Graphics card max lenght
The maximum length of a graphics card that can be installed in this case.
Modern mid-range and top-end video cards with high performance often differ in considerable length, which is why such a card can not fit into any case. So before collecting components, it is worth evaluating the length of the proposed graphics card and choosing a case in which it is guaranteed to fit. This forethought is useful anyway, but it's especially true if you're building a system that requires a powerful graphics adapter, such as a high-end gaming PC or 3D design workstation.
Fan max height
The highest cooler height allowed for this case.
In this case, we mean a cooler used to cool the processor — such a component is found in the vast majority of modern PCs. Height is measured relative to the motherboard.
Material
The material from which the body is made.
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Steel. Steel cases are durable, scratch resistant, and relatively inexpensive. They are quite heavy, but given that most PCs are not designed to be frequently carried from place to place, this point can hardly be called critical. Due to this, this material is used in the vast majority of modern cases of all types, specializations and price categories.
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Aluminium. Aluminium cases are lightweight, provide improved heat exchange with the environment and are mostly stylish in appearance, but are more expensive and susceptible to scratches than steel. They are designed mainly for mid-range and top-end systems, where the cost of the case is negligible compared to the price of components, and the above-mentioned advantages are of decisive importance.
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Tempered glass. In this case, we mean cases made of glass panels mounted on a metal frame, most often steel. And the panels themselves are not necessarily all made of glass: at least the top and bottom are usually made of an opaque material, most often the same metal. In general, such cases are among the design solutions created based on the original appearance: they look really interesting, which is very much appreciated by modding fans. At the same time, from a practical point of view, glass has no advantages over metal, rather, on the contrary: this mate
...rial is quite fragile and requires careful handling, but is not cheap.Rubber feet
The presence of
rubberized legs in the design of the case.
These feet absorb vibrations generated during operation of the computer (mainly due to the operation of fans and optical drives), thereby reducing noise levels and providing additional comfort. Rubberized feet are especially desirable if the computer is placed on a table (on a tabletop or in a dedicated compartment on a table) or on a hard floor.
Lighting sync
The timing technology provided in the illuminated housing (see “Light Type”).
Synchronization itself allows you to "match" the backlight of the case with the backlight of other system components — the motherboard, graphics card, keyboard, mouse, etc. Thanks to this matching, all components can change colour synchronously, turn on / off at the same time, etc. It is worth noting that all such systems have
RGB backlighting. The specific features of the operation of such a backlight depend on the synchronization technology used, and, usually, each manufacturer has its own (Mystic Light Sync for MSI, Aura Sync for Asus, etc.). The compatibility of the components also depends on this: they must all support the same technology. So the easiest way to achieve backlight compatibility is to collect components from the same manufacturer.
3.5" bays
The number of internal 3.5" form factor bays provided in the design of the case. Such bays, in accordance with the name, are intended for internal components, mainly hard drives and some SSD modules; to access them, the case must be disassembled.
Theoretically, the number of bays corresponds to the maximum number of drives that can be installed in the chassis. However, in fact, the best option is to install drives through a single slot to ensure efficient cooling. Accordingly, it is best to select a case in such a way that the number of internal 3.5" bays is twice the expected number of hard drives.
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.
Fans (top)
The number of fan slots
on the top side 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, and the seats under them can be designed for both one and several sizes — for example, 120 / 140 mm. At the same time, in some models, the available number of seats also depends on the chosen size: for example, there are gaming cases where you can install either one 180 mm fan or four 120 mm fans at once.
Fans (bottom)
The number of fan slots
on the underside 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, and the seats under them can be designed for both one and several sizes — for example, 120 / 140 mm. At the same time, in some models, the available number of seats also depends on the selected size: for example, it may be possible to install either one 180 mm fan or two 140 mm fans.
