Computer Case Types and Parts

In this video from ITFreeTraining, I will look at a number of different computer cases and the parts that are used in these computer cases. It is important to understand what computer cases are available so you can purchase the right computer case to meet your needs.

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Desktop Computer
0:15 Working with computers is like working with Lego. Certain parts will only plug into or be attached to certain places. Knowing what goes where and which parts different computer cases support is most of the work. This is why I often refer to working with computers as Lego for adults.

The first type of computer that I will look at is the desktop computer. Desktop computers are designed to be used in one location once setup. So essentially, they are not mobile. You can of course pick them up and move them. However, they are larger in design and harder to move around than a laptop would be.

Because desktop computers are larger in size than a mobile device like a laptop, they can have more connections and also have more room for expansion cards and devices. The devices inside the computer can also be larger. For example, storage devices can be larger. A hard disk for a laptop is smaller than a hard disk for a desktop computer. Smaller means harder to manufacturer and may also reduce the number of features in the device. That is, some features are lost in order to make something smaller and mobile.

Computer Case/System Case
1:27 The next part of the computer I will look at is the computer case, commonly referred to as the system case. It is also referred to as box, chassis or main unit. It is essentially a metal box that contains the other components of the computer; parts like the motherboard, memory, video card and storage.

The computer case provides a way of securing the parts of the computer in place. This prevents them moving. The computer case also contains the power supply and cables. The power supply provides power and the cables allow additional external devices to be connected to the computer. There are different types of computer cases available, let’s have a look.

Types of Computer Cases
2:10 There are essentially three different computer cases used for desktop computers. The first is the full tower. A full tower is the largest of the three cases. It is generally used for servers and some high-end workstations. The full tower gives extra room for storage, power and adapter cards. The average user won’t require the extra room. For servers, the extra space is generally required since servers often have extra device storage and redundant power supplies.

The next computer case is the mini-tower. The mini-tower is used for high-end users and power users. You will tend to find this case used a lot for home computers. They have extra space for devices like large video cards, extra adapter cards and storage devices. Not as much room as the full tower, but even power users generally only need a little more room and don’t need all the space a full tower provides.

The last computer case is the small form factor. This is the smallest out of the standard cases. It is generally used in the work place. It has limited expansion ability. The small form factor only allows low profile cards to be installed, so large video cards won’t be able to be installed. It’s not that the computer cannot necessarily support it, it’s just that it won’t fit in the case. You will find limited expansion slots and limited space to install extra devices like storage.

In business, a small form factor is often used for a general user workstation. They may be limited in expansion ability. However, for the average business user, this will not be a problem. The average business user generally doesn’t require additional expansion cards. For these reasons, a small computer is preferable over a larger one.

You may also find that a small form factor computer may have additional features that are generally not found in the larger home computer. These are features like drive encryption and remote management. Most home users do not require these features and you generally don’t see these features in a home PC until you start getting to the more expensive models.

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References
“The Official CompTIA A+ Core Study Guide (Exam 220-1001)” Chapter 3 Lesson 4020 - 4637
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... “Slide 5 File: Dell Inspiron One 23 Touch AIO Desktop PC.png”

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