The danger of static electricity when building a computer. Is it overstated?
Some people say I need one of those dumb wrist straps and an anti-static mat. Others say I can get away with just touching the chassis often.
It's overstated up until the moment you fry your shiny new toy before you've even turned it on.
I've never seen it or had equipment fried by it and I've built dozens of computers
You don't need them, just don't be an idiot.
>be me
>think the exact thing OP does
> buy modern Case with more fans and beter airflow
> transfer guts to new case
> feelsgoodman
>put power on
>nothing powers on
>SHIT.gov
>breadboard motherboard
>no dice
>test gpu in other computer
>still works(phew)
>paper clip test psu
>still works
>test ram on different rig
>100%
>unable to get motherboard and processor to work
>mfw i spent 5 months rigless cause of probably static electricity all because of a $40 case
ever since I always play it safe and use a static wristband. They're usually less than $10 so even if its a placebo its not like youre breaking the bank and if it actually does work youre safeguarding $500+ equipment.
wakarimasen lol
Can I still fry my shit if I build naked on bathroom tiles?
>>52420119
Don't wear freshly tumble-dried clothes in winter, maybe.
>>52420119
im sure that new GTX 980TI will work fine after you zap it :^)
>>52420312
the only sensible way to build tbqh senpai
>>52420312
only if you have a shocking personality
>>52420364
>>52420364
>>52420390
It's like I'm /b/ in 2009.
>>52420119
never happened to me and i dont know if its still a thing. i always touch a heater/other metal just in case though.
i heard early PC's back in the 70-80's had static problems and were overall really delicate.
I wasn't even thinking about my hair. It's long as fuck. Picks up static electricity without trying. What do I do about this? Maybe I should put it in a bun and wrap one of those anti-static bags around my head.
>>52420237
I'll buy one of the wristbands after all. Thanks anon, your suffering may have saved me some.
>>52420311
have another m8
It's hugely over-exaggerated, I work on my computer on carpet and nothing has ever happened.
Fully populated boards are usually pretty robust when it comes to ESD. So the chance of zapping and killing your mobo or graphic card or whatever is pretty low. But it's not zero. Even if you don't use one of those wriststraps, you should 1. touch some metal once in a while, 2. hold components by the edges, not on exposed pins/metal and 3. assemble the PC on something like wood or stone, not your carpet. If you follow these rules, you'll be fine.
I find that chewing on aluminum foil reduces my static discharge. Try that.
It's overstated, but why even take the risk?
>>52420237
> be me
> think the exact thing OP does
> change processor to a new one
> boot
> black screen
> remove everything and clean
> black screen
> f*cked_everything.jpg
> nearly puting everything in the trash
> tries to boot with old processor
> works
> update bios
> change processor to new one
> works