Types of Computer Cases and Motherboard Factors

Computer Cases

The most common system case type is the tower. Depending on the specific number of internal drive
bays and the height of the tower, these cases can be further classified into mini-size, mid-size and full-
size tower cases. One of the biggest considerations when choosing between case sizes is the number of
slots and the number of devices we would like to add to those cases.

Today's Computer Case Options

ATX Bench Case:

ATX bench cases are open-air computer cases, meaning the internal
components are visibly exposed. A strength of this design is the ease of
accessibility when switching out devices; optimum heat ventilation is another.
One obvious concern for this design, however, is protectionthis type of case
must be located in a secure area.

ATX Mini Tower:

As the name suggests, this is the type of computer case needed when using an ATX
micro motherboard. A micro motherboard will fit perfectly into these cases, and,
since the cases are small, they won't take up much desk space. Remember,
however, that a smaller computer these days does not necessarily suggest smaller
storage options. Many companies are creating huge storage options in smaller
devices.

ATX Mid Tower:

ATX mid tower cases are designed with the ATX motherboard form factor in mind.
However, unlike a full size tower, a mid-size tower will work in a smaller space. If
large or extra componentry is not needed, or if the location for this computer is
limited, this case will likely be preferable.

ATX Full Tower:

These cases, like the kind mentioned just above, have been designed for
motherboards with the ATX form factor. With a full tower, there is a generous amount
of space inside for large components and/or multiple graphics cards, for example.

ATX Super Tower:

An ATX super tower is the largest computer case available on the market at this
time. While they are available to any consumer, they are generally meant for
computer enthusiasts. These cases are usually quite large and most are able to
support two CPUs. These computer cases also can have as many as nine
expansion card slots, with room for an ATX-XL motherboard.

Slim line case:

Slim line cases are simply tower cases turned on their sideways. They can hold a monitor on top of
the case.

Small Form Factor (SFF) Case:

Small form factor or SFF cases are custom cases that are designed to minimize
the spatial volume of a desktop computer. SFFs are available in a variety of sizes
and shapes, including shoe boxes, cubes, and book-sized PCs.
 Home Theater Computer Case:
An HTPC can be a great addition to your custom home theater. Consider
this type of case if the objective is to build a computer specifically for
great audio and video reproduction. Optical drive support as well as
general external appearance of the case will likely be important factors in
choosing a case in this category.

Server Chassis:
When building a server, be sure to start with a case designed for
this type of device as they differ from personal computers. Server
cases also come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and optional
componentrytwo of the more common are rack-mount and
pedestal chassis.
Motherboard Form Factor

Theres one important consideration we need to be aware of when choosing the case size and that is the
size of the motherboard. They need to match. The size of the motherboard is often called the Form
Factor and there are several standards. The form factor identifies the size of the circuit board, the
location of the slots as well as the location of the faceplate that comes out the back of the computer.
The form factor also identifies the location of the holes that are used to mount the motherboard into
the system case. For example, the full tower has more than enough room to fit an ATX motherboard.
Mid-tower case can also accommodate an ATX motherboard in most cases.

ATX Form Factor (Full ATX)

Probably the most common form factor for a motherboard is the ATX form factor. The board is
approximately 12 x 9.6 (30cm x 24cm).

Mini ATX

A mini-ATX motherboard is a slightly smaller variation of the full ATX size that measures 11.2 x 8.2
(28cm x 21cm). The main difference between ATX and mini-ATX is the number of buses and possibly
memory slots on the motherboard.

Micro ATX

The micro-ATX form factor is an even smaller version of the ATX standard, with a maximum size of 9.6 x
9.6 (24cm x 24cm). The faceplate line up to the exact same position as in all other versions of ATX.
System case that can hold an ATX motherboard can also hold micro ATX motherboard. The smaller mid
or mini tower cases would likely be too small for a full ATX motherboard but should accommodate micro
ATX motherboard.

Flex ATX

The size of Flex ATX is 9 x 7.5 (22,9 cm x 19,1 cm). It is derived from Micro ATX and is used in small
computer cases.

