Computer case

  • AT Baby -AT
  • Mini -ATX
  • Micro -ATX
  • FlexATX
  • Mini - DTX
  • Mini -ITX
  • Nano-ITX
  • Pico -ITX

A computer case (English computer case ) is used to include all components of a computer in itself, so they do not unprotected external influences ( such as dirt, water, electricity, pressure, etc. ) are exposed.

In addition, to ensure the shielding of the components to protect the environment as well as the cooling of important components of the computer such as the CPU and hard drives with appropriate fan (like CPU coolers ) is a computer case. Therefore, computer housings are usually made ​​of galvanized metal ( SECC Steel, electrogalvanized, cold- rolled, Coil ), rarely made ​​of galvanized or otherwise coated sheet steel or aluminum. Since the power supply fan is no longer sufficient for more powerful PCs, many housing brackets for installation of additional fans into common frame widths between 60 mm and 140 mm.

A distinction is made between different form factors of housings. In the consumer sector ATX and Micro ATX are common, but mainly BTX (almost exclusively in pre - PCs used ), formerly XT, AT ( precursor of ATX) and Baby -AT. These differ in the fact appropriate standardized Komponentenen. Primary, this is the motherboard, followed by the PC power supply as well as the formats and the arrangement of optional components such as drives. Some specifications and dimensions of fixtures have in common a number of formats.

Despite the predefined sizes of the components, the types of computer cases differ in some cases considerably. For example, there are large, high -scale Big / full tower, slightly lower mid-tower, flat desktop case, up to approximately pizza box large pizza box, which are today mainly in the professional environment as a workstation or server (usually in 19 -inch Rackbauweise ) is used. One exception because, inter alia, the Apple Macintosh LC and LC II, which were designed for the home user. Today's current Apple Mac mini and nettop computers and other small form -factor PCs have some ITX format or even smaller manufacturer-specific housing, but can fewer even with very small motherboards and power supplies as well and smaller from the construction form components be fitted.

In a PC case, there are usually several 5 ¼ "bays on the front for optical drives, hard drives (now no longer used in this size ), tape drives, and more., As well as some 3 ½ " bays, formerly for floppy disk drives, today for hard drives etc. the names 5 ¼ "and 3 ½" are derived from the respective form factors of the media. The actual width of the drives and slots is higher.

On the back recesses find for the connections of all types of cards, their bus ( PCI Express, PCI, AGP, ISA, EISA, VESA Local bus, Micro Channel ( MCA) or other ) is provided by the motherboard and a window for the external connections of the motherboard (such as for connecting a mouse, keyboard and USB devices ) as well as a window for the power supply.

The housing is closed by mostly removable side panels. For the supply or exhaust air stream of the processor cooler and graphics card have these vents. A fad is the case modding, in which the computer case is individually designed.

In the early 1990s, in many cases a multi-digit segment display was installed, which indicated the clock frequency of the computer. The value of the display, however, was determined manually by jumper. The clock frequency and display could usually be changed during operation with the turbo button.

Screws and threaded

In computer cases standardized and standardized for use screws are used and supplied. At PC case, PC power supplies, and 3 ½ "hard disks threaded for 6 32- inch sizes - bolts after the unified thread standard cut. When on production costs optimized chassis, the threads must be cut in here softer sheets by tightening the screws. Floppy drives, CD and DVD drives (except slimline drives for notebooks, nettops, etc.) have M3 metric threads for the bolts or clamps for the motherboard as well as the cards are from housing to housing different M3 or 6. - used 32 mm screws. too screwless installation is rarely applied. 4- 40 - bolts used in D- Sub connectors are not directly in front of the housing. Fans are mounted with special self-tapping screws and fan - uncouplers.

6- 32mm and M3 screw

Other housing -specific installation material for motherboards

PC screws, including 6 - 32er - knurled screw and screw for fan

AT (form factor) BTX (form factor) DTX (form factor) Mini-ITX Electromagnetic shielding Aluminium Desktop-Computer Pizza box form factor Accelerated Graphics Port Industry Standard Architecture Jumper (computing)
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