View Full Version : Is it okay to run a Open Case?
I have been working on my computer for the last couple
of days and have left the cover off. Is this okay? Do
I have to be worried about killing my internal components?
William
07-22-01, 01:38 PM
nope, i have my case open right now.
[Oc]acaridans
07-22-01, 01:41 PM
I cant remember the last time I shut my case. :)
stompah
07-22-01, 01:50 PM
Its ok just clean it all the time.
That's perfectly fine, just make sure it stays really cool...sometimes with overclocking leaving a case open is WORSE then closing it b/c the fans are not directly blowing air where they should be, depending on where the fans are...correct if I am wrong people?
TranceBear
07-22-01, 02:06 PM
I did a good mod to my case. I installed a wall vent that is 7x10 inches in the side of my case that people normaly use for A/C ducts at home. I put some generic filter matieral so no yucky stuff gets inside and it lets all the air I will ever need to enter my case. It looks pretty good too, but I am more about fuctionality than anything else. I wish I has a pic to show you guys of this but it is a good mod.
TranceBear
07-22-01, 02:10 PM
Ok, I found a picture but the one I installed does not have the open/close lever that the pic one has. they are cheap, like $3.00USD
JaY_III
07-22-01, 02:19 PM
is it ok to run a what?
what is this open case you talk of... i dont understand what this case thing is.....
I thought you were supposed to use only a metal frame for your computer.....
just make sure you keep the goodies dust free
KeyboardCowboy
07-22-01, 02:30 PM
dude, right now i have 9 comps in my basement, and oddly enough i have a pile of 9 case covers in the corner, weird, eh?
KeyboardCowboy
07-22-01, 02:33 PM
just give your internal components a little bit of a vacum a few times a week to keep the dust down
Ridenow
07-22-01, 04:17 PM
Do not stick your fingers in the fans and you will be like the rest of us. I think the cover for one of mine is still out in the garage. One of the others is being used as a nightstand.
Ridenow
07-22-01, 04:21 PM
brianm (Jul 22, 2001 01:54 p.m.):
That's perfectly fine, just make sure it stays really cool...sometimes with overclocking leaving a case open is WORSE then closing it b/c the fans are not directly blowing air where they should be, depending on where the fans are...correct if I am wrong people?
Yes and no. It depends on your setup. The usual test to see if you have enough fans is to take the cover of and see what happens to your temps. If they drop you could use more fans. If they go up, you have an awesome ducting/cooling thing going.
Cool, Thanks for the replies! I know what you mean, after
two days my case has become my new bookshelf.
Rottys-R-Us
07-22-01, 08:39 PM
On my systems I also have a small desk fan b;owing in to ,ove rhe HOT air around, away from the HSF.
It does help !!
When I shut the desk fan off I watch my temps go up. I use CompuNurse to watch temps.
Quick fact, it is against FCC rules to run a computer with the case off.
Man I hope they do not find us they could make millions in fines. jj
dude (Jul 22, 2001 08:44 p.m.):
Quick fact, it is against FCC rules to run a computer with the case off.
Man I hope they do not find us they could make millions in fines. jj
LMAO !!
*quickly mounts side panel...who ME?? With an open what??**
That would be my luck...sober five years, and I still get busted with an "open container".... LOL
Mr B
Our buddy had a point here...it is against FCC rules. After all, if you have a pet roaming around or you have one hell of a foot spasm and your foot (or your pet) goes flying into your case and get's zapped by your power supply you probably feel well or you might not feel anything at all b/c you will be dead. Just a scenario...lmao!
A good vacuum? Hum...not sure about that one unless you are really interested in the effects of ESD! You know, a little bit of static running through all your important (excuse me, vital) boards and IC?!? Maybe a better idea would be to take some Kleenex and mist it with some anti-static spray (the stuff for carpets) and wipe it off would probably work better. After all, I've never killed my computer that way, but I have sticking a vacuum in it...
Phobos (Jul 22, 2001 02:33 p.m.):
just give your internal components a little bit of a vacuum a few times a week to keep the dust down
brianm (Jul 22, 2001 09:50 p.m.):
A good vacuum? Hum...not sure about that one unless you are really interested in the effects of ESD! You know, a little bit of static running through all your important (excuse me, vital) boards and IC?!? Maybe a better idea would be to take some Kleenex and mist it with some anti-static spray (the stuff for carpets) and wipe it off would probably work better. After all, I've never killed my computer that way, but I have sticking a vacuum in it...
Phobos (Jul 22, 2001 02:33 p.m.):
just give your internal components a little bit of a vacuum a few times a week to keep the dust down
Actually I just leave a grounded wire touching my case and sometimes leave my psu pluged in.. that discrages most, if not all of the static.. good enough for me anyways, never lost a puter yet.
-Trek
Good, making sure you got your head on!! lol!
Treker (Jul 22, 2001 10:08 p.m.):
brianm (Jul 22, 2001 09:50 p.m.):
A good vacuum? Hum...not sure about that one unless you are really interested in the effects of ESD! You know, a little bit of static running through all your important (excuse me, vital) boards and IC?!? Maybe a better idea would be to take some Kleenex and mist it with some anti-static spray (the stuff for carpets) and wipe it off would probably work better. After all, I've never killed my computer that way, but I have sticking a vacuum in it...
Phobos (Jul 22, 2001 02:33 p.m.):
just give your internal components a little bit of a vacuum a few times a week to keep the dust down
Actually I just leave a grounded wire touching my case and sometimes leave my psu pluged in.. that discrages most, if not all of the static.. good enough for me anyways, never lost a puter yet.
