Benefits of an Aluminum Case

[Kevin]

Are there any cooling benefits of an Aluminum case? I really don't care about weight or anything since its not going to be moved often. However, if I can save a few degrees by going with aluminum, I will.

*I searched but couldn't find anything. If this was covered already, please provide a link...

 

[Cogman]

I cant remember, But one benifit is the a aluminum case will help disperse heat much better then a steal case. to that effect I belive that a copper case is the only one that would disperse heat better then an aluminum. Though, I would not rely on the case alone to remove heat. and, yes it would possibly save a few degrees.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: Cogman
I cant remember, But one benifit is the a aluminum case will help disperse heat much better then a steal case. to that effect I belive that a copper case is the only one that would disperse heat better then an aluminum. Though, I would not rely on the case alone to remove heat. and, yes it would possibly save a few degrees.

I have 4 fans trying to controll my heat. I have 2 80mm in the back of the case, 1 blowing and 1 sucking, a 120mm in the front of the case blowing and a fan under my video card sucking...

 

[huesmann]

I don't think you're really going to get any better heat dispersal with an Al case than you would with a regular Fe case.

 

[Tab]

It's shiny!

 

[Blooz1]

By the time an aluminum case gets heated up enough to make a difference from steel as far as cooling, the system inside would be cooked!

The main advantages are cosmetics, weight, and ease of modification (aluminum cuts like butter, no sparks!)

 

[amcdonald]

The only physical advantange is weight.

 

[JesDer]

Originally posted by: Blooz1
By the time an aluminum case gets heated up enough to make a difference from steel as far as cooling, the system inside would be cooked!

The main advantages are cosmetics, weight, and ease of modification (aluminum cuts like butter, no sparks!)

Exactly !

For some reason people seem to this that the cooling properties of the material that the case is made from make a difference in cooling. The difference is so minimal that it just really isnt a factor in how much heat is inside the case.

Basicly it comes down to weight and looks.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: JesDer

Originally posted by: Blooz1
By the time an aluminum case gets heated up enough to make a difference from steel as far as cooling, the system inside would be cooked!

The main advantages are cosmetics, weight, and ease of modification (aluminum cuts like butter, no sparks!)

Exactly !

For some reason people seem to this that the cooling properties of the material that the case is made from make a difference in cooling. The difference is so minimal that it just really isnt a factor in how much heat is inside the case.

Basicly it comes down to weight and looks.

Well, I'm almost dead-set on a Chieftex Matrix case, which style is the same for both. I believe they make an aluminum, but I'm just going to get the one they sell at Newegg.

Thanks guys...

 

[Corporate Thug]

advantage: it's light
disadvantage: you get fingerprints all over it

 

[BG4533]

Steel is much sturdier than aluminum. I have stood on my steel cases, loaded hundreds of pounds on them and beat the crap out of them and they take little to no structural damage. I have heard aluminum case warp pretty easy. With a normal set up there shouldnt be any cooling differences. However, I have thought about trying to pick up an aluminum case and using a heat pipe or something to turn it into a large HS. Directron is going to be selling a case based on that principle.

Brian

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: BG4533
Steel is much sturdier than aluminum. I have stood on my steel cases, loaded hundreds of pounds on them and beat the crap out of them and they take little to no structural damage. I have heard aluminum case warp pretty easy. With a normal set up there shouldnt be any cooling differences. However, I have thought about trying to pick up an aluminum case and using a heat pipe or something to turn it into a large HS. Directron is going to be selling a case based on that principle.

Brian

i agree, i had a cheiftec tower that i used to put my feet up on when i used to game. then i got a coolermaster, i dont dare put ANYTHING that weights more than a fan on top of it.

 

[mdcrab]

Kevin,

I have a Charcoal Black Matrix mid-tower. It is a nice case. After I got it I also purchased a side panel with window, but you can buy them now with the side window. The only thing it does not have is the front USB ports.

Another place that has a large selection of Matrix cases is Directron

They have a reseller rating of 8.10, not as good as Newegg, but I have ordered from them several times w/o any problems.

mdcrab

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: mdcrab
Kevin,

I have a Charcoal Black Matrix mid-tower. It is a nice case. After I got it I also purchased a side panel with window, but you can buy them now with the side window. The only thing it does not have is the front USB ports.

Another place that has a large selection of Matrix cases is Directron

They have a reseller rating of 8.10, not as good as Newegg, but I have ordered from them several times w/o any problems.

mdcrab

Yeah, I've ordered from them before. Between the two, both have the same price after shipping. Well, Newegg is 50cents less, but ships FedEx which is much faster than UPS. I really don't know what I want. I'm leaning towards the Brown matrix but I'm still debating...

 

[EeyoreX]

I have 4 fans trying to controll my heat. I have 2 80mm in the back of the case, 1 blowing and 1 sucking, a 120mm in the front of the case blowing and a fan under my video card sucking...

