White vs Black PC Cases (Temps and Aesthetic )

[PlayModeOn]

This may be an odd topic but we know that the colour black absorb the most heat. So in theory a white or non-black case would be much cooler?

Long time ago PC cases are typically grey or silver, then it switches to black, and now white cases are increasingly more popular (and inexpensive).

 

Some people prefer Black because it looks more stealthy. Others prefer white because it looks more "premium". Then others says white looks like a child toy. Then other says black looks dirty and common. And so on...

But what do you guys think? You prefer white or black? And tell us why.

 

I prefer Grey/Silver (but not the ugly ones from the 1990s or early 2000s) but they are hard to find these days, my favourite Grey/silver cases would be some of Corsair's recent cases and Cooler Master's Cosmos II.

I do like white but my peripherals are all black so it doesn't match very well. Subjectively white does look better than black, we have limited edition white consoles, white iPhones, white PSPs, etc.

 

I currently have a black case - Cooler Master HAF XM - which I picked because it looked like what Batman would pick (lol). But now I wished I bought a white or grey case for some reason.

 

[Chillstice]

I don't think either color absorbs more or less heat energy from ambient temperatures. I think that only applies to intense light, like from the sun.

 

Back on topic, I say both:

[Rodneyg87]

Unless the case is where it could get direct sunlight like next to a window i dont think color would effect temps

[thekeemo]

I get the feeling that a white case could slowly turn beige

[STRMfrmXMN]

Let's ask people that understand science.

@dalekphalm

@ionbasa

 

Otherwise, I prefer black cases as I don't like my cases to stand out too much but like a bit of sleekness that makes people go "that's a nice computer you've got there!"

[Chillstice]

I get the feeling that a white case could slowly turn beige

This is a possibility, but this only really happens with low quality plastics that age. Some white plastics last longer than others.

[Rodneyg87]

This is a possibility, but this only really happens with low quality plastics that age. Some white plastics last longer than others.

this also happens if you are a smoker that smokes near your pc no mater the quality of the plastics

[Chillstice]

this also happens if you are a smoker that smokes near your pc no mater the quality of the plastics

I can't believe people still smoke... I was implying that whoever this pertains to is better than that.

[Rodneyg87]

I can't believe people still smoke... I was implying that whoever this pertains to is better than that.

Massive amounts do. Hell i dip copenhagen been doing it since i was 12.

[PlayModeOn]

Here are examples of grey cases.

 

 

Ok now the Cooler Master Cosmos II is aluminium so it is not exactly grey but it still look really nice

.

 

I love silver/grey

[Rodneyg87]

I personally prefer black but im going white on my next pc since black/red themes are overdone so im going white/black

[Toddwjp]

Pick on aesthetics, the colour of a case will have almost no impact on temps,

[Ripull]

White cases can be more visibly dirty

[Purplehazeffc]

The R5 comes in Titanium.

And corsair do a cpl of silverish cases

[-ism]

Normally I don't like white cases, but the H440 really caught my eye and stood out, so I grabbed it. I've founded that I only like white builds when people match their colors really well. (Desk in black or white, keyboard white or black or white LEDs, white LED mouse, black or white mousepad, all black and white components.) Just one component that doesn't follow the scheme can throw a whole build off aesthetically in my opinion.

[dalekphalm]

This may be an odd topic but we know that the colour black absorb the most heat. So in theory a white or non-black case would be much cooler?

Long time ago PC cases are typically grey or silver, then it switches to black, and now white cases are increasingly more popular (and inexpensive).

 

Some people prefer Black because it looks more stealthy. Others prefer white because it looks more "premium". Then others says white looks like a child toy. Then other says black looks dirty and common. And so on...

But what do you guys think? You prefer white or black? And tell us why.

 

I prefer Grey/Silver (but not the ugly ones from the 1990s or early 2000s) but they are hard to find these days, my favourite Grey/silver cases would be some of Corsair's recent cases and Cooler Master's Cosmos II.

I do like white but my peripherals are all black so it doesn't match very well. Subjectively white does look better than black, we have limited edition white consoles, white iPhones, white PSPs, etc.

 

I currently have a black case - Cooler Master HAF XM - which I picked because it looked like what Batman would pick (lol). But now I wished I bought a white or grey case for some reason.

 

 

Let's ask people that understand science.

@dalekphalm

@ionbasa

 

Otherwise, I prefer black cases as I don't like my cases to stand out too much but like a bit of sleekness that makes people go "that's a nice computer you've got there!"

 

 

Just to drop a little science on ya'll. Black does in fact absorb more heat than white, though the specific materials involved will dictate how much. BUT it doesn't necessarily do it for the reasons you think.

