Types of computer cases. Case without power supply

Now ready-made computers can be purchased at most stores household appliances. But this approach does not suit everyone. Assembly from components to order allows you to produce system unit that suits the task specific person. In addition, such a computer will be unique.

Usually, when configuring a system unit, the case is chosen, as they say, “for delivery.” Yes, this approach is valid for office PCs, where the goal is to save money. Previously, when computers of the modern ATX format were just appearing in Russia, most cases differed only in the height and design of the front panel, people did not think about the choice at all. Most popular format there was a Tower (ordinary tower). Gaming and powerful configurations were assembled in a Full-Tower (the same tower, but one and a half, or even two times higher) most often with a door on the front wall. Horizontal, so-called desktop monitors, on which monitors stood, gradually disappeared from sale. Initially, all the cases were “just gray boxes”, then silver and black colors came into fashion.
If anyone thinks that everything remains the same, they just haven’t been to a computer store for a long time. Nowadays you can find cases of various shapes, colors and sizes on display cases. And when assembling, for example, small computer– it is the body that most often becomes decisive. Today's article will help you not to get lost in this diversity.

Midi-Tower and Mini-Tower standard sizes.

Despite the desire for miniaturization, vertical midi-tower cases remain the most popular. Approximate dimensions: width 15-20cm, height 43-45cm. Such cases are capable of accommodating a full-size standard ATX-format motherboard, a standard-size power supply, several hard drives and disk drives. Universal application. The dimensions are suitable for both high-performance computers and office PCs. There are most often 6 expansion slots. However, such a number of expansion cards is not needed modern computers, especially office ones. MicroATX motherboards immediately have built-in audio and network cards, and the processors have a built-in video core. Thanks to this, you can save on size - use a mini-Tower case. It is lower than a midi-Tower (about 33-35cm in height), however, and you won’t be able to install much in them: 1-2 optical drives, 1-2 hard drives and about 4 expansion slots.

The presence of a power supply in tower-format cases and its location.

Often cases of this format are equipped with built-in power supplies. When office computer, whose hardest job is table editors and Email, you can use simple cases with a built-in power supply with a power of 300-450W. A multimedia PC, as well as a mid-level gaming PC, can get by with a 500-600W unit pre-installed in the case. Most often, this solution allows you to save money, but for serious workstations or powerful gaming computers this will not be enough. Power supplies built into cases are usually of simple series with a minimum set of connectors; connecting a powerful video card or a large number of hard drives will be difficult.
Previously, power supplies in tower cases were placed only on top. IN Lately The lower position has gained popularity. The advantages of this solution are: better cooling The power supply unit itself (it does not need to draw air heated in the system unit through itself; the intake is carried out through slots in the bottom of the case), as well as greater stability due to a lower center of gravity. With this arrangement, it is necessary to select a power supply that has a sufficient length of cables, because often the connectors for powering the processor are located at the very top of the motherboards. A fan on the rear wall of the case also becomes mandatory.

Micro-Tower and Slim-Desktop sizes.

What if we made the body even smaller? This is how Micro-Tower and Slim-Desktop appeared. The first ones are lower than the mini-Tower, and there is only one bay for 5.25-inch drives. The second ones are narrower than standard towers. The width can be reduced by placing the power supply vertically, sometimes even in the front. The optical drive compartment is also located vertically or is absent altogether. This allows the body to be positioned both standing and lying down, which is why the word desktop is in the name. Computers with low power consumption and, accordingly, heat dissipation are usually assembled in such cases, since air movement in them is difficult.

Desktop size.

Desktop cases can now more often be found not under an old type of monitor, but under modern TV. Horizontal cases are often used as an HTPC - a multimedia computer that sits in the living room, and is often disguised as audio equipment. Sometimes they are equipped with external low-power power supplies.

Full-Tower, Ultra-Tower and Super-Tower sizes.

