Side Panels - Good or Bad?

[Macman]

I made changes to my PSU and GPU.

Because I was in and out of the unit constantly making adjustments it got to the point I just left the side panel off.

Just been thinking... is this a bad idea? or does it not really affect the performance of the PC?

[dturtill]

it will effect airflow and allow more dust in but i have done it before (on old dell that managed the telephone system had the psu fan fail so had the side off and a desk fan infront of it as a temp fix for 3 weeks whilst i got back to site and replaced it

[Macman]

it will effect airflow and allow more dust in but i have done it before (on old dell that managed the telephone system had the psu fan fail so had the side off and a desk fan infront of it as a temp fix for 3 weeks whilst i got back to site and replaced it

Think I'll have it sorted soon. Still got one or two issues to sort out.

Thanks for your input.

[Domestic_Ginger]

Could be interesting if you have a cat or little people

[Ttaskmaster]

Just been thinking... is this a bad idea? or does it not really affect the performance of the PC?

I've left my panels off lately, purely because I'm waiting for payday, so I can go get some molex crimps and re-wire my cables. I'm lazy like that.

I'm now watercooled, so that side of things is just fine and dandy. However, the general case cooling is still by airflow and that is notably reduced. Half the front intake airflow is blasting out the big holes in the sides instead of being directed by the panels, for example.

So yeah, you will suffer performance loss, more so if you're cooling with air.
I also find it gets much more dusty than with the panels on, so that ain't helping either!!

[Macman]

Could be interesting if you have a cat or little people

Thankfully I don't.

I've left my panels off lately, purely because I'm waiting for payday, so I can go get some molex crimps and re-wire my cables. I'm lazy like that.

I'm now watercooled, so that side of things is just fine and dandy. However, the general case cooling is still by airflow and that is notably reduced. Half the front intake airflow is blasting out the big holes in the sides instead of being directed by the panels, for example.

So yeah, you will suffer performance loss, more so if you're cooling with air.
I also find it gets much more dusty than with the panels on, so that ain't helping either!!

Think I'll get the side panel on soon then. Got a fan issue I need to sort.