What Is a Bezel on a Computer?

Computer bezels are usually molded from plastic.

Every desktop computer comes with its internal components housed inside a case. A typical computer case includes a solid housing and a removable front panel. The front panel includes slots for media and can be removed to reveal the inner workings of the computer.

Definition

A desktop computer's bezel is the removable case that covers the front of the computer. The bezel includes slots, or drive bay covers, that you can remove to install additional interface devices. When you install a CD-ROM drive or another interface device then you remove the slot placeholder and mount the device in its place. The front panel of a CD-ROM or other device that is installed at the front of a computer is called a device bezel.

Purpose

There are two primary purposes for a computer bezel. One purpose of a bezel is to protect the components housed inside the computer from environmental forces. The bezel also allows you easy access to a number of features, such as the power and reset buttons, without exposing the hardware that connects those buttons to the rest of the computer. If you, or a computer service person, need to access the inner working of your computer then the bezel provides easy access via a snapping mechanism or screws.

Specs

Bezels come in a variety of different specifications. While most generic bezels are made out of plastic, metal bezels are also available for custom built computers. Bezel walls can range in thickness from .06 to .31 inches and can contain a variable number of bays to hold interface devices. Some bezels contain additional gridded openings that open to the system fan, which increases airflow and improves device cooling.

Producton

Most bezels are created using a process called injection molding. The injection molding process involves pouring molten plastic into a mold. Once the plastic dries it is removed from the mold. Thermoforming is a pricier alternative to injection molding that involves heating a sheet of special thermoplastic to a high temperature and then stretching the semi-molten plastic to a specific shape. The thermoplastic bezel is then cooled and trimmed to the appropriate shape.

References

• ATX Power Supplies: What is a Bezel?
• Thermofab: Custom Bezels
• Thermofab: Thermoforming