Naked System Or Cased System?

[xXxJiggabobxXx]

I'm just wondering if it would be better to have my system in a case, or without a case laying naked on my desk. I don't mind doing it this way, I just want what will give me the most performance and least heat. Since when it's naked the motherboard is laying flat and CPU fan blows straight upwards, will this result in cooler temps for the CPU and GPU's?

[DanTheBanjoman]

Faraday.

[CDdude55]

Cased is better for less dust.

[Demos_sav]

Yes it will be cooler but it would look ugly

[xXxJiggabobxXx]

Not concerned about looks, I'm the only one who sees it.

Purely looking from a performance perspective.

[quickie]

not to mention there is a greater chance of accidents from spills, static etc

putting your hardware in your case would be the best choice. in a case, you can control the direction/amount of air following through it with fans. so long as your internal cooling is sufficient (i.e.:your fans blow out the hot air efficiently), then you will be ok.

when you leave your hardware out on a desk, things like the passive heatsink on your motherboard won't be cooled as efficiently since you won't have a steady flow of passing by, as you would in a case.

[Hawk1]

I say use a case. Going naked may give you a few degrees less heat (or more, depending on what case/airflow is like), but would be much more risky - ie knocking over PSU/other hardware from desk dragging everthing else with it, or having something metalic/liquid fall onto the components shorting somethig, etc. Don't know what you plan on doing with the system (benching/games etc.) but not worth the risk IMO.

[xXxJiggabobxXx]

I plan on just gaming, don't care about benches.

[Duffman]

case it.

[DRDNA]

I use DFI mobo's and they have a power switch on the mobo ...i have been running naked for 5 years now and alls I can say is easier to clean , easier to swap parts and pleanty of air flow ...but a bit breezy on my umm ... bum:roll:

[trog100]

it wont make any difference.. assuming your case it well cooled.. if not it would be better scattered all over your desk..

trog

[Morgoth]

naked is just 1 big mes.. i have used it naked on my backup pc
just looks rubish

[thoughtdisorder]

Faraday.

Agreed. Michael was way ahead of his time! (Go with a case)

[keakar]

just remember that in a case there is airflow moving across the parts as it goes through the case and this airflow takes heat away so to avoid hot spots from no air moving around you should set it up with some form of air moving across the ram motherboard and hdd, cpu cooler does its own airflow. a good tip is run a coat hanger wire through the screw holes of a case fan and it works as a stand for it so it doesnt fall over.

[CargoX]

Mount the whole mess on a board and hang it on the wall

[Silverel]

Better, using 50lb test fishing line, and hang everything from the ceiling.

Lights, fans, PS, everything.

I've though about doing that on many occasions...

[erocker]

I would use a case. But, if you are going "naked" get a torture rack.

[3991vhtes]

It all depends:

If you're on a heavily carpeted area: go with a case to have a less chance of static electricty killing ur stuff. [I'm also assuming that you don't eat/drink while at the computer when I say this]

If you're on a less carpeted area/hardwood, then you can go with a naked system.

I run most of my systems in a case, but, if I have to, I'll run them without one.

[freeboy]

I actually likethe hangingfrom the cieling line!

[ShadowFold]

I like nekked comps :p