Having your pc on test bench / open air permanently.

[Evil Ninetales]

Is dust really the only negative to having your pc in an open air setup.

I ask because visual asthetics are not high up on my PC demands and I'd rather sacrifice that for lower temps.

Something like this https://www.overclockers.co.uk/lian-li-pc-t70-atx-test-bench-black-ca-769-ll.html

I don't really care too much about cleaning it for dust regularily

[Autumn_]

If you don't have any pets or lots of family members, it'll be fine.
Plus a quick go over with compressed air or such will do it just fine.

Plus, I think it looks more aesthetic than a normal case.
Or something like this ; https://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=c_00002732

[Revelene]

Having an open air pc will be absolutely fine, as long as you have no pets or children. Also, I would recommend keeping it away from windows.

Dust is not really that much more of a problem than a pc in a case. It will be easier to clean. So easy, you can literally just occasionally blow it with compressed air or air blower, and be able to do it quickly. It'll end up being cleaner than most pcs in cases, actually.

You can get some open air benches that are actually quite visually appealing, IMO.

[Arya]

An open-air case generally has slightly worse cooling than a closed one. You have totally open airflow for individual components, but they often lack radiator brackets and don't have any crossflow or ventilation. Brass tax their cooling is good, but not as good as you might think.

From my experiments, the best solution is a case with the front and top panels taken off. Running a brace of high-powered Radiator fans at the front and top, and one of the back. It's essentially a wind-tunnel, forcing as much airflow through the most open intake possible before ejecting it through the top. And in my case exhausting through the CPU's 360'' Radiator.

[Revelene]

Originally posted by Wolfey:

An open-air case generally has worse cooling than a closed one. You have totally open airflow for individual components, but they often lack radiator brackets and don't have any crossflow or ventilation. Brass tax their cooling isn't as good as you might think.

From my experiments, the best solution is a case with the front and top panels taken off. Running a brace of high-powered Radiator fans at the front and top, and one of the back. It's essentially a wind-tunnel, forcing as much airflow through the most open intake possible before ejecting it through the top. And in my case exhausting through the CPU's 360'' Radiator.

The cooling potential is hard to say, due to how many factors are involved.

In my experience, an open air bench with radiator and fan mounts, works rather well. Usually would have lower idle and low usage temps. Full usages temps were usually comparable with good airflow cases, but it spanked a lot of mid tier cases with varying airflow.

Would I specifically recommend open air for temp reasons? No. However, there are a lot of benefits to having an open air pc. Ease of cleaning being near the top of that list.

[Arya]

Originally posted by Revelene:

The cooling potential is hard to say, due to how many factors are involved.

In my experience, an open air bench with radiator and fan mounts, works rather well. Usually would have lower idle and low usage temps. Full usages temps were usually comparable with good airflow cases, but it spanked a lot of mid tier cases with varying airflow.

Would I specifically recommend open air for temp reasons? No. However, there are a lot of benefits to having an open air pc. Ease of cleaning being near the top of that list.

Open-Air with a brace of fans would be perfect. I've been tempted to make my own case, or maybe modify a Lian-Li with a rack for mounting fans and rads. It'd look really interesting, and should cool super well.

[Talby]

If you get a bench case, optimal cooling is an overhead fan(s) directly cooling the motherboard and everything similar to the Aerocool Strike-X or the Antec Skeleton. Put a filter on the fan (e.g. used dryer sheets or cut-to-fit pantyhose) it will not collect dust to badly until you turn it off.

I have a DIY benchtop from an old removable mobo tray case with and old box fan overhead with an AC/furnace filter on it, ugliest thing ever but has the absolute best cooling hands-down.

[Revelene]

Originally posted by Wolfey:

Originally posted by Revelene:

The cooling potential is hard to say, due to how many factors are involved.

In my experience, an open air bench with radiator and fan mounts, works rather well. Usually would have lower idle and low usage temps. Full usages temps were usually comparable with good airflow cases, but it spanked a lot of mid tier cases with varying airflow.

Would I specifically recommend open air for temp reasons? No. However, there are a lot of benefits to having an open air pc. Ease of cleaning being near the top of that list.

Open-Air with a brace of fans would be perfect. I've been tempted to make my own case, or maybe modify a Lian-Li with a rack for mounting fans and rads. It'd look really interesting, and should cool super well.

Yeah, that would cool very well and look cool at the same time.