aluminum or steel case?

[imported_Xtreme]

I found 2 cases that are basically the same, except one is aluminum and the other is steel. Which one is "better"?

 

[akira34]

If the aluminum case is from a quality maker (like Lian-Li) then get it. Especially if it's ALL aluminum (not with a plastic face or other crap like the p160). Also make sure the side panels are 1mm or greater in thickness.

 

[imported_Xtreme]

lian li is a little too expensive for me, so I was talking about the X-Navigator aluminum($155) with 500w PSU and the X-Navigator steel($95) with 450w PSU.

 

[akira34]

How about putting up links to the cases????

 

[imported_Xtreme]

X-Navigator steel= http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=11-144-085&depa=0
X-Navigator aluminum= http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-144-095&depa=1

 

[fireontheway]

If you don't mind the weight just get the steel version.

 

[imported_Xtreme]

so there is no real difference in the noise level between the two?

 

[columbiaflier]

Originally posted by: Xtreme
so there is no real difference in the noise level between the two?

Steel cases tend to be quieter since it is thicker, sturdier and better able to absorb the noise.

 

[imported_Xtreme]

awesome. thx for the help guys!

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: columbiaflier

Originally posted by: Xtreme
so there is no real difference in the noise level between the two?

Steel cases tend to be quieter since it is thicker, sturdier and better able to absorb the noise.

Actually, I fully believe that's a myth.

I've used steel cases that are louder than a QUALITY aluminum case. Cheap cases, no matter what they are made of are louder than quality cases.

 

[Nessism]

Originally posted by: akira34

Originally posted by: columbiaflier

Originally posted by: Xtreme
so there is no real difference in the noise level between the two?

Steel cases tend to be quieter since it is thicker, sturdier and better able to absorb the noise.

Actually, I fully believe that's a myth.

I've used steel cases that are louder than a QUALITY aluminum case. Cheap cases, no matter what they are made of are louder than quality cases.

Most aluminum cases, even "quality" cases like Lian Li PC-60/61/7/ect., use thin aluminum on the hard drive rack, optical drive bays, side panels ect. Thin metal tends to rattle and vibrate. Sorry to be negative, but as a general rule steel cases tend to be quieter than aluminum. Steel is a denser material and high mass is harder to excite in vibration. Simple matter of physics.

 

[Idleuser]

actually the vibration is caused by not securing your 3.5 or 5.25 devices... I have a lian li pc75 and a kingwin mid tower and it's been fine so far... with no vibration. To me it really doesn't matter what material is used, it's a matter of preference but steel is more sturdy but heavy while alumnium are light but sturdy as steel.

 

[akira34]

The Lian-Li V series is anything BUT thin... The side panels are a full 2mm thick. The rest of the case is built just as solid. I get 0 fan or drive vibration noise from the case. All I hear are the fan blades moving air and normal drive access sounds.

 

[HomerSapien]

Hard drive whine isnt that major. PSU noise is usually much louder with the cpu fan and vid card close behind it. Luckily, both are easy to fix. Use a suspension setup for the hard drive and replace fan on psu or put it on a controller.

BTW, i have a lian li pc-60. I like it, but i do agree that 120 mm fans would have been nice. With everything i have done, it is very quiet. More than likely you will tinker with it to get the noise down with either steel or aluminum. If that is the case that you really want, get the cheaper one and save the $$

 

[Mucker]

The Lian-Li boys and girls will say that they're the best, the Antec boys and girls will say they're the best, etc., etc.... Truth is, if you get a case (and possibly a PSU) with 120mm fans (1 front, 1 back) and unrestrictive grills it won't matter. You'll be pretty darn quiet if you want to be. I've used both a steel Sonata and aluminum Super Lanboy and for all practical purposes, there is zero difference in noise. 99% of the noise is going to come from the PSU fans, case fans, chipset fans, hard drives and CPU fans. Look for and put to use vibration dampening grommets on all drives, case fans, and components to minimize vibration to the case.

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[akira34]

The noise from the Antec Neo Power inside my V1100b cannot be heard at all. I do have noise from the processor fan (120mm Panaflo spinning at about 50%) and the rear case fan. The video card is virtually silent (thanks to the Arctic Cooler NV Silencer 5 on it).

During the day, when I'm not there, my CPU is running at about 30C. That's even when downloading games and such (via ABC)... Since I've been running the system with it's current fans and such, it normally idles at no more than 35C even at up to 25% load. It can spike to the 50% load and the temps won't go up more than 2-3C. Over that, the temps tend to go up a bit, but then drop back down pretty damned fast. IF I spun the fans at 100% it would be louder, but cooler.

Still, the noise is not from vibration between the fan and case but rather the air being cut by the fan blades.