-Trek
dozier768
07-23-01, 12:42 AM
brianm (Jul 22, 2001 09:45 p.m.):
Our buddy had a point here...it is against FCC rules. After all, if you have a pet roaming around or you have one hell of a foot spasm and your foot (or your pet) goes flying into your case and get's zapped by your power supply you probably feel well or you might not feel anything at all b/c you will be dead. Just a scenario...lmao!
the power supply is fully encased and the output side isnt over 12 volts wich wont pass though the resistane of your skin, and if i had a nickle for everytime i've been knocked on my can wiring 240 id be rich, no ones gonna die by sticking their foot in thier case and if you somehow manage to fry your pet well "Thats BBQ" ;D
William
07-23-01, 03:32 AM
i have the panel right next to me if the feds ever show up!
SickBoy
07-23-01, 12:24 PM
"Open container".... LMAO.... you're sharp, Mr. B.
Since I've modded my case and gotten airflow good, and my temps are about the same on or off, I leave it on. But I used to leave it off all the time. I would say if you have small children, either put the case on or lock the room the box is in, for sure.
SickBoy
If it was really good for the PC, we'd be buying cases with an "open" design.
But necessity is the father of invention, and for most of us, we have to (especially during the summer or when engaged in some extreme tweaking) run our PCs with the cover off.
I like the open container comment too... almost got arrested for that once :).
Rottys-R-Us
07-23-01, 02:25 PM
I know one thing. In the winter I will NOT have to heat this room,hehe. Enought heat comming from these 2 systems to keep it warm :-D
Of course that's So Cal winters :-)
Sickboy, thanks for pointing that out about children. My
boy is almost at that walking stage. I have a small opening
under my desk, so I slid that badboy in. Still have the case
open! By the way, Mr.B, that was great!!!
Nah, it just makes it dirtier. Watch out that children or pets arent able to easily get into it though. A friend of mine runs his case off all the time and I personally think it looks ghetto.
ive been running with my cover off for a very long time and no problems yet ;D
say.. don`t some people actuly put plexiglass .....so you can see whats inside ??
outhouse
07-23-01, 07:14 PM
Its OK for a short term fix if needed or if you dont like Ducts, If i take my cover off my temps go up but like a post said earlier ducts are a nice free way to keep your temps down Oh and keep your cover on, your PC looks a little more proffesional with the cover on, well i guess unless you have it close to a wall or cabinet.
Sir-Epix
07-23-01, 08:57 PM
Paiynn (Jul 23, 2001 06:54 p.m.):
Nah, it just makes it dirtier. Watch out that children or pets arent able to easily get into it though. A friend of mine runs his case off all the time and I personally think it looks ghetto.
If you think that is ghetto you should see my celeron. Hehehe. Not only is the case off but my PSU is stinking up out of the case. You see long ago my PSU fan died and I didn't know it cuz I turned the alarm off...duh stupid me. So it heated up nicely...enough to burn my hand quite badly...and then died. So I had my dad buy me a new one and he bought to big of one...not that I am complaining. So there it is stinking out of the case on top.
Every now and again our cordless phone does kinda funky things with the reception. I've never thought about trying to see if they're related.... It's one of those that automatically switches the frequency it operates at. Can't help but wonder if the case cover off on occasion has any thing to do with it.
Mr B
Sir-Epix, that's one of the reasons I have my case
off, because of my new p/s sticking above the frame.
Mr.B you have me thinking, because my cordless is
about 3 feet away from my pc.
joey_rjm5
07-23-01, 09:54 PM
I have never had the cover of this case on and i have had it for about half a year. It has an awesome mod I like to call the room fan. :) I don't see why people are complaining about the delta. I live in the basement with no air conditioning so I also have another fan to keep me cool. This has to be alot more noise than any delta
Autolectrician
07-23-01, 09:58 PM
I couldn't put mine back on if i wanted to! screws are stripped! Hmmmmmmmm I can't imagine why? old lady is pissed! She got her toe in the cpu fan and got a cut I think i will install some chicken wire to prevent that from happening again. I may never have sex again!! Only had this thing 5 weeks! And i bought it for her. yaaaa right!!! MORE IS NEVER ENOUGH.
Lol, you should see my case..
both sides are off, the top is off, and the front panel is off too!!
..its been this way for a while..and with the sides and top off I can tuck it under one arm (full tower)..with the sides on, I don't know how I'd carry it!
Smizack
07-24-01, 12:15 PM
Now that you mention it, I don't know where my side pannels are...
I haven't seen them in a while.
Moved thread to "Cooling" topic.
Mr B
Now I have both of my sides off. It seems to lower my temps a
little more. Plus, my new m/b is to big for my case, so I have my cd/rom laying on top(for now) with my 2nd. p/s. I don't see a lot
of dust build up. I try to clean atleast once a week.
fuzzba11
09-16-01, 01:47 AM
Actually...there is a reason for having sides on your case besides dust and pets...apparently computers give off so much Electromagnetic Interference it can screw up other devices - such as cordless phones, I imagine. That's just what I've heard from my friend's girlfriend's father('s moneky's cousin's uncle...i know), and he knows how to put together a system, at least, and he's been at it for awhile. I don't think it's a risk to your components, or anything, though, so I wouldn't worry :p
-=UR=- Ranger
09-16-01, 02:01 AM
I have been running my case open for quite a long time and I know some people who do the same and none of us has ever had problems with that. But after I finished my Casemods, I can finally close the case again, it stays a little cooler now when itīs closed, and it is also less noisy.
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