How do I adjust the tabs on an I/O shield?

[janas19]

Hey guys, I have a nice Gigabyte motherboard that I am installing on a special build, but the I/O shield that came with it is a cheap piece of junk. It has these thin, very thin tabs protruding out from the sides of the port-holes. Am I supposed to bend these in, or leave them alone? I have tried it both ways, and neither feels satisfactory. Should I cut them off?

 

[pm]

I think the purpose of those tabs is to short the motherboard metal connections to the case in order to ground them for noise purposes. So the the IO shield tabs are supposed to bend in, but still touch the metal of the connectors on the motherboard. For me, I bend them in to make them look good, but leave them alone otherwise.

 

[janas19]

I think the purpose of those tabs is to short the motherboard metal connections to the case in order to ground them for noise purposes. So the the IO shield tabs are supposed to bend in, but still touch the metal of the connectors on the motherboard. For me, I bend them in to make them look good, but leave them alone otherwise.

Ah ok. I didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[SMOGZINN]

I think the purpose of those tabs is to short the motherboard metal connections to the case in order to ground them for noise purposes. So the the IO shield tabs are supposed to bend in, but still touch the metal of the connectors on the motherboard. For me, I bend them in to make them look good, but leave them alone otherwise.

This is exactly right. By noise he means signal noise, not sound.

They should be bent enough to be pushed away from the sockets when the MB is installed, it should feel springy and hold the IO plate in place with the spring tension.

 

[janas19]

Hey guys, thanks for the answers. Turns out it was easier for me to flatten the tabs and leave them facing the front. It doesn't look as slick, but it will still reduce signal noise?

Thanks.

 

[MichaelD]

If the I/O plate is not making physical contact with the metal parts of the MB ports, then no, it will not help reduce noise as efficiently. Still helps to have it there regardless though.

Years ago while building a new PC the tab that covers the network port accidentally got shoved into the RJ45 socket on the MB. Wouldn't boot. Tried for hours. Opened it up, looking for something obvious but nothing.

Removed the MB to send it back. Figured I'd try it outside the case. Boots right up. WTH? I install it in the case again but this time I feel the tab catch on the port as it slid in and I looked...and...I've never done that again. I learned something that day.