 

Black absorbs more heat via direct sunlight (and other forms of energy, but sunlight is the most visible (lol) form of this, because the light doesn't reflect off the surface very effectively.

 

White will refract the light, causing it to bounce off and go strike other locations.

 

Now, with a case, the colour of the case will pretty much make no difference in the internal cooling efficiency. First, because any heat absorbent properties of the black, will only really do so on the outside. If you sit your case by a Window, for example, a black case will get hotter on the outside vs a white case. This CAN have an impact with the internal cooling though, since if the outside heats up, inevitably the inside will also rise in temperature (Basically turns into an oven to a minor degree).

 

So, the TL;DR is this:

If your case is gonna be within direct sunlight (eg: by a Window), then a white case would be a better choice over black. However, if the case is situated away from the Window, under a desk, or otherwise not in direct sunlight, then the colour pretty much doesn't matter.

 

Hope that helps! FYI the science is extremely simplified here to make it easier to understand.

[TukeBean]

Not to sound silly or anything, but white is far superior to black.

[Speedbird]

I prefer white, it just looks better with blue.

[-TesseracT-]

Not to sound silly or anything, but white is far superior to black.

Well it's silly saying that one color is superior to another one, since it's all personal preference.

[-TesseracT-]

Accidental double post.

[spwath]

I like my black ft05

[What's a GPU?]

Color has nothing to do with the temperatures, that applies to molecules absorbing energy from electromagnetic radiation, I.e. light. The heat in a computer case is thermal energy which is basically just molecules moving at high energies.

[What's a GPU?]

Just to drop a little science on ya'll. Black does in fact absorb more heat than white, though the specific materials involved will dictate how much. BUT it doesn't necessarily do it for the reasons you think.

 

Black absorbs more heat via direct sunlight (and other forms of energy, but sunlight is the most visible (lol) form of this, because the light doesn't reflect off the surface very effectively.

 

White will refract the light, causing it to bounce off and go strike other locations.

 

Now, with a case, the colour of the case will pretty much make no difference in the internal cooling efficiency. First, because any heat absorbent properties of the black, will only really do so on the outside. If you sit your case by a Window, for example, a black case will get hotter on the outside vs a white case. This CAN have an impact with the internal cooling though, since if the outside heats up, inevitably the inside will also rise in temperature (Basically turns into an oven to a minor degree).

 

So, the TL;DR is this:

If your case is gonna be within direct sunlight (eg: by a Window), then a white case would be a better choice over black. However, if the case is situated away from the Window, under a desk, or otherwise not in direct sunlight, then the colour pretty much doesn't matter.

 

Hope that helps! FYI the science is extremely simplified here to make it easier to understand.

You are misstating this, they do not absorb heat, they both absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light and the black usually absorbs more wavelengths. Therefor it absorbs more energy, not heat. Heat is an average of kinetic energy in the molecules of a system.

[PlayModeOn]

Thanks for the input @dalekphalm

 

Some of you mentioned that the colour scheme of the internals of your computers can throw someone off.

So is it wrong for me to get a red ASUS ROG motherboard with blue LED fans and random spare colour cable sleeves (to save cash)?

 

What is your opinion? Most people prefer ONE colour only (red or blue LED, Fans, light, build, etc). 

But in this case I think I need to compromise since I like ASUS ROG products but why the hell they all have to be red.

Red to me looks like the computer is more likely to overheat, I know this is silly but that's the effect to me.

I prefer white or black/blue hardware because they look stealth/cool.

[dalekphalm]

You are misstating this, they do not absorb heat, they both absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light and the black usually absorbs more wavelengths. Therefor it absorbs more energy, not heat. Heat is an average of kinetic energy in the molecules of a system.

Actually I did state that it absorbed energy, which is converted into heat. I also made a disclaimer that the explanation was extremely simplified, since not everyone here has a science degree, and there's literally no point in confusing them with an answer that is too technical that they won't understand.

 

I suppose I didn't mention that the Sunlight (and other energy) is converted into heat. But that was implied. I think most of us understand that sunlight will heat things up, thus converting energy into kinetic energy that is heat.

 

And yes, colour can make an impact in heat dissipation, just not internally in a PC case. Just look at a White Car vs a Black Car in the summer. The black paint does make a noticeable (albeit, not necessarily HUGE) difference.

 

@PlayModeOn I agree, some people are way too uptight and elitist about colour scheme. Not everyone cares about the internal colour scheme. Nor does everyone have the time, patience, and money to carefully build a properly colour coordinated rig. FYI Red is not more likely to overheat It will literally make no difference with the colours of the internal components.