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Windows Forum / Windows XP / Hardware / March 2005Cases: Aluminum vs. Steel?
I am helping a friend build a new computer and was pondering on whether to build with aluminum or steel case. I have read a lot of stuff, but stuck debating on which one to go with. Anyone have a preference and why? An aluminum case is much lighter in weight and dissipates heat very quickly. Go with a good quality aluminum case.  SignatureCarey Frisch Microsoft MVP Windows XP - Shell/User Microsoft Newsgroups Be Smart! Protect Your PC! http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | I am helping a friend build a new computer and was pondering on whether to | build with aluminum or steel case. | | I have read a lot of stuff, but stuck debating on which one to go with. | | Anyone have a preference and why? As with most products that one can purchase, usually price indicates quality. Aluminium cases can be better engineered, being as aluminium alloys are lighter than steel, the cases will generally have thicker panels than those of steel. It therefore offers better heat dissipation, better sound proofing and overally will be more rigid and the interanl 'boxes' will be truer to square. Everything will fit better! > An aluminum case is much lighter in weight and dissipates heat > very quickly. Go with a good quality aluminum case. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > | > | Anyone have a preference and why? An aluminum case is ONLY lighter. It does not dissipate heat better. This is a common misconception, but it has no grounding in reality. Matt Gibson - GSEC > As with most products that one can purchase, usually price indicates > quality. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >> | >> | Anyone have a preference and why? >I am helping a friend build a new computer and was > pondering on whether to build with aluminum or steel case. > > I have read a lot of stuff, but stuck debating on which one to go with. > > Anyone have a preference and why? Go with steel. They hold their shape better and are quieter. Ask anyone who owns an airplane or an aluminum boat or an aluminum car. Aluminum is light weight and almost transparent to noise, and the sound inside will be the sound outside. Most of the heat removal is done by forced draft by the fan, so heat loss through the case is negligible. Feel your PC's case now. Is it hot? Is it warm? Thought not. The air carries the heat it away. You have to rely on the conduction through the case only if the draft from the fan is inadequate. And how many hard drives do you plan for the case? Do you like to feel the case flex and creak when you pick it up? Aluminum does that. Go with steel. Do you plan to paint the case? Do you know how to do a good primer job on aluminum? Do you want to see your paint crack and peel when the case flexes? Go with steel. Do you like stripping threads? Aluminum threads strip in a wink. Go with steel. Aluminum cases are good only for their makers and distributors who have to pay for their storage and shipment. *TimDaniels* >> I am helping a friend build a new computer and was >> pondering on whether to build with aluminum or steel case. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > the fan, so heat loss through the case is negligible. Feel your > PC's case now. Is it hot? Is it warm? Thought not. Unless your steel case isn't designed for your motherboard. My previous steel case was fine with the previous motherboard. Replacing the motherboard caused a lot of overheating problems because the CPU and fan ended up right under the power supply effectively killing air flow in the area. You could feel the heat in the area and in the power supply. Replacing the case with a "better" aluminum case gave me a couple of inches clearance and eliminated the dead air space. The design of the case is more important than the material it is made out of. Especially with today's hotter components. The air > carries the heat it away. You have to rely on the conduction > through the case only if the draft from the fan is inadequate. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > only for their makers and distributors who have to pay for their > storage and shipment. Again, the design makes a big difference. The aluminum case I bought uses rails for all the drives making adding and removing the drives very simple. No stripped or dropped screws, or having to hunt for a way to attach the screws to the drives through the "access" holes. When I bought the drive from Newegg I didn't realize that it was made from aluminum. I was looking for certain features that it had advertised and the others were nice but not deal makers. > *TimDaniels* >Again, the design makes a big difference. The aluminum case I bought >uses rails for all the drives making adding and removing the drives very >simple. No stripped or dropped screws, or having to hunt for a way to >attach the screws to the drives through the "access" holes. This ease makes the case seem nice until it ages a year or so and then becomes old and obsolete. I have a system that uses the same type of drive mounting hardware - rails that snap on the side of the drives in the screw holes then snap into their mounting brackets - and I had to look for hours last month when I needed to order new rails to install a new drive into the case. Be careful when selecting this sort of proprietary system. I can't even use regular screws to mount the drives in this case; I HAVE to use the rails. >>Again, the design makes a big