I read somewhere that computer cases were originally designed to be all metal to help disapate static from the stuff inside. I figured this is why I always see warnings about buying all clear cases and how they're only for "display" purposes. Does anyone have any thoughts on this and maybe some suggestions to help keep clear cases or cases with big windows from accumulating static?

Glass.

Yes you should have atleast part of the case metal to keep everything GROUNDED, but as long as your careful I don't see the harm of having an all clear case. I'm slowly modding my origionally all metal case to be all clear except the actual FRAME, but all the peices will eventually be plexi-glass.

That is not true Chiquita.

All of the electronic components are grounded via the power suppy and the psu is grounded to the wall!

You need not have any metal in your case.

correct putwig.

but personally ill still would run a wire between mobo mounting holes to the psu...but thats me

Although I've read some IBM drives should be grounded to the frame to function properly. Most cases tend to be metal to reduce EMI, not so much for grounding purposes. One would be the health issues, strong EMI isn't the best thing for the human body. Two would be performance issues, although I can't imagine many cases where an outside source of EMI would be stronger than what a computer generates by itself. That's why many high end computer sound systems have moved much of the electronics out of the case and into a shielded box. And SCSI and IDE cables often come shielded for better performance.

What's EMI Electromagnetic.......?

Electric magnetic Interfearance

I forget wich fcc regulation code it was but some emi do interfear with some radio bandwidths.I had some enginere rag on me about moding my case i interfeard with the original design.he told me that then I said then why are they making cases out of plexi glass.He said it was treated plexi glass.LOLOL anyway looked it up read about it and found no regulation limiting moding computers just warning that comperters next to radio station equipment may cause emi.BlaBlaBLaBLA.

You all laugh about EMI, but it can be a serious issue. The FCC test most companies submit their equipment for allows them to certify their box:
1) Does not generate harmful interference
2) Can accept interference generated from other sources

Most digital signals are based on either +5V (which represents a 1) or +0V (which represents a 0). Somewhere in between the two voltage ranges is a gray area, "no-man's land". If your signal gets caught in that area it neither represents a 0 nor a 1, and EMI interference is just the type of thing to cause that kind of signal interference.

I would be willing to bet money if you took an equal sample of computers(same exact specifications), with one group in a metal case and the other in a plexiglas case, the ones in the plexiglas case would experience more blue screens, hardware failures, and data corruption.

Wixx if you were here you could had help'd me explain that better but this guy was ragg'n on on on about that moding was illeagal and that the fcc would take my rig away from me since I alter'd the case and the original specs and would have to have it tested for emi.bla,bla,bla he kept ranting and raving it pissed me off to no end wanted to kick'm out of my hotel.This is my rig and i will do what I want to it.

Yeah but I'd rather be safe than sorry putwig.

Yeah, but I'd be willing to take the occasional blue screen for a window, all plexi, now that's a different story, I'm just glad it's not something that's going to hurt ME.

LOL. NO YOUR GOING TO DIE FROM THE EFI! MWHAHAHA. I'm just kidding. I hope we don't slowly die from EFI cuz then I'll be scared to use anything.

hmm, slowly, that doesn't scare me, I'm not afraid to use a cell phone, or be around people that smoke(HAHAHAHA)
If I die from second hand smoke, I hope it's in the Enquirer, because that's the dumbest thing ever.
If EFI kill me I'll sue Intel and donate all the money to AMD.

Be carefull Ciquita, EMI, (ElectroMagnetic Interferance), and EFI, (ElectroFlatulance Interferance),are two very different things.

Where EMI can cause problems with other electronic equipment, but is rarely a serious health risk, EFI can be quite dangerous.

EFI is radiated when the natural electomagnetic field of the human body becomes unbalanced and collects near the gastrointestinal tract. At that point, the affected person will fart uncontrollably and the accompanying electromagnetic discharge combined with the volatile nature of natural gases create small, but powerfull explosions that can blow off the afflicted person's genitalia, and in severe case, his legs.

EFI is something that I wouldn't even wish on you

ROTFLMFAO.............. oh my god bannanna don't do it! you'll never drive again.
Amazing how one letter can change every thing.

Wow lc, that's pretty serious...coulda sworn EFI was Electronic Fuel Injection...

I worry about EMI myself because my sub is just a little too close to my computer at the moment at a lack of room...so I'm holing off on computer mods for the time being. And I don't think EMI is ever something to worry about unles you stick your radio next to your computer (it's not like some huge electromagnetical field that can disrupt airplanes or something...mmmm, EMP).

And lokie, please kick that guy's ass...stupid people deserve to be hit for their stupidity.

OOOHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOO the customer is allways right....the person who said that needs to meet this chump.

but dont you fear that in a nuclear war an electromagnetic pulse will fry your computer because you have a clear case and not a protective metal one? it will die anyways cuz of the giant jolt of power that would surge throgh the line power and any other wires that act as an antenna. too bad for us.
either way its ESD for electrostatic discharge and EMI for electromagnetic interference.