exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

beel1 wrote: 10 Jul 2020 17:26 IIRC you don't have to remove the top shielding

You're right. I was remembering backwards. The thing that annoyed me was that you had to remove the PSU to remove the top shielding, and with the STE, removing the PSU requires pulling the whole thing out of the case, so there is no simply pulling the top shield off an STE to access the motherboard.

bartekmalysz wrote: 10 Jul 2020 16:22 The ones keeping a thin metal plate at the back and PSU cover altogether (3 black screws), yes I have.

General question: this thin metal plate that runs along the rear of the machine. Is it necessary for anything?

I recently removed one, so that I could fit the red exxos PSU. I figured it'd not useful for anything, but is it?

stween wrote: 27 Jul 2020 11:13General question: this thin metal plate that runs along the rear of the machine. Is it necessary for anything?

Except for EMI certification - no, it is not needed. There were at least two versions of shielding in STe and only one had this plate.

I have 2 STE's and neither have the backplate you mention (I guess they went AWOL a long time ago) and I don't use the top metal cover at all. I always keep the lower shield though as I find it supports the mainboard in the case.

I have one (mostly) unmolested STE and it has no rear plate. Maybe Atari didn't bother installing it to save a few quid? The screw holes look like they have never been used. It was as easy to pull out as an FM.

Actually, the rear shield does have one use. I tried leaving mine off but I found that the monitor out wasn’t working properly. It turned out that the lugs which go into the monitor port act as both an external darling for the cable shield but also help centre the plug in the socket.

stephen_usher wrote: 27 Jul 2020 22:26 Actually, the rear shield does have one use. I tried leaving mine off but I found that the monitor out wasn’t working properly. It turned out that the lugs which go into the monitor port act as both an external darling for the cable shield but also help centre the plug in the socket.

Interesting. I've only done a short test with the new PSU in my primary STE, and it was okay.

I like to leave as many original components as possible in that one, so maybe I'll just try to cut the shield (and forget about the three black screws at the back; those were always a pain).

JezC wrote: 10 Jul 2020 17:27 I've often found that the left rear tab seems to stick in the slot in the motherboard so you have to prise that up a bit and then it should come out with a bit of a pull and some moving from side to side.

Once you've removed it a few times it seems to slip out much more easily.

Same with my STFM. Always the top left refuses to come quietly :lol: