Cheap Computers and Parts

Notes we've taken concerning the case:

• Motherboard Form Factor: MicroATX

A note before we start

You may be wondering why we are looking at cases before we look at everything else we need to buy. Down the road when you purchase a CD/DVD drive, you may want the color of the DVD faceplate to match the color of the case. If we go ahead and look at cases now, we will know what color CD/DVD drive to buy if we want the colors to match.

Step 1: What to Look For

We've made it to the fun part of the buying guide. Now we get to decide what our case is going to look like. Before we get started, there's a few things to look for:

• Make sure it's compatible with the form factor of your motherboard. (MicroATX)
• Comes with at least 1 Case Fan
• Mid-Tower case for the average user
• Front USB and Audio ports (if you have the connections on your motherboard)
• OPTIONAL Buy a case that comes with at least a 300w power supply (PSU)
• Several 5.25" Drive Bays
• At least 1 3.5" Drive Bay

Note: If your case comes with a PSU or you purchase one separately, verify that it's enough wattage and has the appropriate power connections to support all your hardware and video card(s) if applicable.

You don't need to buy a case that comes with a power supply, but this can save you $20 or more. Always read the reviews if there are any. Sometimes the PSU that comes with the case is total crap and sometimes it works just fine. If you find a case that doesn't come with a power supply, you can always find a cheap one that will get the job done.

For the average user, almost any cheap case will do as long as it supports your motherboard form factor.

You may be asking "what do you mean the case must support your motherboard form factor?"

Inside each case, there are pre-drilled screw holes. Most cases support multiple types of motherboards. When you mount your motherboard to the case, certain holes must match up in order to install it properly. If it's not properly installed, your motherboard could be damaged.

Step 2: Finding a Case

We personally love these two brands of cases:

• Cooler Master
• Thermaltake

You don't have to buy one of these brands but we've never had any problems with them. They always provide enough room for expansion and enough cooling where we don't have to add any more fans. For budget builds, Rosewill makes some really great budget cases.

Computer Hardware --> Computer Cases --> Mid-Tower (medium size case that's good for most users)

-Order by “lowest price”

Here's one case we like:

Rosewill R222-P-BK Black Computer Case - $19.99

• Supports MicroATX motherboards
• Has 2 Front USB Connections
• Has Front Speaker and Mic Jacks
• Includes 1 x 120mm rear case fan
• Includes a side air duct
• Has 4 5.25" Drive Bays
• Has 5 3.5" Drive Bays
• DOES NOT include a PSU

I should point out the specs on this particular case do not specifically say it supports MicroATX motherboards. If you read through the reviews, multiple people who have purchased this case point out it does support MicroATX.

This case has more than enough room for what we need. The only negative issue I found is that it does not include an internal speaker. This speaker is used to troubleshoot a computer that will not boot properly. The number of beeps indicates the error.

Although an internal speaker is not completely necessary to have, it really helps the troubleshooting process but considering this case is only $19.99, you really can't go wrong. Some motherboards have an internal speaker built into the board itself, our board doesn't appear to have one. If you really want to have a case that has an internal speaker, I'm sure you can find a case that includes one for less than $20 more. Just read through the user reviews on cases, they will usually tell everyone if it does not include an internal speaker.

Notes to take before the next lesson:

In this lesson, we decided on the Rosewill R222-P-BK Black Computer Case. Since this particular case does not include a PSU, we need to note the following:

• Needs PSU
• Color of case: Black

We will look for a power supply in a future lesson. The note is just to remind us to look for one.

Next Lesson:

We do not need to purchase a case fan since ours comes with one already. However, if the case you're buying does not include one or you want to add more to an existing case, we can show you how to buy one.

Continue to the next lesson: Lesson 8: How to Find a Cheap Case Fan.

Or skip to Lesson 9: How to Find Cheap RAM Memory.