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Computer Cases Buying Guide

Computers are expensive pieces of electronic equipment that basically house our entire lives.  From photos of our friends to our favourite MP3s and tons of professional and personal documents, we put a lot of faith in our computers to protect  and store the things we love.  So why shouldn't we care just as much about protecting our computers?  If pages of memories and information isn't enough to move you, remember that today's highcomponents'>computer components cost a pretty penny to replace.   So it's probably a good time to get serious about choosing a quality computer case.

Why You Need Them

# They guard against dust and debris that could potentially get lodged into intricate PC parts. # They protect internal components from being bumped out of place or broken. # They regulate the temperature of your computer, keeping all of the pars in working order.  plastics. # They add to the overall style or look of your PC if you're building computers to sell or trying to spruce up your home office.

What To Consider

All computer cases are not created equal. 

Other Important Features To Consider

* '''Bays'''.  Look for the number and size of bays in prospective computer cases.  You want to make sure you have enough bays for all your drives from CD to DVD and beyond. * '''Fans'''.  If you have a high-tech gaming computer, you need a case that is equipped with multiple fans that can effectively cool all your gizmos and gadgets.  A more basic computer might not need as many, since there are fewer components running at any one time. * '''Vents'''.  Another way to eliminate heat is with front, back and side vents.  This is especially useful if you like to overclock your components. * '''Expansion Slots.'''  These are designed to match up to the slots on your motherboard so you can secure add-in cards and devices. * '''Style. ''' If you want something more than a plain motherboard.  Motherboard sizes are measured in "form factors," with the most common being ATX.  Read the case description to see what form factors it supports.

Major Manufacturers

* Antec * Directron * Enlight * Hydraulic * Maxpoint * Soyo * Supercase * Xioxide

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