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Case Necessary?

A

albeezar

n00b
Joined
Feb 28, 2008
Messages
3
I was just thinking about my new build, and one of my main problems is that it will cost a lot to ship a case to where I am.

And then I just realized.... Do I even need a case? Can I just put all the parts together and use it like that?

I mean, I know it's possible, but is this not recommended?

Anyone have any first hand expertise on this matter? Thanks!
 
Well the downsides are obvious. If you want to do it, I'd suggest you get a mobo with onboard power/reset buttons. Makes things a bit easier ;)
 
Why not just buy a case that comes with free shipping?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...=&Subcategory=7&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

But yes it is possible to just assemble the PC sans case. I did exactly what you are proposing for a month with an old PIII system:
IMG_1655Medium.jpg

IMG_1661Medium.jpg


Since there's nothing securing the video and wifi card, I was a bit worried that I might accidently snap them off whenever I adjusted my desk. There was also the issue that I had to be extra careful when I had food or drink nearby. There was also the issue that the system could've been hit by ESD since there really wasn't anything grounding the PC.

Ended up putting that PIII system back into a case and use it as a server. With a case you don't have to worry so much about an accidental spill or nudge or outright slam.
 
I actually always have a system on my workbench without a case, lol. ;) As Danny mentioned, just be careful around it. Its not that I don't have a case; I have several, actually, that are just sitting in my closet/storage, lol. I just like to have things on-hand for testing/tweaking. :D
 
Yes it works, I built a new system and put it in a cardboard box. I then decided someone might throw it out accidentally so I took it out of the box. It worked fine :)
 
The onboard power/reset buttons would definitely be useful. Until I salvaged the power-button switch from my new Lian-Li case (replaced it with a Bulgin) I was shorting the header pins with a screwdriver to turn on this pile:

5ob4ft.jpg

I had a programming class that required the use of Fedora 8. So I dug up some old parts and built a system to run Fedora 8, rather than muck around with dual-booting it on one of my preexisting systems. The class is long over---indeed, my whole undergraduate career is over---but the "Pile PC" lives on. The motherboard is sitting on a magazine for insulation, and it's at the edge of the desk shelf to let the expansion-card brackets hang over. It works fine, except that the hard drive ran much too hot. I suspended that 80x15mm fan over it, problem solved.

Been meaning to get a Silverstone Sugo SG02 for this, but haven't gotten around to it. Gotta do it fairly soon, though.... I'll be moving in two months and it'll be a lot easier to transport this system if I put it in a case.
 
Downsides would be a propensity to spill or drop things on it, more accumulation of dust (versus a case with filters, anyway), possibly worse airflow because there's no wind tunnel effect, lack of electrostatic shielding and the fact it looks kinda messy. It's possible, but I wouldn't say recommended for something that's not a test rig or such.
 
You know... they make little frames that hold motherboards and cards and psu's...


It's basically an ATX case that has no sides and is just a frame. More or less for testing hardware.
 
vles007 said:
You know... they make little frames that hold motherboards and cards and psu's...


It's basically an ATX case that has no sides and is just a frame. More or less for testing hardware.
Click to expand...

But some of those end up costing just as much as a cheap PC case.
 
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