Assembling a computer is a very special process for any user. But regardless of previous experience level, there are certain aspects that need to be reviewed and corrected by manufacturers. In fact, today I’m going to share five things in modern PCs that should die once and for all. Some of their replacements are still exclusive to the premium market, while others should disappear overnight, without a second thought…
I/O Shield, or the “cursed metal plate from hell”
Everyone complains when it’s not in position, but its installation is a true nightmare. I’m talking about the metal piece that covers the motherboard ports on the back, better known as the I/O Shield. Many users have ended up injured trying to install this piece of junk, and it’s very common for its contact points to end up inside the ports (due to poor alignment), which is extremely dangerous.
Several manufacturers have recognized our visceral hatred for the I/O Shield, and offer preinstalled options on some of their boards. However, this should not continue as an exclusive benefit for premium models. We need this solution to extend to all boards in the future.
The USB 3.0 connector on motherboards
I imagine the person responsible for this connector envisioned a compact solution that wouldn’t take up much space on the motherboard surface and wouldn’t sacrifice functionality. Unfortunately, the result was an absolute failure. The USB 3.0 connector is one of the worst we’ve seen so far: on one hand, it ruins the aesthetics of many systems with a thick, inflexible cable, and on the other, it’s very easy to destroy this connector or rip out its pins (in fact, I’ve found several bent “from the factory”).
The problem is that its direct replacement (i.e., the integrated port for USB 3.1) doesn’t support splitters: you either connect it to a single port, or you use a hub outside the machine. The market offers angled adapters and more flexible cables for the USB 3.0 connector... but let’s be honest: We deserve something better.
The “front panel” connectors
It’s supposed that the general positions are always the same: the power LED, the power button to its right, the disk activity LED under the power LED, and the reset button to its right. This diagram should help:
However, there’s always a manufacturer that does whatever it wants, changing the position of some element or using a proprietary connector. As if that weren’t enough, the connections for the LEDs are polarized (adding an extra phase of difficulty), and now we find cases that replace the reset button with an RGB control button, confusing the user even more.
The process feels like threading needles inside the case while a crow tries to peck our eyes out. For more than two decades the front panel connectors have been horrible, and they must disappear.
Non-modular ATX power supplies
I admit: A power supply doesn’t have to be modular. We should always prioritize the quality of its construction to protect our components in the short and long term. But I still can’t believe that modularity on an ATX power supply remains a premium factor. The extra cables annoy, hinder cable management, and always represent a risk because they’re under tension at all times (a 12V short inside the case isn’t pleasant).
As an alternative, we need more semi-modular ATX power supplies. Some manufacturers (Corsair and EVGA come to mind) already explore this configuration with a “fixed” 24-pin cable, and the rest as optional. We’re definitely in a position to retire non-modular power supplies: Nobody needs half a dozen Molex connectors strangled in a corner of the case. And speaking of Molex...
The Molex connector
The main reason we still use this connector in PCs is to light up the ultra-low-cost RGB fans that come “as a gift” with some cases. The result is a kind of mutant centipede made of chained Molex connectors that can end up disconnected with just a sneeze.
I also understand that there are economic and compatibility reasons to keep Molex around, but that’s nothing an adapter can’t solve. And about the fans... how hard is it for the case manufacturer to install a basic hub? Some absences simply can’t be justified at this point.
Five things in modern PCs that must die: Am I forgetting something?
Honorable mentions? Some quite common complaints are having to remove the motherboard to install a CPU cooler, the 270 pieces that come with a basic watercooling system, the demonic screws of NVMe drives that get lost just by looking at them, the “lock” on PCI Express slots that makes it difficult to remove many graphics cards, and the awful front USB ports that break after the third use.
If I’m forgetting something, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. But don’t mention the PS/2 port! It stays. (?)
