Computer Cases: What to Look for?

For many users, the case in which a PC is built does not seem like a priority. The advantages of one PC case over another are often hard to quantify. It is easy to read reviews of new Core i7 processors, look at the graphs, and determine which processor is the fastest or the best value. But PC cases are compilations of metal and plastic. They can't be benchmarked in any meaningful way except for case temperatures and the amount of hardware they can hold, and those stats will tell you nothing about how easy a case is to live with. But a case is in fact incredibly important, because it determines what you can use your system for. And should you choose the wrong one, any upgrade will require you to transplant your entire computer from one case to another, a time-consuming process.

At the core, a PC case should be large enough to fit all of your hardware with a little room to spare, but not so large that you have massive amounts of unused space. It should be cool enough to keep your PC running smoothly under load, but it shouldn't require numerous powerful, loud fans to be effective. It should be easy to look at, but not so flashy that it detracts from actually using the computer. All of these requirements represent moving targets - that is to say, a case that is just large enough for one person's system may be too cramped for someone else - but they are all important and worth significant attention.

The size of a PC case fundamentally determines what the PC will be able to do, because it determines what kind of hardware can fit into the computer. In some cases, it is easy to determine what a PC case can fit. The number and size of available fan mounts is almost always advertised by PC case manufacturers, as is the size and number of 3.5" and 5.25" drive bays. These specifications are straight-forward; either a case has enough bays for your drives, or it doesn't.

What is more difficult to determine is the amount of space available for PSUs, motherboards, and video cards. Although you can guarantee that a case will technically accept a motherboard of any size it is advertised to be compatible with, that doesn't mean the fit will be easy. Preferably, you'll want a case large enough that you won't have to put numerous power cables over the motherboard, which clogs the airflow of the system. And while cases will often advertise that they are compatible with a certain video card, there are sometimes hidden traps in these advertisements. For example, the Antec 6580 I use will accept almost any size of video card - but larger cards make at least one of the hard drive bays unusable.

These sort of things are impossible to determine from the sort of stats an online store-front will quote you, so it is important to read up on user reviews before buying. Even better, try and find a nearby brick-and-mortar store where you can actually handle the case and have a in-person look at its size. Remember that online photographs can be deceptive, and that although cases are lumped into categories such as "mid-tower" and "full-tower", those categories are extremely flexible.