I/O Shield Tabs - are they really necessary?

[MrAce72]

I got to the complete end of a system build to realize that I did not position two of the I/O shield tabs inside the case and they got jammed in the ethernet ports. I really did not want to tear down the motherboard. I view is as doing surgery for little reason. The risks of the surgery are greater than the benefit of the procedure.

I just bent them back away from the ports.

I know they are for shielding and grounding, but is there real risk by not having them connected to the ports? Everything else is connected...

Thanks!

 

[FreakyGuy]

If they're inside the ports they can short out your motherboard. Bending them away from the ports shouldn't be a problem.

 

[mindless1]

The tabs themselves don't do much shielding or grounding, as the network port's metal shell is already a grounded, shield.

So long as they're out of the way it will be fine, but be careful reaching behind the system now - some of them have very sharp edges and it's conceivable that could cut you if they're at an odd angle.

 

[QueBert]

I've always bent/wiggled those tabs until they come out, on some shields they are much harder to get off then others. I have sliced many o'fingers in the process. I honestly never really thought of why they were there in the first place, they just annoy me so I remove them. Is this a bad practice? I've never had a MB short out or anything, haha wonder why I never tried to figure out why they're there, doh.