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How can I choose the right ATX or AT case for my motherboard?
How can I choose the right ATX power supply?

How can I choose the right ATX or AT case for my motherboard?

Below is the general guide for choosing a case for your motherboard.

A. Motherboard

* I want to use the ATX form factor motherboard.

Dimensions

Micro ATX - 9.6" x 9.6" or less

ATX - 12" x 7" to 10.2" (Single PII/III or Slot 1 CELERON)

ATX - 12" x 12" to 13.8" (Dual PII/III)

Most super mini & mid tower cases will fit the motherboards that are 12" x 9.6" or less. For those bigger than 12" x 9.6", use the full or file server cases.

For Rackmount cases, 12" x 9.6" motherboard fits 18" deep case; larger motherboard & Removable Mobil Rack fits 21" deep case.

Layout
Most motherboard layouts are pretty standard. The location of the DIMM sockets can present a problem; in general they are pretty close to the front end of the motherboard and directly behind the 3.5" drive cage. Please refer to our case specification page regarding " Clearance H/L".

Physically, most of the motherboards have a total of 8 slots, there are 1 x AGP, 4~5 x PCI, and 2~3 x ISA. There are 1 x PCI and 1 x ISA that are right next to each other, these are called "shared" slots. If you plug a PCI card into one of these slots, you cannot plug in the ISA card, and vice versa. This is because the PCI card is facing the edge of the motherboard (ISA side edge), and the ISA card is facing the power plug edge of the motherboard.

I/O Shield
In general, there are Marl, Venus, Caveman, and Providence (with RJ-45) types of I/O shield for most of the motherboards. All of our cases come standard with Marl and Caveman style I/O shields only. For the motherboards with built-in LAN support (RJ-45 port), such as, ASUS P2B-L, P2B-LS, and TYAN S1836DLAN, please call the vendor for availability since the case manufacturers DO NOT provide one.

* I want to use the AT form factor motherboard.

Dimensions

Full AT - 8.5" x 13.5"

BABY AT - 8.5" x anything less then 13.5"
Most of the AT motherboards now are BABY AT size. Pick any AT case you like and it will usually fit just fine. If you are thinking about choosing an ATX case instead, read the next paragraph first.

Layout
All ATX cases have only 7 slots. ATX cases with 8 slots DO NOT exist! Most of the new BABY AT motherboards have 7 slots or less (could physically have 8 with 1 shared) and most of these motherboards are for socket 370 CELERON PPGA CPUs. Also, these motherboards are equipped with both AT and ATX Power plugs.

I/O Shield
This AT I/O shield is optional. You have to specify that you need an AT shield when you order an ATX case for your AT motherboard.

For those trying to use an old AT motherboard in an ATX case, be aware that a BABY AT motherboard with an AGP or PCI card in the number 8 slot, counting from the edge of the motherboard, is useless.

B. Size of the case

Mid-tower cases are the most popular. They're best suited for computers with 6 or less drives.

Full tower cases and some file server cases are for those with a bigger motherboard and more than 6 drives or those needing better air circulation for their hardware. Longer data cables may be needed for these cases.

Mini tower and Desktop cases are for those with limited space or those who want to save some space. Some of these cases might necessitate the sacrifice of a 1 x 5.25 drive bay after the motherboard is installed.

For any case, a second fan is recommended for better cooling.

C. Special features

Number of drive bays, side open, slide motherboard plate, filter, easy open, digital display, and IRDA punch out are important factors when choosing a case.

D. Power supply

All of our ATX Power Supplies are Intel 2.01 compliant. For most users (AT or ATX) a 250W unit should be sufficient. A 300W unit is recommended if more than 6 drives are installed. Some of the new ATX motherboards require Intel 2.03 compliance; so, ask your vender regarding that. If 2.03 is needed, you've to use one in order for your motherboard to function properly. To learn more about Intel compliance, please visit www.teleport.com or www.intel.com for more detail information.

How can I choose the right ATX power supply?

Currently, the Intel 2.01 compliant ATX power supply can run any motherboard with a BX chipset or earlier: LX, EX, TX, etc. The new GX chipset requires Intel 2.03 compliant; +5V standby has to be absolute 0.0V when the system is booting up. To be certain you get the right power supply, let the salesperson know which motherboard (brand and chipset) you are working with.

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