4 MA XIMUMPC SEPTEMBER 2004
AUGUST 2004 MA XIMUMPCMAXIMUM PC REVIEWER’S GUIDE:
PC ENCLOSURES
Here’s what our Lab experts look for when evaluating a caseOur emphasis is on real-world system building, so we do
just that—build a system within each case. We install a
mobo, optical drive, hard drive, videocard, and sound-
card, and then fire it up to see how it performs in its “run-
ning state.” Then we break it down. We note how easy it
was to install all the parts, how cramped or un-cramped
we were for space, and the time commitment involved in
the assembly. Here are the particular details and how we
judge them.6 &RONT BE:EL This is a case’s detachable faceplate. Bezels vary from bland,
plastic contraptions to smooth chrome jobbies and everything in between. The
bezel doesn’t have any features per say, but it’s often a case’s most distinguishing
trait. Some bezels include a door that hides the 5.25-inch bays for a clean look. &RONT IO 0ORT USB, FireWire, and audio jacks used to be found on the rear
of one’s PC, but it’s a pain in the butt to crawl back there just to plug in a USB
key, and thus the front I/O port was born. We need at least two USB and one
FireWire port up front, but don’t really care if audio jacks are present.8 5.25
IN#H B!YS These bays are used
primarily for optical drives such as CD and
DVD writers. Their most popular secondary
use is housing sundry case accessories
such as fan controllers. Most ATX cases
have four of these bays, which is more than
enough. We demand at least three of these
bays in a case.9 3.5
IN#H B!YS These smaller drive bays
are generally reserved for hard drives, flop-
py drives, and media readers. If you have
more than one hard drive, the number of
these bays is a critical consideration when
shopping for a case. We require a minimum
of four with a separate fan in front of the
drive cage to keep our hard drives chilly.1
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2 #!SE &!NS Case fans help air circulate inside a
case, keeping the parts nice and cool. Most cases include
several fans, or at least places to mount them. The bigger
the fans and the greater the number, the cooler (and louder)
your computer will be. If you plan on running several hard
drives and a high-end videocard, the case’s cooling setup
should be a primary consideration. We prefer a minimum of
two 120mm fans—one in front to draw air into the case,
and one above the AGP slot to blow hot air out.3 MOTHERBO!RD TR!Y All cases have a flat surface
on which you attach the motherboard. Because it can get
rather cramped inside a mid-size tower, some high-end
cases let you remove the motherboard tray so you can
install the motherboard and cards with greater ease. We
look for a slide-out tray because it lets you assemble
almost the entire PC outside the confines of the case and
then slide everything back into the case in one fell swoop.4 0OWER S500LY 5NIT 0S5 Power supply units
provide your computer with juice. PSUs range in output
from 250 watts to more than 500 watts of power. Because
each component in a PC draws a bit of power from the
PSU, a high-output power supply allows you to use more
components in your PC than would a lower output supply.
We recommend a minimum of 350W for a standard gam-
ing system, and 450W or more for a fully loaded rig.1 #!SE #ONSTR5#TION Cases are built from a vari-
ety of materials, the most common being steel and alumi-
num. Steel is sturdy and inexpensive, but aluminum is much
lighter and provides better cooling properties. Some cases
are even made out of acrylic and are completely transpar-
ent, to show off your case’s innards and lighting effects. We
prefer all-aluminum construction when given the choice.5 #!SE WINDOW Case windows have replaced the
opaque case door of yore and make it possible to show
off your PC’s interior. They’re typically made of acrylic. We
don’t require a window as some of the best cases don’t
include them. It’s a matter of personal preference, really.CASE STUDIES
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