Question about case compatibility

[chengbin]

How do cases work? How can they be compatible to every motherboard out there? Don't different motherboards have different layouts to the jacks?

 

[logan the huge]

Within each form factor(ATX, BTX, ITX, ect.), cases just have a big rectangular cutout that fits the shield plate the comes with the individual same form factor motherboard.

You can see an example of a shield plate in this picture sitting just to the right of the MB box:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageGallery.aspx?CurImage=13-131-631-Z10&SpinSet=13-131-631-RS&ISList=13-131-631-Z06%2c13-131-631-Z07%2c13-131-631-Z08%2c13-131-631-Z09%2c13-131-631-Z10&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16813131631&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=ASUS%20M4A89GTD%20PRO%2fUSB3%20AM3%20AMD%20890GX%20SATA%206Gb%2fs%20USB%203.0%20AMD%20Motherboard