Question Is it bad to keep the case open?

[anandtechreader]

I am almost done building the computer but I am waiting for some components to arrive. Should take another week. Is it a bad idea to have the panels of the case removed?

I am concerned that dust may enter the motherboard pcie slots and when I put in the RTX 2080 card, there may be trouble. Just read a post abut card/motherboard causing fire...

 

[LTC8K6]

One of my cases has been open for a very long time. Never had a problem.

They make covers for the slots if you're worried.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PCI-Express-x16-slot-Anti-Dust-Cover-Plug-Cap-2pcs-/252408975540

 

[UsandThem]

As long as you don't get dust inside the motherboard's flux capacitors, you will be fine.

Seriously, there are people who run their PCs on a piece of cardboard (or wood) for years, and they're all still alive and kicking. And you did hear about the mining craze before it popped during the last 15 months or so, right?

A very typical mining operation looked like these 24/7:

 

[LTC8K6]

Some of that blue painter's tape would probably work well.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Only if you have young kids or animals in the house. I have run a PC without a case for years with no problems. No matter how good your filters are dust seems to get in PC cases anyway.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I have a tendency to take my case sides off, and put them somewhere, and then forget to put them back on again. I guess the argument goes, why put them back on constantly, if you're going to just be taking them off again in a week to add/remove/swap another component. Kind of like just leaving the toilet seat up...

 

[queequeg99]

I've had the side panel of my main rig off for years while my wife's PC has been all encased. When I recently replaced my GPU and moved my old one to her PC, it was pretty clear what a difference the two methods create. The inside of my machine was a total mess. We have two dogs and four cats and I think I could have knit a sweater from what I blew out of my PC. Hers was relatively clean (just a very light coating of dust on the components). That said, neither machine has suffered any problems as far as I can tell. Nevertheless, I now put the side panel on my PC.

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

Running things open for a week won’t be bad.

-AG

 

[nOOky]

Unless you have kids or animals as stated above, no issue. I had a cat that tried to trim it's claws on my CPU fan one time when I left the case side panel off. Both the cat and I learned the hard way that it wasn't a good idea.

 

[nOOky]

Unless you have kids or animals as stated above, no issue. I had a cat that tried to trim it's claws on my CPU fan one time when I left the case side panel off. Both the cat and I learned the hard way that it wasn't a good idea.

 

[pjmssn]

I will echo the previous comments, you will have no issue keeping the case open for a while.

 

[jitendrad]

No it will not cause any issue with your components but I suggest you to close it as it will hardly take 10-20mins

 

[jhansman]

On hot days, when I know I'm going to work the components fairly hard, I'll pull the side panel off my case. Temps stay within safe limits and the one case fan I have installed doesn't have to work overtime. No problemo.

 

[Markfw]

never put the side cover on any of my 14 boxes. Of course they are at 24/7 100% load

 

[jhansman]

never put the side cover on any of my 14 boxes. Of course they are at 24/7 100% load

OK, I gotta ask. 14 boxes? Why so many, and how have I managed all these years with only one?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Why so many, and how have I managed all these years with only one?

Why not. And as for yourself, denying yourself the pleasure of "many boxen", well, you'll have to answer to why you denied that lifestyle yourself, I'm afraid.

Edit: In other news, as long as you can afford them, why not have two wives, then they can cook and clean for you at the same time!. Just a suggestion.

 

[Markfw]

OK, I gotta ask. 14 boxes? Why so many, and how have I managed all these years with only one?

This first few were for lan parties for my son. Then I got into Distributed computing, and then trying to cure cancer, which I have had, and lost to.

 

[jhansman]

This first few were for lan parties for my son. Then I got into Distributed computing, and then trying to cure cancer, which I have had, and lost to.

Well, keep on keepin' on.

 

[DrMrLordX]

My old case cooling strategy revolved around one fan: a Honeywell stator-vane fan, pointed into the side of the case (with the side removed). I cut the exhaust grate off the back of the case and let the HSF (an NH-d14) exhaust directly out the resulting hole. Worked nicely. It was very dusty though. On a budget, it was easily the best airflow I ever had. No messing with case fans and no worrying about airflow over the VRMs or RAM. Now I have a Thor v2 with a 230mm side fan, two front intakes, and two rear exhaust fans, and everything but the VRMs and chipset is watercooled on top of that. Overall, it's more elegant, and keeping the side of the case on lowers my VRM and chipset temps considerably. But props to the Honeywell anyway.