internal 2.5" compartments
The number
of internal 2.5" bays provided in the case design.
Such bays are mainly used for installing internal hard drives and SSD modules; The 2.5" form factor was originally created as "laptop" form factor, but recently it has been increasingly used in components for full-size PCs. At the same time, when evaluating the number of these bays, note that drives are recommended to be installed through a slot; so in Ideally, the number of bays should be twice the planned number of drives.
Also note that some cases use combined bays: initially they have a size of 3.5", but if desired, they can be converted to 2.5". These bays count towards both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch slots. In fact, this means that the total number of available slots is not always equal to the sum of the number of both. For example, a case with 10 3.5" bays and 6 2.5" bays can have 4 combined bays, and the total number of slots in this case will not be 16, but only 12.
Fans total
The
more fans provided in the design, other things being equal, the more intense the cooling will be and the more powerful (and, accordingly, “hot”) hardware can be placed in the case without the risk of overheating. For everyday tasks, a case with
one,
two or
three factory fans is enough. At the same time, when comparing, it is worth considering not only the number, but also the performance characteristics of the fans (diameter, speed). Also note that there are
cases without fans on the market with free space for fans, which allows, if necessary, to supplement the cooling system and improve its performance.
Fans (back)
The number of fan slots
on the back of the case, as well as the size of the fans that these slots are designed for. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be specified separately.
The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: a large diameter allows you to work efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces the noise level and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters; specifically for the rear panel, the size
up to 92 mm is considered relatively small,
120 mm — medium,
140 mm — large.
Most often, the holes for installing fans are designed for one specific size, however, there are also “multi-size” seats, for 2-3 options in diameter.
Fans (front)
The number of fan slots
on the front of the case, and the size of the fans these slots are designed for. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be specified separately.
The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: a large diameter allows you to work efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces the noise level and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters; specifically for the front panel, the size
up to 92 mm is considered relatively small,
120 mm — medium,
140 mm — large, and in the most advanced solutions, fans of
180 mm or even more can be installed.
Also note that most often the holes for installing fans are designed for one specific size, however, there are also “multi-size” seats, for 2-3 options. Moreover, these options may differ both in diameter and in quantity: for example, it may be possible to install two 140 mm fans or three 120 mm fans.
Front panel
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Lattice. The grille on the front panel of the case often looks good and allows you to better supply the cooling system fans with more outside air. Decorative lighting is often placed behind the perforated panel, which improves the appearance of the case.
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Blank. The competitive advantages of cases with a blank front panel are improved noise insulation and effective protection of the internal space of the computer from dust.
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Glass. The veil of mystery of what is happening inside the computer system unit is lifted by cases with a glass front panel. Tempered glass as a “facade” material is used both in the form of a solid window and in the form of a glass grille with RGB backlighting. And in combination with the glass side window, it turns the body into
an “aquarium”.
