KnifeMissile

Do aluminum cases really dissipate heat better or is that just an ugly rumour? I mean, I can see that as a marketing scheme, especially since they're so much more expensive. What are your thoughts on the subject?
Thanks...

kutulu

Well, if you want to look at it from a heat transfer point of view, aluminum is a much better conductor of heat than any plastic. The rate of heat transfer is pretty much proportional to the thermal conductivity of the material. Plastic ranges from about 0.1-0.3W/m*K and aluminum is about 200 W/m*K. Therefore the aluminum case will conduct heat about 2000 times faster than a plastic case.

The better question though is: How much heat is actually going to the structure of the case? My case has one fan brining air in, two ports in the back that can allow air to come in (no fan) and two exhaust fans (top and back). Most of the heat generated is from the power supply, processor, cards, and drives. Heat can get to the case itself by conduction through the motherboad and parts of the case, but none of that is directly touching the exterior of the case and therefore isn't very efficient. The exterior of the case can also accept heat from the surrounding air that is heated by the heat sources, but that isn't very efficient either.

If the air is well circulated, the primary way for heat to escape the case is going to be your fans. Having a system that is set up to maximize circulation within the case and an efficient intake/exhaust system of fans will make a much bigger difference than what material your case is made of.

Another thing, heat has always been an issue with computers but only recently have they started making aluminum cases for PCs. Although today's equipment might run hotter, the material the case is made from has never been an issue.

Dane Bramage

I find that my aluminium case is cooler to the touch than a steel or platic case. Yeah, it's got more fans, so that could be it.

kutulu is probably right... but aluminium cases are just cooler (as in kewl, not cool )

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Dragonlich

Generally speaking: nope. I agree with kutulu. Although in theory, aluminium cases are better at transfering heat, in practice most heat is moved out by the air circulation. When you *need* the heat transfer of your case to keep your case cool enough, you're probably running too hot anyway.

I'd say the main benefit of aluminium cases is the weight reduction. That, and the coolness factor, 'cause they're usually "design" cases.

(I have a steel Chieftec case, which is pretty damn cold to the touch, and has limited airflow for sound reasons.)

Lasereth

My Lian-Li is MUCH cooler than my old steel case. In fact, even when it's warm in my room, the case is still cold to the touch. It has to be doing something right. As far as CPU temps though, my Barton 2500+ only went down 2 or so degrees Celcius.

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Redjake

^ That was me. Oops. Anyway, my decision stands

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txgixxer

The best thing about alum cases is the weight savings

I am always tearing mine gaming machine apart and changing something.

Dane Bramage

That's what I have, and I totally love it. Very friendly case with a lot of nice features like a slide out Mobo tray; removeable HDD housing and 6 fans (counting the two in the PS). It is very easy to work on and of very high quaility construction. They are expensive, but well worth if IMO.

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Every passing hour brings the Solar System forty-three thousand miles closer to Globular Cluster M13 in Hercules — and still there are some misfits who insist that there is no such thing as progress.
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zynyxx

Unless you have moded your system to use the surface area of your case to disipate heat somehow, PC's weren't built to do this so it wouldn't matter what the case is made out of. Normally it has to do with airflow, or if you are using water cooling, water flow. I'm not saying it couldn't be done, I've just never seen it before.

AxelF

Also most users that care for noice put isolation mats on the inside walls...

As said, if your airflow is as it should be, the diff in temp of the air inside and outside are so small that it will not transfer any heat through the case walls.

The fact that a case feels cool when touched PROVES that it does NOT transfer heat from inside. If it did to any meaningful level it would feel warm...

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aKula

Yes they do dissipate heat better but not that much better that it'll make a noticeable difference.