catgate Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 I am at present putting together a box from a miscellany of compatable bits, but one thing that I do not have is the quaint punched out shiny metal pressing that fills in the gaps round the plugs/connectors at the back of the box.It looks to me as though its main purpose maybe to prevent the ingress of mice and gerbils, but it just might perform an "earthing" type function. Can anyone shed any light on this, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 This question is now academic only, because I have found the original piece of metal. I would still be interested to hear if it has some practical purpose. It is certainly not for strengthening anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 You mean the I/O shield ? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Can't identify the bits you mean but could it be electromagnetic shielding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Can't identify the bits you mean but could it be electromagnetic shielding?There must be an official "jargon" word for it, pops, but I do not think I have ever known it. However it is a rectangle of a shiny metal (maybe stainless or aluminium) approx 16 cm x 5 cm. and it has, punched out of it, holes to allow through it the socket/plugs into which all the external bits of cables, wires and general spaghetti are fixed/plugged. It fits into the standard rectangle in the back of the box just above the slots for PCI card fixing.I suppose a photo' would have been quicker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Ahh! I know which bit you mean now. Possibly it's to provide a "good" earth to the low signal level connectors that pass through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Ahh! I know which bit you mean now. Possibly it's to provide a "good" earth to the low signal level connectors that pass through it.Thanks for that, pops. I used to get ragged for always wanting a "good earth" in my vehicle tinkering days. I would have wanted something a little better than this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 You mean the I/O shield ? :)One of these :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 You mean the I/O shield ? :)One of these :)Yep. That's the thing, Boris. I knew it would have a name.Were they the things that the Seven Dwarves used to sing about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 IO IO, IO IO ................ IOU ?A It helps to ground (some) of the components on your motherboard to the case. B It usually has little etched/printed labels so that not-so-informed people can have a better chance of attaching the various leads to the right connections.Other than that it is mainly cosmetic .............. but it also helps to keep the muck out :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 IO IO, IO IO ................ IOU ? Thanks Boris. When I saw the first line of your reply I initially thoght ".Good.God ...he's gone all binary on me!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 In my mobo manual it suggests the item is to ensure the I/O ports are better grounded against static charges as your mits plug and unplug connectors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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