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Faceplates and Expansion Slot Inserts

Plastic faceplates (sometimes called bezels) are provided for drive bays that are not in use. Some cases come with these pre-installed while others do not. Make sure all open bays are covered, to improve air flow and cooling, and keep foreign materials out of the computer.

A good case should also come with metal expansion slot inserts to cover the space used by slots that don't have cards in them. Watch out for the newer (usually cheaper) cases that just use stamped metal to cover these slots. Once you punch one out you can't put it back in. If you change a card's slot, you will need the kind of inserts that screw in place to cover the hole you left. Some of the cases with stamped metal slot covers also come with real ones you can screw in place later if you need them, but some don't! Leaving expansion slots open adversely affects air flow in the case, and thus cooling, and also increases the chances of system contamination.

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