Computer Hardware Technician
Module-1.1
System Case
By
S.Lankeswaran, BSc in Computer Science
SHANMUGHA Computers
Kovilputhukulam, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka.
0094-24-4922690
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In this Chapter we will learn:
• Parts of the system case
• Styles and sizes
• Form factor
• Case switches
• Case LEDs
• Drive bays
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Parts of the system case
Frame &
Cover
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Styles and sizes
1.Full Tower Case
2.Mid Tower Case
3."Midi" Tower Case
4.Mini Tower Case
5.Slim line Case
6.Desktop Model
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Styles and sizes …(Comparison of Case Styles)
External
Case Style Size Internal Bays Cooling Power Supply Cost
Bays
2 + 4 or
Full Tower Large 3 to 5 or more Best 250 to 375 + High
more
Mid Tower Med 2+3 2 to 4 Better 200 to 300 Med
Small to 2 + 2 or Low to
"Midi" Tower 2 to 4 Good 170 to 300
Med 2+3 Med
Mini Tower Small 2+2 2 or 3 Good 170 to 250 Low
Desktop Small 2+2 1 or 2 OK 150 to 230 Low
Slimline Very Small 1+2 1 or 2 Worse 90 to 200 Low
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Form
Formfactor
factor
• The form factor describes the general layout of
the case,
– the positioning of the slots in the back of the case,
– the way that the case matches to the major
components that fit into it.
– In particular, there are three main components that
must be matched in terms of their form factor:
1. The Case,
2. The Power Supply,
3. The Motherboard.
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Form factor…
The most popular case form factors today are
1. “Baby AT“
2. “ATX”
3. “NLX”
(Baby AT systems are now out of date but there are so many
millions of them in use that they remain a factor, especially in the
upgrade and repair market.)
These cases are not interchangeable, since they are shaped
differently, and require motherboards with a different form factor.
If you are building your own system you must ensure your
motherboard and case/power supply form factors match.
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Form factor…
Baby AT
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NLX
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Form factor…
WTX LPX
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Case switches
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Case LEDs
Power LED
•The power LED is usually green.
•it comes on when the power is on.
Hard Disk Drive Activity LED
•The most important indicator on the
case, this LED normally flickers on when
the hard disk is being accessed.
•It is important in that it gives you a visual
indication of how active your system is,
and can help ensure that you don't shut
off your system while the hard disk is
active (which you should never do).
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Drive bays
Drive bays are the spaces in the system case where
you mount your hard disk, floppy, CD-ROM, tape and
other drives.
They come in two general types, external and internal,
and two sizes: 5.25" and 3.5".
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Drive bays… (External)
These drive bays are certainly inside the case. However,
they are called "external" because they allow access to
the device from the outside.
Any drive that uses
removable media or has
controls that must be
operated manually must go in
an external drive bay. This
includes floppy disk, CD-
ROM, DVD, tape and
removable-storage drives.
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Drive bays… (Internal)
These bays are
entirely within the
case and are not
accessible from the
outside.
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Drive bays… (Drive Rails and Brackets)
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Drive Bays… (Sizes: 3.5" and 5.25“)
Depth Height
Drive Bay Size Width (in)
(in) (in)
3.5" 4.00 5.75 1.00
5.25" 5.75 8.0 1.63
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Connection method in Caseing
Casing
Types
Casing
Pictures
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