Full Answer
Does your PC even need a case?
No, it should not. It might well work without the case, but there are several reasons why you should not do it. “It worked for me” is not a good reason to do it. Computers contain a lot of components that are sensitive to different things. Fluids or moisture might cause shortcuts. Metallic objects might cause shortcuts.
How to move your PC into a new case?
On my machine, this includes all of the following:
- Motherboard (24-pin primary rail)
- Motherboard (8-pin processor rail—yours may be bigger or smaller)
- Graphics card (8-pin—yours may be bigger or smaller)
- Hard drive and SSD (SATA power cables)
- DVD drive (SATA power cable)
- Case fans (various)
How to replace a PC case?
- Step Drill Bit - The best bit for drilling round holes in thin materials.
- Soldering Equipment, probably - How you make your wires stick good is your own business. Solder, tape, connectors, you do you.
- Pliers - For tightening the panel nut. Small fingers will do as well.
How do I open my PC case?
Part 1 Part 1 of 3: Opening a Desktop Download Article
- Gather your tools. Most cases will just one screwdriver to access. ...
- Shut down the computer. Use your operating system's Shutdown function turn the computer off.
- Unplug all of the cables from the back of the computer. ...
- Identify the motherboard I/O (Input/Output) panel. ...
- Lay the case on your work surface with the I/O panel laying closest to the surface. ...
Can I use computer without case?
It's not a good idea to build a computer without a case. Dust gets in and harms your computers. The reason he's not using a case is because he is running a test bench which means he has to switch out parts frequently and quickly.
How important is a case for PC?
It is crucial to have a hard shell as a PC case. It encloses all the components and keeps them distant from the external environment. Another great reason to use a PC case is to maintain the area with a cool temperature. Proper airflow over the computer parts is one significant advantage of using a computer case.
Do computer cases matter?
No matter whether you treat your computer as the centerpiece of your home office or just stuff it under your desk, buying the right PC case matters. At a minimum, you want to pick a PC case that's the right size for your needs and has room for all your hardware and USB devices. But some PC cases offer much, much more.
Is a full tower case necessary?
Dislodging of hardware is not necessary for the full tower case due to the presence of the immense amount of breathing spaces. If one requires frequent installations and important expansion of the PC, then he or she must go for the full tower case.
Is it OK to leave PC case open?
“No danger to your health but your computer components might not get sufficient cooling. The case is designed to move air through the front, past the hot components and out the back(generally). Leaving the side off could cause areas within the case to not get enough air to keep them cool.
Does PC case affect performance?
Cheaper cases have poor cable routing and poor cooling. It absolutely can cause performance issues if your system is not getting or exhausting enough air that it needs.
Are PC case worth upgrading?
While for most PC builds, where there is a budget that you need to keep but spending a bit more on a single component wouldn't break the bank, getting a PC case upgrade is definitely worth it.
Can you build a gaming PC in any case?
Unless you're looking to build something small, or with advanced features like custom cooling loops, most cases will work just fine. Just find one that's the right size, and looks the way you want it to, and you should be good to go. Another important feature to consider when it comes to cases is cooling.
How to test your motherboard before you put it in a case?
When people are building new PCs, one of the last tests is to do a “box build”. You place your motherboard on a cardboard box to act as support and insulation, then connect most of your hardware, hook it up to a keyboard and monitor and turn it on. This allows you to test your hardware before you put it into the case.
Why does my motherboard need to be ground?
One reason is that while motherboards have to be able to ground themselves using only the ground wire coming from the power supply cable, redundancy doesn’t hurt. Of course, if you want to ground the backplate in a wood case, you’ll have to run something conductive to the floor or to the outside of your power supply.
Can you damage a computer with your fingers?
Computer pieces are fragile, and often even touching certain pieces with your fingers can cause irreparable damage. Something else to consider is short circuits… so if you happen to have some solder touching a metal (conductive) surface, which then touches other soldered pieces, your system could fry.
Does a motherboard case absorb RF signals?
Yes, of course. The case does absorb a lot of stray RF signals and in some ways will ground bad voltage. Don't worry too much about that. I've seen test labs that swapped internal components a lot. They had a piece of plywood and snap mounts they could pull ATX standard motherboards on and off of in a few minutes.
How big is a PC case?
PC cases themselves are often referred to by these three form factors, but the terms more accurately refer to the size of the motherboards they can host. ATX boards measure 12 by 9.6 inches, MicroATX up to 9.6 by 9.6 inches (they're sometimes smaller), and Mini-ITX 6.7 inches square.
