One of the purposes of a computer case is to provide the components with an optimal temperature for operation. This is achieved in two ways: a complete set of coolers and internal ergonomics that facilitate unimpeded air circulation between components.
In budget cases, there are sometimes no bundled fans at all, only seats are provided for them. The more expensive the model is, the more “spinners” and connectors for them it has. As a rule, 1-2 of them work for blowing, and the remaining 2-5 for blowing. This helps to ensure the outflow of heated air from the case and reduce the pressure in it.
A separate purchase of coolers is justified if you understand aerodynamics and the specifics of installing and operating the “choppers”. In general, the larger the diameter of the blades, the quieter they are (lower rotation speed), but noise and efficiency are greatly affected by the bearings and axle mounts. In 95% of cases, people buy a case with fans already installed. Even for low-performance PCs, it is better to choose a case with 1-2 fans, and for gaming or design PCs, the more the better. The only problem that may arise is that the decorative elements of the motherboard backlight may rest against one of the bundled fans and you will have to choose – either move the fan or remove the decorative part.
Air and water cooling systems for PCs
If you’re installing a cooler tower to cool your CPU, be sure to consider the height of the tower when choosing a case. Ideally, there should be 5-7 cm of space between the top of the fan and the case cover.
Not all chassis have SRO slots, so take this into account if you plan to use this type of cooling. There are two possible scenarios with water cooling systems:
- Factory-installed watercoolers for the video card and processor. In this case, there are no special requirements for the case, and in any Midi Tower you can place the factory water cooling much more compactly than an air cooler with a radiator;
- custom water cooling. This is a little more complicated, as you will need a cube form factor case with room to spare or a Full Tower to accommodate the hose system and a fairly large pump. High-end chassis usually have special mounting platforms for the pump and pipe management.