Case Window: Pane or Pain?

[chzlchp]

I plan to buy one of two virtually identical cases from Lian Li (for my first build), one with a side acrylic window, and the other without. I have come across a coupla very vague criticisms of windows, the thought being that radio interference can escape. However, nothing I've ever seen is explicit or alarming. Not like, "will only short-circuit pace-makers within a 15' radius!", or any other misc. side effects like that. So, what's the experience of the wide world? (I've even seen some complete acrylic setups-WOW!-in this forum, but no one has addressed this issue.)

Thanks for any thoughts coming back.

[TheMajor]

i think its bull**** (my opinion)

[TwoRails]

My general understanding is that if it doesn't effect anything in your own space in your home, the the levels are low enough to be "OK." Whether it's "legal" or not, I'd have to guess it's probably Not legal.... but are the inspectors coming to your house? I doubt it.... (unless, somehow, you're messing up the people / neighbors around you )

[Sanguimancer]

You would think that if it were illegal, they wouldn't be allowed to sell them.

[TwoRails]

Originally Posted by Sanguimancer You would think that if it were illegal, they wouldn't be allowed to sell them.

Ever been to a "tobacco" shop? The pipes, papers, etc. aren't illegal to sell, just when used in a certain way.

[willboy]

I don't think it is a big deal, I don't believe they would put out enough radio interference to do any damage. I would go with the one with the window because it would look totally sick if you put some lights and stuff, but If you get the one without the window, you could put in you own window and that is pretty fun. That's just my two cents though.

[Spartan]

If you live near a power line you are probably getting more exposure to EM than your computer puts out. I usually have the side off of one of my cases all the time when I am tinkering with them and I haven't grown a third eye or sixth finger.....Most computer cases are plastic and those won't shield anyone from anything anyway. I wouldn't worry about it, get the window.

-Spartan

[chzlchp]

Now, that's that sort of nuts 'n' bolts answer I can chew on! Thanks a mil, everyone. I'm leaving here and heading over to newegg to push the 'gimme' button. Happy tinkerin'!

Thanks again.

[Force Flow]

As long as there aren't any generators or any other devices emitting large EM fields, don't worry about it.

[Xiun]

heh, my computers been out of my case for about 3 weeks now. been sitting on a cardboard box. been running fine, im not dying.

[scomac]

If I were going to build a new system today (well, I am going to, but not til next year) I would go for a case that already has a window in it. I put a window in my current one, and it was a royal pain. It took about 3 hours to cut the case, using those little case cutters you can buy, and another 45 minutes with the wife helping me to get the window actually in and set. Without having an extra set of hands would have been much more difficult to get the window in. As for EM radiation, I don't think the amounts are anything to be excited about. As was mentioned earlier, you get more from the electric poles outside than you do inside. If you have a real concern about it though, there is a piece of equipment that you can get, not sure what it's called, that can measure the amount of EM that you are exposed to.

Scomac

[chzlchp]

Actually, my biggest concern was that interference might have effected the TV/radio around me, either my own or one of the neighbor's. Think those issues have been pretty well played down by the many responses I've received. Again, thanks all for the time and help. Definitely going with the bay-window model Lian Li. (Now I gotta find me some of them neat fans that light up!)

[mb26]

get a fan filter, as you dont want to show off your PC clogged full of dust.

[chzlchp]

Based on the balance of advice that filtered back to my question, I sprung for the Lian Li [PC-65] with the side window, through which I am now admiring my newly mounted ABIT NF7-S mobo, CPU cooler the size of a grapefruit, and all the other neat things [forever] breathtakingly visible. A choice I recommend and am happy I went for!

Thanks for the input, folks. Now, all I gotta do is pull my raptured gaze from the side of my 'box' and get some work done.

[Spartan]

Congrats on the case. What CPU cooler are you using?

-Spartan

[chzlchp]

I used a Thermaltake Volcano 11, that is smothering an AMD Athlon 2600+ Barton CPU. I liked the idea of an all-copper dissipating structure, knowing the heat transfering qualities of that material.

Philosophically...cost was a secondary consideration, in this (my first and only) build project. I wanted to buy once and buy quality, and it STILL costs less than the Dull 8200 (uh, sorry, I meant Dell) computer that it is replacing. The difference in quality is so vast it doesn't validate the energy wasted making it a discussion point.