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miscellaneous - case
All of a computer's internal hardware is housed within its case.
Each piece is secured with mounting screws and most are partially accessible from outside the case.
Most cases include a power supply.
Unless you are building a new computer or have too few drive bays, you probably don't really need a new case.
If you do need a new case, make sure you consider the different factors in case selection.
Two important factors are inside space (for hardware) and size (for your desk).
If you have several internal hardware devices or plan to upgrade or switch parts frequently, it would be wise to invest in a tower case because of their easy access and capacity.
Tower cases generally come in four sizes: full, mid, mini, and micro.
If, on the other hand, you don't plan to upgrade much and have a fairly small work area, you may want to consider a desktop case which you can place under your monitor to save space.
Either way, make sure the case you select has enough drive bays and expansion slot openings for all of your components.
Cases usually cost between $50 and $200; size is often the biggest factor.
A Phillips screwdriver and about 45 minutes of time are required to install a case.
Click here for a list of links to case manufacturers.
the installation
- If you are building a new computer, start with step 7.
- Make sure the computer is turned off.
- Carefully disconnect all of the cables from the back of your computer, place the computer on a stable working platform, and remove the outer case. Discharge any static electricity from your body by touching the computer's power supply.
- Disconnect all cables from the motherboard. Disconnect and remove all drives and expansion slot components.
- Remove the plastic motherboard standoffs and unscrew the motherboard from any metal standoffs. Lift the motherboard off the standoffs.
- Prepare the new case by removing it from its packaging and placing it on a stable working platform, then removing the outer covering. If there are plastic or metal plates blocking any of the drive bays, expansion slots, or other ports you will be using, remove them now.
- If the new case is a tower case, remove the motherboard tray, unscrewing screws if necessary.
- Compare the holes in the motherboard to the holes in the destination area and take note of the ones that match. Push plastic standoffs into the matching holes on the case (or tray, if applicable). If there aren't enough plastic standoffs to support the entire motherboard, screw in the included metal ones as well.
- Carefully slide the motherboard onto the standoffs and snap it into place, screwing it onto the metal standoffs if necessary.
- Replace the motherboard tray (if applicable), and then install all of your drives and expansion slot components. Be sure that all internal cables (including the power switch, reset button, power indicator, and hard disk activity indicators) are reconnected. Replace the outer case and move the computer back to its original location. Reconnect all of the external cables.
- Start up the computer. If it does not boot properly, go back through the installation steps and recheck all cables.
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