PC Cases and Power Supplies

It is for the reasons previously that most builders will pay extra for a branded or well built case as they know it will be finished well and has good specifications and features.

PC Cases are still available in some places in Beige, however it is possible to find a case made from Steel, Aluminium, or Plastic in a variety of colours in various different shapes and sizes. Some may come with extra features such as Window Modifications for those so inclined. A lot of cases now include at least five drive bays as standard with ports to connect Firewire and USB via the front case panel.

Power Supplies

Every system needs a Power Supply (PSU) to bring their system to life. These have also evolved in a similar way to the case market. Before they came in standard casing and were rated at 200W, 235W or 300W. With systems running at over 3GHZ with faster motherboards and additional devices power supplies are now available with ratings over 600W.

Most PSUs come with built-in fans to help keep the components cool and working efficiently. Although the size of PSUs has not changed greatly they are available in various colours often with coloured fans.

We would recommend a supply of at least 300 or 350W dependant on the type of user. And of course for higher end systems a higher supply.

Prices for PSUs are around £20, again we would recommend branded supplies as they are often tested more thoroughly and often come with a warranty and are quieter than cheaper units.