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Case material comparison question

T

tenmiles

n00b
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
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I'm wondering what are some of the pros/cons of the different material types (wood excluded). I've heard that some types of metal will adversely affect the cooling, but I'm also wondering about how easily it can be cut/drilled and painted. I'm not sure heat is really an issue because I plan to use a water cooling system.

Thank you.
 
The metal used has no effect on cooling. The two main materials used in cases are aluminum and steel. Basically, aluminum is easier to machine and work with, and is lighter than steel. However, it's also a much weaker material. It dents more easily and is also more prone to vibration noise. Steel is much heavier than aluminum and is more difficult to cut, but it's also much stronger. I personally prefer steel cases, since most aluminum ones do not use thick enough sheet metal to provide a decent amount of strength, and aluminum cases also tend to cost more than steel ones.
 
Some claim aluminum cools better because the metal dissipates heat better than steel. This may be true for a heatsink but has little or no effect on case cooling.

I like aluminum because it's light, looks nice and is easier to work with. Lian Li makes a lot of nice aluminum cases.
 
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