Mini ITX

Going down in size we have a mini ITX motherboard with a maximum size of 6.7 x 6.7 (17cm x 17cm).
Notice that there is a single expansion slot and the motherboard itself is considerably smaller than the
ATX and even the micro ATX.

Em ITX

Em ITX dimensions are 17 cm x 12 cm.

Nano ITX
Measures of Nano ITX are 4.7 x 4.7 (12 cm x 12 cm). It is used with smaller devices like set-top boxes,
car PCs, media centers, and other embedded devices.

Pico ITX

The size of the Pico ITX is 3.9 x 2.8 (10 cm X 7,2 cm).

Mobile ITX

Mobile ITX is the smallest form factor with the size of 2.4 x 2.4 (6 cm x 6 cm).

DTX Form Factor

DTX form factor is intended for small form factor PCs, and is backward compatible with ATX form factor
cases. Dimensions are 8 x 9.6 (20,3 cm x 24,4 cm).

Mini DTX

Mini DTX is a shorter version of DTX form factor. Dimensions are 8 x 6.7 (20,3 cm x 170 cm).

SSI CEB

SSI form factors were developed by SSI (Server System Infrastructure) forum, and are intended for dual
or multi processor motherboards used in servers and or even workstations. SSI form factors were
derived from ATX specification, so they have the same rear panel, IO connector area, and mounting
holes. But, SSI form factors are larger than ATX, so SSI motherboards will not fit cases designed for
standard ATX. The computer case has to be designed for larger than standard ATX form factor.

SSI EEB (also called Extended ATX or E-ATX)

SSI EEB dimensions are 12 x 13 (30,5 cm x 33 cm).

SSI MEB

The SSI MEB size is 16.2 x 13 (41,1 cm x 33 cm). It is longer in order to provide space for two additional
CPU sockets.

BTX Form Factor

There are a few main differences with the BTX form factor. Notice that the faceplate is on the opposite
end. Another difference is that the hole positions are different. Also, the processor socket is slightly
rotated so that it is at an angle to the system board. This rotation is to aid in the airflow across the
processor to assist in cooling the processor. The BTX motherboard will only fit within a system case that
is designed for a BTX motherboard. In many cases this means that an ATX system case will not work with
a BTX system board, although there are system cases that are able to accommodate both the ATX and
the BTX form factors. The BTX form factor has not been widely adopted despite its improvements over
ATX and related standards. As a result, the availability and variety of BTX-compatible components is
limited.

NLX Form Factor

The NLX is an older style form factor that is not used very often anymore. We might see it in some older
motherboards but its not likely to encounter it with newer motherboards.
Processor Socket

The processor socket is the central piece of a motherboard, usually being located near the center of the
motherboard. Its also the central piece because it holds the processor the brain of your computer.

Example socket: LGA 1151 for i3-i5,i7, Socket AM4 for Ryzen 3-5-7

Type of Sockets
PGA (Pin Grid Array)
LGA (Land Grid Array)
ZIF (Zero Insertion Array)
BGA (Ball Grid Array)
Memory Slots

Located in the upper-right part of the motherboard, the memory slots are used to house the computers
memory modules. The number of slots can vary, depending on motherboard, from 2, in low-end
motherboards, all the way up to 8 memory slots, on high-end and gaming motherboards.

SRAM: Static random access memory uses multiple transistors, typically four to six, for each memory cell
but doesn't have a capacitor in each cell. It is used primarily for cache.

DRAM: Dynamic random access memory has memory cells with a paired transistor and capacitor
requiring constant refreshing.

FPM DRAM: Fast page mode dynamic random access memory was the original form of DRAM. It waits
through the entire process of locating a bit of data by column and row and then reading the bit before it
starts on the next bit. Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 176 MBps.

EDO DRAM: Extended data-out dynamic random access memory does not wait for all of the processing
of the first bit before continuing to the next one. As soon as the address of the first bit is located, EDO
DRAM begins looking for the next bit. It is about five percent faster than FPM. Maximum transfer rate to
L2 cache is approximately 264 MBps.

