May 31, 1999
By David Risley The case is the metal and plastic box you see when you look at your computer. Most people don't think of it as an important part, but it is. It is the skin of the computer, so to speak. It supports the rest of your computer. The expansion cards are held in by the motherboard, but what holds the motherboard and the drives? The case! It also protects the system from the outside world. It is a vital component in the cooling system of the computer. A clean case with much space inside helps the air flow through the system. Also, a closed case's design actually helps to funnel the air through the system over components such as the CPU.
When buying a case, make sure it is expandable. There is nothing worse than needing a new hard drive and not having any room for it. Also, make sure the case looks good. After all, it is what you and everyone else sees every day. An ugly case can be a real eyesore for a nice office or room.