Looking to get a new case..

[William23]

Just wondering what the benefits of aluminum cases are,aside from being lighter.

Do they actually keep the case cooler than steel?

Just wanting some input before I buy.Thanx

 

[amol]

I think steel is better at keeping noise levels down but temps go up

That and Aluminum is lighter

 

[zakee00]

how come temps go up?

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: zakee00
how come temps go up?

poor heat dissapation

then again, you can always get one with a TON of fans and move the air . . . but then you have a louder case and you might as well go for aluminum

i know a lot of people who buy steel cases because they say that they are much sturdier (which they are)

 

[Tiamat]

The only benefit of aluminum is its weight. Since the case has fans, the difference in thermal conductivity of the metal used for the case means almost nothing. If you are using your case to dissipate heat, your components have already been long dead. The only case that would proove my point incorrect is the Zalman TN5000 case where the components are directly connected to the case for heat dissipation (sp?).

So, here are the chief benefits/ detriments.

Steel:
Heavy, cheaper, better sound dampening, more solid feel.

Aluminum:
Light, more expensive, not as good sound dampening, vibrations cause resonation (in some cases, this is a very noisy buzz/humm), if you look at the cheaper ones wrong, they will bend easily, I like the anodized look of aluminum cases.

 

[Nessism]

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: zakee00
how come temps go up?

poor heat dissapation

This is an urban legend. The case does not dissipate heat.

Regarding the advantage of aluminum, it's lighter. Makes transportation easier if you move around a lot.

Steel is better regarding vibration transmission.

 

[Operandi]

Brushed AL is pretty to look at

 

[Jeffyboy]

Aluminum is more rigid too... lighter, looks cool. Aluminum wheels on a bike are stronger than steel... same with PC chassis... take take more punishment. Conducts heat better. Women will fall in love with you is you have an aluminum case... not the steel ones ;-) The list goes on..lol

Jeff

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Jeffyboy
Aluminum is more rigid too... lighter, looks cool. Aluminum wheels on a bike are stronger than steel... same with PC chassis... take take more punishment. Conducts heat better. Women will fall in love with you is you have an aluminum case... not the steel ones ;-) The list goes on..lol

Jeff

AL may be more ridged but steel is stronger.

 

[Nessism]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: Jeffyboy
Aluminum is more rigid too... lighter, looks cool. Aluminum wheels on a bike are stronger than steel... same with PC chassis... take take more punishment. Conducts heat better. Women will fall in love with you is you have an aluminum case... not the steel ones ;-) The list goes on..lol

Jeff

AL may be more ridged but steel is stronger.

Steel is a far more ridged material than aluminum. In fact, the modulus of elasticity is three times that of aluminum.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Nessism

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: Jeffyboy
Aluminum is more rigid too... lighter, looks cool. Aluminum wheels on a bike are stronger than steel... same with PC chassis... take take more punishment. Conducts heat better. Women will fall in love with you is you have an aluminum case... not the steel ones ;-) The list goes on..lol

Jeff

AL may be more ridged but steel is stronger.

Steel is a far more ridged material than aluminum. In fact, the modulus of elasticity is three times that of aluminum.

Maybe it depends on the steel?...

Typicaly steel bends and flexes, AL is very stiff it just breaks it doesn?t bend.

 

[sodcha0s]

WOW, aluminum doesn't bend? I never heard of that before... :roll:

Here's an easy test, sit on you're aluminum case and tell me if it bends, or just "breaks."

I've heard everything in this place now.... alumninum is in no way, shape, or form stronger, more rigid or sturdier than steel. Aluminum rims are NOT stronger than steel rims, they are lighter and look better, that's about it.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: sodcha0s
WOW, aluminum doesn't bend? I never heard of that before... :roll:

Here's an easy test, sit on you're aluminum case and tell me if it bends, or just "breaks."

I've heard everything in this place now.... alumninum is in no way, shape, or form stronger, more rigid or sturdier than steel. Aluminum rims are NOT stronger than steel rims, they are lighter and look better, that's about it.

Yup, maybe you guys were thinking of titanium. Now that is pretty rigid. Its not a pretty sight when titanium lacross sticks shatter.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: sodcha0s
WOW, aluminum doesn't bend? I never heard of that before... :roll:

Here's an easy test, sit on you're aluminum case and tell me if it bends, or just "breaks."

