Static worries when building first computer

Martindale

Martindale

Martindale

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2 Jan 2011
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3
Hey guys, got a question about grounding myself when building my first computer.

I've been roaming around the internet and the main bit of advice I've been seeing is that you should hold onto (or regularly touch) the unpainted metal of the case of your computer as this is grounded.

Is it always grounded? So say if I have the case on a wooden table which is stood on a tile floor, the case is still grounded right?

Also I read one good idea is to have an antistatic bag which a component will of come in around my hand, this true?

Thanks all! Sorry for my novice-ness =]
 
Well a motherboard comes with an antistatic bag but I can see the antistatic bag around you wrist making it real hard to work on the build
 
Don't faff around trying to build it with a bag on your hand or if you do at least film it and put it on youtube for a laugh. If you don't have a write strap which most (inc me) dont then plug your psu into the wall and keep touching it or a radiator.

Don't invite problems by building while standing on a carpet if you can avoid it.

Many here have built tens of rigs with no special strap and had no problems.
 
Yeah, it would be quite hard to work with haha!

And yeah I'm going to be working on a tile floor with no socks on if that makes any difference?

And so, insert the CPU into the case first and have it plugged in; but turned off right?

Just so paranoid about damaging any of the parts!

Thanks again!
 
just earth yourself by touching a radiator before touching your cmputer bits..

however

if you touch the radiator once the PC is plugged in, and if you have an electrical fault in your house you will get (possibly) electrocuted (I have had it a few times usually not a full mains shock though)
 
Martindale said:
Yeah, it would be quite hard to work with haha!

And yeah I'm going to be working on a tile floor with no socks on if that makes any difference?

And so, insert the CPU into the case first and have it plugged in; but turned off right?

Just so paranoid about damaging any of the parts!

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it. As long as you don't try and do it while wearing an addidas tracksuit, dancing standing in a bucket on some carpet you'll be fine.

Best bet is to put the the antistat bag/foam on top of the motheboard box and then put the board on top.
 
Todge said:
Don't invite problems by building while standing on a carpet if you can avoid it.

Many here have built tens of rigs with no special strap and had no problems.
Click to expand...

hehe, Ive built a rig in a mates living room on carpet, while we were all getting progresivley hammered. It STILL works a few years later :D

I now tend to be a bit more careful, but not amazingly so. So many PC's ive built/worked on at work and home and never done more than earting onthe psu etc and ive not had problems so im too lazy to it more. Although when i built my rig in sig i did wear my strag as everything cost so much.
 
I've yet to damage anything PC component related with static and I've built a fair few systems as well as replaced motherboards and other major components. I wouldn't worry about it too much, just dont vigorously rub your hair with a balloon before attempting to assemble your system on a carpet or rug. :p
 
Stop being so paranoid. Just have everything to hand already opened ready to put in, and ground yourself on something reasonably often.

TBH.. it probably won't matter at all. The number of machine's I built myself over the year's without giving a hoot to static has never knowingly cost me a single component. I certainly wasn't rubbing a balloon on myself or getting frisky with the carpet though.
 
Don't
static_balloon.jpg
whilst building.

On a serious note, I put the PSU in the case and plug it in (switched off at the wall obviously) and just touch the case to ground myself.
 
Martindale said:
Also I read one good idea is to have an antistatic bag which a component will of come in around my hand, this true?
Click to expand...


Yea..er... no.

I've seen this in numerous listings on ebay etc.. people putting the component on the outside of the bag, not a good idea since the outside is conductive and can short components out that still have a capacitor charge etc..
 
Martindale said:
Hey guys, got a question about grounding myself when building my first computer.

I've been roaming around the internet and the main bit of advice I've been seeing is that you should hold onto (or regularly touch) the unpainted metal of the case of your computer as this is grounded.

Is it always grounded? So say if I have the case on a wooden table which is stood on a tile floor, the case is still grounded right?

Also I read one good idea is to have an antistatic bag which a component will of come in around my hand, this true?

Thanks all! Sorry for my novice-ness =]
Click to expand...
No need to worry, the capacitors in the motherboard will absorb small amounts of static and no damage will occur.

Be careful with the CPU though...
 
Todge said:
Best bet is to put the the antistat bag/foam on top of the motheboard box and then put the board on top.
Click to expand...
I've never taken any precautions except to earth myself on a radiator at the start of the build (yet have often gone to the kitchen/bathroom and not bothered upon my return) and the above quoted piece of advice.

I've probably built in the region of 10 PCs with this level of caution and am yet to have a problem - consumer grade equipment is more resilient than some would have you believe!
 
Nothing to worry about. Use radiators to earth yourself. Or, plug psu into mains, install it into the case, leave everything switched off. Touch and exposed bit of metal on the case or the psu and you will be grounded.
 
Antistatic bags dont even work like that, black antistatic bags are actually conductive. Pink and green just dont build a charge by themselves.
 
I touched a radiator before I started (the unpainted bracket on the back) and just got on with it.

Finished last night not worry about static and it all works fine.
 
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