Why Buy a Micro ATX Case? [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

Why Buy a Micro ATX Case? [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

Here's a look at the Science of Cambridge (Sinclair) Mk.14 Micro Computer, sold as a kit in the UK in the late 1970s, for around 40 pounds. Approximately 20000 were manufactured. It used a National Semiconductor SC/MP CPU, had only 256 BYTES of RAM (not KB, or MB), which was expandable to 640 bytes on board or 2170 bytes maximum. It had only an 8 or 9 red LED seven-segment hexidecimal display, and pre-dated the well-known Sinclair ZX-80 and ZX-81 computers. This one was owned by my dad, who worked on early computers at the British Railway Tecnical Centre (now closed) in Derby. Last time I checked there was only one available on eBay, the buyer was asking for 00 for an unassembled kit.

aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com Science of Cambridge (Sinclair) Mk.14 Micro Computer - vintage

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If you like to keep things small, streamlined, efficient, then you may have a problem finding the right ATX case. Most of us just settle for buying a big case and keeping a small computer inside of it. This is well and good if you already had a good case laying around or if you're sentimentally attached to one, but otherwise, you may want to look into getting a micro ATX case for your micro computer.

Here are a few of the benefits to housing your computer in a properly sized case...

It Takes Up Less Space

This is an obvious one, but what may not be obvious is how incredibly convenient it can be to keep a smaller tower on your desktop (or under it). If your computer is small enough, you can find cases that would allow you to keep it in a drawer in your desk. Not that you would want to, though, as it would overheat, but still, theoretically, you could store your computer anywhere so long as you can still plug it all in.

It Looks Pretty Cool

A smaller case actually does look pretty cool. Whenever a gaming company downsizes a console, everyone oohs and aahs over it even if the interior, the guts of the machine are essentially identical in terms of function. The same goes for computers. Do we NEED Macs to be so small? No, but they look really neat, and for some people, that's the whole reason they buy a Mac in the first place over a PC. If you're a PC user, you can still get in on the form AND function thing by just not wasting a bunch of space and plastic on your computer.

It's Environmentally Friendly

Well this is kind of an odd one, but still, some people like that they're wasting far less plastic on micro cases. If you're environmentally minded, this may well be a significant part of the appeal of micro cases for you. These cases use anywhere from ten to fifty percent (or more) less plastic than their full sized counterparts.

Less Ove rheating

You may think that all that extra space in your case is actually helping to keep your computer cool. Fact is, it turns the whole thing into a great big oven. The fan in your computer cools the air surrounding your hardware rather than the hardware itself, so it only stands to reason that your computer will overheat less often if you don't stick it into a pizza oven of a case.

You'll Use Less Electricity

And of course, if you're using a smaller fan to cool a smaller amount of space, it stands to reason that you'll be saving some money on electricity. Again, that fan is designed to cool the whole entire case, so, the smaller the case, the less power you'll have to use to keep that fan working.

And there you have it. If you're not convinced, well, then at least you know what the appeal of these cases happens to be: They look cool, they're more practical, and they're incredibly convenient for anyone with a smaller comput er on their desktop.

More Why Buy a Micro ATX Case? Topics

Question by rajdey1: What are micro-computers? How do they differ from mini, mainframe and super computers? Best answer for What are micro-computers? How do they differ from mini, mainframe and super computers?:

Answer by Larry J
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-computers

Answer by ♥α&ΗμτΘ&Η m!&Hrα♥
Micro computers use micro-processors. The computers that we use at home are all micro computers. Mini computers are usually larger and slower, as they use Integrated Circuit chips. Mainframe are very powerful computers usually used for server purpose. Super computers are the most powerful of all, they are implemented for specific tasks like satellite launching, missile firing, robots etc. You can find more information on computers in http://en.wikipedia.org/ Just search for anything you want.

Answer by Paul Ding
The original mainframe computers were 32-36 bit computers that serviced terminals all over a company. They typically were on raised floors, and were hidden in "glass houses" with special air conditioning and fire control systems. Minicomputers were 16-bit computers intended for departmental use, and did not require a glass house environment. Microcomputers were 4-bit and 8-bit computers intended for individual use. Supercomputers were special computers designed for massive computational tasks, one at a time. The Cray models were similar to mainframes. These days, supercomputers are often networked computers working in parallel, and may be based on PCs, as they are cheap and they run Linux, which allows for parallel processing. The lines have blurred. A high-end IBM AS-400 computer is a thought of by many as a minicomputer, for instance, yet it often is used as a mainframe. A workstation is generally minicomputer being used as an individual's computer. Web servers may be minicomputers, but often are little different than garden variety PCs. To a certain degree, programming languages define the computer. Mainframes mostly run COBOL. Minicomputers run Fortran, and RPG. Microcomputers typically run compiled programs originally written in C, C++ or Java.

[micro computers]