Case and Power Supply - Build an Awesome PC - page 9

The Importance of Look and Feel
Cases vary widely in design due to the broad spectrum of individual tastes.
Some cases can be massive like a stretch limousine, while others can be small
like a subcompact car. Some draw attention to themselves with fins, flashing
lights, and bright colors like a sports car while others are reserved and busi-
ness-formal like a luxury car.
Keeping in mind airflow and the number of components you will be placing
into the case, find a case that you consider attractive. Bigger cases usually
equate to bigger price tags. Types of materials used can also drive up the cost.
An all-aluminum chassis or one using a wood like mahogany will be quite a
bit more expensive than a traditional metal frame with a plastic exterior.
Given all these considerations, I recommend going with Corsair's Carbide
Series 500R mid tower. 1 It's large enough to comfortably fit our PC components
and has enough fans to keep the air circulating. The 500R will also provide
adequate room for additional fans should we need them. The fan mounts can
even support water-cooling radiators when you're ready to take the hardware
into the realm of serious heat-generating overclocking. There are also plenty
of relocatable cages for disk-based hard drives and solid-state drives for both
present and future storage needs.
Once you have the case, find a place to unpack it and inventory the contents.
Be sure to do this in a spot with plenty of open space. When removing the
500R case from the box, use the plastic bag wrapped around it to lift it up.
Set the bagged case down gently, as the metal can dent easily. Then remove
the bag, being careful not to scratch the painted metal sides.
Inspect the case for any damage. Unscrew and remove the side of the case
that has the large fan attached to it. Place the freestanding side somewhere
safe, such as against a wall or back in the case's shipping box between the
Styrofoam packaging pieces. Did I mention to handle the case with care? If
you dent the metal, you will be reminded about that accident every time you
look at your case. Gently spin the case fans located on the front, back, and
side panel with your finger to verify that they turn without obstruction. A
white box of parts should be located in the lower-right drive bin. Check the
packing list on the case's instruction sheet to verify that all the parts are
included, as Figure 2, All parts present and accounted for , on page 10 shows.
With our case picked out, let's take a look at the attributes that make up a
good PC power supply.