Whats the I/O plate for?

[Sniper82]

Just to cover the mobo connectors on the back? Is that its only purpose? Just wondering because I was thinking about ordering a refurb from newegg.

 

[BZeto]

Yeah. And you should be able to order one directley from the manufacturer if the refurb doesn't come with one.

 

[Peter]

It's to cover the rectangular cutout in the case, where the connector block goes. Two purposes: EMI shielding, and airflow control.

 

[DAVIDS]

The I/O plate also serves as an electrical ground, which is why it has those metal fingers that come into contact with the motherboard.

 

[Sniper82]

If I use a mobo without one what could it do? I know my bro inlaw used his PC without one for a few years now without any problems.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
If I use a mobo without one what could it do? I know my bro inlaw used his PC without one for a few years now without any problems.

It is just open to dust. It may affect temps slightly.

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
If I use a mobo without one what could it do? I know my bro inlaw used his PC without one for a few years now without any problems.

It is just open to dust. It may affect temps slightly.

Just dust? My case fans blow in enough of that. I do clean my PC out often though.

 

[KF]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
If I use a mobo without one what could it do? I know my bro inlaw used his PC without one for a few years now without any problems.

The main thing plugging all the openings with metal does is to reduce electrical interference to such things as radio and broadcast TV (and portable phones.) You can hear noise on the radio and see junk in the TV picture. Computers kick out a lot of radio frequency electrical noise. Since metal conducts electricty, electromagnetic wave are either reflected or disappated, and so are blocked from going through. The smaller the holes, the higher the frequency the waves have to be before much can get through.

I doubt if the electical interference will be worse than those cases with the plastic sides. Even with the case completely open on mine, the radio is not too bad about ten feet away from the computer. TV is worse.