difference. The aluminum case I bought >>uses rails for all the drives making adding and removing the drives very [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > proprietary system. I can't even use regular screws to mount the > drives in this case; I HAVE to use the rails. My case (Raidmax) came with a lot of rails for the 5 1/4" drive bays and the 3 1/2" hard drive bays each come with the carrier and rails already in place for each bay. I know what you are saying about the rails, but in this case I seem to have gotten lucky (or some manufacturers are listening) and gotten all the rails I could ever use with the box. >>>Again, the design makes a big difference. The aluminum case I bought >>>uses rails for all the drives making adding and removing the drives very [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >in this case I seem to have gotten lucky (or some manufacturers are >listening) and gotten all the rails I could ever use with the box. I thought that too. Fast forward 18 months, and those extra fails all dissapeared when I needed them. They were nowhere to be found. Small pieces like them quickly disappear. >>>>Again, the design makes a big difference. The aluminum case I bought >>>>uses rails for all the drives making adding and removing the drives very [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Small pieces like them quickly disappear. That may happen with the plastic rails for the 5 1/4" drives but the 3 1/2" holders for the harddrives stay in the case so unless I take them out they won't get lost. Thats where my ChenMing is nice....at the bottom of the case it has clips to hold those rails. That way you will always know where they are....providing you leave the ones you dont need there. peter >>>>Again, the design makes a big difference. The aluminum case I bought >>>>uses rails for all the drives making adding and removing the drives very [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Small pieces like them quickly disappear. About 6 months ago I was in that same position.......steel or aluminum?? I finally decided on an aluminum case....a Chenming 601AE,I also own and use a CoolerMaster Centurian Steel case. I found the strenght of the Alum case to be equal if not better than the steel,It is lighter in weight but it is reinforced at the seams.It took a lot less time to build into the Chenming than it did to build into the centurian.The Chenming with 5 Panaflo fans is cooler and quieter than the Centurian with only 3 fans.The Chenming case has Removable drive bays and a unique system for the installation of the front drives..CD/DVD.The Alum case comes completely apart with ease the steel case is harder to take apart.In the future I am looking to buy another alum to rebuild the system out of the steel case. just my opinion peterk >I am helping a friend build a new computer and was pondering on whether to > build with aluminum or steel case. > > I have read a lot of stuff, but stuck debating on which one to go with. > > Anyone have a preference and why? I prefer the steel for extra strength. Have a look at the one I use. Its the Antec SLK3700AMB and it's beautiful. It has the large fan for cooling the case and removable cages for hard drives and floppy drives. Have a look and the price is right. $89 Canadian http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=93700 >I am helping a friend build a new computer and was pondering on whether to > build with aluminum or steel case. > > I have read a lot of stuff, but stuck debating on which one to go with. > > Anyone have a preference and why? > I am helping a friend build a new computer and was pondering on > whether to build with aluminum or steel case. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Anyone have a preference and why? I just built a 64 bit system using the Lian Li full tower aluminum case, very pleased with it. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-112-508&depa=0 SignatureDon Burnette "When you decide something is impossible to do, try to stay out of the way of the man that's doing it." As you can see from those who have built systems using aluminium cases: they are generally lighter and stronger. And of course they are twice the cost. If you spend the extra money, you'll find that:- 1. They do absorb more noise and assit the harddrives and other internally mounted devices t dissipate the heat better. 2. When did you last see a heat sink made of steel? Why do most motor vehicles use alumium alloy [better ones go for magnesium] for their wheels? Basically, it's lighter and stronger than steel. Given that one finds aluminium products are thicker than their steel equivalents: further assisting the strength. When you actually get around to bulding the PC you'll find that aluminium cases do not have those nasty sharp edges that can cut your knuckles as in steel cases. Should one go on. > > I am helping a friend build a new computer and was pondering on > > whether to build with aluminum or steel case. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-112-508&depa=0 Actually, Aluminum cases don't dissipate heat any better. Check the web for real reviews and you'll see I'm right. Aluminum cases are just (usually) built better with more fans and better airflow. Matt Gibson - GSEC > As you can see from those who have built systems using aluminium cases: > they [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >> >> http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-112-508&depa=0 |
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