Ever wondered which computer
case or computer cabinet was best for you and if there was an order to
it? If so, then the answer to the second one is yes (We’ll get to the
first one after we have done some groundwork on the second). The
computer cases are standardized according to the Electronics Industries
Association (EIA).
You can broadly classify the various types of computer cabinets available (leaving apart a few stone – age boxes).
So what is the basis of classification?
Based on Position – Desktops and Towers.
The ones kept horizontally on the desk are known as desktops and the ones which are kept horizontally, towers.
When the computers are kept horizontally, they are classified as desktops. Cabinets have drive bays (Slots into which you fit in your hard-disks, CD ROM drives, etc.). Depending on the number of drive bays, we classify the computer cabinets as:
Mini: Contains about 3 drive bays or slots.
Mid: 4 Drive Bays
Full: 7 Drive Bays
Cabinets should be selected based on the following different parameters:
The most important thing to take care of, while selecting a computer case is to check the compatibility of the computer mother-board with the case. Various types of motherboards - AT – Advanced Technology, ATX – Advanced Technology Extended, etc.
1. Number of Slots/Drive Bays: Go for a full tower (7 drive bay) computer case if you are sure that you will be using multiple disks and drives.
However, latest computers do not require such a large number of slots in their
cases as four slots is the general requirement.
2. Cooling capacity: The computer is always better off when it is cool, like most of us. So if you have a cabinet which has the provision of an extra fan (fan ports) in it, its better.
Of course water cooling is a more powerful option with a few reliable vendors on the market, but if you are not a game-crazy soul whose heart beats for the thrill of the joystick, then it doesn’t make much sense for you.
However if you can spare the money, water cooling does give a kick to your computer – can run up to three times faster with overclocking (increasing the number of cycles – operations per second of your computer).
3. Number of USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports: Most of your interfacing – cameras, cell phones, external drives, etc. require USB ports. Make sure that your computer case has enough slots for that.
4. Number of slots for PCI (Peripheral computer interface) cards: Ethernet cards, sound cards, video graphics adapter cards, etc are fitted onto PCI sots available in your computer’s motherboard.
Thus, the computer case must have the number of slots provided for these cards, otherwise, we might not be able to use the full capacity of the mother board. A case with 6 slots will do the trick.
You can broadly classify the various types of computer cabinets available (leaving apart a few stone – age boxes).
So what is the basis of classification?
Based on Position – Desktops and Towers.
The ones kept horizontally on the desk are known as desktops and the ones which are kept horizontally, towers.
When the computers are kept horizontally, they are classified as desktops. Cabinets have drive bays (Slots into which you fit in your hard-disks, CD ROM drives, etc.). Depending on the number of drive bays, we classify the computer cabinets as:
Mini: Contains about 3 drive bays or slots.
Mid: 4 Drive Bays
Full: 7 Drive Bays
Cabinets should be selected based on the following different parameters:
The most important thing to take care of, while selecting a computer case is to check the compatibility of the computer mother-board with the case. Various types of motherboards - AT – Advanced Technology, ATX – Advanced Technology Extended, etc.
1. Number of Slots/Drive Bays: Go for a full tower (7 drive bay) computer case if you are sure that you will be using multiple disks and drives.
However, latest computers do not require such a large number of slots in their
cases as four slots is the general requirement.
2. Cooling capacity: The computer is always better off when it is cool, like most of us. So if you have a cabinet which has the provision of an extra fan (fan ports) in it, its better.
Of course water cooling is a more powerful option with a few reliable vendors on the market, but if you are not a game-crazy soul whose heart beats for the thrill of the joystick, then it doesn’t make much sense for you.
However if you can spare the money, water cooling does give a kick to your computer – can run up to three times faster with overclocking (increasing the number of cycles – operations per second of your computer).
3. Number of USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports: Most of your interfacing – cameras, cell phones, external drives, etc. require USB ports. Make sure that your computer case has enough slots for that.
4. Number of slots for PCI (Peripheral computer interface) cards: Ethernet cards, sound cards, video graphics adapter cards, etc are fitted onto PCI sots available in your computer’s motherboard.
Thus, the computer case must have the number of slots provided for these cards, otherwise, we might not be able to use the full capacity of the mother board. A case with 6 slots will do the trick.
