Cooling can be a rather critical feature when we choose a computer case. Many high-end systems are plagued with accumulated heat and we should make sure to keep them properly cooled. No system can run well if they need to operate within excessive temperature range. There are basic configurations of holes of case that allow air from the front side transported to the rearmost part of the case to ensure the most efficient heat exchange. As an example, an intake fan could be placed on the lower front part of the case, while the exhaust is placed on the rear. This should allow us to draw in cooler air to the interior of the case, which will pass over multiple heat-generating parts. However, if we are concerned with noise, we should consider using fewer fans and less powerful computer hardware. In general, the increase of performance level is directly proportional with the heat generation. However, some intake and exhaust fans come with multiple speed settings, so we could choose low noise operation when are dealing with basic computing tasks such as checking email and browsing the web.
Regardless of the type of case we choose, we should make sure that it has the least air resistance and this will make sure that we use fewer fans. In many cases, grills are made from perforated sheet metal and it should provide enough opportunity for good airflow. Some fans could have directional tunnels and special fans that can be directed specifically to critical heat-generating components, such as processor and graphics card. Many computer cases include a power supply, but we should make sure that it is appropriate for our requirements. In many cases, these power supplies could be a generic model that isn’t appropriate for enthusiasts. In this case, people who plan to do gaming efforts may choose a well-designed full tower case that accommodated ATX motherboard, but it could actually have 300W power supply. Power supply with limited output won’t be appropriate to provide enough juice for powerful processor and graphics cards, as well as water cooling, multiple drives and other power ravenous peripherals.
It can be rather time consuming to build a system and inappropriate case could make it annoying if we want to upgrade the computer continuously. Many cases have specific features that can make installation much easier and simpler to do. In this case, even if we have a micro ATX motherboard, it may be a good idea to choose a case that accommodates ATX motherboard, so we will have more room for future expansions. There are other features that can make upgrades much easier to do such as tool-less drive rail systems, tool-less side panels, tool-less expansion card mounts, removable drive cages and removable motherboard tray. It would be much easier if we are able to remove the drive cage and motherboard tray for future purposes. Tool-less computer cases are obvious time-savers, especially in office settings that have hundreds or thousands of computers.