What is a desktop case?
A desktop case, used specifically in the context of PC-case design (since the term encompasses "desktop PCs" as a whole, too), is one with a horizontal design, often intended to have a monitor placed atop it.
Where are the ports on a PC?
This is a generic term for the ports that are part of a PC case, usually found on the front face of the chassis but, in some designs, on the top front or even down one of the sides, near the front. On most PC cases, you'll get headphone and mic jacks as part of this array, as well as some USB 3.0 or 2.0 ports (or both). Other ports you may see as parts of the front I/O panel in an older chassis are eSATA and FireWire; no new chassis released in recent years includes these, but bear these in mind if you're shopping eBay or used gear. You're looking at a classic chassis if it has one of these.
What are the requirements for a PC case?
The most common clearance and compatibility issues to watch for when shopping for a PC case are: 1 Graphics card length 2 Air CPU cooler height 3 Liquid cooling radiator size
Why are PC cases important?
While computer cases aren’t components that play a direct role in the kind of performance your PC will be able to achieve, they are still very important to your overall system. PC cases house and protect all of your components and they also play a big role in influencing airflow in your system to keep it running cool (at least, the good cases do.)
What are the different sizes of motherboard cases?
There are really four common case sizes: Full Tower (Large) Mid Tower (Medium) Micro-ATX (Small) Mini-ITX (Smaller) Technically, there are no standards for case size—at least, in terms of the dimensions of a case. All cases, however, support one or more of the various computer motherboard form-factors.
How does a PC case affect the cooling process?
Computer cases contribute to (or hinder) the cooling process by the air flow they provide (or fail to provide). Your PC case will also determine what kind of CPU cooler you can get.
What is the difference between a cheap case and a high end case?
On the other hand, higher-end cases typically have a much more solid frame and are thus more sturdy.
What should a case have to have to have high air flow?
The case should have the ability to accommodate multiple fans at various locations in the case (front, back, top, side, etc.)
Can longer graphics cards cause clearance issues?
The longer graphics cards can cause clearance issues in some smaller cases. While this is becoming rarer as A) graphics cards, on average, are getting shorter, and B) mid tower and smaller cases are starting to be built to accommodate longer graphics cards. However, it is still an issue that persists.
Motherboard Sizes
A lot of the time, PC case sizes will dictate what type of motherboard you can run in your future system. If you’re unfamiliar, the industry standard for 2019 motherboards comes in three varieties: ATX, MicroATX, and Mini-ITX.
PC Case Size – How Form Factor Will Affect Your Experience
There are a lot of aspects of your overall PC experience that will be affected by the case you choose. From cooling and sound to features and size, no matter what choice you make, there will be a compromise. The only question is, will you be willing to make it?
Full Tower Cases
The full-tower case is a case that supports all motherboards, some of them even supporting dual-motherboard builds. If you’re looking into building a new machine, then a full tower isn’t always the best choice for you. It’s very big, the standard height being somewhere between 22 and 27 inches. It’s also heavy, so it’s hard to handle.
Middle-Tower Cases a.k.a Mid Tower
Middle-towers/Mid Towers are probably the most common cases used for PC builds. Between 21 and 17 inches in height, they’re somewhat smaller than the full towers but still manage to take up quite a bit of space.
Mini-ITX and mATX Cases
While middle-towers and full towers come in pretty standard sizes, Mini-ITX and mATX-oriented cases come in different shapes and forms. These cases are great for building small systems for people who have limited space. They’re also interesting from a visual perspective since there’s a lot of variety in this particular niche.
Bottom Line
For most users out there, I think the middle-tower is the most sensible option. It’s easy to work with, has a reasonable price, features good airflow and support for multiple cooling options, and comes in a lot of different aesthetics.
How Many Fans Do You Need For Your PC?
For a budget PC that doesn’t have a dedicated GPU, one rear fan is enough. PCs that have a decent GPU, using PC cases with inbuilt front panel fans with the rear fans will be enough. Finally, for high-end PCs, with rear fans a dedicated CPU cooler and a radiator (2-3 fans) are necessary.
Are PC Case Fans Enough?
PC case fans that come with the case are enough for budget PCs, otherwise sometimes for getting better performance, RGB lighting, users have to add more fans in their PC with the inbuilt ones.
Do You Need Extra Fans For PC?
If the PC case you are buying doesn’t contain enough fans (has 1-2 fans inbuilt) and you are going to install high-end parts in it, that also throw a huge amount of hot air, then more likely you have to install extra fans in the PC.
