Clear computer cases, can they over heat? |
Question And Answer Category: Computer Hardware |
Question: |
| Dear Blankhelp, A friend of mine said clear computer cases, especially those clear acrylic computer cases, interfere with heat transfer and could cause overheating of my computer, compared to a normal metal computer case. I don't want to pimp my computer, and have expensive parts break. Should I buy a buy clear computer case, or should I stick with a meal computer case that I get graphics spray painted on? I'm looking forward to playing some serious LAN games with a hot looking, pimped computer. Thank you, "Computer Confused" |
Our Advice and Answer: |
| Dear "Computer Confused", Compared to a metal computer case, a clear computer case ( even a clear acrylic computer case ), will not transfer heat through the material as fast. Metal is a better material for transferring heat through, this case heat conduction, than plastic. So far that seems to be a fact. However, computer only use heat conduction to cool components on the inside of the case. Such as those spiky metal parts attached to video cards and the CPU, they are called heat sinks. Since the computer casing does not cool the internal parts through heat conduction, the case's material should have nothing to do with the operating temperatures. A computer case, cools its internal parts though heat convection, the transfer of heat in and out of fluids. Most of the time it's air moved buy a fan, or a liquid cooling system cooled by air. So the factors seem to be two things, air temperature in, and how much/fast air is moving through a computer case. This means you need to size your components heat generation (usually a factor of their wattage) to how much air movement through the case. So if you having help, in "pimping out your computer" make sure you have help in designing the cooling components as well as the computer hard ware. This way you can use a clear acrylic computer case, and really trick it out with lights and displays. We hope we can help, remember get experienced help, and if you get the chance send us your pimping computer, and tell use about the games you plan to play. We too like computer games. :D The Blankhelp Team |
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