With Full-Tower and Ultra-Tower everything is simple - large cases in which you can build a gaming machine, even workstation, at least the server. Moreover, the first is a tower with a height of 50-60 cm, 4-9 compartments of 5.25 inches, and the Ultra-Tower is even larger, including in width. Less common is Super-Tower, so large that it is usually equipped with wheels to move it in space. The system, which is assembled in cases of such formats, will look impressive and shock unprepared guests. But they will fit there without any problems great amount hard drives, several powerful video cards, motherboard XL-ATX or E-ATX formats.

SFF – Small form factor.

Really gaming computer With one, but powerful video card, it won’t be possible to assemble it in a relatively compact case? This is where motherboards measuring only 170x170mm - miniITX format - come to the rescue. Cases for them come in the form of towers and in the form of cubes, where the motherboard lies horizontally - Cube/Desktop. However, “cubes” can also be used for large format motherboards. When choosing an mITX case, you should take into account some nuances, for example, not all cases can accommodate a long video card, powerful power supplies also come in extended lengths, and choosing a cooling system can generally turn into a “quest”.

Cooling system and cable management.

When it comes to cooling, it's rare that a case doesn't come with fans. Even the most budget ones have at least one 80mm on the back wall. In buildings high class You can even find 5 pre-installed 140x140mm fans, sometimes even with the ability to regulate their speed. Most often, such cases have support for liquid cooling systems. To ensure that air flows freely inside system units, some cases are equipped with a cable management system, which means laying cables from the power supply behind the tray motherboard. The trays often have a cutout behind the motherboard socket - this allows you to install and remove processor cooling systems by simply unscrewing the back wall.

Availability and number of expansion slots.

Previously, drives for floppy disks were installed in 5.25-inch bays on the front panel of system units, then for CDs, DVDs, and finally Blu-Ray drives, used as MobilRack. Today, both 5.25 and 3.5 inch bays can be used for fan control panels or for card readers. However, sometimes manufacturers build memory card readers directly into the case. As for MobilRack, they were replaced by docking stations for hard drives or SSD drives. Having such a station allows you to save space on your desk and get rid of unnecessary wires. On the front panel or on the top of most cases there are usually pairs of USB 2.0 or 3.0 connectors, audio connectors, and sometimes eSATA for connecting hard drives with this interface. As for the internal compartments, for conventional system 3-4 bays for 3.5-inch hard drives are enough, as well as 1-2 bays of 2.5 inches for SSD drives. The hard drive cage can be positioned along the chassis, across it, or in a configurable position. In the first case, better cooling of the drives is provided. The second option is more convenient for removing the installation, besides hard disks take up less space. The third option involves removable baskets that can be moved, rotated, or even removed altogether. Convenient for assembly when drives are mounted without screws.

Non-standard solutions and modding.

But what if you want something non-standard? It is possible to purchase a case in your favorite color that will fit into the design of your room or office. For example, pink. If your favorite color is black, the variety of cases of course increases, but manufacturers have not considered it the only color for a long time. The choice of materials is not limited to steel - various plastics are used in finishing, and aluminum is used in premium cases.
To demonstrate the powerful system, the cases are equipped with windows, most often made of plexiglass, but there are walls entirely made of tempered glass. The second option looks more elegant, is protected from scratches, but is more fragile and heavier. Naturally, there is a need to highlight all this from the inside. Case manufacturers come to the rescue here too, installing neon lamps or LED strips. You can choose different colors, such as orange.

Price ranges.

First, let's look at cases with a built-in power supply.

2500r – 3500r. Budget segment. In this range there are cases for office system units with a 350-400W power supply; you can also find cases for HTPCs with a 200W power supply with support for mITX-format motherboards. The number of ports, expansion slots and pre-installed fans is minimal.

3500r - 6000r. Cases with a 450-500W power supply, or mITX cases with a 300W power supply, can be used to build a multimedia computer for the home, but some interesting solutions, as in the previous group, there is no need to wait.

6000r – 13000r. Here you can already find interesting options, closer to the upper limit - even Full-Tower cases with a window on the side wall, adjustable fan speed and 600 W power supplies, in which you can easily assemble, for example, a media server with a large number of hard drives. U modern video cards, even powerful ones, the requirements for power supplies are not as high as before, which means that an entry-level, mid-range, and even above-average gaming computer will feel good in cases in this range. It is, of course, worth paying attention to the number of case fans, one on the front wall, and one on the back - minimum required. However, the missing quantity can always be purchased separately.

