Is Steel or Aluminum better for Cases

[A5]

Al is awesome if you're in college and moving your case to home and back 2 times a year.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
As a general rule, I don't like handling aluminum (aluminium) simply because it's a heavy metal, and would handle it as carefully as I would handle lead.

lol

You are not going to absorb any aluminum by handling metallic aluminum. You'll likely be touching its oxide, anyway.

 

[Kwint Sommer]

Originally posted by: A5
Al is awesome if you're in college and moving your case to home and back 2 times a year.

Kind of, it dents easily. My side panel is to dented to perfectly close which is quite anoying.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
As a general rule, I don't like handling aluminum (aluminium) simply because it's a heavy metal...

Originally posted by: Howard
You are not going to absorb any aluminum by handling metallic aluminum. You'll likely be touching its oxide, anyway.

Good catch, Howie! I missed this first time 'round...

Um... 'Heavy metals', so called, aren't necessarily bad for you!

Pepto Bismol would be a perfect example of this -- which, of course, contains a 'heavy metal' called bismuth, hence the name.

Ppl ingest this 'heavy metal', in liquid form, all the time... and it makes them feel better!

Basically, it kills germs and bugs living in your digestive tract -- like insecticide for humans...

I'm not suggesting it's safe to eat aluminum, but handling it certainly won't hurt you!

 

[Bluefront]

Steel makes for a sturdy build, but only if done right. The weight difference between a steel case, and an identicle aluminum case is very small. Most of the weight of a computer is the internal parts, not the case itself. I like the looks of aluminum, but it is only practical if anodized, or coated with something......otherwise it marks up too easily.

Me... I like the looks of a wood case. You can make one with a few wood-working tools, and a visit to a large hardware store. IMHO.....you can't beat the looks of an oak case.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
Steel makes for a sturdy build, but only if done right. The weight difference between a steel case, and an identicle aluminum case is very small. Most of the weight of a computer is the internal parts, not the case itself. I like the looks of aluminum, but it is only practical if anodized, or coated with something......otherwise it marks up too easily.

Me... I like the looks of a wood case. You can make one with a few wood-working tools, and a visit to a large hardware store. IMHO.....you can't beat the looks of an oak case.

Depends which case you're comparing. I was surprised at how light my LianLi was when it arrived as I was all posed to pick up a "heavy case" and the box literally came flying at me, also I found it to be stronger than my CoolerMaster Centurion while working with it.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
As a general rule, I don't like handling aluminum (aluminium) simply because it's a heavy metal, and would handle it as carefully as I would handle lead. I don't eat any baked products with sodium aluminium phosphate (aluminium salt baking powder) or even use aluminium foil - use cooking parchment instead. By the way, they also put mercury in viral shots (methyl mercury) and tattoo ink.

The only metal this guy touches is his tin hat.

 

[you2]

As others have said I think it comes down to personal taste. My first few cases where steel (mostly antec) but hte last couple of have been aluminum (a kingwin 424 and lilan 7series). I have to say that while the antec cases had some nice features (drop out hd bay, sliding rails) I prefer the look and working with kingwin/li-lan cases - so my next case will either be an ultra cheap steel case << $50 or an aluminum case. I would never consider a 30 or 40 lb case again (my antec 1080 is 30+ lbs).

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
As a general rule, I don't like handling aluminum (aluminium) simply because it's a heavy metal, and would handle it as carefully as I would handle lead. I don't eat any baked products with sodium aluminium phosphate (aluminium salt baking powder) or even use aluminium foil - use cooking parchment instead. By the way, they also put mercury in viral shots (methyl mercury) and tattoo ink.

The only metal this guy touches is his tin hat.

Yeah, after reading up, Howard is right - aluminium oxidizes very rapidly, so probably not too much to worry about just from skin contact. I still wouldn't want to eat/drink anything acidic (phosphoric acid, tomatoes) from an aluminum can/pot.

If any of you would have your blood checked, you'd be amazed at what you'd find in there.

 

[aka1nas]

The weight savings on an Aluminum case might come in handy for a LAN rig that you will be lugging around a lot. I am way too old to be lugging around an Inwin Q500(Steel full tower) in one arm and a 19-inch CRT in the other.

Other than that, it really isn't a big deal either way.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
I still wouldn't want to eat/drink anything acidic (phosphoric acid, tomatoes) from an aluminum can/pot...

Yikes! Phosphoric acid?!?!?!

Now, there's something to stay away from!!! A LOT of soda pop contains phosphoric acid, especially colas! Swish Coke around your mouth -- if you pay attention, you can feel it eating the enamel off your teeth... :Q

If I remember correctly, it's one of the most corrosive acids there is. I think they make it by boiling phosphorus in sulphuric acid...