I've heard everything in this place now.... alumninum is in no way, shape, or form stronger, more rigid or sturdier than steel. Aluminum rims are NOT stronger than steel rims, they are lighter and look better, that's about it.

It bends but it doesn?t bend like steel... Bend AL too much and it's a broken, you can't bend it back. Steel is much more flexible.

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: Jeffyboy
Aluminum is more rigid too... Aluminum wheels on a bike are stronger than steel... same with PC chassis... take take more punishment. Conducts heat better. Women will fall in love with you is you have an aluminum case... not the steel ones ;-) The list goes on..lol

Jeff

I don't think so. Aluminum flexes much more than steel. One of the problems with early aluminum bike frames was that large-diameter tubes had to be used in order to get them reasonably rigid. And even then, the term "whippy" was coined for the early aluminum-framed bicycles because of their tendency to flex too much. Aluminum also metal-fatigues more easily than steel. Aluminum is a MUCH weaker metal.

Now titanium is a great metal, rigid and light. Unfortunately, the cost for a titanium PC case would be prohibitive.

 

[slash196]

Originally posted by: shira

Originally posted by: Jeffyboy
Aluminum is more rigid too... Aluminum wheels on a bike are stronger than steel... same with PC chassis... take take more punishment. Conducts heat better. Women will fall in love with you is you have an aluminum case... not the steel ones ;-) The list goes on..lol

Jeff

I don't think so. Aluminum flexes much more than steel. One of the problems with early aluminum bike frames was that large-diameter tubes had to be used in order to get them reasonably rigid. And even then, the term "whippy" was coined for the early aluminum-framed bicycles because of their tendency to flex too much. Aluminum also metal-fatigues more easily than steel. Aluminum is a MUCH weaker metal.

Now titanium is a great metal, rigid and light. Unfortunately, the cost for a titanium PC case would be prohibitive.

Lian Li's next venture?

 

[mrscintilla]

I have an aluminum pc-50 lian li. I must say it SUCKS. it rattles. it doesn't dissipate any heat; in fact, my case temp is high. I seldom move it; therefore, the weight advantage is no issue.
I am looking for a steel case right now... with that said, a steel case with aluminum bezel for the look is cool.

 

[William23]

ummm...ok,so aluminum actually doesn't help keep the system cool any better than steel,so a steel case would be better?. Well for sturdiness and sound dampening?

I guess aluminum cases just are lighter and look better,correct?

The reason I ask is because one of my friends says since he got an aluminum case his temps went down quite a bit.I have always had steel cases, so I don't know. I have an intel prescrap processor that idles at 44c,and I need all the cooling help I can get

I'm gonna go amd here shortly but I want to hold off till the new dual cores come out(may be a while I know).So should I get an aluminum case or would a steel case with more airflow be fine?

 

[Operandi]

Like others have said aluminum will do nothing for cooling, it comes down to looks and weight.

 

[Nessism]

Originally posted by: Operandi
Like others have said aluminum will do nothing for cooling, it comes down to looks and weight.

Agree:beer:

Temps in the case are dependant on airflow, and components of course.

The coolest running cases are those that have a large unrestrictive front bezel design along with large fans, or a lot of smaller fans. Materials have nothing to do with it.


Regarding the stiffness and of different materials, steel is twice as stiff as titanium and three times stiffer than aluminum. Don't confuse these values to assume that a steel computer case will be three times as strong as a aluminum case though. The cross section area has a huge impact on the stiffness of a particular structure.

 

[William23]

Originally posted by: Operandi
Like others have said aluminum will do nothing for cooling, it comes down to looks and weight.

Ok, cool.thanks everyone .You learn something new everyday

 

[Mucker]

Always nice to have a comparison article: http://www.systemcooling.com/alum_steel-01.html

m

 

[beatle]

Aluminum cases are usually designed better than steel, though there are exceptions. When comparing strength, a high quality aluminum case can feel more sturdy than a steel case because of the thickness of the metal. The Nikao X-Jazz case that houses my P3 is garbage with very thin steel. Its side panels flex easily and it dents without much effort. My Coolermaster is much more robust due to its thicker panels. Guess which one weighs more.