Case with black interior, fad or technical benefits?

[Peroxyde]

Hi,

Modern cases now usually have black interior. Are there any benefits (technical, manufacturing, environmental) ?

Thanks

 

[EarthwormJim]

No.

 

[ElFenix]

i can't even see the inside of my case, it could be neon pink and purple and i wouldn't care.

 

[dmoney1980]

It makes your computer look thinner 🙂

 

[Peroxyde]

Looks like there is no benefits. May be it's cheaper for the manufacturing process to make the steel in black?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Looks like there is no benefits. May be it's cheaper for the manufacturing process to make the steel in black?

It's a very common color for enamel, and a very common variety of primer. So it IS likely to be cheaper . . .

If you're an obsessive-compulsive case-modder, you might want to look into this:

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/killercans/kc/killerchrome.htm

It's . . . expensive . . . @ closer to $40 per can, and the basecoat (either black or white) doesn't trail too far behind.

So you're advised to avoid using regular hardware-store black enamel as a basecoat: the Killer Chrome is an acrylic enamel paint, so you must use ALSA's basecoat product with it. Otherwise, you'll be lucky to get a sort of shiny pewter-colored result that falls short of the "true chrome" look . . . . And you might have just as well bought two cans of $5 gray enamel at the hardware store.

 

[SOSTrooper]

It's just for look.... and maybe black interior sells better?

Imagine if there are two versions of Corsair 600T, which has no window, are exactly the same black color on the outside, but on the inside one version is old school grey and the other version is black, which would sell better?

 

[piasabird]

I was thinking just a can of rustoleum. Maybe they make a little hobby paint sprayer and use some car paint or just take some cases to the body shop and they can use some leftover paint.

Black only looks good if you have a window. Maybe a mirror finish chrome spray. That way the lights will shine better. I was thinking putting a mirror on the bottom of the case might make it easier to see inside the case. Maybe some polished metal sheet top and bottom.

Maybe even better if it was like bumble bee yellow with a transformers paint job.

 

[piasabird]

If you could separate the metal parts from the plastic bits, you could powdercoat a case like a bicycle tubular frame.

Here is an interesting video. I dont think you can do this at home. They give the metal an electrostatic charge and then spray the powder onto the metal and the metal attracts the powder and then the metal parts are heated up in a hot drying room. The result is a hard chrome like finish.

http://rhoadescar.com/video-tour.html

 

[Meghan54]

If you could separate the metal parts from the plastic bits, you could powdercoat a case like a bicycle tubular frame.

Here is an interesting video. I dont think you can do this at home. They give the metal an electrostatic charge and then spray the powder onto the metal and the metal attracts the powder and then the metal parts are heated up in a hot drying room. The result is a hard chrome like finish.

http://rhoadescar.com/video-tour.html

Sure you can powdercoat at home....they make kits specifically designed for consumer/home use and they even package powder in small quantities, again, aimed at the consumer/home user vs. a commercial outfit.

Here's one such company that sells this sort of kit:

http://www.eastwood.com/hotcoat-powder-coating.html


Of course, the challenges for the home powdercoater are a clean environment that won't let a bunch of dirt/dust/etc. be "added" to the coating (like wind borne dust/dirt when trying to do it outside in the open vs. a dedicated spray booth) and finding an oven large and clean enough to finish the job. Your home kitchen oven is NOT an option.

 

[Fayd]

Hi,

Modern cases now usually have black interior. Are there any benefits (technical, manufacturing, environmental) ?

Thanks

umm... black enamel coated is less likely to rust than bare steel?

though if your case is rusting,you have other problems.

 

[beginner99]

Maybe better heat transfer to outside of case?

A all shiny metal interior will reflect IR-Radiation, a black one not and radiate ti off to the outside. Of course compared to the work the fans do, this is negligible and not meant 100% serious but still i believe it could be measured if you have accurate enough equipment. 😀

 

[Zap]

Black computers are 2% faster. I thought everyone knew that?

 

[EarthwormJim]

umm... black enamel coated is less likely to rust than bare steel?

though if your case is rusting,you have other problems.

He's probably wondering why cases aren't using the aluminized finish like they used to.

It's purely cosmetic.

 

[Peroxyde]

He's probably wondering why cases aren't using the aluminized finish like they used to.
It's purely cosmetic.

Exactly, the question was more of curiosity. I was hoping there is an obvious technical advantage of the black color. Otherwise if it was just for look, personally, it's doesn't matter all all to me. I hope that cosmetic detail didn't require extra chemical treatment or anything which could harm the environment.

beginner99's answer above about a greater IR absorption of black surface seems interesting. I wonder if that effects could be measurable.