I will stand by my statement - ESD cannot seriously damage computer components - until I see real world proof that it can. I've built countless computers for friends and family and have been a member of several tech forums for years, and never have I heard of an ESD problem. Perhaps if you intentionally tried to create as much static electricity as possible, you may be able to damage a part - but I still highly doubt it. The MythBusters should test this out
you can kill sensitive hardware with it. but it is very unlucky and rare...SpIk3y wrote:
I will stand by my statement - ESD cannot seriously damage computer components - until I see real world proof that it can. I've built countless computers for friends and family and have been a member of several tech forums for years, and never have I heard of an ESD problem. Perhaps if you intentionally tried to create as much static electricity as possible, you may be able to damage a part - but I still highly doubt it. The MythBusters should test this out
3930K | H100i | RIVF | 16GB DDR3 | GTX 480 | AX750 | 800D | 512GB SSD | 3TB HDD | Xonar DX | W8
I worked reselling electronic components. I can guarantee I have handled more electronic components than you have, regardless of how many computers you have built. If I was still at my former job, I would grab a component of your choosing off the shelf and subject it to ESD then post the results, but unfortunately I am no longer there. Let me see if I can find you some 'real world' proof (despite the fact that I have seen firsthand what static discharge will do)...SpIk3y wrote:
I will stand by my statement - ESD cannot seriously damage computer components - until I see real world proof that it can. I've built countless computers for friends and family and have been a member of several tech forums for years, and never have I heard of an ESD problem. Perhaps if you intentionally tried to create as much static electricity as possible, you may be able to damage a part - but I still highly doubt it. The MythBusters should test this out
Will an Intel report do?
http://www.intel.com/design/packtech/ch_06.pdfElectrostatic discharge (ESD) costs the electronics industry millions of dollars each year in
damaged components, non-functional circuit boards and scrambled or missing information. ESD
can occur in the manufacturing, shipping, receiving, and field handling of integrated circuits or
computer boards with no visible signs of damage. A malfunction in these components or boards
can occur immediately or the apparatus may perform for weeks, months, or even years before an
unpredictable and premature breakdown causes a field failure.
Last edited by KEN-JENNINGS (2008-01-10 18:06:51)
OK but that still does not reference a specific incident in which a person generated static electricity that damaged their computer. I'm sure ESD can have an affect on components, but I'm also quite sure that wearing socks and working on a carpet will not damage your system, as I've done this many times before with no problem. Perhaps it could affect the part in the long term, as the report suggests, but I am still very skeptical.
I build both my computers when I was wearing socks and my house is carpeted... guess I'm just lucky
I made a make shift wrist band out of speaker wire and a metal bar. I plugged into the grounding hole on the outlet while i was putting the Cpu into the mobo, then took it off once i put the mobo in the case. i wonder if it harmed anything since i live in a apt covered in carpet
The likelihood is small, especially for consumer electronics, but it still is there. In manufacturing, handling, and shipping, there is a very real threat, especially when you deal with end users like GE Medical and Raytheon, which were two of ours. That is the reason for compliance organizations and procedure.
Try not to excite your computer?aimless wrote:
What's the best way to avoid frying my new computer hardware? I don't have one of those anti-static wrist bands things, nor do I have an anti-static mat.