supply, and motherboard, because these components must fit together to supply protec-
tion, power, and safety. You may be surprised at how many form factors there are and
how specifically they are defined.The Case for the Case
In spite of the fact that the PC’s case just seems to sit there, it does perform a number of very
valuable functions. Most people take the functions listed below for granted, but they are
important nonetheless. In addition to providing the aesthetics of the system, the case also
providesthePCwithitsstructure,anditprovidesprotectionandcoolingfortheelectronics
and other devices mounted inside the case. So you see, the PC’s case is not just another
pretty face; it also has a very important role to play in the overall function of the PC.
PC cases come in all sizes, shapes, colors, and animals (see Figure 15-2). These vari-
ances in size and shape are driven by the case’s form factor, but more and more case de-
signers are adding color, new plastic and metal materials, and even faces to the case
design in attempt to make them less boring. The cases shown in Figure 15-2 represent a
wide variety of case types and form factors.Chapter 15: The System Case^341
Figure 15-2. An assortment of PC case shapes and faces