Naked Powersource - bad/good?

[CoreyGH]

I recently had to take apart my powersource because the fan in it crapped out and needed replacing. I noticed that it was extremely warm inside of it (due in part, of course, to the misfunctioning fan) so I wondered, why not leave the cover off of it to improve airflow and heat dissipation? The cover consists of the top and the left and right sides of the powersource.

So here's my question. Is leaving the cover off in anyway detrimental to the powersource or computer? It would seem that it could only help in keeping the case cool.

-Corey

[Hoot]

If you are the only person who goes near your PC, it should not be an issue. If you also leave the side cover off the case, you may experience interference to nearby radio receivers and possibly TVs from the the EMF generated inside the PSU.

Hoot

[CoreyGH]

Just to clarify, i'm talking about the case of the powersupply, that little box inside the computer, not the computer case.

[phantom punisher]

having the cover on would help stop the heat from enterin the case to warm other componets. theres a lot of juice in there too that id rather not worry about tuching by accident.

[JigPu]

I don't know if the casing for the PS provides RF shielding or not. If it was ment to shield the computer against the RF that the PS makes(?), I'd leave it on. If not, rip that sucker off and be absolutly sure nothing will EVER come into contact with it.

JigPu

[outhouse]

Leave it on! not only will it heat up the inside of your case the higher case temps might raise your CPU temps [not much but 1C would be enough for me not to do it] Also there are capacitors inside the PSU that could really do a number on you if you touched them even with your PC unpluged from the wall. The PSU case acts like a shroud on the radiator on your car so if you take it off your PSU will run hotter then its supposed too.