Static electricity

[Ergroilnin]

So this is probably a really stupid question, but I have actually never built a computer myself, yet anyway, but since I do plan to do that soon, I want to ask if nowadays one should still use some anti static wristband while building the pc from scratch, so touching all over the components PCBs etc.

 

I always thought that it is almost a requirement but ever since I started watching tons of people about tech on youtube, I basically never saw anyone using some anti static utility tool to protect the components (ranging from cpu, gpu to mobo etc.). They are always handling and building everything without it.

 

So how is it nowadays? I suppose it cannot hurt, but is it really needed if you do not exactly rub a balloon or a cat all over yourself just before starting the build?

[Guest]

This vid might answer some question

[Solderben]

Generally ESD won't kill Your PC nowadays because of how ESD protected it most likely is. But it definitely can't hurt to pick some up just to be safe. I recently built mine on top of a ESD Matt and with a ESD wrist strap. Now the Matt is probably Overkill. But you can never be too safe. So I would recommend atlest getting some ESD wrist straps to be on the safe side.

[Ergroilnin]

Yeah I suppose. I mean... If I am gonna put like a 2000 euros or so into my new build, getting anti static wristband for few euros just to be on the safe side is definitely a clever idea so I will be buying one, just in case, though the video with JayZ made me much more at ease about the whole problem. Also, I suppose this is my new and by far most enjoyable non serious vid from JayZ

[Godlygamer23]

It's mostly an issue in areas with low humidity now since most devices are now protected from static electricity.

 

That being said, just because you can't see, hear, or feel the shock, doesn't mean you're not shocking it, and if you pick something up repeatedly and continue shocking with small, non-perceivable zaps, you can slowly kill it. 

 

Just to put this into perspective: Imagine you're in a low humidity environment, and you're building a PC on carpet. The amount of static electricity that can be generated is around 15,000V. Now imagine applying that to a component that's only designed to take 1V. It'll probably be really deadly. 

 

Just because it still works doesn't mean it wasn't damaged by static electricity. 

[Automobili3XF]

Another video on this topic: 

 

 

[Shreyas1]

I didn't, but I don't live in a really humid area or have carpet. I mean, you might as well just to be on the safe side.

[Jtalk4456]

it's cheap and provides protection. Will you likely need it? probably not. But Irony says if you don't get it, that's the moment you'll rub your sock on the carpet one too many times and have lightning shoot off your fingers into the cpu and socket

[Christophe Corazza]

It's like getting in trouble. It only matters if you get caught. In this case it only matters if you shock a component. 

 

As long as you're not on shag carpet with fuzzy socks, you should be ok. If you really want to use an anti static wrist band, you can simply connect the alligator clip to something metal inside the case. There is usually some metal still around the frame and the hard drive enclosures. However, I've never used a wrist strap when building and maintaining computers.

 

When building your PC, it helps to start with the power supply, and have it plugged in and turned off. In this way, there is a path to ground. Before I go reaching my hand into the case to touch any component, I touch any metal part on the chassis to ground myself and discharge any electricity I may have built up in me. Haven't had a component fry on me so I must be lucky

[RTS2468]

ESD is still a problem, but the parts today are much better built and have built in counter measures to ESD, But i still use my ESD mat, with an ankle strap. That is what I would recommend. If you just get a wrist strap with an alligator clip, if your pc is not grounded, and you are not grounded yourself, you can still cause a discharge. RAM is the most common component to fail from ESD. Having worked as a Hardware Tech II (AVNET), they require ESD coats, and mats.