The function of the chassis is to protect the computer hardware and make it reasonably distributed inside the chassis. It is very important to choose a suitable chassis. Classified by size: Classified by the size of the chassis, the chassis can be divided into ultra-thin, half-height, 3/4 high and full-height chassis. Classification by shape: The chassis can be divided into vertical chassis and horizontal chassis. According to the structure: the chassis can be divided into AT, ATX, MicroATX, NLT and other types. At present, ATX machines are mainly used in the market.
Chassis classification
Full Tower Chassis
Compared with the mid-tower case, the full-tower case is larger in size, compatible with more high-end hardware, and has better heat dissipation capability and interface configuration. It is especially suitable for high-end gamers and experienced DIY users. It is recommended to choose curling edge Angled chassis, more resistant to cuts than flaky, and also more resistant to twisting.
Advantages and disadvantages of functions: powerful functions, spacious space, compatible with more hardware, strong expandability, excellent heat dissipation capacity, and interface configuration, providing support for enthusiast players in terms of space, heat dissipation, and functions; but the body is large and heavy It also takes up space and the price is high.
Applicable people: Suitable for high-end enthusiasts and DIY players who like to toss.
Mid-tower Case
The size of the mid-tower chassis is relatively standard, and generally can provide 4 hard disk slots and 1 power supply slot. It has the characteristics of reasonable price, medium-range performance, and strong practicability. It is suitable for regular mainstream installed users and entry-level DIY players. etc. It is recommended to purchase a chassis with thick and stable side panels, which can effectively prevent deformation and shield electromagnetic waves.
Advantages and disadvantages of functions: It can be used as a small full-tower case, with comprehensive functions, moderate volume, ample internal space, and good heat dissipation performance. It does not have the disadvantages of full-tower cases. It has the strongest practicality, the widest market, and the price is relatively reasonable. ; But the number of PCIE slots and the overall shape have been reduced.
Applicable people: regular mainstream installed users and DIY players just getting started.
MINI Chassis
The mini chassis has the characteristics of compact interior, stylish and beautiful appearance, and small footprint. It is suitable for users with low configuration requirements, home life, and office work. Damage to the chassis.
Advantages and disadvantages of functions: the mini case is smaller than the mid-tower case, and it is easy to move without taking up space. At the same time, it also supports ATX standard large power supply and M-ATX compact motherboard, which makes the small case more usable and compatible; but If the pursuit of configuration, this mini chassis can not meet the installation requirements.
Applicable people: suitable for daily use at home and DIY players with low configuration requirements.
DIY Creative Case
Advantages and disadvantages of functions: DIY creative chassis are divided according to the shape. The appearance is unique and very individual. It can be customized according to your own needs. It is the first choice for players who pursue appearance; All aspects must be considered.
Applicable people: suitable for users who pursue appearance and DIY masters.
ITX Case
Advantages and disadvantages of functions: ITX case is small in size, high in integration, low in power consumption, and easy to carry. It is used to support relatively low-cost computers used in small spaces; however, the space hardware performance is very limited, and it does not have good expansion The heat dissipation performance is average, the whole machine configuration is relatively expensive, and the cost performance is not high.
Applicable people: suitable for office workers and female users.
The main uses of different chassis
The classification of computer cases mainly includes full tower cases, medium tower cases, and mini (small tower cases)
The full-tower chassis has a large space, and can easily accommodate E-ATX motherboards. There is no pressure to accommodate large graphics cards of GTX 1080Ti PGF level. It is also very simple to install water cooling and cable management. It has very large expandability, large space, and good heat dissipation performance. Usually stronger, but the price is naturally not low if the material is sufficient.
Generally, it is preferred by DIY enthusiasts and hardware enthusiasts who pursue the performance of the mainframe. Another advantage of the large space is that the entire hardware structure can be modified at will, and some hardware can be easily added. The user experience is very comfortable.
The size of the mid-tower case is second only to the full-tower case, and it is also the most common type of case in daily life. Although it can't fit a wonderful motherboard like E-ATX, it still has a lot of space and supports ATX motherboard types. There is not much pressure on the graphics card, and it can basically accommodate it.
Although the expansion and heat dissipation cannot be compared with the full tower chassis, it is quite good, and the price is considered to be the cheapest type, which is more suitable for ordinary players.
The mid-tower case is the most popular type of case for the general public, and it is very popular, from home to Internet cafes to offices. Moreover, the mid-tower chassis can also be equipped with water cooling. Many manufacturers have also spent various thoughts on this to win the favor of consumers, such as water cooling, side penetration, RGB lighting effects, and so on.
The mini case is also called a small tower case. It is small in size and usually supports M-ATX motherboards. It does not take up space in the home or office. However, due to the small size of the mini case, the requirements for the size of the graphics card and other hardware are relatively high. Generally, only small graphics cards can be selected, such as GTX 1060 X-Gaming OC and smaller graphics cards. Most of the performance requirements are not very high.
Another problem brought about by the small size is that the heat dissipation performance is not strong. Now many manufacturers are also solving this problem through various designs, such as adding fans and cooling surfaces, and due to the size of the chassis, the expandability of the mini chassis is basically nothing. , so choosing a mini case should not only consider space and small size and cuteness, but other factors should also be taken into consideration.
Chassis purchase skills
Good heat dissipation is a prerequisite for an excellent server chassis. The heat dissipation performance is mainly manifested in three aspects, one is the number and position of fans, the other is the rationality of the heat dissipation channels, and the third is the selection of chassis materials.
Generally speaking, branded server chassis such as Super Micro can do this very well, using large-diameter fans to directly dissipate heat for the CPU, memory, and disks, forming a good heat dissipation channel from the front suction to the rear exhaust, forming Good heat circulation system. The chassis shell made of high-quality aluminum alloy or steel material with strong thermal conductivity can also effectively improve the heat dissipation environment.
The design of redundancy is also worthy of attention. One is the redundancy of the heat dissipation system. Generally, such server chassis must be equipped with dedicated redundant fans. When individual fans stop due to failure, the redundant fans will immediately take over the work.
The second is the redundancy of the power supply. When the main power supply fails due to failure or the voltage is unstable, the redundant power supply can take over and continue to supply power to the system. The third is the redundancy of the storage medium, requiring the chassis to have more hot-swappable hard disk bits, which can facilitate hot maintenance of the server.
A well-designed server chassis will provide convenient LED display lights for maintenance personnel to keep abreast of the machine status, and small designs such as the front USB port will also greatly facilitate users. At the same time, the chassis provides a front redundant power supply design, which makes power supply maintenance more convenient.
Materials are always the most intuitive way to measure the products of large and small factories. Take AMD chassis as an example, which is also a 4U or tower chassis, the weight of AMD products can reach or even three or four times that of other brand products. In the case of dense cables and equipment in the middle of the cabinet, the materials used for the cabinet directly affect the ability of the host to shield the electromagnetic interference of other devices.
Because the quality of the server chassis directly involves the stability of the system, some well-known server motherboard manufacturers will also produce professional server chassis to ensure the stability of the final server product.