If I read this correctly, you seem to be saying that you have 2 80 mm fans on the rear of your case. You also seem to be saying that one is blowing air out, and the other is sucking air in. If that is the case thais is going to do more to disrupt your airflow and will likely increase case temperature (and noise, via turbulance). I should think you want to have these fans pulling/pushing air in the same direction (Preferably out, as an exhaust.) Unless the intake fan in back is ducted, like to your CPU I think this is likely making things worse, not better. I could be wrong though. And Aluminum just is lighter. No heat reduction benefit at all.

\Dan

 

[1sikbITCH]

Originally posted by: Kevin

I have 4 fans trying to controll my heat. I have 2 80mm in the back of the case, 1 blowing and 1 sucking, a 120mm in the front of the case blowing and a fan under my video card sucking...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the 2 fans on the back both be exhaust? Seems like you might be blowing hot air out with one fan, and sucking it right back in with the other.

Edit- I should have read the entire thread before posting

 

[prometheusxls]

Originally posted by: Kevin
Are there any cooling benefits of an Aluminum case? I really don't care about weight or anything since its not going to be moved often. However, if I can save a few degrees by going with aluminum, I will.

*I searched but couldn't find anything. If this was covered already, please provide a link...

Convection (using fans) is much more efficient in an ideal gas than conduction (and bouyant convection) and since, conduction through air, not metal(fast) is the slow step in that bouyant convection process Aluminum or Steel shouldnt make much difference. Thats a 1 minute analysis.

 

[0roo0roo]

never going back to steel here. its ugly, its heavy, its not all that much cheaper, dunno about the heatsink effect but it cant hurt.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: EeyoreX

I have 4 fans trying to controll my heat. I have 2 80mm in the back of the case, 1 blowing and 1 sucking, a 120mm in the front of the case blowing and a fan under my video card sucking...

If I read this correctly, you seem to be saying that you have 2 80 mm fans on the rear of your case. You also seem to be saying that one is blowing air out, and the other is sucking air in. If that is the case thais is going to do more to disrupt your airflow and will likely increase case temperature (and noise, via turbulance). I should think you want to have these fans pulling/pushing air in the same direction (Preferably out, as an exhaust.) Unless the intake fan in back is ducted, like to your CPU I think this is likely making things worse, not better. I could be wrong though. And Aluminum just is lighter. No heat reduction benefit at all.

\Dan

One of the rear 80mm is adjacent to my heatsink fan. I have that one blowing in so theoretically the CPU is recieving fresh air. The 80mm below that is sucking out...

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
never going back to steel here. its ugly, its heavy, its not all that much cheaper, dunno about the heatsink effect but it cant hurt.

Thats the thing, the case I want, both the steel and aluminum are identical. They even claim the weight is the same...

 

[dpm]

Originally posted by: Kevin
One of the rear 80mm is adjacent to my heatsink fan. I have that one blowing in so theoretically the CPU is recieving fresh air. The 80mm below that is sucking out...

So isn't the intake fan just sucking in the same air that the one below it has blown out? If the lower fan is blowing out warm air, then it'll rise, be sucked back in, heat up in the HSF some more, then rise to the top of your case and be blown out through a very warm PSU.

I can see why its tempting to have the fan next to your HSF blowing outside air onto it, but that sounds like it totally messes up your airflow. If you have some free time, try rearranging your fans and see what happens to your temps.

Oh, and just to reiterate what everyone else has said: an alu case doesn't get hot enough to transmit heat at all, especially if you've got good airflow. Its just lighter, and more expensive. (The weight was important to me, so worth the money). The Chieftec Dragons and Matrixs have got very good reputations for cooling - so might as well get the cheaper steel one (as you can indeed rest your feet on them, if you like lifting your feet that high - the things are HUGE)

EDIT. I really doubt that the alu and steel versions weigh nearly the same. I had the steel dragon for a while, and while it was a great case (except that it had no removable motherboard tray, no side fan, and no front USB) it weighed a ton. For an aluminium case to weigh that much the sides would have to be about a foot thick!

 

[Kevin]

They look the same, which is good enough for me.

I just checked my fan placement, and the bottom fan is blowing in and the top is blowing out. I have it blowing out becaue my power supply has a fan on the bottom that is blowing down. I'm not too concerned with the placement of the fans since I'll have a new case soon. My temperatures aren't critical, at full load on a hot day, my CPU can reach 114F. Right now, its 98F.

I just wasn't sure if aluminum and steel can be considered night and day but it doesn't seam that way. Also, I keep my computer on the top of the desk for better cooling. I notice about a 10+ degree difference between desktop and floor. Its a shame since its really loud on the desk...

 

[dpm]

Ah. That arrangement makes a lot more sense, and your temps are a-ok.

Some people say that steel cases muffle internal noise better, which may be good for you, if the noise is getting to you... I can't see it making that much difference though.