A PC case is one of the most important parts of your computer. Although it does not perform any tasks, it affects the parameters of other components, the possibility of upgrading in the future, and even the performance of the system in certain modes.
The most popular models with a vertical motherboard are called towers. They are divided into four classes:
- mini – height up to 40 centimeters. Desktop system units that are ideal for office and home PCs;
- midi – up to 54 cm. A universal medium-sized case that fits on a tabletop or in a special furniture compartment;
- full-tower – up to 70 cm. A large computer case for gaming systems, workstations and servers of small businesses;
- super-tower – over 70 cm. Designed to accommodate powerful hardware, such as bundles of 3-4 video cards, a CPU cooler over 20 cm high, two power supplies, and an E-ATX motherboard.
What other types of computer cases are there?
In office and multimedia computers, the horizontal placement of the motherboard is often common. This solution allows you to build them into narrow furniture compartments, for example, to install them on a shelf under the TV. In addition, such models can be placed under the monitor to free up space on the desktop.
The most compact cases for computer components are called HTPCs. They are comparable in size and volume to a small book. Such a box for a PC can be attached to the back of a monitor or TV with a special bracket. It can also be easily integrated into a set of specialized equipment, such as a cashier’s workstation or a self-service terminal.
Horizontal desktop cases are called mini-desktop, slimline, or small form factor (SFF). In terms of internal space, they can be compared to mini- or midi-towers. This allows them to accommodate a powerful processor, a Hi-End graphics card, and other high-performance “stuffing”. The design of such “boxes” is usually reinforced, which allows you to put a monitor and other devices on top.