Cases without built-in power supply.

900r – 2500r. First level. Cases for the office, as simple as possible, black boxes. However, when installing a powerful power supply, nothing prevents cases from the upper price range (2000r-2500r) from being used at home. At the same time, do not forget about compatibility with components, for example, gaming video cards.

2500r - 8000r. Average level. Here is everything that was discussed in the article. And regular towers, and cubic cases with interesting color schemes, and aluminum cases for HTPC, and Full-Tower for systems of any power.

8000r – 22000r. Top level. The most thoughtful in terms of design, materials and cooling of the case. Suitable for the most demanding users. It is in such cases that “top” systems are assembled.

From 22000r. Premium level. There is no upper price limit. For those users who are not ready to put up with the fact that someone else will have a similar case. Often produced in small batches, from unusual materials. They have a memorable design.

Most users believe that PC cases are not the most important thing in the package. Often, practically no attention is paid to this detail, preferring expensive “filling” appearance. On the one hand, this is, of course, true, because in all technical systems appearance is not the most important main role. However, it is PC cases that guarantee the reliability and safety of internal parts. Although they carry auxiliary, but nevertheless important functions. And to maintain the good condition of the processor, the PC case must also be of appropriate quality.

What does the outer shell consist of?

Standard PC cases consist of various types of niches, cavities and connectors for connecting the necessary components. The basic composition includes:

• located, as a rule, there is a niche at the bottom for the power supply;
• places for flexible storage;
• cavity for the processor and cooling system;
• motherboard compartment;
• video card connector;
• additional connectors for various components.

Requirements when choosing a case

The criteria by which the best PC cases are selected depend on the design features and capacity outer shell. These usually include:

• type of video cards and their number;
• type of motherboard (ATX, mATX, mini-ITX);
• hard drives and their number;
• ventilation system;
• estimated processor power;
• size of coolers and their number;
• compartments for various drives, rebas;
• the ability to install additional components if necessary.

It is also necessary to decide for what purpose and for what tasks the body is selected. From the expected types of activities on the computer specific user depends on whether it is necessary to select a PC case with the possibility of additional equipment or whether a small ergonomic solution will do.

Small Form Factor

This type of case is most often used in offices and is suitable for users who work with simple editors text or images viewing news feed on the Internet, films and web pages.

Small Form Factor is quite convenient, small and ergonomic. The case takes up little space, the dimensions of the mini-PC are only 20 x 18/23 cm (width x height). The miniature size is also a disadvantage if you need to increase the power of your PC. This type of case is only suitable for installing compact standard parts and provides only 2 expansion slots, a small power supply and several hard drives.

Problems may also arise with ventilation and cooling, however, when the computer is lightly loaded, there is no discomfort manifested in slow work the device due to overheating is not experienced by the user. Although, of course, regular work in demanding programs it is fraught with breakdowns for Small Form Factor.

Mini-Tower Form

Unlike the previous one, this type is higher. Dimensions: 15/20 x 30/35 cm. Mini-Tower Form cases can accommodate quite productive and powerful processor. The power of power supplies in such a case is, as a rule, no less than 400 W. All components that can be installed in it may already be more functional, but still must remain miniature.

The housing is poorly ventilated, so it is suitable for simple tasks in the office and at home, but it certainly won’t justify itself when working with “heavy” programs, when running several processes at the same time or demanding games.

Middle-Tower Form

When choosing this case, you don’t have to worry about numerous upgrades software and various computer games, because it easily accommodates not only the main parts, but also many of their modifications and extensions. Middle-Tower Form is very popular due to its easy placement of several video cards or an additional hard drive.

And also (which is an undeniable advantage) it is distinguished from the above types by a reliable ventilation system. The disadvantage, however, will be its rather impressive size: 15/20 x 40/45 cm. But, choosing between ergonomics and performance, many still prefer the second.

