How to choose a case?

[Corsabrin]

I'm new in building pc and trying to build one for work. Have been looking at guides online to start things off. There are three questions that i need to clarify with the gurus here :

1) For selection of motherboard and processor, is the socket compatibility the main factor in pairing those two?

2) How do i know the wattage requirements in order to select the psu?

3) Are all cases compatibility with any motherboards? If not, what should i check between those two to ensure compatability?

Thanks for the advice!

Sent from using GAGT

 

[noobiee]

what is your budget for the whole rig?

 

[Xaser74]

http://www.utilizewindows.com/pc-fundamentals/basics/113-types-of-computer-cases-and-motherboard-factors

 

[Entry Level PC]

I'm new in building pc and trying to build one for work. Have been looking at guides online to start things off. There are three questions that i need to clarify with the gurus here :

1) For selection of motherboard and processor, is the socket compatibility the main factor in pairing those two?
YES.

2) How do i know the wattage requirements in order to select the psu?
Depends how much Wattage your GPU jiak.

3) Are all cases compatibility with any motherboards? If not, what should i check between those two to ensure compatability?
ATX
M-ATX
ITX

ATX Casing can fit any size MOBO.
M-ATX Case can fit M-ATX and ITX.
ITX Case can only fit ITX Mobo.

Thanks for the advice!

Sent from using GAGT

10char...................

 

[yusoffb01]

If for work any cheapo case will do because no graphics card

If for gaming, get one with top fan slot, and bottom mounted PSU, the rest can ignore

 

[terraflare]

Got big medium small.

Big if u want satki rig with multiple GPUs and full mobo to utilise lots of parts

Medium if you go standard 1 GPU and multiple hard drives / SSD

Small if you just doing work with no GPU

 

[muddle]

10char...................

Got eatx also. Full tower cases only.

 

[monikernemo]

Got eatx also. Full tower cases only.

Eatx boards use same mounting holes as atx though. But maybe not enough expansion slots to cater

Sent from microwave oven using GAGT

 

[Xaser74]

just read the link i just posted....or not just google more for info

 

[royfrosty]

Google is probably your best friend.

Anyway just feed you infos.


LGA1155 H71, B75, H77, Z77 goes along with Ivy Bridge/Sandy Bridge iX-3XXX/k or iX-2XXX/k
LGA1150 H81, B85, H85, H97, Z87, Z97 goes along with Haswell iX-4XXX/k
LGA1151 Z170 goes along with Skylake iX-6XXX/k

For PSU wattage....

300w-350w
For any processor with no Graphics Card or a single Graphics Card GTX750, R7 260X, GTX750ti or below. No overclocking is recommended.

450w
For any processor with any single Graphics Card with R9 270 or GTX760, GTX950, GTX960 or below. No overclocking is recommended.

500w-550w

For any processor with any single Graphics card with R9 380 or GTX970 and below. Overclocking can be done for any of CPU & GPU.

600w-650w

For any processor with any single Graphics card. Except for special exclusive custom made Graphics Card by selected brands. Overclocking can be done for any of CPU & GPU.

750w

For any processor with single custom made Graphics Card by selected brands, OR dual Graphics Card that is GTX970 and GTX 980. Mild overclocking can done for any of CPU & GPU.

850w

For any processor with dual Graphics Card such as R9 290, R9 290X and 980ti, Titan X. No overclocking is done for any of CPU & GPU.

1000w

For any processor with dual Graphics Card not including exclusive custom made Graphics Card. With CPU & GPU being overclocked.

1200w and above.

For any processor with ANY dual Graphics Card. With CPU & GPU being overclocked.

Also depends on the PSU you are buying, choose good reputable brands such as, Superflower, EVGA, Seasonic, Corsair (AX, HX series), FSP Aurum.

As for cases....

It goes hand in hand with the motherboard you selected. Also the size of the Graphics Card may depends on your chassis you buy.

Both motherboard and chassis relates to this few...

mITX
mATX
ATX
EATX (Very rare boards will land here)

An ATX size Chassis can fit anything from ATX or below.

 

[etoilebiscuit]

roy too nice.

 

[Corsabrin]

thanks for the inputs guys, really helped my understanding. one more question, from some videos about 2 or 3 yrs ago, i noticed some cases do not fully support usb 3.0 and have to connect directly to MOBO usb. is that still of a concern nowadays?

Sent from using GAGT

 

[Corsabrin]

oh ya, and what is the order of component selection? e.g. case first, then cpu, mobo, ram, graphiccard?

Sent from using GAGT

 

[muddle]

oh ya, and what is the order of component selection? e.g. case first, then cpu, mobo, ram, graphiccard?

Sent from using GAGT

Depends on your preference. No hard and fast rules.

For itx htpc setups, I would go for case first. Drive support and hardware layout more critical in compact cases. Not forgetting sfx or atx psu support. Mobo cpu not priority. Old amd x2 still can play and stream mkvs perfectly. Anyway if you don't mind big rectangular towers in your living room, then you can easily get the common matx or atx mobos and cases.

 

[muddle]

thanks for the inputs guys, really helped my understanding. one more question, from some videos about 2 or 3 yrs ago, i noticed some cases do not fully support usb 3.0 and have to connect directly to MOBO usb. is that still of a concern nowadays?

Sent from using GAGT

What do you mean mobo usb? If your case doesn't have usb3 ports, you can get front panel 5.25 or 3.5 usb3 brackets. Or use the rear usb 3 ports lor.

In anycase regardless if you're using the casing usb3 port or the front bay port, you still have to plug them to the motherboard headers.

 

[PS.Hipster]

I'm looking at fractal design define r5 window. But the windows abit small.

Any recommended case with big window, full filters and good airflow.

Im looking at phantom 410 too but the review complains alot on dust.

 

[monikernemo]

I'm looking at fractal design define r5 window. But the windows abit small.

Any recommended case with big window, full filters and good airflow.

Im looking at phantom 410 too but the review complains alot on dust.

R5 is good lah. One of the won't go wrong cases. Other wise Define S if you don't have that many drives. Albeit a little older, R4 is also going quite cheap on Lazada.

You want some thing new can consider Mastercase 5, though only the Pro model has top rad support.

Phantom 410 heard the cable management abit lacking for the grommets.

Sent from microwave oven using GAGT

 

[Reppps]

I'm looking at fractal design define r5 window. But the windows abit small.

Any recommended case with big window, full filters and good airflow.

Im looking at phantom 410 too but the review complains alot on dust.

how about define s

 

[enenyi]

R5 is good lah. One of the won't go wrong cases. Other wise Define S if you don't have that many drives. Albeit a little older, R4 is also going quite cheap on Lazada.

You want some thing new can consider Mastercase 5, though only the Pro model has top rad support.

Phantom 410 heard the cable management abit lacking for the grommets.

Sent from microwave oven using GAGT

NZXT Phantom 410 is pretty good actually. Just that it is past its age. 3 years ago, the Phantom 410 would have great appeal to DIY crowd at that time. Nowadays, Corsair and Fractal Design have overtaken NZXT in terms of aesthetics and build quality.

 

[monikernemo]

NZXT Phantom 410 is pretty good actually. Just that it is past its age. 3 years ago, the Phantom 410 would have great appeal to DIY crowd at that time. Nowadays, Corsair and Fractal Design have overtaken NZXT in terms of aesthetics and build quality.

Ah okay I see Haha looks quite angular for its time. The top fan clearance looks really small though.

Sent from microwave oven using GAGT