Comparison AZZA Tiara black vs AZZA Neptune black

The main attraction in the design of these cases are the cutouts in the wall for motherboards with reverse connectors. In such “motherboards,” the ports for connecting storage devices, power supplies, and other components have been moved from their usual places to the rear panel. Cases with a reverse connection to the motherboard help keep the wires inside the system unit out of sight and organize cable management wisely, increasing the visual appeal of system units with a transparent side wall.

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 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 internal 2.5" bays provided in the case design.

Such bays are mainly used for installing internal hard drives and SSD modules; The 2.5" form factor was originally created as "laptop" form factor, but recently it has been increasingly used in components for full-size PCs. At the same time, when evaluating the number of these bays, note that drives are recommended to be installed through a slot; so in Ideally, the number of bays should be twice the planned number of drives.

Also note that some cases use combined bays: initially they have a size of 3.5", but if desired, they can be converted to 2.5". These bays count towards both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch slots. In fact, this means that the total number of available slots is not always equal to the sum of the number of both. For example, a case with 10 3.5" bays and 6 2.5" bays can have 4 combined bays, and the total number of slots in this case will not be 16, but only 12.

The more fans are included in the design, all else being equal — the more intense the cooling will be and the more powerful (and, consequently, "hotter") components can be placed in the case without the risk of overheating. For everyday tasks, a case with one, two, three, or four factory fans is quite sufficient. At the same time, when comparing, it is worth considering not only the number but also the operating characteristics of the fans (diameter, speed). It should also be noted that cases are available for purchase without fans but with open slots for fans, allowing you to supplement the cooling system and improve its performance if necessary.

The number of fan slots on the underside of the case, as well as the size of the fans that these slots are designed for. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be specified separately.

The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: a large diameter allows you to work efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces the noise level and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters, and the seats under them can be designed for both one and several sizes — for example, 120 / 140 mm. At the same time, in some models, the available number of seats also depends on the selected size: for example, it may be possible to install either one 180 mm fan or two 140 mm fans.

The total number of places for installing fans provided in the chassis design.

The more performant the system, the more components it includes — the more powerful cooling it will need; therefore, the number of places for fans, usually, is directly related to the size and purpose of the case. It is also worth considering that with the same number, the installation location of individual fans may be different — behind, on the side, on top, etc.

A hub in a computer case for connecting fan and backlight control systems. Depending on the implementation, the complete hub can be installed inside the case or placed on its outer panel. Often, a remote control with an infrared transmitter is attached to the hub to control the "turntables" and decorative lighting of the "insides" of the case.

The size of the mounting space for the liquid cooling system provided on the side of the case.

In cases that support liquid cooling systems, water cooling radiators are installed in the same slots as traditional fans. In other words, the same mounting space can be used to install either a fan (or fans) or a liquid cooling radiator. The size of the liquid cooling system mounting space is indicated by a single number — the length (by the larger side); the width can be determined based on this data. This is because modern liquid cooling radiators typically use fans of one of the standard sizes — 120 mm or 140 mm; and if there are several such fans, they are arranged in a row. As a result, the length of the radiator is a multiple, and the width is equal to one of these figures: for example, 280 mm is 2x140 mm with a width of 140 mm, and 360 mm is 3x120 mm with a width of 120 mm. Generally, a front radiator size of 240 mm or less is considered relatively small, 280 mm is medium, 360 mm is large, and in some models, it reaches 420 mm and even 480 mm.

Note that the same nuances apply here as for air cooling: a larger fan occupies more space and costs more, but is considered more advanced because it can operate efficiently at a lower speed — which reduces noise and vibrations.