Should I use a case at all?

[sharpnova]

I have a few questions.

1. Is it safe to just take my motherboard/harddrives/PSU out of the case and lay them exposed on my desk? My computer is cooler when I do this and I'm trying to shed a few degrees. Will dust be dangerous?

2. I have setup my Zalman 9700 and (just like in the diagrams in the instructions), my PSU is blowing straight onto the cpu heatsink. Doesn't this heat up the heatsink? This is another reason I want to take everything out of the case so I can move the PSU far from the cpu fan.

 

[error8]

1. Taking your motherboard out will get every component there cooler then it would have been inside the case. But there is one big problem: you'll loose your grounding and you'll risk destroying your components with a static discharge when you'll power on the computer or when you touch different hardware parts. This is not a very high risk, but it's there.

2. A PSU does in fact exhaust air outside the case and it doesn't introduce it inside, so there is no hot air being blown over your cpu cooler, it's exactly the opposite. Having the PSU above your heatsink will improve your cpu temps by taking a big part of the hot air generated by the cooler, outside.

 

[CurseTheSky]

If you don't have small pets / cats / little kids / curious and clumsy people, keeping your computer outside the case shouldn't be a problem. It should collect more dust, but will also be more accessible to blow out with one of the compressed air dust cleaners.

Like error8 mentioned, the biggest risk is static. If you're going to touch something, especially if you're on a carpet or wearing anything nylon, make sure to discharge yourself on something metal first, or wear a static wrist strap. You should see lower temperatures, but keep in mind you won't have the "pick it up and go" factor that a case would offer.

 

[CallMeJoe]

High Speed PC's Tech Stations are the type of open-air design you suggest, and their price is within the range of conventional computer cases. You lose some of the ESD hazard, since the components ground to each other through the frame, but you still have all the dust problems previously mentioned, as well as RFI/EMI issues.

 

[Zepper]

Many have built a system into a shadow box and mounted it on the wall. Interesting but not very responsible. Now the owner is responsible for containing any RFI/EMI generated by his equipment as there in no real FCC certification program for computer components any more. Shadow box, open or test rack mounting provides no RFI/EMI shielding.

.bh.

 

[nevbie]

I built my PC without a case. Temperature depends on airflow, so no case doesn't necessarily mean cooler temperatures, if the air isn't forced to flow over the hot areas. But it's easier to handle/modify parts without a case.

 

[Soulkeeper]

i've been running the system next to me for 1.5yrs without a case
the only problem is dust, specially if you have a high CFM fan on something