The case is one of the fundamental elements when assembling a PC, since the cooling capacity of the whole and the capacity for expansion will largely depend on it, to be able to install hardware elements of different sizes. In general, all pc cases are made either in steel or in aluminum (as well as plastics), those in aluminum being more aesthetic but also more expensive. However, performance-wise, is it better for the case to be aluminum or steel?
The materials with which PC cases are made have a lot to do with how they behave; without going any further, an aluminum box is generally manufactured by extrusion, resulting in what was once known as “unibody”, meaning that instead of having many riveted or welded parts, they have few parts that have been shaped in one go. This greatly reduces vibrations and therefore improves silence, but the downside is that if a part is damaged we will have to change the entire structure of the box.
Aluminum or steel in the PC case, which is better?
We have already told you about one of the advantages of having an aluminum case, it is that since they have less riveted or welded parts, they tend to vibrate less and are quieter thanks to this. However, this also has a drawback and that is that the modularity is lost, since one of the things that we find in today’s conventional PC cases is that they allow us to “play” with their interior to change the layout of their internal components. (for example, you can put in and take out a rack of hard disks).
Precisely because they are made with fewer parts (especially on the outside), aluminum boxes are usually aesthetically prettier than steel cases, as aluminum also usually receives a beautification treatment such as brushing or sandblasting which makes it much more elegant. On the other hand, the paint treatment on aluminum allows the use of different techniques from those of steel, which is almost always matt, allowing to see shiny or metallic tones that, aesthetically speaking, are really beautiful.
On the other hand, the final advantage that aluminum has over steel when it comes to PC cases is that it acts as passive radiator, as long as the case manufacturer has decided to take advantage of this property of aluminum to easily transfer heat, although it is true that this is generally only done in the smallest case models (mini ITX and at most mATX). Finally, aluminum is much lighter than steel and therefore enclosures are generally lighter.
Now, steel boxes also have their advantages, and for starters, they are considerably more resistant and robust… aluminum is not an overly strong material, and although nothing bends due to the weight of the PC material, a simple accidental blow could end up denting the structure and, as we mentioned before, since it is in one piece, it may mean having to change the box depending on the circumstances, which would not happen with steel boxes.
On the other hand, the main advantage of steel cans over aluminum cans is that both due to the cost of materials and the cost of the manufacturing process, they are usually quite cheapera fact that is clearly reflected in the absolute dominance of steel cans on the market, since aluminum cans ultimately have a rather marginal market share.
So to sum up, aluminum cases are a great option if you are looking for aesthetics and elegance, and don’t mind spending more money, while steel cases are the best option for the General public.
