A Computer Tower or PC Tower is an enclosure that holds the computer components. This post will discuss in detail the meaning of Computer Tower, PC Tower Types, what is inside Computer Tower, advantages, and disadvantages.
What is a Computer Tower or PC Tower
Computer Tower, often known as a computer case, is the container that houses most of the components of a desktop computer like the motherboard and other internal components.
Fig. 1 – Introduction to Computer Tower
It is commonly found in every household and commercial establishment. Towers are built in several forms and sizes and from various materials such as steel, plastic, and aluminum. Depending on what the computer is used for and how powerful it is, sizes range from little Mini Towers to Medium-sized Mid Towers and Full-size Towers.
Usually, Computer Tower or PC Tower is in rectangular shape, and the color depends on the color of your computer. The size of the Tower is also a significant factor. Naturally, larger the Tower is, the more components a user can fit into it. Lighting, fans, artwork, see-through walls, internal cooling systems, and other unique features can all be customized, depending on the user’s creativity.
Fig. 2 – Tower PC or Computer Tower
What is Inside Computer Tower
In a Computer, the Tower holds components like the motherboard, hard disk, power supply, and optical discs or floppy drives, among others. These components are usually located in the exact location within the Computer Tower for ease of use, depending primarily on the size and shape of the Tower. Usually, CD, DVD, and floppy disk drives are in the front of the computer, while the power supply is located at the rear to keep the wires out of the way.
Fig. 3 – Early Tower Computer
Computer Tower may also include several built-in functions that interact with the components within. The most apparent is that it must have a power button integrated someplace to switch the computer on and off, but buttons and knobs can also be used to regulate fans and other components.
It may also have USB, FireWire, and other types of ports that connect to the motherboard, as well as many LEDs and sensors that provide information to the computer user, such as internal temperature and processor speeds. On the front of certain casings, there are built-in I/O ports (such as USB and headphone jacks). A casing like this will also (usually) include the wiring required to connect various ports, switches, and indicators to the motherboard.
Types of Computer Towers
 Computer Towers are categorized based on their case sizes. They are:
- Mini Tower
- Mid Tower
- Full Tower
Mini Tower
Mini Tower is the smallest type of enclosure. This type of case is often less than 14 inches tall and is designed to conserve desk space. Although the tiny size of this type of casing makes it useful for customers with limited desk space, it limits the Mini-Tower PC’s upgrade options and subsequently reduces the cooling capacity when compared to bigger cases.
Mid Tower
The most popular full-sized desktop computer is a Mid Tower PC. This case size strikes a good mix between interior capacity, expandability, and desktop footprint. These cases are usually between 16 and 20 inches tall and up to 19 inches long. This type of case provides much superior cooling than other small tower cases since it can handle two or four fans and often supports up to seven drive bays.
Full Tower
Full Tower case is the biggest form of the case used in home computers. This type of case may have a height of up to three feet and up to fifteen internal and external drive bays. In Full Tower cases, the interior is large, allowing for better air circulation and workspace. Up to six fans are generally installed on Full-Tower PCs, including 120- or 240-millimetre models.
Fig. 4 – Types of Towers
 Is Desktop Tower Same as PC Tower
Desktops are meant to sit flat on a desk, whereas Tower PCs are built to stand upright. Desktop Tower is commonly used in home theatre PC and server computer cabinet is an example of PC Tower. The layout of desktop computers is similar to that of Tower computers. The main difference between the two models is that the drive bays are now parallel to the desk surface because they have been rotated by 90 degrees.
Desktop computer cases are usually the size of a mid-tower computer turned on its side. This type of case takes up more space on the desktop than a Tower Computer. And also, it is often strengthened so that a monitor may be placed on top of it to save space. As desktop cases have fewer fans, they usually have lower cooling efficiency than Mid or Full-Tower systems.
Advantages of Computer Tower
The advantages include:
- Computer cases may appear to have no purpose other than to look good. However, this is not the case because the case contains all the components, it protects your system. And also, eliminates the possibility of any outside electrical shock negatively impacting your system. While also keeping as much dust and debris from the room out as possible.
- Additionally, it consolidates the computer into a single, convenient location. Would you want to glance down at your floor or across your desk and see all of those electrical components and wires stretched everywhere? It wouldn’t be a pleasant sight, and I doubt many people would be happy about it.
Disadvantages of Computer Tower
The disadvantages based on it’s types are:
- Full Tower:Â A little more costly. If the case does not have effective fans, there may be regions of dead air where there is little to no air circulation, allowing heat to accumulate. Typically, they are hefty and immobile.
- Mid Tower: Customization is frequently necessary to accommodate sophisticated water-cooling systems, making them non-portable. Having a lot of options makes it more difficult to pick one.
- Mini Tower: Even with less space to deal with, installation and cable management become more challenging. There are even fewer options for cases. Smaller cases limit the physical size of the power supply, the size of the CPU cooler, and/or the length of the GPU.
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