SDRAM: Synchronous dynamic random access memory takes advantage of the burst mode concept to
greatly improve performance. It does this by staying on the row containing the requested bit and
moving rapidly through the columns, reading each bit as it goes. The idea is that most of the time the
data needed by the CPU will be in sequence. SDRAM is about five percent faster than EDO RAM and is
the most common form in desktops today. Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 528
MBps.

DDR SDRAM: Double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM is just like SDRAM except that is has higher
bandwidth, meaning greater speed. Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 1,064 MBps
(for DDR SDRAM 133 MHZ).

SODIMM: or small outline dual in-line memory module, is a type of computer memory built using
integrated circuits.

RDRAM: Rambus dynamic random access memory is a radical departure from the previous DRAM
architecture. Designed by Rambus, RDRAM uses a Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM), which is
similar in size and pin configuration to a standard DIMM. What makes RDRAM so different is its use of a
special high-speed data bus called the Rambus channel. RDRAM memory chips work in parallel to
achieve a data rate of 800 MHz, or 1,600 MBps. Since they operate at such high speeds, they generate
much more heat than other types of chips. To help dissipate the excess heat Rambus chips are fitted
with a heat spreader, which looks like a long thin wafer. Just like there are smaller versions of DIMMs,
there are also SO-RIMMs, designed for notebook computers.
Credit Card Memory: Credit card memory is a proprietary self-contained DRAM memory module that
plugs into a special slot for use in notebook computers.

CMOS RAM: CMOS RAM is a term for the small amount of memory used by your computer and some
other devices to remember things like hard disk settings -- see Why does my computer need a battery?
for details. This memory uses a small battery to provide it with the power it needs to maintain the
memory contents.

VRAM: VideoRAM, also known as multiport dynamic random access memory (MPDRAM), is a type of
RAM used specifically for video adapters or 3-D accelerators. The "multiport" part comes from the fact
that VRAM normally has two independent access ports instead of one, allowing the CPU and graphics
processor to access the RAM simultaneously. VRAM is located on the graphics card and comes in a
variety of formats, many of which are proprietary. The amount of VRAM is a determining factor in the
resolution and color depth of the display. VRAM is also used to hold graphics-specific information such
as 3-D geometry data and texture maps. True multiport VRAM tends to be expensive, so today, many
graphics cards use SGRAM (synchronous graphics RAM) instead. Performance is nearly the same, but
SGRAM is cheaper.

Video Card Slot

This is the type of slot that doesnt need an explanation, as its name doesnt leave much room for
interpretation as to what its role is. Coming in the form of a PCI-Express slot on newer motherboards or
AGP on older ones, the video card slot is situated right below the processor.

Expansion Slots

Expansions have the role of letting you install additional components to enhance or expand the
functionality of your PC. You can install a TV tuner, a video capture card, a better soundcard, etc. you
get the idea. These ports are located under the video card slot, and come in the form of PCI slots (on
older motherboards) or a scaled-down version of PCI-Express slots (on newer motherboards). Some
motherboards come with both types of expansion slots.

PCIe Sizes: x16 vs x8 vs x4 vs x1

As the heading suggests, the number after the x indicates the physical size of the PCIe card or slot, with
x16 being the largest and x1 being the smallest.

Here's how the various sizes shape up:

PCI Express x1: 18 pins (25 mm)

PCI Express x4: 32 pins (39 mm)
PCI Express x8: 49 pins (56 mm)
PCI Express x16: 82 pins (89 mm)
PCIe Versions: 3.0 vs 2.0 vs 1.0
Any number after PCIe that you find on a product or motherboard is indicating the latest version
number of the PCI Express specification that's supported.

Here's how the various versions of PCI Express compare:

PCI Express 1.0: 2 Gbit/s per lane (32 Gbit/s in an x16 slot)
PCI Express 2.0: 4 Gbit/s per lane (64 Gbit/s in an x16 slot)
PCI Express 3.0: 7.877 Gbit/s per lane (126.032 Gbit/s in an x16 slot)

Sound Card:
Indicator is showing the RealTek audio chip. In the bottom right you see the front panel audio connector
which would be plugged into the microphone jack and headphone jack on the front of the case.
Sound cards attached to the motherboard and enabled your computer to record and reproduce
sounds.
Most computers ship with a basic sound card, most often a 3D sound card. 3D sound is better than
stereo sound at convincing the human ear that sound is omnidirectional, meaning that you cant tell
what direction the sound is coming from. This tends to produce a fuller, richer sound than stereo sound.
To set up surround sound on your computer, you need two things: a set of surround-sound speakers
and a sound card that is Dolby Digital compatible. There are many formats to choose from such as Dolby
Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby TrueHD. The ports on the sound card allow you to connect
additional audio devices such as amplified speakers, headphones, microphones etc.

