Any harm running a box without an I/O plate?

[smp]

I have a machine in the house, a BX based machine running without an I/O plate cause I couldn't find one. Can this be harmful? System specs (if you should need them) are in my sig under 'blue'. Thanks.

 

[Insane3D]

I wouldn't imagine so, just maybe the dust will accumulate a bit faster. 🙂

 

[smp]

Isn't it there to block interference or something though??? Some sort of FCC regulation or some crap? ... man, this box is getting dusty don't worry about it!!! I'm missing 4 of the PCI slot covers too 🙂

 

[Insane3D]

Isn't it there to block interference or something though???

It's possible, but I ran one of my systems in a clear acryllic case for awhile, and it worked fine. No EMI to speak of. 🙂

 

[smp]

How do you know when you have EMI?

 

[peterl]

> How do you know when you have EMI?

Your radio sounds fuzzy.
Your television picture is snowy.
Your garage door goes up and down at random intervals.
The FCC comes by and gives you a ticket.
Your neighbor with the pacemaker clutches his / her chest and falls over.

The first two were serious. You do have EMI, it's a question of how much. I would guess that any computer that isn't set up for Tempest standards radiates EMI; the question is how much. It's not just computers; when you buy a telephone answering machine or even an electric toothbrush there is usually some little FCC sticker about having to move it or turn it off if it interferes with other equipment. Almost everything you plug in is radiating some degree of EMI. Heck, that lamp radiates at 60 hertz.

If you're really curious you could go find some sort of instrument to measure it.