Is it safe to run with the case off for a week or two?

[eLiu]

Is it safe to run w/o the case on for a week or two? longer?

I mean, will dust and stuff collect and mess up the parts??

-eric

 

[Darkluck]

I've been running with my case off all week and I've noticed a little bit of dust build up. I am putting my new HSF on today, so I was going to air dust my stuff before putting the case back on. Otherwise I've kept the open side of my case "sheltered" against the wall. I'm sure if you ran your comp with the case off that dust would eventually be a problem, but when that bridge comes, I don't know. Personally I was rather leary of leaving my case off this long, but I think it was better for my cpu in the long run cuz I was getting temps around 55-60 C running a 1.2 tbird with the case on.

 

[SaiyanGoku]

I have my case off for like two weeks now. Still in the process of getting the paint job done.
So far i had no problem.

 

[WarCon]

I ran my last system with the case off for approximately 1 1/2 years, had an older enlight that you had to pull the whole case (both sides and the top were all together). So I just left it off. Made it easier to clean with air and I never had any problems. Matter of fact, the board lives on in my friends system. And the chip is still fine, just isn't needed anymore. Had a 366a running stable at 550, but with a different slotkey in a Soyo 6BA+IV he has a Celly II 700 running 1050.

 

[frizzlefry]

Nope no problems. Case off for 3 weeks now. Some dust build up but I think I'll try and dust if every 2-3 weeks or so. I haven't heard of too many instances where dust built up and f'ed up the components. I had a computer from 1993 to 1997 and didn't ever clean it out. Had a nice layer of dust on all components and never had a problem.

 

[eLiu]

lol frizzle

speaking of which...i opened up our old p1 box...jeeez...that thing is covered lol

neway, good to know i can run with the box open...that 2ft (uhh...600mm LoL) fan is all ill need

-eric

 

[mattyrug]

I lived in a house with 2 other guys, and due to a lack of cash, and work, (winters are dead in RI) i built us a caseless computer once, it sat on the corner of the kitchen table!!. after about 4 months it was caked in dust, smoke, ashes, beer, and whatever else 3 drunks could spill, or drop on to it. Never had a problem, all of those components still work!!

Oh, except for turning it on, you had to use a screwdriver, or knife to short out the power header on the Mobo!! Ouch

 

[eLiu]

LOL matty!!!

well...that settles it...i suppose my open case wont matter too much

-eric

 

[ChuWie]

.

 

[Tates]

<< I mean, will dust and stuff collect and mess up the parts?? >>



Only if you let it....

 

[bacillus]

to reduce dust settling within the case you could have a freestanding external fan blowing air into to case!

 

[bonkers325]

sure
just dust it once in awhile

 

[metallibloke]

I had the case off of mine for about 3-5 weeks, it was sheltered against part of my desk, and there is hradly any dust in there at all.

I was sorting out some old 486 machines at work the other day. I took the case off one to pull some parts to put in another machine, and you couldnt even see the motherboard for all the dust and crud. And it still worked! So dont worry too much.

 

[LordThing]

Only real problem you might have with the case off is &quot;screwing&quot; with the heat transfer of your case. The air intake and outake fans are greatly reduced in effectiveness and it goes without saying, blowholes and sometimes heat pipes are useless. I would say, as long as your not hyper-OC'ing your rig, your probably fine.

 

[Buddha Bart]

For Sale: the two side panels to a InWin A500 (or one of them inwin mid towers). Haven't put them on since I built the system.

The cover to my other case is currently upside-down on my floor with a plastic bag in it acting as my garbage can.

bart

 

[eLiu]

LoL!

I could use those two pannels...hole in the roof needs patching

jk

heat wont be a problem...i would only take the case off, so i can put this 2ft fan next to it...more CFM than well...uhh...*something*

-eric

 

[Jhhnn]

Should work OK, just be sure to put it on a non-conductive surface, don't jostle the various parts together, short-circuits are a bad, bad thing.... Bzzerrtt- Pop- Poof!

 

[CarpetMan]

My case cover has been off for almost a year and it is fine. Actually stays very clean inside. However I am not a smoker,and I keep the ceiling fan going all the time.

 

[eLiu]

put what on a non-conductive surface? the case or the fan? or both?

and...will a carpet be ok? or should i get a piece of cardboard or plywood?

 

[Jhhnn]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I got the impression you meant plugging all the components together and running without an enclosure (case) at all.
In which instance cardboard would be fine. If you meant running without a cover, then no special measures are necessary. My mistake?

 

[spanner]

I leave one side panel off but i lean it against the case( at an angle to leave it ventilated). This prevents electromagnetic interference (the reason cases are metal in the first place) and also to stop light+ heat radiation shining into the case and heating components directly (also why cases are white to reflect radiation)

 

[eLiu]

oohhhh...lol

i meant run w/o a cover...hehe i wouldnt run w/o a case...that'd be to weird...especially b/c i NEED a case- nice footrest >