Rear I/O plate - do you need one?
- Thread starter bob4432
- Start date
Yes, it stops crap (dust...) from getting through the case. You should be able to run without one for a while but I would get one (call the manufacturer of your motherboard, they will probably send you one for free or cheap).
It's not necessary. You've also got a lot of vent holes in the case for dust to get in. And heck, I haven't had the case side panels on in years.
Regardless of i/o shield being installed or not, the computer should be cleaned out maybe once a year, or every two years (more frequently if you're a smoker of course).
Regardless of i/o shield being installed or not, the computer should be cleaned out maybe once a year, or every two years (more frequently if you're a smoker of course).
Never needed one myself either. IMO just for looks, and who even sees the back of their PC? I KNOW it's not REALLY just for looks 
You think? Unless you actually ash in your case I don't see how it would be any dirtier than if you didn't smoke... a little tar might build up over many years like it does on walls and curtains but I doubt you could clean that out if you tried...
Yes, the smoke collects in mass between the cpu heatsink and fan greatly restricting air flow. The video card's fan is also highly susceptible to collecting smoke.
Apparently smoke particles are less than 1 micron (0.00004 of an inch) in size - you would need gaps a lot smaller than the ones on a heatsink to trap those... I also don't notice any difference between my computer's insides and that of computers belonging to my friends who don't smoke.
It can make a huge difference, but I think it depends a lot on where your computer is. If it's on the floor I don't think it matters too much, but if it's on a desk and has a front fan that sucks it in, it will get nasty very quickly. I once saw one where everything was covered by about a 1/4 inch of brown sticky dust. I tried cleaning it with an air compressor used to fill car tires and that even wouldn't get it all off. I ended up having to scrape it off with a knife. I wish I still had a picture.
I'm sure the amount that collects is affected by a wide range of factors, but it does happen, and is a problem if not checked periodically - and I mean like check it once a year, I'm not saying it collects so quickly that it needs cleaning on a monthly basis.
I suppose not having one could affect your airflow. I worked on once without one and found spiders and roaches in it.
It is easy enough to close it up using aluminum tape and an Xacto knife.
It is easy enough to close it up using aluminum tape and an Xacto knife.
I've seen bugs inside cases that had the i/o shield. The whole point I was getting at, that with all the vent holes on cases today, you're not stopping anything from getting inside by having the i/o shield installed. And it's always a good idea to check all computers once a year and clean if necessary.
I've ran a computer with out one temporarily. I actually think the I/O shield is required to meet ATX standards. I don't remember the exact reasoning, but something about the way it contacted with various motherboard parts effecting the electromagnetic resonance.
While dirt is a potential, they are really there for motherboard grounding to prevent EMI. In the US you can notice it very well in your home on TV channel 2 unless you have cable of course. On board ethernet is also a bad soursce which is why the I/O plate has and extra spring loaded ground tab to go to the rj45 connector.
Here is a background link
http://www.regalusa.com/how_to_solve_emission_problems.html
Here is a background link
http://www.regalusa.com/how_to_solve_emission_problems.html
Yes, I always recommend using the I/O shield - if you don't have one for your mobo, you can often find them on eBay (sometimes they are too pricey though esp. since the sellers probably got them for free).. I have "social engineered" them from the mobo makers for free in the past. Tell 'em your clumsy brother stepped on yours while you were transplanting your mobo to a new case and now it's scrap metal...
They keep the larger critters from wandering in and taking up residence - and helps keep the RFI/EMI from getting out. The big killer in the smoke is not the particles so much as the oils - glues the dust down solid - you have to take solvent to it to get it all out, not just canned air or compressed air. Besides, smokers and smokers' PCs smell like "low-grade dump fires" (many thanks to Dave Barry!). Don't want either in your house.
.bh.
They keep the larger critters from wandering in and taking up residence - and helps keep the RFI/EMI from getting out. The big killer in the smoke is not the particles so much as the oils - glues the dust down solid - you have to take solvent to it to get it all out, not just canned air or compressed air. Besides, smokers and smokers' PCs smell like "low-grade dump fires" (many thanks to Dave Barry!). Don't want either in your house.
.bh.
omg reported to da internetz polees
Seriously though, odds are if you just ask them or say yours didn't come with one they'll send you one out. It's not a very expensive part.
- Sep 6, 2003
- 11,727
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struck out - they want $10 for one shipped.....they wouldn't even talk to me about it, they just said you need to go to my online store. this is pretty weak. and this is from a major manf....
will see if i can make another work on the principle of the matter - $10 is nothing, but for .20 piece....i wonder how they would react if i actually had a problem with their product if this is how they handle issues that don't really mean much and should be taken care of. the ram community definately takes better care of issues. i know i lost it, but $10??? that is more than 1/3 the price of the whole m/b
will see if i can make another work on the principle of the matter - $10 is nothing, but for .20 piece....i wonder how they would react if i actually had a problem with their product if this is how they handle issues that don't really mean much and should be taken care of. the ram community definately takes better care of issues. i know i lost it, but $10??? that is more than 1/3 the price of the whole m/b
- Sep 6, 2003
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- 46
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ebay - gouging on shipping....i am watching a couple boards that have the sam backplate that are pretty cheap, but i hate buying comp equipment on ebay....at the very least the backplate will work
plus i have another skt 939 chip sitting here i could use for the wife a desktop....the one i have has already passed initial memtest and prime95 tests and i have swapped out the mcp fan for a zalman passive unit...i know this may sound stupid but i probably won't buy another brand X m/b due to this very stupid reason. i know i lost it, but the rep wouldn't even hear me out, just cut me off, plus their online store is down and won't accept a new order. WTF????TRENDING THREADS
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