12 replies to this topic

[Burned_Follower]

I know that it is a well known fact that one can accidentally fry their motherboard and other PC parts by accidentally touching it while your hand is charged with static.

I was thining that when i finish purchasing my PC one piece at a time, that when i finally start putting it all together, i'll do it in my kitchen on the table since my kitchen has a tile floor instead of carpet. I want to know, is it a good idea to "touch" my metal PC case first to check my hands for static after i got the motherboard and other stuff installed or is that just as bad as touching the motherboard itself while statically charged?

Edited by XxDRxDEATHxX, 04 February 2012 - 03:04 PM.

[Vincent Vascaul]

http://www.amazon.co...g/dp/B00004Z5D1

[Burned_Follower]

cool, thanks!

[Morashtak]

Or just touch your oven or water tap once in a while. Electronics are not as delicate as they once were. If they were this laptop would already be in the recycle bin.

[Catamount]

You know, I've built at least a couple dozen PCs over the past half dozen years (and been inside them more times than I can count), and I have never, ever, once shocked a component and caused damage to it. I have an anti-static band, but I don't use it precisely for that reason.

Now, if you live in the middle of the Arizona desert, and you're building a computer on the dryest day of the year, wearing 3 sweaters on top of one another and you've been rubbing your feet against a carpet in wool socks for twenty minutes, maybe you could muster an electrical shock enough to damage a component if you pulled it out of anti-static bag before touching something safer. That said, you should be touching the case constantly anyways; the first thing you should ever do when working with a computer is open the case, since you're either trying to put things in it, or take them out.


In short, just don't be stupid, and it won't be a serious risk.

[Kaemon]

I think most people blame static discharge so they can RMA that $500 PCI-E card they tried to jam into a PCI slot.

Or my personal favorite, the old 'I think this RAM is the right kind, it says non-buffered, that's the same as buffered, right?'

What's that funny burning smell?

Dang! Static Discharge!

Edited by Kaemon, 04 February 2012 - 08:56 PM.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

Catamount, on 04 February 2012 - 08:41 PM, said:

You know, I've built at least a couple dozen PCs over the past half dozen years (and been inside them more times than I can count), and I have never, ever, once shocked a component and caused damage to it. I have an anti-static band, but I don't use it precisely for that reason.

Now, if you live in the middle of the Arizona desert, and you're building a computer on the dryest day of the year, wearing 3 sweaters on top of one another and you've been rubbing your feet against a carpet in wool socks for twenty minutes, maybe you could muster an electrical shock enough to damage a component if you pulled it out of anti-static bag before touching something safer. That said, you should be touching the case constantly anyways; the first thing you should ever do when working with a computer is open the case, since you're either trying to put things in it, or take them out.


In short, just don't be stupid, and it won't be a serious risk.

Have been building PC's for the last decade, and i can only agree with what catamount has posted here, i have never ever in 10 years used an anti static band and have never had shock damage on any computer i have built.

Electronics are not as sensative as they used to be (common sense prevailing)

[Vincent Vascaul]

I have seen it exactly one time at a big overclocking party where boards were being handled alot.

[Seth Deathstalker]

Vincent Vascaul, on 05 February 2012 - 03:01 AM, said:

I have seen it exactly one time at a big overclocking party where boards were being handled alot.

Umm, an 'overclocking party'?? I knew there were LAN parties. But that. Ahh, there are always new things.

[Vincent Vascaul]

There ya go http://ninjalane.com...nts/ln2_party_2 I think there is a pic of my old rig in the (Lian Li with dual 6950's) Liquid Nitrogen is fun!

[Barbaric Soul]

I have built and rebuilt ALOT of computers, and have never had a problem with static electricity. All you need to do is follow a few basic guide lines.

1. Don't work on a computer on a carpet floor. Carpet builds up static electricity by sliding on it.

2. Always touch the metal frame work of your case before touching any actual computer components. This will discharge any static charge you have built up in your person.

3. Don't wear any "frizzy" clothing(sweat shirts, sweat pants, sweaters) when working on a computer. Like carpet, "frizzy" clothing will build up a static charge.

[Seth Deathstalker]

Vincent Vascaul, on 05 February 2012 - 04:39 AM, said:

There ya go http://ninjalane.com...nts/ln2_party_2 I think there is a pic of my old rig in the (Lian Li with dual 6950's) Liquid Nitrogen is fun!

Saw your rig. Nice and solid work there from the looks. But those dudes - they use liquid N2.... *speechless*

[Syvenn]

Vincent Vascaul, on 05 February 2012 - 04:39 AM, said:

There ya go http://ninjalane.com...nts/ln2_party_2 I think there is a pic of my old rig in the (Lian Li with dual 6950's) Liquid Nitrogen is fun!

What has science created... I'm oddly reminded of the iron man movie with that thing in the guys chest.

And I thought liquid cooling was weird...