A computer tower, also known as a computer case, is the cabinet that contains many components of a personal or office computer. Towers can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and can be made from a wide variety of materials, including steel, plastic, and aluminum. Sizes range from small mini-towers to mid-towers and even full-size towers, depending on how the computer is used and how powerful it is.
A computer tower is usually built around the motherboard that it houses.
There are several computer components that can be commonly found in the tower of a home or office computer: the motherboard, the hard drive, the power supply, and any optical or floppy drives, as well as other parts. The location of these components on the computer case generally depends on the size or shape of the case itself, but they are also typically found in the same locations on most computers for convenience. For example, CD, DVD, or floppy drives can usually be found in the front for easy access, while the power supply is usually located in the back to keep cables out of the way.
Some computer models, called all-in-ones, don’t have a computer tower, but instead have components integrated with the monitor.
A computer tower can also contain many built-in functions that work with the internal components. The most obvious of these is that it must have a power switch built in somewhere to turn the computer on and off, but there may also be knobs and buttons used to control fans and other components. It may also contain USB, FireWire®, and other types of ports that connect to the motherboard, as well as a variety of lights and sensors to inform the computer user of information such as internal temperature and processor speed.
The tower houses all the necessary hardware components in a computer, such as the CPU, motherboard, RAM, hard drives, and more.
A tower is typically designed specifically around the type or form factor of the motherboard it houses. The main types of form factors are called ATX and microATX, the latter of which is much more compact. In some home computer models known as all-in-one computers, the tower and components are built into the monitor, making it even more compact than a typical desktop computer.
Most computer towers are rectangular in shape.
The typical shape of the computer tower is rectangular, and the more generic versions usually come in beige or black. However, this has become less common as more options are available for a more unique look and customers can now purchase a computer in many different colors, shapes and sizes. Obviously, the larger a tower, the more components the user can insert. In a practice known as case modification, some people even customize their machine to make it completely unique. A tower that has been modified in this way can have any number of lights, fans, artwork, transparent walls, internal cooling systems, or other unique attributes that are only limited by the owner’s imagination.
A computer tower usually contains a hard drive.
A computer tower must have a power button located somewhere to turn on the computer.
