Why You Shouldn't Run Your PC with the Side Panel Off
Air flow
If the fans on a computer are running properly you should leave the side panel on. It doesn't matter to a computer what the room temperature is. The computer is designed to run efficiently with the side panel on. You will disrupt the properly air flow which keeps the computer cool. Unless there is a flaw in the design the computer should be able to cool itself sufficiently. If your worried about keeping it cool you can add another fan. PC fans are not expensive and will help with keeping the computer cool and the proper air flow.
Dust
If you leave the side panel off you are exposing your PC to all kinds of dirt and dust. Dust chokes the life out of your moving parts like your processors cooling fan. Dust can also clog your power supply. You have to blow out your computer from time to time but leaving your side panel off means you would have to clean it almost three times as often. Computer will attract dust like magnets and before you know it you have to clean it again.
Possible damage
If you should happen to move your feet and kick your computer with the side panel on no problem. But what if you removed it? You could damage a component or dent it which would shorten the life of your components or PC. Plus you could drop something and it falls inside or you could spill liquid into it. If an accident could happen than it could happen to somebody no matter how many precautions they take. Don't put yourself into the position of damaging your computer by leaving the side panel off.
Overheating
The reason you took the side panel off was to keep it from overheating. By taking the side panel off and running your PC you risk it overheating. For the reasons you took the side panel off you could have it happen anyway cause you interrupted the correct air flow. Not a good idea at all.
Risk injury or electrocution
The wires inside for the most part are insulated but not all of them. The add-on boards and motherboard are definitely not insulated. You could injure yourself by running your computer with the side panel off. If you think not than read this story of Chinese man who electrocuted himself.
Published by Timothy Scheiman
I am 59 years old and I have been buiding and fixing computers for many years. Last year I started writing at AC. I found it fun and profitable. It also gave me a chance to share what I know. View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentThe article is true to an extent, the fans will be designed for the optimum airflow, for example with an intake fan to take in cold air and an exhaust to move hot air away from the graphics card + processor, but this is only needed because the case itself stops the hot air from being able to dissipate on its own. If the side is off the heat can move away freely, whilst the graphics card and cpu fans function the same since they are directly aimed at each piece of hardware. Risk of injury and electrocution however is ridiculous, and dust will get in your case with or without the side off. For me I prefer having the side off since I change stuff around so often anyway, and there are no adverse effects to cooling. Anyway, old article but if anyone is reading, I say go ahead and leave the side off.
The article is true to an extent, the fans will be designed for the optimum airflow, for example with an intake fan to take in cold air and an exhaust to move hot air away from the graphics card + processor, but this is only needed because the case itself stops the hot air from being able to dissipate on its own. If the side is off the heat can move away freely, whilst the graphics card and cpu fans function the same since they are directly aimed at each piece of hardware. Risk of injury and electrocution however is ridiculous, and dust will get in your case with or without the side off. For me I prefer having the side off since I change stuff around so often anyway, and there are no adverse effects to cooling. Anyway, old article but if anyone is reading, I say go ahead and leave the side off.
I was wondering what type of computer/ computer user you are referring to. I run a computer for both C.A.D. softwares like solid works and i game on the side. I have my system extremely overclocked and by leaving the side panel off i can sometimes drop my temps by 6-7° F.
I often run my computer with the sidepanel off on hot days and my temps drop. On very hot days%2C I have a floor fan blowing air on the components and the temps drop to very cool levels.%0D%0A
I had always heard to leave it off. You provided some good reasons not too :-)
Very informative. I would have never thought that leaving the side panel off could cause overheating. Unique topic! :)