Big-Tower

Big-Tower is great for advanced gamers and IT professionals. This type of case is a good shell for powerful computers, which are designed to control other PCs, work in demanding image, video and audio editors or modern games. The case is quite enough to run several “heavy” processes simultaneously without any problems.

A Big-Tower can accommodate multiple hard drives and video cards. This case allows you to place a powerful fan, so the “insides” do not overheat. Its downside will, of course, be its impressive size: 15/20 x 60 cm.

Form factor materials

In production computer components Not many types of materials are used. Housings are typically made from two types of materials. These are polymers and metals.

Plastics are represented by polycarbonate. When mixed with other chemicals, this material allows you to recreate various details, while being quite budget solution. Polycarbonate blanks are distinguished by the presence of complex small elements; they are rigid and voluminous. The disadvantage of polymers is their instability to adverse external conditions.

The best PC cases (reliable and durable) are made of metals:

1. Aluminum is light, flexible and beautiful. Products made from it look quite presentable, but they are expensive: aluminum parts are made only by stamping or milling, which entails a large consumption of material. In addition, it will not be difficult to accidentally scratch or make a dent on such a case.
2. Steel cases do not look as attractive as aluminum ones, they are heavier and bulkier, but all the internal parts of the computer will be reliably protected. Steel is a strong and durable material that costs less than aluminum. This material perfectly absorbs all vibrations generated by the internal “filling” of the computer, reducing the noise ability of the video card, coolers and other parts.

Ventilation system

Cooling the PC case is a fairly important function, the need for availability and power of which depends on the performance of the processor. The action of the ventilation system mainly affects the cooling of the processor, and the correct distribution of air circulation affects general work computer.

The number of fans does not always equal the quality of the “blowing”, because air flows, if they spread in opposite directions, can be mixed. Inadequate ventilation causes overheating and causes breakdowns.

IN standard scheme One fan is installed at the entrance, drawing air from the room where the PC is located. On the rear wall there is a smaller cooler that works to remove flow from the system. This design is complemented by elements at the top and side walls. As a result, the system creates good thrust, the body begins to work like a wind tunnel: air passing through the parts cools them and goes out.

In general, to ensure high-quality air circulation, the following points must be taken into account:

• it is necessary to install fans so that all flows are equally directed;
• Do not place the block on its side - this will cause hot air to rise upward;
• poorly secured cables can disrupt the flow;
• It is better to use fans with large blades, as they create a more powerful air flow at fewer revolutions;
• It is also necessary to pay attention to the volume of air that the fans supply per unit of time.

Anti-dust filters, which are often installed with coolers, do not add any special benefits. The dust net becomes clogged within a few months active work computer, after which the part only contributes to overheating of the processor and impedes the free movement of air flow.

Case modifications

Many people choose a 2016 PC case not only for performance, but also for appearance and compliance with the latest trends. The standard vertical view is a tower shape and is often located next to the monitor or under the desk, but recently horizontal PC cases have become common.

The horizontal form is called “desktop”. Most often, such a block can be observed under the monitor. From the outside it looks neat and elegant. The disadvantages of a horizontal case include the fact that it is difficult to assemble and repair. And since the dimensions of the desktop are smaller than those of the vertical type, the internal part is also less productive. So at the moment, the advantage when choosing a PC case is still given to tower form factors. This is a standard solution that has proven itself well.

On the component market you can often see PC cases with power supply. However, it is better to take the parts separately, because even with good cases, as a rule, power supplies are not of very good quality.

Decoration of buildings

Gamers, especially professional ones, do not miss the opportunity to highlight the case own computer individual design. Despite the fact that this design should first of all be ergonomic, there are also quite beautiful PC cases.

The most common solution is to use backlighting for the case or aggressive coloring, and among the practical design and engineering design options, it is worth noting the presence of various types of connectors.

A transparent PC case has also become a fashionable innovation. It is made from plexiglass or plexiglass. Plexiglass is not very durable, so manufacturers make three sides from a single piece of this material. Accordingly, the complexity of manufacturing affects the final price of this design.

