Computer Cases

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.

Build a Computer

If you are the do-it-yourself type like me who wants to boast that he built (ahem... assembled) the computer, without having a clue as to connect which wires, where, then welcome to my humble virtual abode. In this post, I will show you how to assemble your computer, which will come in handy, even if you are replacing the basic parts. Please refer to the pictures specified:

Fitting the components in the cabinet:

1. This is the cabinet. And if you are the penny-pinching type, this is exactly the thing to look out for. Now, almost all cabinets are equipped to deal with different motherboards, unless we are talking about a stone-age monolith. (See the elongated holes? exactly the things that allow for different sizes of components)

2. This is the SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply), more like a distributor, which is responsible for powering up all the other devices like the CDROM or DVDRAM drive, the motherboard, floppy drive etc and in some older ones, even the monitor.

3. This is the motherboard (literally the mother of all devices), which means, whatever your computer thinks, it does that here. Make sure that you have an ATX motherboard (ask your dealer) before trying out whatever I suggest.

4. This is your CDROM Drive (you can also have a DVDRAM drive). Before fitting it into your cabinet, check that the pins are

5. Finally, the HARD Disk - this is where your computer has his memory. Without this, your computer will have complete amnesia, except for a things like date and time settings, etc.

Connections:
1. This, is the ATX (Advanced Technology Exended) power connector. Connect it as shown.

2.This is the EIDE(Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics) cable, used to connect the computer's motherboard to the hard-disk, the CDROM drive and the floppy disk drive.

Connect it to the motherboard as shown below:

Then, connect the same to the CDROM Drive and the Floppy disk drive (if you have one, that is).

3. Connect the power.

The above example is given for the most general configuration. DO NOT try to repeat the same procedure on any other type of machine than a personal PC. The above procedure is a very general one and as we go along I shall post more detailed articles of varying complexity which will deal with more intricate topics.


- Article incomplete - Images and general data to be updated -