Using a Cardboard Box!

Does anyone think its .... bad.... to use a cardboard box instead of a case? If so - speak up now! ^^ I really don't wanna buy a case - so im honestly thinking of using a cardboard box !!

Like that

as long as the system has proper cooling (airflow) and components that get really hot are situated so they don't ignite the cardboard: go for it!

Plenty have done it:

Best looking PC in a box challenge - techPowerUp! Forums

Go for it!

DarkDavil said:

Does anyone think its .... bad.... to use a cardboard box instead of a case? If so - speak up now! ^^ I really don't wanna buy a case - so im honestly thinking of using a cardboard box !!

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LOL... whatever works...

But if you want reasons not to do this...

As has already been pointed out ... heat and fire.

But the ones that most computer people --including case manufacturers-- never seem to consider... Shielding and Grounding.

There is a reason why PCs have traditionally been boxed up in metal cases. First the case provides a proper earth ground at a common voltage with other devices, for the entire system.

But secondly there's the little matter of radio frequency interference. A metal case acts like a Faraday Cage that does two very important things... It keeps strong outside signals from getting into the electronics of your computer and it keeps the rather nasty radio frequencies that travel about inside a computer from getting out of the case.

This accmplishes two things for you... First; that freaky CBer with the huge antenna down the block isn't going to cause false reboots everytime he keys his transmitter and Second; he's not going to show up at your door complaining that you're wiping out his receivers.

So, if you're looking for good reasons to buy a nice sturdy metal case, now you have them.

CommonTater said:

But secondly there's the little matter of radio frequency interference. A metal case acts like a Faraday Cage that does two very important things... It keeps strong outside signals from getting into the electronics of your computer and it keeps the rather nasty radio frequencies that travel about inside a computer from getting out of the case.

This accmplishes two things for you... First; that freaky CBer with the huge antenna down the block isn't going to cause false reboots everytime he keys his transmitter and Second; he's not going to show up at your door complaining that you're wiping out his receivers.

So, if you're looking for good reasons to buy a nice sturdy metal case, now you have them.

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You can line your house with tinfoil to offset this.

Thorsen said:

CommonTater said:

But secondly there's the little matter of radio frequency interference. A metal case acts like a Faraday Cage that does two very important things... It keeps strong outside signals from getting into the electronics of your computer and it keeps the rather nasty radio frequencies that travel about inside a computer from getting out of the case.

This accmplishes two things for you... First; that freaky CBer with the huge antenna down the block isn't going to cause false reboots everytime he keys his transmitter and Second; he's not going to show up at your door complaining that you're wiping out his receivers.

So, if you're looking for good reasons to buy a nice sturdy metal case, now you have them.

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You can line your house with tinfoil to offset this.

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:roflmao::roflmao:

Thorsen said:

You can line your house with tinfoil to offset this.

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LOL... good one.... but then, would the tinfoil attract lightning?

Barman58 said:

View attachment 68810

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:roflmao::roflmao:

CommonTater said:

But the ones that most computer people --including case manufacturers-- never seem to consider... Shielding and Grounding.

Click to expand...

For this reason alone I wouldn't do it. I assume you have a serviceable PSU, so you'd be better served by picking up a >$50.00 chassis from an online vendor.

Are there still people that have big home base CB radios? I know truck drivers still use CB radios, but I would have thought the Web would have taken over the home market, for the people that like to talk.

Thorsen said:

CommonTater said:

But secondly there's the little matter of radio frequency interference. A metal case acts like a Faraday Cage that does two very important things... It keeps strong outside signals from getting into the electronics of your computer and it keeps the rather nasty radio frequencies that travel about inside a computer from getting out of the case.

This accmplishes two things for you... First; that freaky CBer with the huge antenna down the block isn't going to cause false reboots everytime he keys his transmitter and Second; he's not going to show up at your door complaining that you're wiping out his receivers.