Network Card: The indicator is pointing to the Gigabit Ethernet chip, while just below it is a crystal. An
Ethernet network requires that you install or attach network adapters to each computer or peripheral
you want to connect to the network.

BIOS Chip and Battery

The BIOS chip contains the basic code needed to take your computer through the boot process, up to
the point where the operating system takes over. Since the BIOS code is stored on a memory chip that
needs constant power to function, a battery is also present to keep the chip powered when the
computer is unplugged.

Northbridge and Southbridge

If you have a look at your motherboard, chances are youll see a square metal component somewhere in
the lower-right part of the board. This metal component is actually a heatsink, and its role is to provide
thermal protection for the Northbridge one of the most important components of a motherboard. The
northbridge is responsible for coordinating the data flow between the memory, the video card and the
processor. A secondary chip, known as Southbridge, has a similar function, coordinating the data flow
between the processor and peripherals such as sound cards or network cards.

Chipset

Chipset is a set of electronic components in an integrated circuit that manages the data flow between
the processor, memory and peripherals. It is usually found on the motherboard. Chipsets are usually
designed to work with a specific family of microprocessors. Because it controls communications between the
processor and external devices, the chipset plays a crucial role in determining system performance.

Heat sink

Heatsink is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat generated by an electronic or a mechanical
device to a fluid medium, often air or a liquid coolant, where it is dissipated away from the device,
thereby allowing regulation of the device's temperature at optimal levels. In computers, heat sinks are
used to cool central processing units or graphics processors.
A computer port is also called as a Communication Port as it is responsible for communication
between the computer and its peripheral device. Generally, the female end of the connector is
referred to as a port and it usually sits on the motherboard.

In Computers, communication ports can be divided into two types based on the type or
protocol used for communication. They are Serial Ports and Parallel Ports.

A serial port is an interface through which peripherals can be connected using a serial protocol
which involves the transmission of data one bit at a time over a single communication line. The
most common type of serial port is a D-Subminiature or a D-sub connector that carry RS-232
signals.

A parallel port, on the other hand, is an interface through which the communication between a
computer and its peripheral device is in a parallel manner i.e. data is transferred in or out in
parallel using more than one communication line or wire. Printer port is an example of parallel
port.

PS/2
PS/2 connector is developed by IBM for connecting mouse and keyboard. It was introduced
with IBMs Personal Systems/2 series of computers and hence the name PS/2 connector. PS/2
connectors are color coded as purple for keyboard and green for mouse.

PS/2 is a 6-pin DIN connector. The pin out diagram of a PS/2 female connector is shown below.

Serial Port
Even though the communication in PS/2 and USB is serial, technically, the term Serial Port is
used to refer the interface that is compliant to RS-232 standard. There are two types of serial
ports that are commonly found on a computer: DB-25 and DE-9.

DB-25
DB-25 is a variant of D-sub connector and is the original port for RS-232 serial communication.
They were developed as the main port for serial connections using RS-232 protocol but most of
the applications did not require all the pins.
DE-9 or RS-232 or COM Port
DE-9 is the main port for RS-232 serial communication. It is a D-sub connector with E shell and
is often miscalled as DB-9. A DE-9 port is also called as a COM port and allows full duplex serial
communication between the computer and its peripheral.

Some of the applications of DE-9 port are serial interface with mouse, keyboard, modem,
uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and other external RS-232 compatible devices.

The use of DB-25 and DE-9 ports for communication is in decline and are replaced by USBs or
other ports.

Parallel Port or Centronics 36 Pin Port

Parallel port is an interface between computer and peripheral devices like printers with parallel
communication. The Centronics port is a 36 pin port that was developed as an interface for
printers and scanners and hence a parallel port is also called as a Centronics port.

