In addition to coming in different styles, cases also come in different form factors. The form factor describes the general layout of the case, the positioning of the slots in the back of the case, and the way that the case matches to the major components that will fit inside. In particular, there are three main components that must be matched in terms of their form factor:
- case
- power supply
- motherboard
Usually, when you buy a system case it comes with a power supply, so matching the case and power supply is not a concern. However, if this is not the case you need to investigate which power supplies are suitable. In addition, some case form factors can work with more than one power supply form factor.
The most popular case form factors today are the 'Baby AT', ATX, and NLX, with the newer micro ATX/SFX form factor also being used increasingly on lower-end systems. (Baby AT systems are now obsolete but there are so many millions of them in use that they remain a factor, especially in the upgrade and repair market.) These cases are not interchangeable, since they are shaped differently and require motherboards with a different form factor. If you are building your own system, you must ensure your motherboard and case/power supply form factors match. There are cases that can handle both baby AT and ATX motherboards.
Different form factors affect the different amount of drive mount options. While there's no one case style that will universally appeal to everyone, the Mid-Tower is the most popular choice for today's PC.
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