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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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Choosing a desktop case

By CNET staff
26/03/2004
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/pcperipherals/0,39051168,39173261,00.htm

Like notebooks, desktops now come in all shapes and sizes. Traditional towers are still popular because they offer the most room for expansion. But space-saving small-form-factor PCs, once found only in corporate cubicles, are now available for home users as well, and sleek all-in-one PCs have finally found a foothold.

Case types: Small-form-factor | All-in-one | Midtower case | Full-tower case


Small-form-factor
Even the most powerful notebook can't push the same number of frames per second as a desktop, which is why small-form-factor (SFF) PCs are popular with the LAN-party set. While not exactly portable, these compact models can be moved occasionally--some CPUs even have handles on top. Internal expansion is still limited, but with Pentium 4 and Athlon XP processors, full-size graphics cards for 3D gaming, and USB 2.0 and FireWire ports, you may never miss it.
Shuttle XPC ST61G4
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All-in-one
Popularized by the iMac, the all-in-one PC is a desktop with a built-in monitor. The desktop components (processor, memory, hard drive, and such) may be in the base--as in the iMac--or hidden behind the flat-panel display. Like a SFF desktop, an all-in-one limits expansion, but many boast advanced features, such as DVD burners and TV tuners.
Apple iMac
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Midtower case
The box no longer has to be beige, but the basic design of the tried-and-true midtower case remains the same: several internal and external drive bays, AGP and PCI slots for expansion, and a long list of ports on the back and increasingly the front for connecting peripherals such as digital cameras. The midtower case can still be found under many desks.
Dell Dimension 8300
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Full-tower case
If you are a serious speed junkie, then this is your hot rod. First, the interior space and the hefty fans provide better airflow for overclocked processors. Second, this design offers tons of room for expansion, with many internal and external bays for both optical drives and hard drives. Finally, it includes an AGP slot for a high-end 3D gaming card, as well as at least five PCI slots.
Velocity Micro Vector VX-W
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