Really scared about frying my motherboard

[djpabz23]

Okay, so, my first ever PC build will be finished tomorrow (Just waiting for the RAM to arrive).

 

Out of no where, I started watching videos about ESD and stuff like that and now, i'm really paranoid. I feel like I did something wrong and whenever I go and turn on my PC tomorrow, I feel like I'm going to fry my motherboard.

 

My case (Phanteks Enthoo Pro) came with the standoff screws installed in which were perfectly aligned with my motherboard (MSI Z97s Krait).

 

What should I look out for to avoid ESD or frying my board?

[Cyrus49]

Okay, so, my first ever PC build will be finished tomorrow (Just waiting for the RAM to arrive).

 

Out of no where, I started watching videos about ESD and stuff like that and now, i'm really paranoid. I feel like I did something wrong and whenever I go and turn on my PC tomorrow, I feel like I'm going to fry my motherboard.

 

My case (Phanteks Enthoo Pro) came with the standoff screws installed in which were perfectly aligned with my motherboard (MSI Z97s Krait).

 

What should I look out for to avoid ESD or frying my board?

You're fine, if it's inside the case alredy.

[Nena Trinity]

Okay, so, my first ever PC build will be finished tomorrow (Just waiting for the RAM to arrive).

 

Out of no where, I started watching videos about ESD and stuff like that and now, i'm really paranoid. I feel like I did something wrong and whenever I go and turn on my PC tomorrow, I feel like I'm going to fry my motherboard.

 

My case (Phanteks Enthoo Pro) came with the standoff screws installed in which were perfectly aligned with my motherboard (MSI Z97s Krait).

 

What should I look out for to avoid ESD or frying my board?

You most be very unlucky to do that!

[djpabz23]

You most be very unlucky to do that!

 

 

You're fine, if it's inside the case alredy.

 

That's great  to hear guys! Thanks!

[rtpb5642]

nvm

[djpabz23]

nvm

I built 99% of it barefoot with a polo and gym shorts on a wooden floor! So,  I guess I'm good?

[rtpb5642]

I built 99% of it barefoot with a polo and gym shorts on a wooden floor! So,  I guess I'm good?

Oh yeah i normally build on carpet, ive build more than a dozen pcs on carpet but i just take off my socks.

[XCalinX]

ESD is a load of crap. I never zapped anything in my house.

[djpabz23]

Oh yeah i normally build on carpet, ive build more than a dozen pcs on carpet but i just take off my socks.

And you never had a single problem? That's crazy!

[bip_]

I built 99% of it barefoot with a polo and gym shorts on a wooden floor! So,  I guess I'm good?

Wood floor will be great m8. I built mine standing on carpet, and had no problem at all. If you plug in your power supply and then put your hands on it for 5-10 seconds it will ground you. This will get rid of any static on you. Happy Building! 

[djpabz23]

Wood floor will be great m8. I built mine standing on carpet, and had no problem at all. If you plug in your power supply and then put your hands on it for 5-10 seconds it will ground you. This will get rid of any static on you. Happy Building! 

Ehh, I didn't do that. I just touched the metal part of my case with the PSU unplugged. Uh oh.  :unsure:

[soup]

ESD is a load of crap. I never zapped anything in my house.

 

I wouldn't say it was "a load of crap" but it is treated (by some) as more dangerous than it really is.

[Johannes_Lazor]

Motherboards are usually pretty well insulated and has failsafes, You dont have to worry unless you have given it many powerful discharges.

[djpabz23]

Motherboards are usually pretty well insulated and has failsafes, You dont have to worry unless you have given it many powerful discharges.

But what exactly can cause a motherboard to short other than not using the headers?

[Johannes_Lazor]

But what exactly can cause a motherboard to short other than not using the headers?

Most exposed metals which are not heatsinks and standoffs, They are usually grounded to the case.

[djpabz23]

Most exposed metals which are not heatsinks and standoffs, They are usually grounded to the case.

Okay so, my PSU wasn't plugged in, but I kept touching the case every once in a while. Did I raise the risk of shocking my motherboard by not having the PSU plugged in?

[Enderman]

Ehh, I didn't do that. I just touched the metal part of my case with the PSU unplugged. Uh oh.  :unsure:

thats fine

the charge gets dissipated by the case anyway

[djpabz23]

thats fine

the charge gets dissipated by the case anyway

Thank god, thank you for relieving me of my worries!

[Lord_Karango17]

I built 99% of it barefoot with a polo and gym shorts on a wooden floor! So,  I guess I'm good?

My ghetto brotheren, we have united at last

 

Built my pc on my bed, and there is a dent in the floor where I dropped my ram (it works no probs ).

[XCalinX]

I wouldn't say it was "a load of crap" but it is treated (by some) as more dangerous than it really is.

I never killed anything with ESD. I never gave a fuck about how I handle my components yet my PC still works

[Prysin]

First rule of ESD protection

 

Work on a surface that doesnt conduct electricity such as Tiles, Concrete floor or wood floors.

Avoid floor surfaces such as Epoxy, Long or short haired carpets, PVC/Vinyl

 

Avoid wearing clothes that produce static electricity such as fleece, whool or certain types of synthetics such as sports wear.

Safe clothes material is cotton (like in jeans and tshirts).

 

IF you are afraid of frying your PC. Simply plug in the power cord for your PC into a grounded socket in the wall, then touch JUST the chassis of your case. That will direct all the static electricity from you to the grounded socket. Then unplug your PC from the socket, hold down the start button for 3-10 seconds to completely empty your PSU for any residual current. THEN start working.

 

Ideally you should wear a antistatic strap at all times. But if you do not have one, or do not have a grounded surface to connect it to, then what i said above is the safest way to work on a PC without a antistatic strap.

[cragger89]

Get the case, install the PSU. Connect the power cord, make sure the power is earthed. 

 

Touch the case/PSU metalwork from time to time to ground yourself, especially when opening the boxes. You don't need to do anything else.

[soup]

I never killed anything with ESD. I never gave a fuck about how I handle my components yet my PC still works

 

 

Guess what ? I have never been murdered at home, doesn't mean it never happens

[djpabz23]

Get the case, install the PSU. Connect the power cord, make sure the power is earthed.

Touch the case/PSU metalwork from time to time to ground yourself, especially when opening the boxes. You don't need to do anything else.

I kept touching the case with the PSU unplugged.

[soup]

I kept touching the case with the PSU unplugged.

 

 

Leveling the charge between you and the system is better than fully grounding yourself.