Look for a recessed RESET switch so you won’t hit it by accident with your knee.

Most computers nowadays come in mini tower cases that can fit on the floor or desktop. Cases usually come in boring shades of beige. For $75.00 CAD (or less for multiples) you can have your computer, monitor and keyboard painted with a special plastic coating in any colour you want. A company called SPL Coatings has branches all over the world to do it. The new Pentium IV motherboards require a slightly deeper case than usual. If you buy a new case, you probably should get that extra room just in case. Make sure your case and motherboard are compatible. Most cases and motherboards are ATX form factor. Motherboards are shrinking all the time, and cases are shrinking with them. There are also mini-ATX and micro-ATX cases.

The Intel standard for the ATX case is really a standard for motherboards. It does not specify what i/o connections must be available on the back panel, but here is what they typically look like:

Modern motherboards consume more power and consequently give off more heat than computers of former years. Intel in response designed the BTX form factor, but it has not yet caught on.

Power supplies often come bundled with the case. Spend a little extra to get good quality and a slightly higher rating than necessary. A flaky power supply will cause no end of odd glitches.

Cases are usually sold without any fans. You will need to get at least one.

Cases, disks, motherboards etc. usually come without a full complement of screws and connectors. Before the sale, make sure these are all included.

Installing the Case

You need tiny fingers for this job. Borrow a child.

The connections are almost never documented. You have to take the case apart to see where wires go, use a continuity meter, and just plain experiment. Happily getting it wrong will rarely cause permanent damage, just frustration. With LEDs, if the light does not work try attaching it the other way around. Happily, switches are not polarity sensitive.

Ask your case dealer to fill in a sheet like this on all the case connections. This sample chart is for a case 17" tower case I bought from DTI computers.

Installing the Motherboard

The back plate where the keyboard and other connectors poke through has mysterious little projections. These are to hold the plate in place by spring pressure against the back of the motherboard. They are not intended to be bent and wrapped around anything.

Installing the Hard Disk

Disks need good air circulation. Try to arrange empty bays top and bottom, and a good air flow unimpeded by cables. You might even consider a fan dedicated to cooling your disk drives.