Do I need the IO Shield?

[xFireLegendx138]

Hey, so recently (after installing my motherboard) I found out I didn't have an IO Shield in the motherboard. Baring in mind, was bought brand new. So I scrummaged through the box and still no sign of one. Now I don't even know the purpose of one - even needed it either. I've looked online and well still hasn't showed me any suggestions of an IO Shield. My motherboard is a B450 AORUS PRO (NOT WIFI). Just wandering what the purpose of one is and if I need one. Thanks! Photo linked down below! ⚠ 

[Levent]

You do have an IO shield, its already installed.

[Milky Karcher]

Your board has an integrated io shield. The black thing around the ports is the io shield.

[xFireLegendx138]

Just now, Milky Karcher said:

Your board has an integrated io shield. The black thing around the ports is the io shield.

Oh really ahh okay I'm being stupid thanks!

[Blue4130]

For furure people searching this that don't actually have an IO shield, you don't really need them. They just make things look pretty.

[thrasher_565]

On 1/22/2022 at 4:44 PM, Blue4130 said:

For furure people searching this that don't actually have an IO shield, you don't really need them. They just make things look pretty.

still waiting for an argb io shield...

[dilpickle]

18 minutes ago, thrasher_565 said:

still waiting for an argb io shield...

I have mobos with insanely bright LEDs in the audio ports. You also have the blinking lights on the LAN ports. The one in OPs pic looks like a light on the logo. We're almost there.

[thrasher_565]

4 minutes ago, dilpickle said:

I have mobos with insanely bright LEDs in the audio ports. You also have the blinking lights on the LAN ports. The one in OPs pic looks like a light on the logo. We're almost there.

my old mb

[TheGreatestGazoo]

The old shields with those finicky fingers provided grounding against static electricity frying a port. I guess the new ones have some sort of grounding built in now.

[whm1974]

the I/O Shield protects the System from Bugs and Small Rodents.

[Skiiwee29]

On 1/22/2022 at 7:44 PM, Blue4130 said:

For furure people searching this that don't actually have an IO shield, you don't really need them. They just make things look pretty.

Yes and no.. IO shields when installed properly, are actually necessary IMO as they provide a grounding connection between your ports and the case. Thats what all those little tabs are on the inside of the IO shield are for. They're supposed to make contact with the port housing to ground them. So they do have a rather important function that is often overlooked. 

[Blue4130]

45 minutes ago, Skiiwee29 said:

Yes and no.. IO shields when installed properly, are actually necessary IMO as they provide a grounding connection between your ports and the case. Thats what all those little tabs are on the inside of the IO shield are for. They're supposed to make contact with the port housing to ground them. So they do have a rather important function that is often overlooked. 

The ports are already grounded through the motherboard groundplane much more adequately than an IO shield that touches a painted case. 

[IPD]

I'd suggest that if you don't have one, you really do need to have a positive-pressure setup for airflow.  Of course, if you don't, take pictures in 3 years without cleaning.  Inquiring schadenfreude wants to know.