That said, while a little bigger is good, significantly bigger isn't necessarily better: Large cases can end up with hotspots if not properly cooled.Īll case sizes are available at different price points, so finding a case that fits your budget shouldn't be difficult. You’ll likely find that it’s easier to work with a bigger case and will have a smoother time upgrading your PC in the future. If you're not set on a specific size, it's better to err on the larger side. Once you figure out how big you want to go, look for a case that's close to that size. However, while not recommended for new builders, SFF builds can be a fun challenge once you have a build or two under your belt. You may also need to use components specifically made for small builds, and keep in mind that little room will be left for upgrading when the build is done. They require extensive organization and cable management-specifically mini-towers using mini-ITX motherboards-so your build and cooling system will need to be meticulously planned. Mini-tower cases, or small form factor (SFF) builds, are compact and designed to fit a number of smaller motherboards, such as mini-ITX motherboards.These cases are usually roomy enough for a gaming setup with a couple of graphics cards, several hard drives, and a modest cooling system. Their dimensions can vary quite a bit, but these cases usually measure around 18-20 inches tall, 17-20 inches long, and 6-8 inches wide. Generally speaking, mid-tower is the most common case size. Mid-tower cases are designed to fit standard full-size ATX motherboards.Though full-tower cases can also house Mini-ITX motherboards, there’s no clear advantage to structuring a build in that way. You'll most likely want a full-tower case if you want to use an Extended-ATX motherboard (although select mid-tower cases do fit Extended-ATX motherboards) or if you want to put in an extensive cooling system or additional storage. They usually measure around 22-24 inches tall, 18-20 inches long, and more than 8 inches wide. Full-tower cases are designed to fit both Extended-ATX motherboards and standard full-size ATX motherboards.Lastly, you’ll need scissors, and potentially a pair of wire cutters, for cutting zip ties and unpacking components. You can also use Velcro straps-some cases even have them integrated.

If you don't want to buy zip ties, you can tidy things up with twist ties (you'll likely have a surplus from your components' packaging). While these aren’t a must, tying your cables together will make the inside of your PC look neater.

(Though this isn't a very common occurrence, it’s better to be safe, and anti-static straps are cheap.) This isn’t strictly necessary, but it’s useful in helping ensure you don't accidentally damage sensitive components with electrostatic discharge. An additional light source such as a flashlight, headlamp, smartphone, or desk lamp can prove useful. Tip: A movable light source will help you illuminate the nooks and crannies of your case. You don't want to have to worry about blocking your only light source when you bend over the chassis. Build in a well-lit area with multiple light sources. Tip: For assorted screws, we recommend magnetic hardware trays, or really anything with multiple small compartments, such as an empty egg carton or tackle box. Without proper organization, these items can easily get mixed up. You'll need a way to keep assorted screws, zip ties, cables, manuals, etc. Most components come with additional parts some optional, some required for installation in your build. There will be an adaptive noise reduction feature being added at a later date. Players can set fan curves and save them to separate user profiles. Please reach out to NZXT if you spot any issues with NZXT CAM.”ĬAM 4.0 has also been optimized so it will load and launch quicker. Hearing feedback from the community is important to us. We are very excited about the end result and encourage past users to update to version 4.0.

With version 4.0, we have dedicated more time and resources to improving NZXT CAM and that will continue to be a focus. “We have not given CAM the attention that it deserves. “Our goal with CAM has always been to make a great piece of software,” says Johnny Hou, founder, and CEO of NZXT. The update will even tell you your average FPS in games you've recently played. New categories such as bandwidth and resources per-process usage to help identify what is the most taxing on your system. With version 4.0, the user interface has been completely redesigned with a focus on simplicity and organization. CAM also allows for the RGB customization of NZXT related hardware such as cases and processor coolers. The latest version has actually been built from the ground up and is currently available for download here. NZXT currently has its own software for monitoring your PC hardware during gaming.

Pc hardware in game monitoring software