Case Sizes & Case Fans Inside Cases? Huh?

[goodnice]

I'm a little confused about a few details with cases.

For example I found a case with this.
Cooling System: 2 x 80mm, 3 x 90mm
But I thought only the CPU and PSU needed a fan. (Which usually don't come with the case, if I'm not mistaken, (although I've never bought a separate case before)) What are these extra fans doing inside?

Are these fans required now to cool the high heat generated in computers nowadays or is this an "over kill" sort of thing?

Or is it needed only for super duper muper super ultra high CPU heat generator computer tech savvy systems? Or am I really uber duper way and over my head?

I'm also confused about motherboard size listing.
Motherboard Compatibility: ATX - Up to 12"W x 13"L
Motherboard Compatibility: Micro ATX, ATX (up to 12.5 x 11.5 inches)
Motherboard Compatibility: suitable for all kinds of extended motherboard
What’s the best size?

I'm pretty confused about this, I thought there were only micro ATX and Full tower ATX motherboards. For example newegg only has a selection list between ATX FlexATX MicroATX.

Motherboard Compatibility: Micro ATX, Standard ATX & Extended ATX(Dual CPU)
Does this one mean to say that I can have two separate motherboards inside the case? Or am I missing something?

[mikezel]

It means that the case has spaces to mount 2 80mm fans and 3 90mm fans, on the case itself to move air around the case and cool the components. I would say that 5 fans is overkill, but that depends on what you have in the case, and what your definition of "loud" is. You can usually get away with only 1 or 2 case fans (always at least 1 exhaust and possible one intake). The fans may or may not be included with the case.

It terms of the motherboard, it means that it can take either MicroATX or regular ATX boards. not both at the same time.

mike

[Cricket]

Modern processors generate a lot of heat. RAM, video cards and hard drives also generate a lot of heat. All this heat will build up inside your computer case unless you have a method of removing it...hence the case fans. A case fan on the upper rear of the case helps to remove heat from the case. A case fan on the lower front of the case helps to bring cool air into the case. This is a typical cooling set up for a modern computer.

You could run your computer without case fans, but expect to eventually experience heat related problems like freezing, lockups and rebooting.

You can only have 1 motherboard installed inside a standard ATX case at any given time. It's just that a standard ATX case can accomodate several different motherboard sizes for flexibility.

Cricket

[goodnice]

Thank you both.

But what about the (Duel CPU)?

[Cricket]

The dual CPU motherboard just has two CPU sockets on it. It's still just one motherboard.

You can't install two motherboards into one standard ATX case...just can't be done.

Cricket

[goodnice]

But, Here it says motherborad combatibility for a Duel CPU...

Your probably right but what are they talking about?

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...133-122&depa=1

[Cricket]

Take a look at this dual CPU server motherboard and you might get a better idea of what they're talking about...it's just one motherboard with 2 CPU sockets on it.

Cricket

[goodnice]

I'm seeing it, I understand now.

I think I got confused becuse all the other full tower atx cases I looked at didn't bother to say it could support two CPUs like this one said.

Can all full tower ATX cases support two CPUs like that?

[Cricket]

Most full tower cases will accept a dual processor motherboard. Why? Are you thinking of building a server?

Cricket

[goodnice]

Lol, well I'm not planing on building a server... yet. I just figured that if I was to get a motherboard with one chip then maybe (And I have not confirmed this yet) when the hardware became obsolete one could simply put a brand new CPU or two brand new CPUS doubly the strength. At least I hope that would work.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by goodnice Lol, well I'm not planing on building a server... yet. I just figured that if I was to get a motherboard with one chip then maybe (And I have not confirmed this yet) when the hardware became obsolete one could simply put a brand new CPU or two brand new CPUS doubly the strength. At least I hope that would work.

You could only do that if the motherboard you have supports the new CPU (or CPUs). But if a computer is "obsolete" you'd more than likely have to replace the old motherboard with a new one because the old one probably would not support a newer CPU.

Dual processor motherboards and the computers that would use them are a whole different subject.

Cricket