Choosing a Computer Case

It may not seem too exciting, but selecting a case for your homebuilt computer is one of the most important steps in the planning process.

The case you select will determine what form factor motherboard you will need, how many drives you can install, and many other things.

Choosing a case wisely can save you many hours of annoyance and expense later on. Here are some of the things you should consider:

 

Form Factor

The form factor is the first thing you must consider when selecting a case for your new computer. The most common form factors as of this writing are ATX and micro-ATX, which differ mainly in their size. They are electronically identical.

If you are planning on using a full-size ATX motherboard, then you will need a full ATX case. But a micro-ATX motherboard can be used in a full-ATX case, provided you don't mind having some empty space at the bottom of the computer.

 

Number of Drive Bays

Computer caseAnother important factor affecting the size of case you choose is the number of drives you plan to install. Almost all PC cases have internal bays for at least one hard drive, and front-accessible bays for at least one optical drive (CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, or DVD-RW) and a floppy drive.

But most people who build their own computers want more than this minimal configuration. Having two optical drives (one reader and one writer), for example, is a popular configuration, as it allows direct copying of optical media. Other popular options include ZIP drives, card readers, and tape drives. All of these devices occupy drive bays.

Furthermore, as technology advances, new devices that are invented are often designed to fit in existing case configurations. So save yourself trouble in the long run by selecting a case with an adequate number of drive bays -- plus one or two extra, just in case.

 

Power Supply

Power supplies are usually (but not always) included and pre-installed in computer cases. Make sure the power supply is adequate for your needs and has the correct connectors for the type of system you are building.

ATX power connectorThe ATX (and micro-ATX) form factor specifies a power supply that has standardized connectors for the motherboard and drives. Chances are that the motherboard you select will use a standard ATX connection such as the one on the left.

 

P4 power leadPentium 4 motherboards also require a special lead called the "P4" lead. If you are building a Pentium 4 machine, then untangle the leads coming off the power supply to make sure it has one that looks like this.

It's also important to select a power supply that can provide sufficient wattage for your system. Also remember that many USB and Firewire devices draw their power from the computer's power supply, so you'll want to leave plenty of headroom when calculating wattage requirements.

The following are our minimum power supply recommendations based on the combined number of drives (floppy, optical, tape, and hard drives) in a Pentium IV or Athlon XP system:

 

Cooling

Chassis fanExcess heat is one of your computer's worst enemies. Select a case that has at least one place to mount a chassis fan. Without a chassis fan, the heat thrown by the power supply fan, CPU fan, chipset fan, and video card fan will rapidly raise the temperature inside the case. A simply case fan will help bleed this heat off and keep your computer cool and happy.

Too-small cases can also cause major heat buildup, which in turn can cause all sorts of errors, failures, and other problems. So keep this in mind when thinking about how perfectly that "cute, little case" would fit on your bookshelf.

 

Appearance

Some people couldn't care less about a computer's looks. Others go to great pain to find a case that matches their decor or is otherwise pleasing to their eyes.

Unlike the "old days" of computing when everything was boxy-looking and putty-colored, PC cases are now available in a full spectrum of colors, styles, and designs. Some even have transparent side panels framed with flashing neon lights.

But only you know how important appearance is to you. So once you have narrowed your selection down to a few cases based upon the more important criteria listed above, it's perfectly okay to pick the case that you think is the prettiest of the bunch!

 

Ease of Assembly and Maintenance

Finally, when selecting a computer case, consider how the case design will affect the ease of assembling and maintaining the computer. Look at things such as how easy the case is to open and whether the drive cages are easily removable (which makes drive installation and replacement easier).

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