No IO Sield/backplate, is it a problem?

[GoogalyMoogaly]

I see on various places, such as the Members Market, that some motherboards are sold 2nd hand but without the I/O shield.

Other than keeping the dust out I was under the impression that they also helped earth the motherboard.

Is it safe to run a motherboard without the I/O shield?

 

[Hagar]

Generally yes, I ran an nforce socket A for years without the I/O shield. It earths the metal parts on the ports and helps to prevent EMI however its other duties are few and there is no reason why your PC should not run without it.

andy

 

[Stryda09]

I give the IO shield 2 tries and if the motherboard doesn't want to align with the screws with it in I just leave it out. Not running one at the moment as the asus ones never seem to work for me. I push motherboard hard into it but the screw holes and the standoffs are still 5mm out or something. The MSI ones I have don't have the stupid foam stuff and have metal bits that bend off which are also annoying but the motherboard fits easily against them. Don't see any major problem not using it. I tend not to put my hands round the back of the computer whilst it is on anyway.