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Second, make sure you’re getting a form factor that works with your case. Don’t try to put a regular ATX motherboard into a microATX case!

Third, all motherboards come with a technical manual, better known as the motherboard book (Figure 9-20). You must have this book! This book is your primary source for all of the critical information about the motherboard. If you set up CPU or RAM timings incorrectly in CMOS, for example, and you have a dead PC, where would you find the CMOS clear jumper? Where do you plug in the speaker? Even if you let someone else install the motherboard, insist on the motherboard book; you will need it.

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NOTE If you have a motherboard with no manual, you can usually find a copy of the manual in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format online at the manufacturer’s Web site. It’s a good idea to grab and print a copy to keep with the motherboard. I often tape a copy (either hard copy or burned onto a CD) of the manual in the case where I installed the motherboard. Just don’t cover any vents!

Fourth, pick your case carefully. Cases come in six basic sizes: slimline, desktop, mini-tower, mid-tower, tower, and cube. Slimline and desktop models generally sit on the desk, beneath the monitor. The various tower cases usually occupy a bit of floor space next to the desk. The mini-tower and mid-tower cases are the most popular choices. Make sure you get a case that fits your motherboard—many microATX and all FlexATX cases are too small for a regular ATX motherboard. Cube cases generally require a specific motherboard, so be prepared to buy both pieces at once. A quick test-fit before you buy saves a lot of return trips to the supplier.

Figure 9-20 Motherboard box and book

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NOTE Manufacturers have created a couple of other case form factors, most notably the all-in-one style of the Apple iMac and the super-small nettops. The all-in-one design incorporates the computer into the monitor to provide a svelte setup. The nettops cram super small components, such as you’d normally find in tiny laptops, into various interestingly shaped boxes.

I don’t mention these as comparable to the six standard case types, simply because you can’t go out and easily buy the components to create one on your own. You might have to service such computers. For tips on servicing, see Chapter 21, “Portable Computing.”

Figure 9-21 Removable face

Cases come with many options, but three more common options point to a better case. One option is a removable face (Figure 9-21)—many cheaper cases screw the face into the metal frame with wood screws. A removable face makes disassembly much easier.

Another option is a detachable motherboard mount. Clearly, the motherboard has to be attached to the case in some fashion. In better cases, this is handled by a removable tray or plate (Figure 9-22). This enables you to attach the motherboard to the case separately, saving you from sticking your arms into the case to turn screws.

Figure 9-22 Motherboard tray

The third option, front-mounted ports for USB, FireWire, and headphones, can make using a PC much easier. Better cases offer these ports, although you can also get add-on components that fit into the increasingly useless floppy drive bay to bring added front connectivity to the PC. Figure 9-23 shows a case with both types of front connectors.

Power supplies often come with the case. Watch out for “really good deal” cases because that invariably points to a cheap or missing power supply. You also need to verify that the power supply has sufficient wattage. This issue is handled in Chapter 10, “Power Supplies.”

Building a Recommendation

Family, friends, and potential clients often solicit the advice of a tech when they’re thinking about upgrading their PC. This solicitation puts you on the spot to make not just any old recommendation but one that works with the needs and budget of the potential upgrader. To do this successfully, you need to manage expectations