Does anyone use IO shields?

[Jredmond]

Im planning on buying an open box motherboard at microcenter but it doesnt have an IO shield included i have never understood the point of an io sheild besides keeping dust out of the case. Anyways, does anyone herre use IO shields on your builds?

[0ld_Chicken]

yeah but if I really wanted a board, it probably wouldn't be a deal breaker.  Especially if the motherboard has a shroud over the IO area like a lot of them do nowdays. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

its for emi so the fcc is happy and can't mess with other electronics or be effects by rf. But i have never had a problem using a board with no emi, so it shouldn't cause a issue.

[Daveeede]

Why use a case?

 

Everybody uses an IO shield man. Doesn't mean you need one though.

[waterjug]

i have it on, it was a pain fitting the mobo in with the io shild, but it was worth it... maybe lol. but you don't need it, you'll be fine without it.

[Mira Yurizaki]

4 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

its for emi so the fcc is happy and can't mess with other electronics or be effects by rf. But i have never had a problem using a board with no emi, so it shouldn't cause a issue.

If EMI were a problem, then glass cases or panel windows would be an issue.

[Guest]

I would use it if the person that sold me their board actually knew what it was.

[Electronics Wizardy]

2 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

If EMI were a problem, then glass cases or panel windows would be an issue.

Its not the actual problems caused by emi, its getting it past the fcc.

[Mira Yurizaki]

2 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Its not the actual problems caused by emi, its getting it past the fcc.

I don't think the FCC had anything to do with it and the IO shield is more so that motherboard manufacturers have a standard layout to adhere to and the shield is just there so you don't poke things in there should you not fill the entire space with something.

 

EDIT: It's also metal probably because it can ground to the chassis and therefore discharge any static or not cause any static problems that a plastic shield would cause.

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

I don't think the FCC had anything to do with it

you have to get fcc appoval to sell products in the US, so you need emi sheilding, thus the io sheild was put in the atx spec and hasen't been changed since.

[HelplmChoking]

I use one now, didn't for a long time on my old motherboard. It really makes no difference, it's just nicer looking.

[maybethisnamewillwork]

Think a scenario; you're drunk and try to plug 3.5mm jack and miss it and then short smd component because you didn't have I/O shield.

[Mira Yurizaki]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

you have to get fcc appoval to sell products in the US, so you need emi sheilding, thus the io sheild was put in the atx spec and hasen't been changed since.

Well again, if EMI was an issue with motherboards, then how do you explain cases made with glass or acrylic side panels? Or those all acrylic cases? None of those cases have any EMI protection. And then we have laptops made with a plastic chassis.

 

I mean, it probably helps with EMI, but I don't think it was mandated by the FCC (if it is, then the FCC should have something freely available about it). Also the ATX Spec doesn't mention the FCC at all.