The case is simply the box that holds all of the computer's parts. There are several types of computer cases:
Desktop cases Desktop cases are medium sized cases that usually sit under your monitor. These are the most common types of cases
Built in cases Sometimes the case is built into the computer's monitor. These cases take up very little space. The disadvantage to them is that they are very difficult to repair and don't allow much room for upgrades.
MiniTower Cases Minitower cases usually sit on the floor or next to the computer monitor. These usually take up very little space. They also offer a lot of space for upgrades.
Midtower and Full Tower Cases Mid and Full tower cases are similar to minitower cases. They offer even more space for upgrades than minitower cases. These are usually used for servers, but are suitable for home use.
Rackmount cases These cases are usually only used for servers. They are mounted on racks on the wall. They offer a lot of space for upgrades but also require a lot of space. They are impractical for home use.
Power Supplies The power supply is a small box that sits in the back of the case where the fan is. Its where all the wires come from. This takes 120 volts AC and converts them to 12 and 5 volts DC.
Type of case and Power supply There are two types of case/power supply combinations.
AT style cases are an older type of case. They're less expensive than ATX cases. They usually have a switch that you have to flip to the on or off positions.
ATX style cases are capable of turning themselves on and off. They have pushbutton switches. The feature that you'll notice about ATX cases is in Windows 95, when you go to START and SHUTDOWN the computer will turn itself off automatically. |