Datasheet

16
Part I: Preparations and Planning
You might notice several large, rectangular cutouts on the front of your case. Don’t
worry — your computer case isn’t defective; it’s supposed to have them. These
holes, called
drive bays, enable you to add components, such as a DVD-ROM drive.
An unused drive bay is usually covered by a plastic insert. Or the front of your case
might have a door that swings open for access to the bays. Figure 1-2 illustrates a
custom “modded” case. Gamers and PC techno-jocks swear by unique cases, just
like how owners of custom cars love fancy paint jobs and flames galore. This case
has additional air vents at the front and room for more fans at the back, as well as
colorful paint and chrome accents.
You can get computer cases in various sizes. The size that you choose depends on
how many toys (usually called
peripherals) you want to add to your computer. See
Chapter 3 for a more detailed discussion of your computer’s case.
Figure 1-2: A custom “modded” case.
High-output
power supply
Vents for
better cooling
Chrome
accents
High-performance
fan
Extra drive
bays
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