So, if you're looking for good reasons to buy a nice sturdy metal case, now you have them.

Click to expand...

You can line your house with tinfoil to offset this.

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Possibly my box I think a nice and aluminum-y shiny cardboard box would do the trick? Would it not?

noobvious said:

Are there still people that have big home base CB radios? I know truck drivers still use CB radios, but I would have thought the Web would have taken over the home market, for the people that like to talk.

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There are still tons of CBers out there and some of them are using absolutely ridiculous amounts of power... and don't forget all the other sources of RFI... Ham Radio (still popular amongst the seniors); commercial broadcasters; police fire and ambulance; military, microwave ovens, lightning... even the lowly kid next door with his $30 FRS walkie talkies can make a mess.

I only used the CB example for a little comedy...

CommonTater said:

noobvious said:

Are there still people that have big home base CB radios? I know truck drivers still use CB radios, but I would have thought the Web would have taken over the home market, for the people that like to talk.

Click to expand...

There are still tons of CBers out there and some of them are using absolutely ridiculous amounts of power... and don't forget all the other sources of RFI... Ham Radio (still popular amongst the seniors); commercial broadcasters; police fire and ambulance; military, microwave ovens, lightning... even the lowly kid next door with his $30 FRS walkie talkies can make a mess.

I only used the CB example for a little comedy...

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Is it like honestly THAT bad? Could it just randomly shut-off/restart my cardboard-box based computer?

DarkDavil said:

CommonTater said:

noobvious said:

Are there still people that have big home base CB radios? I know truck drivers still use CB radios, but I would have thought the Web would have taken over the home market, for the people that like to talk.

Click to expand...

There are still tons of CBers out there and some of them are using absolutely ridiculous amounts of power... and don't forget all the other sources of RFI... Ham Radio (still popular amongst the seniors); commercial broadcasters; police fire and ambulance; military, microwave ovens, lightning... even the lowly kid next door with his $30 FRS walkie talkies can make a mess.

I only used the CB example for a little comedy...

Click to expand...

Is it like honestly THAT bad? Could it just randomly shut-off/restart my cardboard-box based computer?

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Yep... it could. And not just your computer... Some incidents that I know of...

1) Strange underwater voices coming from a pinball machine... Ham Radio operator with a bad antenna connection was invading the sound effects amplifier.

2) Motion Sensor lights come on repeately without apparent cause... CBer using nearly 10,000 watts of power, more than 2 miles away, interfering with all kinds of stuff for nearly a 10 mile radius.

3) Wireless Router locks up at random intervals... Ham Radio Operator on next balcony causing resets when he used his walkie talkie. Further investigation also showed that the router was wiping out about half of the HROs receiver dial.

4) (and my favorite) Really distorted voices coming from computer. This was a CBer, again using ridiculous power, getting into the computer's sound card and causing badly distorted signals in the speakers.


AND, don't forget this is a two way street...

5) I'm called into look at the receiver of a taxi company's radio setup. They figure it's something minor like a bad speaker... I took it home to get my tools at it... it worked perfectly. On further investigation they were being wiped out by the CPU clock of one of their tenante living above their office... Whenever he went out the problem cleared up... Dude had an all clear lexan case... Zero shielding.


So, yes RFI is a real problem and one of the hardest to troublshoot... It could be the unshielded router messing with your FM Radio (which is pretty obvious) or, as in the one example, it could be some freaky CBer, miles away.

Will it happen to you? I honestly don't know... Got any big antennas nearby?

Could you make a faraday cage from window bug netting or whatever it's called?

IceFire said:

Could you make a faraday cage from window bug netting or whatever it's called?

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Wouldn't it be cheaper and simpler to just buy a $40.00 case?

(And don't even get me started on the quality of cases...)

depends on what you have lying around the house.

I can tell it's almost the weekend.. YOU guys are losing it !!!!..
However...
Enjoy it also.. we all need to laugh till our tummies hurt.. ..