computer with no case

F

fogzors

n00b
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
19
I just picked up some new parts to build a computer but my case was on back order and I wont have it for about a week. Is it at all possible to set it up on my desk at all? I have see pics here and there with peoples moboards on their desks.

Any thoughts and suggestions?
 
Yeah. Put the motherboard on top of the box it came in so the expansion cards can hang over on the end, and ideally get a box fan or 2 or 3 120mm case fans to keep airflow over the board and components.

Be careful with your graphics card and any other expansion cards, as they won't be supported like in a case, so make sure the power cables and DVI/VGA cables don't pull on them and make them lean in the slots. Cards can be damaged this way.

Other than that it should be fine, really.
 
One thing that surprised me when I had my pc outside of its case was how hot the hard drives got. Just sitting on the desk they were at 45C. I got a fan to just blow air over them then went down to 32C
 
And, well, obviously a PC with no case is vulnerable, so don't put it anywhere you might accidentally spill a drink or knock it over or such.

You lose the wind tunnel effect that a case gives, so cooling is likely to be worse, unless you use a particularly large fan to make sure there are no still areas. The air is free to spread out (inverse square law), whereas normally the case walls would keep the cool air in and exhausted warm air out.
 
cool thanks guys
gonna give it a whirl, even just to test all the parts to ensure they work
 
Also, make sure that your outlet is properly grounded. Many older homes/apt. buildings have poor grounding which can be bad for a system with no case. The chassis serves as a ground in addition to the mains ground, take away the chassis and couple it with poor/no mains ground and you've got a recipe for bad things.
 
If you use case fans, be VERY careful to not knock them over!
 
and watch out for the pesky cats , they love to get into stuff if you have any :D

(they sure like to watch & try to help)
 
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