Before the wide use of USB ports, parallel ports are very common in printers. The Centronics
port was later replaced by DB-25 port with parallel interface.

Audio Ports
Audio ports are used to connect speakers or other audio output devices with the computer. The
audio signals can be either analogue or digital and depending on that the port and its
corresponding connector differ.

Surround Sound Connectors or 3.5 mm TRS Connector

It is the most commonly found audio port that can be used to connect stereo headphones or
surround sound channels. A 6 connector system is included on majority of computers for audio
out as well as a microphone connection.
S/PDIF / TOSLINK
The Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF) is an audio interconnect used in home
media.

Most computers home entertainment systems are equipped with S/PDIF over TOSLINK.
TOSLINK (Toshiba Link) is most frequently used digital audio port that can support 7.1 channel
surround sound with just one cable. In the following image, the port on the right is an S/PDIF
port.

Video Ports
VGA Port
VGA port is found in many computers, projectors, video cards and High Definition TVs. It is a D-
sub connector consisting of 15 pins in 3 rows. The connector is called as DE-15.

Digital Video Interface (DVI)

DVI is a high speed digital interface between a display controller like a computer and a display
device like a monitor. It was developed with an aim of transmitting lossless digital video signals
and replace the analogue VGA technology.

The digital signals can be either single link or dual link where a single link supports a digital
signal up to 1920X1080 resolution and a dual link supports a digital signal up to 2560X1600
resolution. The following image compares the structures of DVI-I, DVI-D and DVI-A types along
with the pinouts.
Mini-DVI
Mini-DVI port is developed by Apple as an alternative to Mini-VGA port and is physically similar
to one. It is smaller than a regular DVI port.

It is a 32 pin port and is capable of transmitting DVI, composite, S-Video and VGA signals with
respective adapters. The following image shows a Mini-DVI port and its compatible cable.

Micro-DVI
Micro-DVI port, as the name suggests is physically smaller than Mini-DVI and is capable of
transmitting only digital signals.

Display Port
Display Port is a digital display interface with optional multiple channel audio and other forms
of data. Display Port is developed with an aim of replacing VGA and DVI ports as the main
interface between a computer and monitor.

The latest version DisplayPort 1.3 can handle a resolution up to 7680 X 4320.

The Display Port has a 20 pin connector, which is a very less number when compared to DVI
port and offers better resolution. The pin out diagram of a Display Port is shown below.
RCA Connector
RCA Connector can carry composite video and stereo audio signals over three cables.
Composite video transmits analogue video signals and the connector is as yellow colored RCA
connector.

The red and white connectors are used for stereo audio signals (red for right channel and white
for left channel).

Component Video
Component Video is an interface where the video signals are split into more than two channels
and the quality of the video signal is better that Composite video.

Like composite video, component video transmits only video signals and two separate
connectors must be used for stereo audio. Component video port can transmit both analogue
and digital video signals.
S-Video
S-Video or Separate Video connector is used for transmitting only video signals. The picture
quality is better than that of Composite video but has a lesser resolution than Component
video.

The S-Video port is generally black in color and is present on all TVs and most computers. S-
Video port looks like a PS/2 port but consists of only 4 pins.

HDMI
HDMI is an abbreviation of High Definition Media Interface. HDMI is a digital interface to
connect High Definition and Ultra High Definition devices like Computer monitors, HDTVs, Blu-
Ray players, gaming consoles, High Definition Cameras etc.

The HDMI connector consists of 19 pins and the latest version of HDMI i.e. HDMI 2.0 can carry
digital video signal up to a resolution of 40962160 and 32 audio channels. The pinout diagram
of an HDMI port is as follows.

USB

Universal Serial Bus (USB) replaced serial ports, parallel ports, PS/2 connectors, game ports and
power chargers for portable devices.

USB Type A

USB Type-A port is a 4 pin connector. There are different versions of Type A USB ports: USB
1.1, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. USB 3.0 is the common standard and supports a data rate of
400MBps.

