arcrylic case hotter than aluminum?

Jincuteguy

Senior member
Apr 25, 2003
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Arcrylic case is hotter than aluminum case right? But arcrylic case can't shock you but aluminum can right? thx.
also, is arcrylic case hotter than steal case? thx.
 

mrgoblin

Golden Member
Jul 28, 2003
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If theres static electricity on your aluminum case, and you get shocked, worry more about your computer parts than your finger.
 

dexvx

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2000
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Aluminum cases being cooler than a similarily vented steel case is a myth.
 

robcy

Senior member
Jun 8, 2003
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Its all about airflow. If you have none, then yes the aluminum will radiate heat faster than arcrylic, not that it would make a noticable diffrence. If you are ever in a situation in which the amount of heat radiating from a case will make the difference on weather you machine will fry then you have bigger problems to worry about. If you have the correct amount of airflow then either material will serve you fine. I have an totally see-thru acrylic case, and my temps did not move 1 degree plus or minus, and everything else is the same. Of coarse my fans make enought noise to wake the dead, and between them I have almost 200cfm intake and 200cfm exhauste. But it impresses the hell out of women, and the computer illiterate, and when playing a game with the surround cranked, you do not notice.
 

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
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Originally posted by: robcy
Its all about airflow. If you have none, then yes the aluminum will radiate heat faster than arcrylic, not that it would make a noticable diffrence. If you are ever in a situation in which the amount of heat radiating from a case will make the difference on weather you machine will fry then you have bigger problems to worry about. If you have the correct amount of airflow then either material will serve you fine. I have an totally see-thru acrylic case, and my temps did not move 1 degree plus or minus, and everything else is the same. Of coarse my fans make enought noise to wake the dead, and between them I have almost 200cfm intake and 200cfm exhauste. But it impresses the hell out of women, and the computer illiterate, and when playing a game with the surround cranked, you do not notice.

Loud fans are for Hardforum members and n00bs.
 

Jincuteguy

Senior member
Apr 25, 2003
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So can you get shock from arcrylic case? cause I know u can with aluminum case cause I have one.
 

Davegod

Platinum Member
Nov 26, 2001
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theyre all essentially the same - it 95%* depends on the airflow characteristics, not case materials. a point to note though is often aluminium cases are more expensive to make anyway, and so tend to use only better designs because they target upmarket customers, whereas steel cases have a full range. Hence, proportionately far more aluminium cases have good cooling compared to steel ones. Nothing to do with the materials. Acrylic cases tend to focus overly on aesthetics imo.

Most obvious thing to look for when needing good cooling is the number and size of the fan placements (like so much in lie, more + bigger generally = better). Other than that you have to look at the internal deisign and try to figure out if the air will flow well when it is in operation.




*source: made up on the spot.
 

Davegod

Platinum Member
Nov 26, 2001
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If you're getting shocks from your case, you have a problem, and its not based around having an aluminum case. I'd firstly check all wires to see if there is any bare wire touching the case, and then start checking components - motherboard risers (brass screw type thingys that raise the case off the motherboard) not properly in place perhaps?

You shouldnt even be getting static shocks from your case, iirc the PSU should earth it anyway.

Aluminium conducts electricity and acrylic doesnt, but you can still get static shocks off plastic.
 

robcy

Senior member
Jun 8, 2003
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Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Originally posted by: robcy
Its all about airflow. If you have none, then yes the aluminum will radiate heat faster than arcrylic, not that it would make a noticable diffrence. If you are ever in a situation in which the amount of heat radiating from a case will make the difference on weather you machine will fry then you have bigger problems to worry about. If you have the correct amount of airflow then either material will serve you fine. I have an totally see-thru acrylic case, and my temps did not move 1 degree plus or minus, and everything else is the same. Of coarse my fans make enought noise to wake the dead, and between them I have almost 200cfm intake and 200cfm exhauste. But it impresses the hell out of women, and the computer illiterate, and when playing a game with the surround cranked, you do not notice.

Loud fans are for Hardforum members and n00bs.


Yes that must be true if you say so. The tread is about case materials, you mug. Dont like loud fans or there users, deal with it. Now if you have something to add concerning the original question.... remember cases.
 

CTho9305

Elite Member
Jul 26, 2000
9,214
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Originally posted by: Jincuteguy
you d idnt answer my question about whether acrylic case can shock vs aluminum case.

If you are getting a shock, there are 2 possibilities:
1. big problem with your case or power supply. It is possible for you to get electrocuted. The case should be grounded via the power outlet.
2. you walked across carpet, so you are charged up, and then you touch the grounded case and get zapped (just like touching a door knob)

If it is the second situation, you're safe, it's just annoying. I would not expect acrylic cases to shock you that way.

If it is the first situation, you're running a risk of electrocution. You have bigger problems than your case.


To answer your question:
Aluminum is a great conductor, so large current can flow. Acrylic isn't, so the current will be more limited, so you either won't get shocked at all, or it will be a smaller shock. Think about touching a door knob (ZAP) versus the door itself (no zap experienced, but you still get discharged, and then won't get a zap when you subsequently touch the knob).
 

Jincuteguy

Senior member
Apr 25, 2003
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so if I have an acrylic case, then I won't get shock from touching it eventhere's something wrong inside right?
 

bjc112

Lifer
Dec 23, 2000
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Originally posted by: mrgoblin
If theres static electricity on your aluminum case, and you get shocked, worry more about your computer parts than your finger.

hehe...

Definitely, but if you ground yourself, chances are you won't eve get shocked...

 

CTho9305

Elite Member
Jul 26, 2000
9,214
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Originally posted by: Jincuteguy
so if I have an acrylic case, then I won't get shock from touching it eventhere's something wrong inside right?

If there's something wrong inside, and enough current does start to flow, it would probably catch fire :)
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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ii'd guess the plastic retains heat a little better, but yea, tit comes down to airflow. course maintenence of see through plastic is a pain. even dust filters let in small particles, and filters cut airflow.

my guess is most plastic cases are more for show though, or water cooling. to get quite cooling you'd probably have to cut more fan holes.
 

Amorphus

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
5,561
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cases radiating heat is negligible. don't bother letting that impact your buying decision.
 

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
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Originally posted by: bjc112
Originally posted by: mrgoblin
If theres static electricity on your aluminum case, and you get shocked, worry more about your computer parts than your finger.

hehe...

Definitely, but if you ground yourself, chances are you won't eve get shocked...

If the case is grounded, and you are charged with static electricity, touching it will cause you to be shocked, so there's no problem.
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
yeap aluminum cases DO NOT radiate heat..
one hot summer day.. i forgot to plug in my exhaust fan.. i only had the two front intakes on my lian li PC-65..
guess what my temps were.....

MY SYSTEM TEMP WAS 50°C!!
the top of my case was literally too hot to touch :Q
fry eggs on the top of my case :)
all about airflow..
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
I'd hate to think about the static being built up as air flows through an acrylic case. :eek:
Give me metal any day.