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How to Choose a Computer Case?

By Dr. Michael, Lee Penrod & Benjamin Wieberg

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Today cases come in many shapes, sizes, colors and levels of functionality. Before purchasing a case you'll want to consider several things.

Functionality vs Aesthetics
Most end users would choose a computer case by its outside appearance and price. Most computer experts would choose by inside functionality and brands. In the past few years the quality of most cases that would be considered to have aesthetically pleasing have dramatically increased in quality.

Quality:
Quality use to be a major problem however over the years it has gotten a lot better. The quality of the case is determined by material, thickness or material, and sturdiness of the machine. However you get what you pay for, if you want a cheap case you cannot expect the quality of an expensive case. So simply put depending on how much you put into the case determines the quality of it.

Power supply:
Most cases now do not come with power supplies so it is necessary to research the parts you are getting to determine how many watts you need to get on a power supply before purchase. However the range of necessary power supply watts makes it hard to give an average. Most desktop pc's running single core processors with one hard drive and onboard video would be fine with a 350 � 400 watt. Gaming machines need more watts than typical PCs; this is because you have alternate graphics cards as well as a higher end processor and multiple hard drives so the power necessary could range between 500 � 1200 watts. So the best thing to do is get a case and buy a power supply that fits your needs to ensure you have an adequate amount of power for what you're running.

Cooling:
Cooling is one of the most important things to look for in a case. With the new graphics cards and high rpm hard drives heat can become an issue in the wrong case. The first thing you need to do is decide on what you are going to put in the case. Depending on the motherboard you chose changes which case you need. A lot of motherboards only support certain motherboards which I will discuss a little later. One major thing to look for is the possibility to add a fan if cooling becomes an issue. Also depending on where the computer is stored and what the ambient temperature is around the machine. If the machine is in a cabinet it might be necessary to have enough fans to keep a constant flow of air. However if the machine sits in the open it could be possible to have less fans and still have adequate cooling. The cooler a machine runs the more stable the machine operates. Heat can destroy hard drives, power supplies, and processors so it is extremely important to make sure these remain cool at all times.

Easy of Use:
A roomy case that is easy to access and does not have sharp edges is often on a PC technician's wish list. To be fair, the manufacturers are doing much better than before in removing the sharp edges. We carry only tested and proven cases that our technicians do not have particular problems to work with. If you are the type of person that is always changing something in your system then investing in a case that uses time saving features such as a removable motherboard tray and or drive rails is helpful.

Compatibility:.

E-ATX- E-ATX support is typically found in cases such as full towers and server rack mounts. The size of these boards range from 12" x 11" to 12" x 13". If a case supports this size then it will also support ATX/MicroATX/FlexATX.
ATX- A lot of motherboards today are ATX or some variant there of. ATX motherboards are typically 12" x 9.6" or slightly smaller. The most common size of case used to house an ATX motherboard is a Mid-Tower or Full Tower case. If a case supports ATX then it also will work with MicroATX/FlexATX.
MicroATX / FlexATX- This size of case / motherboard is preferred for making small systems. MicroATX motherboards have a max size of 9.6" x 9.6". FlexATX are typically much smaller with the most common size being around 9.0" x 7.5". Standard ATX motherboards do not fit in a MicroATX case, but a MicroATX motherboard will fit in an ATX case.
Mini-ITX- Mini-ITX is an extremely small form factor. Mini-ITX motherboards measure in at a shocking 17cm x 17 cm (~6.693" x ~6.693"). It is screw compatible with MicroATX/FlexATX and as such it can be used in any case that supports those standards. Dedicated Mini-ITX cases are very small and will only accept Mini-ITX boards.

Design:
Some people like a case that has a slide out side panel, while others like a connected top and cover. Some people like having a slide out motherboard tray, while others prefer a very roomy case to install the motherboard to. We feel that each of these design elements have their own pros and cons and that it's largely a matter of personal preference.

Case material:
Steel and plastic used to be the dominant construction material for PC cases. Steel cases are inexpensive, but heavy. In the last year or so, cases made of aluminum have become popular among DIY users. Aluminum cases are much lighter than steel cases. The light weight makes it a popular choice among people who move their PCs around very often such as LAN party fans. Some people believe that aluminum cases have slightly better cooling than the steel ones. Aluminum cases also have more modern and exotic look than steel cases. In the past few years manufactures have changed to use mostly aluminum inner structure and steel side panels. This allows for a lighter weight and at the same time keeps the durability of the case.

Notes about the noise level from a PC:
There are three moving parts in a computer: the CPU fan, the case fan, and the fan inside the power supply. These are the main contributors to the noise level. Choosing reliable and quiet fans are important for noise considerations. The other factors that affect the noise levels include: the size of the motherboard, the mounting mechanism for the CPU fan, and the way the motherboard is mounted onto a case. These factors contribute to the noise level because the CPU fan could cause the motherboard to resonate against the case, generating more noise. The larger the motherboard size, the lower the noise level; the stronger mounting for the CPU fan and motherboard, the lower the noise. Therefore mounting the motherboard with solid screws instead of plastic spacers is recommended.

Vibration Transfer Control
In thin steel cases, aluminum cases, and some of the ultra low cost models, vibration can become a problem. Vibration Transfer can happen if a piece with moving parts (such as a fan, hard drive, power supply or optical drive) is screwed directly into the case. In severe cases this vibration can be transmitted into the side panels which case then act as noise amplifiers (think steel drums). As a rule of thumb: The thicker the case is, the less likely this is to be a problem. Thicker materials tend not to vibrate easily. There is also something to be said for the quality of the case in this regard. Very high quality cases will always have a much thicker drive mounting area / frame then their side panels / mounting tray. This increases stability and reduces the possibility of transfer. Another approach to this is to use plastic or another substance as an intermediary between the two mounting surfaces. To that end, a large number of cases now use plastic fan mounts instead of traditional fan mounting screws. Fans tend to be a bigger source of vibration then drives. An effective way to approach this problem is to use noise isolation materials such as rubber fasteners, Dynamat, Grommets, or Shake-Proof Washers.

Ability to do DIY Mods:
Some cases are more case mod friendly then others. If you are thinking about purchasing a case and modding it then we recommend that you look for a case that has solid metal panels (either metal or aluminum) instead of plastic or a plastic/steel mix. These types of panels are easier to alter. Also it is better to have separated sides and top instead of joined sides and top, joined sides are hard to alter. For top window / blow hole mods it is best to find a case that uses screws instead of bolts to hold the top of the case on, and to use a case that has a flat metal top versus a curved plastic top.

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| How to Choose a Power Supply? | FAQ - Cases | Glossary - Cases | Glossary - Power Supply |

Last Updated: August 24, 2009
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Customer Reviews: "Thank you for the practical advice. This is the most concise and objective advice on cases I have read." Click here for more reviews.

| How to Choose a Power Supply? | FAQ - Cases | Glossary - Cases |

Great ideas - Sep 27, 2005
Reviewer: Patrick
The verbage on using insulating grommets with metal screws instead of plastic screws sure hit home. One thing that I would like to mention regarding plastic screws is that heat also deteriorates them over time, the screws loosen and vibration starts "appearing". Sometimes the heads even snap off. Plastic screws are only used by the manufacturers as a cost cutting measure.

case selection - Apr 26, 2005
Reviewer: Roberto
Very interesting and useful facts.

Thank you - Dec 15, 2004
Reviewer: Roger
I found the information Helpful.

Case Advice - Aug 9, 2002
Reviewer: John R.
Thank you for the practical advice. This is the most concise and objective advice on cases I have read.