USB 3.1 is also released and supports a data rate up to 10Gbps. The USB 2.0 is Black color coded
and USB 3.0 is Blue. The following image shows USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports.
The pinout diagram of USB Type A port is shown below.

USB Type C

USB Type C is the latest specification of the USB and is a reversible connector. USB Type C is
supposed to replace Types A and B and is considered future proof.

The port of USB Type C consists of 24 pins. The pinout diagram of USB Type C is shown
below. USB Type C can handle a current of 3A.

RJ-45

Ethernet is a networking technology that is used to connect your computer to Internet and
communicate with other computers or networking devices.

The interface that is used for computer networking and telecommunications is known as
Registered Jack (RJ) and RJ 45 port in particular is used for Ethernet over cable. RJ-45
connector is an 8 pin 8 contact (8P 8C) type modular connector.
RJ-11

RJ-11 is another type of Registered Jack that is used as an interface for telephone, modem or
ADSL connections. Even though computers are almost never equipped with an RJ-11 port, they
are the main interface in all telecommunication networks.

RJ-45 and RJ11 ports look alike but RJ-11 is a smaller port and uses a 6 point 4 contact (6P
4C) connector even though a 6 point 2 contact (6P 2C) is sufficient. The following is a picture
of an RJ-11 port and its compatible connector.

The following image can be used to compare RJ-45 and RJ-11 ports.

e-SATA

e-SATA is an external Serial AT Attachment connector that is used as an interface for connecting
external mass storage devices. Modern e-SATA connector are called e-SATAp and stands for
Power e-SATA ports.

They are hybrid ports capable of supporting both e-SATA and USB. Neither the SATA
organization nor the USB organization has officially approved the e-SATAp port and must be
used at users risk.
Part of the Motherboard

1. Back Panel Connectors & Connectors and ports for connecting the computer to
Ports external devices such as display ports, audio ports, USB
ports, Ethernet ports, PS/2 ports etc. See image below for
a close-up view.

2. PCI Slots PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect

Slot for older expansion cards such as sound cards,

network cards, connector cards.

Have been largely replaced by PCI-Express x1 slots (see

motherboard parts #3 below).

3. PCI Express x1 Slots Slot for modern expansion cards such as sound cards,
network cards (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth), connector
cards (USB, FireWire, eSATA) and certain low-end graphics
cards. See image below for a close-up view.

4. PCI Express x16 Slot Slot for discrete graphic cards and high bandwidth devices
such as top-end solid state drives. See image below for a
close-up view.

5. Northbridge Also known as Memory Controller Hub (MCH).

Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with the RAM

and graphics card.

Beginning from Intel Sandy Bridge in 2011, this

motherboard component is no longer present as it has
been integrated within the CPU itself.

6. CPU Socket Socket where you can insert the Processor.

7. ATX 12V Power Connector Connects to the 4-pin power cable of a power supply unit
which supplies power to the CPU.

8. Front Panel USB 2.0 Connects to USB 2.0 ports at the front or top of a
Connectors computer case.
9. Front Panel Connectors Connects to the power switch, reset switch, power LED,
hard drive LED and front audio ports of a computer case.

10. IDE Connector Connects to older hard drive disks and optical drives for
data transfer.

Have been replaced over by SATA connectors (see

motherboard component #13 below).

11. CMOS Battery Supplies power to store BIOS settings and keep the real-
time clock running.

The CMOS battery found on most motherboards is the

CR2032 lithium coin cell.

12. Southbridge Also known as the Input/Output Controller Hub (ICH).

Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with PCI

slots, PCI-Express x 1 slots (expansion cards), SATA
connectors (hard drives, optical drives), USB ports (USB
devices), Ethernet ports and on-board audio.

13. SATA Connectors Connects to modern hard disk drives, solid state drives and
optical drives for data transfer.

14. Fan Headers Supplies power to the CPU heat sink fan and computer
case fans.

15. RAM Slots Slots where you can insert the Ram

16. ATX Power Connector Connects to the 24-pin ATX power cable of a power supply
unit which supplies power to the motherboard.

19. Power & Reset Button Onboard button to turn on, turn off and reboot the
computer.

This motherboard component is more common among

high end boards.