Looking to build my first ever PC - question about hardware in tower cases

[SirChick]

Hey

I'm looking to build a PC rig for intensive audio/graphical processing, so its got to be a beast of a machine. But looking at the specs of GPUs they are literally huge... is there some way of knowing what computer tower case is best to get given the size of some of these components.

My current case only just with like 2mm to spare fits my 260 GPU which is ancient. I can only imagine newer GPUs are larger due to the cooling needed, and heatsinks are probably just as large!!

But i don't know alot about cases for computers - do they come in size catergories ? Do they all support all motherboard types with the appropriate screw holes for it ? Or do i have to find specific ones based on the hardware that will go in them ?

[eyezpy]

Actually GPUs are getting smaller, cooler and more powerful as they have been shrinking the chip size. You can see that if you compare the 260 to the 760.

Case size category are similar to motherboared's, at least that is how I refer to them mini-ITX, micro-ATX, and mid tower or full tower for ATX, four main categories of case sizes. You will still have to check each one to see which motherboard it supports to be sure as its up to the manufacture and there are more sizes of motherboards.

There is a lot more cases to choose from now and many take into account of over sized GPUs. You can build a very powerful system with mini-ITX now. Look at the CM Elite 130, its a mini-ITX case but can fit any current GPU as long as it is a 1 or 2 slot card.

[Colossous]

eyezpy makes good points - theres also cases such as the coolermaster i've linked below which have removable hard drive bays to make room for extra long graphics cards.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...m-fans-w-o-psu

[theanalyzer]

But i don't know alot about cases for computers - do they come in size catergories ? Do they all support all motherboard types with the appropriate screw holes for it ? Or do i have to find specific ones based on the hardware that will go in them ?

There are standard motherboard sizes. ATX, m(icro) ATX, and min(i)TX

You can find others here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...rs#Comparisons

Most chassis manufacturers will indicate the length of graphic cards they can fit in.

[Reckonist]

In my experience the big cases like Coolermaster and Silverstone are that big because they have about 10 drive bays which is completely unnecessary for most people.

[Agrippa]

But then he isn't building an average machine. Given that it is a rig meant for "intensive audio/graphical processing" it's not exactly unreasonable to assume it will have a number of hard drives, probably in a raid array.

Personally I would consider a Corsair Obsidian, Cooler master Cosmos II or a Lian Li full tower for such a build. They'll have room for any video card(s), lots of drives and will make the building process a much less stressful experience.

[carvedeye]

The Case I would recommend is the Coolermaster HAF X 942 case (the HAF stands for high air flow) there is a massive amount of room inside, so you will be able to put any card in no matter what the size, and if you do want an array of drives then there is plenty of room for that also.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=CA-203-CM