Running a PC outside of a computer case

It will run just fine without a case except that most cases add additional airflow to cool the CPU and other components.

"Obviously" (???) you're trying to avoid mounting the MOBO. But I suspect that the additional work needed to place the MOBO on a clean, non-conductive surface, and hold it there safely -- along with all the other components -- will be greater than the work needed to mount it safely in the case.

You might want to reconsider.

Thanks for the replies. I only have one ATX case, which currently contains my working computer, which I want to have available until I get the new bits checked out, OS loaded, up and running, etc. I have a momentary contact switch from an older machine which should do nicely for powering up, although I've heard of people simply using a small screwdriver for this. I'd rather not run the risk of accidentally shorting to the wrong terminals, though. Agreed care is in order, probably don't want to have my pitcher of Koolaid on the same table as the spread-out bits, but I think it should be OK.

I gather then that there's no need to ground the PSU case & other bits together with clip leads?

Dan

Probably not, as the cables have the necessary ground wires.

On 3/20/2011 2:43 PM William Sommerwerck spake thus:

Hell, most work table tops, or a piece of cardboard, would do the trick.

The company I used to work for did this all the time when they built systems; lay everything out on the bench with a monitor and keyboard and power it up. Simple, so long as you use common sense and watch what you're doing.

On 3/20/2011 3:15 PM D spake thus:

No, the case isn't required as a ground. All needed grounds are already in the connection betwixt PSU and motherboard.

Of course, you won't have an FCC-compliant setup without the case, RF emission-wise, but no need to sweat that so long as you don't plan on running the "naked" setup more than a short time.

Hadn't considered the RF emissions. If that pitcher of Koolaid I mentioned starts to boil (or my garage door keeps going up and down), I'll now something's up! ;-)

Thanks again everyone for the helpful replies.

Dan

I do temporary lashups like that to test gear, need to put the mobo on a book or something non-conducting to raise the edge where NIC and display cards go. Don't need extra grounds. The power is momentary contact, low voltage, shorting out the connectors in that area shouldn't do a damage as they're either switch inputs or current limited LED outputs.

Put the hard drive where you wont bump it, probably on top of the optical drive. When in doubt, sticky tape stuff down. You want LEDs in the power and HD positions to get an idea what's happening. Speaker too, for the beeps. Pair of momentary switches or wires for power and reset... I keep an old switch + LED harness from a discarded case around for controlling a bare mobo.

Grant.

On Mar 20, 2:54=A0pm, D wrote: > I've built one computer, and will soon be building another. =A0I would > like to initially set up & test this new machine on the bench, outside > of a computer case (simply connecting the PSU, etc., w/o all the bits > being in a case). =A0Seems straightforward, but I have a couple questions. > =A0 First, am I correct that the front panel on/off switch generally used > to start the PC is simply a momentary contact switch that briefly > connects the "PW+" and "PW-" terminals on the MOBO? =A0Same with the > reset/reboot switch function, using "res+" and "RES-"? =A0Also, is it > necessary to run a ground wire between the PSU case, and one of the MOBO > pads where the screws go to attach the MOBO to the case when installed? > =A0 Since the metal case would "ground" these 2 together, I was wondering. > =A0 If this is required, should all metal cases (HDD, DVD drive, etc) be > so "grounded together"? >

I've built a few dozen PCs over the years. I would never bother running the system out of the case. Mine nearly always work fine ( one exception ) and then you'll have to unplug and mount it anyway and plug together again. You're more likely to screw it up OUT of the case so why take the chance and waste the time? BTW the case / power supply I'm using now - the wife's machine - is on its 4th motherboard. The latest change 2 weeks back took an hour - so short because the old and new boards are nearly identical and didn't require any re-installation of the software. The newer board can use the higher power/speed Phenom II processor now in it.

G=B2

I rely quite heavily on my PC on a daily basis, and don't really want to be without a functional machine. In order to load the OS & see if everything is operable, I only need to connect 1 HDD, 1 DVD drive, the vid card & monitor, keyboard, mouse & PSU. The only bit I'll need from the existing machine is the vid card, an easy R&R in either direction. No big deal, and if there is a problem, a DOA component, perhaps, it's a lot less trouble finding out this way and dealing with getting a replacement than removing the new board & completely reassembling my working unit so I have it in the meantime.

Thanks Grant, good tips ;-)

Dan

So, you have a spare PS but not a spare video card or case? All you need to verify motherboard function is keyboard and video card and power supply; if you can boot and set up BIOS functions, it's a good motherboard/RAM. All the rest can wait until you put the beast together; I'd hate to have loose HD and such all cluttering up a workbench.

If you're reusing the old case, the connection of frontpanel buttons may be the biggest part of the install (and you CAN'T have the old machine up and running for that, anyway).

D Inscribed thus:

I notice that no one in this whole thread has mentioned taking suitable precautions against causing damage from static discharge !

And in your opinion, this indicates what?

It's implicit. It's assumed anyone who wants to do this knows the routine.

That's what I thought also. You need to be aware of ESD precautions before you experiment with most modern electronics. I've been using an anti-static mat and wristband for a good 25 years. I've run my fair share of computer equipment while testing components using a motherboard set atop a non-conductive surface.

Meat Plow Inscribed thus:

Ignorance ! An awful lot of the new build failures that I see are from people who have no understanding of how easy it is to cause damage to components simply from not being aware that damage can occur during handling.

It seems that all made the assumption that the OP is aware of this. The original question suggests that the OP isn't !

Meat Plow Inscribed thus:

I would suspect that based on the OP question, that might not be a safe assumption.

I don't disagree. But then you and I have been doing this kind of work for a good many years. I'll bet that you will have had odd failures, particularly in the early years that you couldn't explain. ;-)

I am assuming grounding myself on the grounded PSU case would be sufficient, correct?

Dan