Novice needs help with old case, please!

[weshuang]

I have foolishly decided to build my sister a computer by upgrading my computer and giving her my PII-300, motherboard. I have an old case and power supply that was given to me, along with peripherals, etc. Anyway, the problem I have is that the old case that I am trying to move my old motherboard into had the one of the old motherboards that used a serial mouse. The back of the case has no openings for my motherboard's USB ports, mouse ports, keyboard ports, etc.

So now I need to buy a new case. I'd like to buy an old used case cheap, but don't even know what to ask for, to make sure I don't end up with the same problem. What is an ATX case? What is an AT case? What is the approximate air speed of an unladen swallow?

Thanks for any help,

Wes Huang

 

[ericd]

ATX is the new standard that is currently used. It is what nearly all modern motherboards conform to. If your motherboard has equally sized keyboard and mouse ports than I can almost guarantee that it is ATX. More than likely the old case that you have is an AT case based on what you said about the keyboard and mouse. ATX motherboards have been about the only thing available for going on 3 or 4 years now.

Eric

What do you mean? An African or European swallow?

Click here for a funny story that is related

 

[weshuang]

Thanks, Eric! Sounds like I just need to buy an ATX case and I'm all set.

 

[ericd]

Sounds about right.

Eric

 

[Phunktion]

Just saw this really cheap ATX case on CompGeeks in case you are interested.. Linked here
Maybe that'll help ya..

 

[Smart]

Good price for that atx case at Compgeek's,
but if you decide now or later on an AMD
Athlon or Duron based system, you'll want a
300 watt power supply, preferably AMD-approved.
That one has a 250.

Cheers!

 

[weshuang]

Thanks, you guys are great. I'll probably go with the ATX case on the link you supplied - it's very cheap, comparable to anything used I can get on egay or here. The 250w power supply doesn't concern me, since in theory I'll soon be done upgrading for awhile. At least as far as my wife knows...

As an aside, I just learned that actual word for the euphemism, Egay, is a forbidden word. Is this humour on Anandtech's part, or is there actually a business reason?

 

[kw3i]

hahahahaha