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
The weight savings on an Aluminum case might come in handy for a LAN rig that you will be lugging around a lot...

Or get a DFI Transpo...

These things rock! :thumbsup:

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: aka1nas
The weight savings on an Aluminum case might come in handy for a LAN rig that you will be lugging around a lot...

Or get a DFI Transpo...

These things rock! :thumbsup:

Yep, I've had my original Geargrip for a couple years now and couldn't imagine LANing without it.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
Yep, I've had my original Geargrip for a couple years now and couldn't imagine LANing without it.

Straps FTW!

 

[Kwint Sommer]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
I still wouldn't want to eat/drink anything acidic (phosphoric acid, tomatoes) from an aluminum can/pot...

Yikes! Phosphoric acid?!?!?!

Now, there's something to stay away from!!! A LOT of soda pop contains phosphoric acid, especially colas! Swish Coke around your mouth -- if you pay attention, you can feel it eating the enamel off your teeth... :Q

If I remember correctly, it's one of the most corrosive acids there is. I think they make it by boiling phosphorus in sulphuric acid...

"Because it is a concentrated acid, an 85% solution can be corrosive, although not toxic when diluted."

In regards to causing Osteoporosis:
"Phosphoric acid, used in many soft drinks (primarily so in cola drinks), was initially suspected. It has been claimed that an excess of phosphorus may lead to poor bone density. However medical research indicates that exactly the opposite is the case; as one might expect from the simple application of Le Châtelier's principle, it is low phosphate intake which increases the risk of osteoporosis, while high phosphate intake reduces it."
I will refer you to: Elmståhl S, Gullberg B, Janzon L, et al. Increased incidence of fractures in middle-aged and elderly men with low intakes of phosphorus and zinc. Osteoporos Int 1998;8:333?40.

Take a little Chemistry and before you tell us what to stay away from.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Kwint Sommer
Take a little Chemistry and before you tell us what to stay away from.

I was talking about staying away from 'the bad' phosphoric acid (used in Naval Jelly)... not 'the good' phosphoric acid (used in Pepsi Cola)... :laugh:

 

[Kwint Sommer]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
I was talking about staying away from 'the bad' phosphoric acid (used in Naval Jelly)... not 'the good' phosphoric acid (used in Pepsi Cola)... :laugh:

Then I offer my apologies.

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

The brains of people with Alzheimer's disease have been found to contain high concentrations of aluminium. Most sources say there's no proven link, but it has been established that aluminium is a neurotoxin. I was just wondering how these people ended up with such a high level of toxicity - probably ingestion. I know for a fact that lead and mercury can be absorbed directly through the skin, but it looks like aluminium oxide does not, nor is it toxic, so it's safe to handle.

Link

 

[kmmatney]

For cheap cases, I've found steel to be better. All Cheap Aluminum cases I've used had problems with noise and things rattling. My sons computer is a cheap Al cases, and I had to shove bits of rubber in places to keep the rattling down. High end Al cases a very nice, though.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
As a general rule, I don't like handling aluminum (aluminium) simply because it's a heavy metal, and would handle it as carefully as I would handle lead. I don't eat any baked products with sodium aluminium phosphate (aluminium salt baking powder) or even use aluminium foil - use cooking parchment instead. By the way, they also put mercury in viral shots (methyl mercury) and tattoo ink.

The only metal this guy touches is his tin hat.

Yeah, after reading up, Howard is right - aluminium oxidizes very rapidly, so probably not too much to worry about just from skin contact. I still wouldn't want to eat/drink anything acidic (phosphoric acid, tomatoes) from an aluminum can/pot.

If any of you would have your blood checked, you'd be amazed at what you'd find in there.

I still don't think you can absorb significant amounts of aluminum through the skin - and not counting dust/powder if we're talking membranes.

[l]http://www.espi-metals.com/msds's/aluminum.pdf[/l]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
I still wouldn't want to eat/drink anything acidic (phosphoric acid, tomatoes) from an aluminum can/pot...

Yikes! Phosphoric acid?!?!?!
Swish Coke around your mouth -- if you pay attention, you can feel it eating the enamel off your teeth... :Q

Come on, man, there are no nerve endings in enamel.

 

[mindless1]

Steel is better than aluminum for cooling but not for the obvious reason. The difference in thermal conduction between these two when mostly air contact, not in contact with the hotter components, is trivial, but what steel does at any given thickness is transmit less fan or HDD, optical, vibration, allowing a slightly higher RPM, higher airflow at same noise level. Is it enough to get all worked up about? No, but there's this thread in the cases & cooling forum and ....