Editing Computer case (section)

{{short description|Enclosure that contains most of the computer hardware}}
[[File:Gabinete99.jpg|alt=ATX desktop case|thumb|An opened ATX case, front towards right. Components pictured include a [[microATX]] motherboard (top), a [[CPU]] (beneath the [[Cooler Master]] fan), a [[GPU]] (middle), and an [[SSD]] (right). The power supply is housed in the compartment at bottom.]]

A '''computer case''', also known as a '''computer chassis''', is the [[housing (engineering)|enclosure]] that contains most of the [[computer hardware|hardware]] of a [[personal computer]]. The components housed inside the case (such as the [[CPU]], [[motherboard]], [[computer memory|memory]], [[mass storage]] devices, [[power supply unit (computer)|power supply unit]] and various [[expansion card]]s) are referred as the ''internal'' hardware, while hardware outside the case (typically [[electrical cable|cable]]-linked or [[plug-and-play]] devices such as the [[computer monitor|display]], [[computer speaker|speaker]]s, [[computer keyboard|keyboard]], [[computer mouse|mouse]] and [[USB flash drive]]s) are known as ''[[peripheral]]s''.

Conventional computer cases are fully enclosed, with small holes (mostly in the back panel) that allow [[heating, ventilation, and air conditioning|ventilation]] and cutout openings that provide access to [[electrical connector#Plug and socket connectors|plugs/sockets]] (back) and [[removable media]] [[drive bay]]s (front). The [[structural frame]] ([[chassis]]) of a case is usually constructed from rigid [[metal]]s such as [[steel]] (often [[SECC (metal)|SECC]] — steel, electrogalvanized, cold-rolled, coil) and [[aluminium alloy]], with [[hardpoint]]s and [[through hole]]s for mounting internal hardware, [[computer fan|case fan]]s/[[liquid cooling for computers|cooler]]s and for organizing [[cable management]]. The external case panels, at least one of which are removable, cover the chassis from the front, sides and top to shield the internal components from physical intrusion and [[dust]] collection, and are typically made from painted metallic and/or [[plastic]] material, while other materials such as [[mesh]], [[tempered glass]], [[poly(methyl methacrylate)|acrylic]], [[wood]] and even [[Lego bricks]] have appeared in many modern commercial or [[case modding|home-built cases]]. In recent years, ''open frame'' or ''open air'' cases that are only partly enclosed (with freer ventilation and thus theoretically better [[computer cooling|cooling]]) have become available in the premium [[gaming PC]] market.