all internal stuffing. A cheap thin aluminum case with a couple of weak fans and no dust filters is definitely not suitable for a gaming PC, and in general it will not look very presentable as a home PC, but it will certainly be suitable for office solutions.

It is worth noting that cases are not only big and stupid rectangles - some manufacturers produce interesting models with a design similar to, for example, media players, others (like Alienware) even make their cases look like some kind of starships.

In the next section, we will cover the main features of PC cases, and then we will present to your attention the 10 best models that are suitable for any budget and are considered the best in their class.

Main characteristics of cases

Form factor

Specifies the form factor of the motherboard that can be installed in a specific case. There are quite a few form factors: ATX, mATX, BTX, mBTX, EATX, Mini-ITX, Nano-ITX, Pico-ITX and FlexATX. The most common ones are ATX (standard size for regular motherboards), mATX (slightly smaller size, usually compatible with ATX), EATX (larger ATX), and Mini-ITX (for mini computers). If you chose motherboard before you start choosing a case - be sure to make sure that it can be installed into it without problems.

power unit

Some chassis come with a power supply installed. Usually this is not a very powerful and cheap model, so we recommend buying a power supply separately (and we will tell you about its selection in the hotel material).

In addition, the power supply in a conventional rectangular case can be located below or above. There is no particular difference between these options, but recently cases with the PSU located at the bottom have become especially popular - perhaps due to a theoretically more stable design (power supplies are quite heavy, and they are held on top by several strong screws).

Size

Characterizes the dimensions of the case and, more importantly, the number of 5.25" bays (for optical drives and other devices). There are also quite a few sizes (in ascending order): Micro-Tower, Mini-Tower, Midi-Tower, Full-Tower, Super-Tower, Slim-Desktop (horizontal position), Full-Desktop (horizontal position) and Rackmount (for servers). Mini-Tower and Midi-Tower are suitable for home and office use, for a powerful gaming PC or workstation, you may need a Full-Tower or even a Super-Tower. Slim-Desktop and Full-Desktop are useful for multimedia computers located, for example, next to the TV.

Number of bays, screwless mounting

The number of 5.25" and 3.5" bays determines the number of hard drives, optical drives, and some other components that can be installed inside the case. In recent years, the importance of optical drives has greatly decreased - when was the last time you used a CD or DVD? In general, now the number of bays is only important for those who are going to use several large mechanical HDDs, but their capacity already reaches several terabytes - you are unlikely to need many bays.

Disks and drives can be fixed in the bays either with screws or, for example, with latches. Naturally, the fewer screws in the case, the easier it is to work with.

Housing material

Some cases are made of plastic, but the vast majority are made of aluminum or stainless steel. Everything is simple here: aluminum is less durable and much lighter, steel is strong, thick and heavy (and also more expensive). If you plan to frequently move the case from place to place - perhaps lightweight aluminum is more suitable for you, in other cases the material of the case is not so important.

Window, LCD display, etc.

Advanced cases are equipped with various "chips" in the form of windows that allow you to look inside and admire working components, displays that can display information about temperature and fan speed, doors to protect ports and aesthetics, as well as various mechanisms for opening the side panel (the most common - conventional removable panels). Some cases are even equipped with wheels and locks.

Cooling system

One of the most important factors to consider when buying a case. Each case is equipped with at least one fan, which is responsible for the circulation of air inside and the overall cooling of the system. It is better to buy cases with at least two fans - for example, on the back and front. This allows fresh air to be constantly drawn through the housing.

Powerful gaming PCs and workstations need some serious cooling, that is, several fairly large fans on the case. Also, if you want to use a liquid cooling system, make sure your case supports it.

Fan sizes are quite important. Small and powerful fans will noticeably make noise - it is better to look at cases with large (140x140 mm and larger) fans. Often there are free places in the cases for installing additional fans, which must be purchased separately.

Also, cases can be equipped with separate panels for adjusting the fan speed. This is not very important, but it can come in handy if you want to make your PC as quiet as possible, for example, when idle.

Front panel and ports

A modern PC case should have several USB ports 3.0 on the front (at least two), as well as 3.5 mm audio output and audio input. eSATA and FireWire ports can also be located on the front panel - if you have any devices that support them, then they will certainly come in handy.

Much more interesting is the location of all these ports. They can be placed both at the bottom of the front panel of the case, and in its middle or on top. Choose a case with this location in mind - for example, if your PC will be under a table, then the ports on the bottom of the front panel will most likely not be very convenient.

Color, design

Most cases are made in white and black, but sometimes you can find cases in other colors, such as red or silver, on sale. Each manufacturer tries to stand out with its design - someone adheres to strict lines and right angles, someone tries to use fantasy. There is only one recommendation here - first make sure that the case will be comfortable to use, and only then make a purchase decision.

10 Best PC Cases

An excellent inexpensive and quiet standard design solution for a multimedia PC or office computer. 1 fan 120x120 mm, 1 USB 3.0 port on the front panel and durable stainless steel.

A good case for a gaming PC or a mid-range workstation: not too expensive, two 140x140 mm fans, two USB 3.0 ports on the front and a very simple design.

Steel Full-tower for beginner enthusiasts: three 140x140 mm fans, two USB 3.0 ports on the front panel, four 5.25" bays and 8 3.5" bays.

A budget solution for gaming PCs: two 120x120 mm fans, the ability to install five (!) additional 140x140 mm fans, two USB 3.0 ports in the front, convenient mounting mechanisms and a very attractive price.

Beautiful, expensive and large body for a powerful gaming computer. Three 140x140 mm fans, three USB 3.0 ports on the front, nice red backlighting and an interesting translucent side panel that is easy to open.

Huge and not too expensive for its class Super-tower with two fans (92x92 mm and 140x140 mm), a pair of USB 3.0 on the front panel and a bunch of compartments and places for installing additional fans.

Small premium steel case for enthusiasts. Three 120x120mm fans, two USB 3.0 ports on the front, excellent dust protection and comfortable carrying handles.

A custom-looking multimedia PC case that looks good under a TV or projection screen. Pretty quiet, not too expensive and not too roomy (only one 5.25" bay).

Case with a unique modular design, designed for gaming enthusiasts. Equipped with three 200x200 fans (!), one 140x140mm fan and plenty of space for installing components.

Huge, expensive, but at the same time strict and pleasing to the eye Super-Tower. Three 120x120mm fans, one 140x140mm fan, 2 USB 3.0 ports on the front, plenty of room for components and highest quality materials and assembly.