Computer Cases

The first thing you'll want to look at when building yourself a computer is what type of case you want to buy. It's important to have a clear idea of what kind of system you want and what components are required to build that system before deciding on a case since you need to be sure all your computer components will fit in the case. The type of case you choose will depend on your specific needs for that particular machine.

Form Factor

Cases are made in destop or tower formats; the desktop format is the horizontally rectangular box that is most commonly seen underneath a monitor, which is an excellent space-saving spot for it; the tower format is the vertically rectangular box usually found on the floor underneath a desk. If you don't plan on upgrading anything once the system is complete, and your space needs are not extraordinary, you might want to choose a desktop case; just make sure that the motherboard you choose fits in the case! If, however, you'd like to keep your upgrading options open and/or you suspect you might want to get inside your computer case once in a while, go with a tower case. Tower cases come in various sizes; usually the small medium and large sizes are referred to as mini-tower, mid-tower and full-tower. If you're running a server you probably want the full tower; if you're a power user or want plenty of space to add peripherals and components, get a mid-tower. If you're not too worried about upgradeability or having a compact case is important to you, get a mini-tower.

Construction

Many people mistakenly believe that all computer cases are built well enough to withstand whatever reasonable stresses you might subject them to, but this isn't necessarily the case. For this reason, when buying a case you should pay attention to its construction. Most good cases are made out of steel or aluminum, look for finished edges to avoid cuts while working inside the case and also as an indicator of quality. If you're looking at a destop case, make sure it will support the weight of your monitor.

The layout of the case internals is also important, but it is more difficult to judge the efficiency of the layout without having worked inside a case before. Pay attention to the layout of the drive bays and picture yourself working with your computer to determine whether their location will cause an inconvenience. Many cases feature front USB and/or 1394 connectors so if this added convenience interests you keep an eye out for these features.

Power Supply and Cooling

Many cases come with their own power supply, take a note of its output wattage; you need 250 to 300 for a basic system or 400-500 Watts for a server. If you plan on installing non-standard devices in your computer make sure you have enough power to run them all. If you are concerned about noise, many power supplies are equipped with variable-speed fans to reduce the noise caused by the fan when its not needed for cooling.

As far as cooling is concerned, you should ensure that there is adequate air circulation in critical areas such as where the CPU and video card will be. Brackets for mounting additional cooling fans are always a good idea in a computer case.

Aesthetics

Although many of the computer cases you find will be relatively standardized in shape and colour, cases are available in all shapes, sizes and colours. Many people don't really care what their case looks like as long as it's functional, but if you're looking to make a fashion statement with your computer, or you want to be the coolest geek on the block, consider getting a novelty case.

Hopefully we've provided you with a few hints on selecting a computer case. In the next article we'll look at how to select a motherboard; make sure you read it and choose your motherboard before deciding on a computer case.