In addition to the original design, the advantages of this type The design includes lightness, as well as effective smoothing of various noises and vibrations. However, it is believed that the transparent model does not have sufficient technical characteristics and does not meet the requirements for protection against electromagnetic radiation.

Backlight

A backlit PC case can be an interesting design solution. Today, there are three main computer backlight technologies in use:

• Cold cathode fluorescent lamps are the most common devices for decorative lighting. They are very bright and come in a wide range of colors.
• Recently, fans have begun to be used together with fluorescent lamps, which can create real color music.
• In addition to fans and cold cathode lamps, mini-spotlights are also used, which can produce one or more colors.

In the latter case, the user has access to a controller whose knobs adjust the intensity and direction of the red, blue and green rays. As a result of their fusion, other shades can be obtained.

The best PC cases are currently made by companies such as Zalman, Aerocool, Gamemax, Deepcool, DTS, Thermaltake, NZXT, Logicpower, Fractal Design. The lineup represented by a large number of models.

It is advisable to purchase components from European manufacturers. Chinese goods They are rarely of high quality, but even among them there are sometimes worthwhile options.

Hello, dear readers of the blog site. Probably almost everyone knows what a computer system unit is and what it looks like. This is such a large “box” that is usually located somewhere under the table, next to the feet of the person sitting at the computer. But not everyone knows that there are at least 4-5 main types of computer cases, differing in size and layout of various internal compartments, as well as possibilities for future upgrades.

And now I will try to clearly tell you about all the types of computer cases that can currently be found on sale.

To begin with, it should be noted that there are only two large categories of cases (desktop and tower), each of which includes several subcategories. They are also often called “standard sizes”.

Desktops - are installed horizontally, although not always (see just below). There are only two varieties of this standard size, these are Slim-Desktop and Full-Desktop. The first one has smaller dimensions compared to the second one. How small the size of such a system unit case is can be understood by placing it next to, for example, .

Relatively recently, vertical desktops have also appeared, which, apparently, are doing somewhat better with cooling.

As for the internal space, one can note that there is very limited space for placing full-size components, which suggests that such cases need to be installed with a smaller video card, etc.

But the original solution from HP turned out to be something like a candy bar.

True, I suspect that not all monitors will be able to attach a system unit in this way. Well, these are nuances, as they say.

And next we have another large group, including as many as five standard sizes.

Tower - without exaggeration, it can be called the most popular type of computer case. Largely due to the fact that these cases allow you to install the most popular form factor "ATX" and its various variations. The photo below shows the most popular sizes of modern computer cases. They are so popular that such cases are sold like “hot cakes”. On the left is a “full-tower”, and next to it is a “midi-tower”, by the way, the first of them is more popular among gamers, since on its basis you can build a powerful gaming system"Hi-End" class (although something similar can also be built on a Midi-Tower).

There is more than enough space inside the midi-tower case to install full-size components; often there is enough space even for the largest ones, more than 300 mm long. The thickness of such a case is approximately 200 mm, and in some examples it is even more, which allows, for example, to install a tall processor cooler. In addition, a convenient cable management system is present in tower-type cases.

I think it is already clear that different types of cases differ from each other in size and design. That is, the "Micro-Tower" will be smaller in size than the "Midi-Tower", and the "Super-Tower" (yes, there are such!) will be larger than the "Full-Tower". I will only note that the Full-Tower height is up to 600 mm, after which the case already belongs to the “Super-Tower” standard size.

Are there any advantages of one type of case over another? Of course there are, it’s not for nothing that they were invented in such quantities. Firstly, the larger the body, the better cooling. Secondly, the larger the body, the more more devices(for example, DVD drives, etc.) can fit into it. Thirdly, the presence of a large case greatly facilitates the process of assembling a computer and its future upgrade, but it is worth remembering that such “boxes” also take up a lot of space. For lovers of minimalism, micro or mini-tower are suitable.

