Comparison Jonsbo VR3 white vs Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P MAX PSU 850 W black

Possible length of the PSU that can be installed in the case.

The maximum length of a graphics card that can be installed in this case.

Modern mid-range and top-end video cards with high performance often differ in considerable length, which is why such a card can not fit into any case. So before collecting components, it is worth evaluating the length of the proposed graphics card and choosing a case in which it is guaranteed to fit. This forethought is useful anyway, but it's especially true if you're building a system that requires a powerful graphics adapter, such as a high-end gaming PC or 3D design workstation.

The highest cooler height allowed for this case.

In this case, we mean a cooler used to cool the processor — such a component is found in the vast majority of modern PCs. Height is measured relative to the motherboard.

— Removable panel. Opening by removing one or more panels is the most popular option in modern PC cases. This design is inexpensive, convenient and practical, and fits any form factor (see above). The specific device of such an opening system just depends primarily on the form factor, more precisely, on the overall layout of the case. So, in vertical products (one or another type of Tower), both side panels are usually removable, in horizontal “desktops” — the top panel, and in the Cube Case the options may be different.

— U-shaped cover. A solid cover of a characteristic shape — in the form of the letter "P" — covering the case simultaneously from the sides and from above. Thus, when such a cover is removed, the case is open from three sides at once. In some cases (for example, to access the top 5.25" compartment, this feature turns out to be very useful. At the same time, U-shaped covers are rather bulky, removing and putting such a part in place is noticeably more difficult than carrying out these operations with separate removable panels; this is especially true for vertical tower cases, which is why this opening mechanism is rare these days, almost exclusively in Desktop and CubeCase products.

— Door. Another rather rare opening mechanism, in this case, typical for cases in various variations of the Tower form factor. The name quite accurately conveys the way this mechanism works: the side panel of the case is not...removed, but opens sideways like a hinged door. The main advantage of this option is that a convenient lock is often used to fix the door in the closed position, which can be opened without special tools — for example, by pressing a button. This greatly simplifies access to the contents of the case, especially when you need to fine-tune or quickly replace individual PC components. On the other hand, the open door cannot be set aside like a removable panel, and in some situations it can be inconvenient by hanging on the case. Yes, and such a design is somewhat more expensive than the same removable elements. Therefore, doors are rarely found nowadays — mainly in separate game models of cases (see "In the direction").

The presence of a power supply unit (PSU) in the scope of delivery of the case. Such equipment saves the user from the need to purchase a PSU separately and from the hassle of compatibility — a complete power supply, by definition, is optimally suited for the case. On the other hand, this PSU may not be suitable for the system that is planned to be assembled — for example, due to insufficient power or the lack of the required number of connectors. Therefore, before buying, you need to find out the detailed characteristics of the complete PSU and make sure that it is suitable for the selected configuration. If the configuration is not exactly known (for example, it is planned to buy more components gradually, or you have not yet decided on a specific set of components), it may be worth choosing a case without a power supply unit and acquiring a power supply last when the requirements for it are finally clear.

The output power of the power supply supplied with the chassis (see "Power Supply"). This power should not be lower than the total power consumption of the system that is planned to be assembled in the case — otherwise the PSU will simply “not pull out” the system.

The number of internal 3.5" form factor bays provided in the design of the case. Such bays, in accordance with the name, are intended for internal components, mainly hard drives and some SSD modules; to access them, the case must be disassembled.

Theoretically, the number of bays corresponds to the maximum number of drives that can be installed in the chassis. However, in fact, the best option is to install drives through a single slot to ensure efficient cooling. Accordingly, it is best to select a case in such a way that the number of internal 3.5" bays is twice the expected number of hard drives.

The number of slots for expansion cards located on the rear panel of the case.

The expansion card itself (graphics card, sound card, TV tuner, etc.) is installed in a slot on the motherboard, and an external panel of such a card with inputs and outputs is attached to the hole on the back of the case. The more holes are provided in the case, the more expansion cards can be installed in it. Note that some boards can occupy two or even three holes at once; this is especially common in powerful video cards. On the other hand, you have to pay attention to the number of holes mainly if you are building a powerful high-performance system. For an ordinary household PC, in most cases, one opening is enough for a graphics card; and in many configurations, the openings on the rear panel are not used at all.

The ability to install a graphics card in the case vertically, facing the side panel. To do this, the design provides for an appropriate bracket, and the graphics card is connected to the motherboard with a special extension cable — a riser. This feature is found in open cases and models with a viewing window (see relevant paragraphs), its purpose is primarily aesthetic: a vertically placed graphics card is clearly visible from the outside, which gives the case an original appearance, designed for fans of external modding. But vertical installation does not provide any fundamental practical advantages.