The case of the system unit of a desktop personal computer contains: a motherboard with expansion cards, storage drives and a power supply. The type, size and placement of the motherboard used, the minimum power of the power supply and the maximum number of installed drives depend on the type of system unit case. Mounting (installation) places, or compartments for drives can be of two types - with external and internal access. Access to drives mounted in mounting locations of the latter type can only be achieved with the system unit case cover open.

There are currently two types of drive sizes in use: 5.25 inches wide (CD (DVD) drives, some hard drives) and 3.5 inches wide (floppy drives, hard drives). The number, location and standard size of drive bays largely determine the consumer qualities of the computer case.

Horizontal housings include: desktop (desktop), small-footprint (low profile), slimline (thin, slim) And ultra superslimline (ultra-compact). The motherboard in these cases is also located horizontally. In housing type desktop usually two 5.25-inch and one or two 3.5-inch bays with external access.

Cases with a vertically positioned motherboard resemble a tower in appearance ( tower) and usually come in three varieties: mini-tower, midi-tower And big-tower, which usually differ from each other in the number of 5.25-inch bays with external access (2, 3, 4 or more), the dimensions and power of the installed power supply, and, therefore, the ability to install additional expansion cards and drives.

One of the most common cases for a personal computer is the case type mini-tower. It typically has two 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch bays with external access, two 3.5-inch bays with internal access, and contains a 200-230 watt power supply. In a mini-tower case you can place standard set drives and expansion cards. The enclosure provides greater expansion options midi-tower(three 5.25 and two 3.5-inch external and three to four 3.5-inch internal bays, a more powerful power supply). Housing type big-tower used for network servers, contain one or more power supplies with a power of more than 300 watts and have the widest expansion options. In housings like slim usually installed weak source power supply (90-100 watts), and there is no more than one internal and one external compartment, which makes upgrading a PC in such a case problematic.

As a rule, on the case of the system unit there are several buttons for controlling the computer ( Reset, Turbo), LED and digital indicators operating modes ( Turbo, Power, HDD, frequency), keypad lock ( Lock), built-in speaker and power switch ( Power).

There are special cases for multimedia computers, equipped with stereo speakers and audio output controllers. For comfortable work, housings with low noise levels are available ( low-noise), which use power supplies with low-noise fans.

The type, internal dimensions of the case and the power supply used depend on the motherboard used.

Currently, there are several, usually incompatible, standard housing sizes - old standards AT(for housings type desktop And tower) And LPX(for housings type slim) and offered by the company Intel new standards ATX (desktop And tower) And NLX (slim). They differ both in the size and location of the motherboard, and in the voltage ratings generated by the power supplies. Almost all computers are based on processors Pentium II and above are made in designs ATX or NLX. For cases ATX characterized by easier access to the internal components of the computer (often without the use of a screwdriver), improved ventilation inside the case, the ability to install a larger number of full-size expansion cards, and expanded power management capabilities.

Table. System unit case sizes

A little more about enclosures......Types of enclosures.

Most often, when many users say “computer,” they mean the system unit computers in general they are right. By and large, a computer consists of a certain set of components: a motherboard, a processor with a cooling system, random access memory, hard drive, CD-ROM drive, keyboard, mouse, etc. But in order for all computer components (like a PC, laptop, etc.) to successfully perform their functions and be protected from mechanical damage they are placed in a special building. There are many types and models of computer cases, and each type of computer case is designed to perform a specific task.
The case for any computer is a very important element, providing placement and rigid fixation of all its devices, cooling them, providing them with power supply and protecting the rather fragile “internals” from the effects of the external environment.

There are several case standards - AT, ATX, micro ATX or Rack. ATX is more modern and most common; most modern motherboards are designed specifically for it. It is characterized by easier access to the internal components of the computer (often without the use of a screwdriver), improved ventilation inside the case, the ability to install a larger number of full-size expansion cards, and advanced power management capabilities. Micro ATX is a compact option, well suited for compact basic PCs with a minimum of expansion cards (minimum dimensions and affordable price). AT form factor cases are outdated and practically do not use the standard at the moment.
The modern standard, ATX 2.03, designed for motherboards that support processors starting from Intel Pentium 4 with a frequency of more than 3 GHz to this day. The main difference between the new standard cases is the use of higher power power supplies, a new location of mounting holes for the motherboard and the use of additional mounting points for the processor cooling system.

The most widely used cases are of two types: desktop, located horizontally on the desktop and used mostly in PC models produced by “brand” companies; tower (tower tower) - vertically located and mass type housings. Tower cases are, in turn, divided into micro-, mini-, midi- and big-tower, differing in the number of bays for 5.25" drives: accordingly, micro-tower has 1 place for such drives, mini-tower - 2, midi-tower - 3 and big-tower - 4 or more.
Desktop

Most often, in a case of this type, 2 to 3 devices of 5.25" format are placed horizontally and 2 devices of 3.5" format are placed vertically, and one of them is with external access. Such enclosures take up quite a large amount of space in the workplace and cannot always provide easy access to internal devices, and do not always cope with normal cooling of the processor and other components. All this suggests that the time of desktop-type cases is inexorably passing, and yet the first PCs appeared in precisely such cases; no one had heard of tower then. But now desktops have absolutely no advantages over towers, but on the contrary, they have significant disadvantages compared to towers.
Slim

The development of the idea of ​​miniaturization in relation to the computer field gave birth to such a miracle as extremely integrated motherboards of the Flex-ATX format and their natural continuation - either Slim or Super Slim cases. In general, all the cases are cramped, extremely inconvenient, there are a minimum of features, and the possibilities for modernization are very limited, but outwardly they look original and exclusive, but such babies are much more expensive than full-featured machines, and are advertised by manufacturers as inexpensive solutions for offices , and sometimes for home use.

Mini tower

A rather small-height mini-tower case used to be the most widespread in the era of the dominance of “mothers” of the Baby AT format, but now it is much less common, since problems may arise with placing full-size ATX motherboards in it, leaving only small-sized ones boards in micro-ATX and flex-ATX formats. Such cases are most often used in PCs of the simplest configurations and are used as office machines or network terminals.

Midi (middle) tower

The most common case format today is midi (middle)-tower ATX, which allows the use of a large number of drives and almost all types of motherboards at acceptable overall dimensions. Being a real “workhorse”, optimally suited for solving the widest range of tasks, this type of enclosure is used almost everywhere.

Big (full) tower

Being the largest in size, big-tower cases provide accommodation for motherboards of any size and the largest number of 5.25" devices, most often 4 - 6. In addition, they are usually equipped with high-power power supplies. The main area of ​​application for cases is workstations , small servers and computers for advanced users.However, due to the ever-expanding expansion of low-cost IDE RAID controllers into mainstream devices, the need for large quantities seats for disk drives can bring big-tower cases into the category of the most common devices, especially considering that modern high-speed hard drives get noticeably warm during operation, and devices mounted in 5-inch bays and designed to cool 3-inch HDDs have already begun to appear .

Barebone

This is a simplified solution from the manufacturer, which includes everything for quickly assembling a computer and only requires such variable components as a processor, memory and HDD. The installation process of the latter takes a few minutes, and the computer is ready. Typically, in such systems, manufacturers use their own proprietary components, so replacing the motherboard or adding a component can cause some difficulties. However, usually, such systems are used as mass-produced corporate computers, or as a personal computer for a person who is not burdened with the need for an upgrade.

This type of case is used exclusively for installing computer server equipment in telecommunication 19" racks and cabinets. These cases allow you to install more equipment than any other, including the installation of two power supplies to ensure redundancy of power supply. These cases differ in their configuration and equipment for assembling servers for various purposes- from data processing server to high-capacity disk arrays.

Horizontal (dimensions in millimeters):
- Desktop (533x419x152)
- FootPrint (406x406x152)
- SlimLine (406x406x101)
- UltraSlimLine (381x352x75)

Vertical (dimensions in millimeters):
- MiniTower (152x432x432)
- MidiTower (173x432x490)
- BigTower (190x482x820)
- SuperFullTower (different sizes)