Build Advice Has anyone ever killed a piece of kit with static?

Just wondered if anyone had killed a piece of kit by handling and static shocking it?

I have never really given a huge amount of care to static protection other than touching the case before disconnecting the PSU cable, and I have never had any problems!

Alex.

 

i've killed amps due to no ground

 

Ive killed an old mobo (many years ago)

It doesnt seem so easy nowadays....

 

Nope. I've not done a massive amount over the years, but I've installed a dozen or so memory upgrades, probably half a dozen graphics cards, and built one system from scratch.

I've always earthed myself on the case before handling anything, and since building my own rig I've used a wrist strap earthed to the case. That said, prior to that I was never especially careful and I still never cooked anything.

Right now, instead of earthing myself, I am touching wood because I'm about to order all the bits for a brand new build and don't wanna be jinxed!

 

Nope - all I do is touch the back of a case before I do anything.

Have been doing this for years and all the systems I've build/repaired still work with no issues..

But I may just be lucky

 

With common sense, a little caution by handling around the edges, and not wearing synthetic clothing it's difficult to kill components.

I like to stick a piece of metal down the earth pin of a socket first before starting, just to discharge, as well.

 

I just earth myself on the taps and I've never killed anything.

 

I may have once. It was a resistive touchscreen controller card which means that it requires an extraordinary sensitive voltmeter chip which I suspect was fried. Still not certain as to how this one happened because it was installed in a makeshift case at the time that it fried.

 

Not personally, but I had a friend who took over his dad's business which was assembling circuit boards and duplicating VHS hard core continental european porn (You can't make **** like this up).

Soon after he had the business he won a major US deal to assemble circuit boards for point of sale units. His "Experts" told him they had the right anti static equipment / stations, but it turns out they didn't. Six months after install the tills started failing and all had to be repaired or rebuilt (I can't remember which) by a company in the states. It was originally a 5mil deal, and my friend had to pay out about 2mil to deal with the crappola he was left standing in.

All because they had antistatic precautions but they weren't good enough to protect the chips being used. The chips got damaged and failed a while later.

As always, wiki has more info on the risks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_discharge

But I've never killed anything, but these days I use an earthed strap all the time when inside a PC. If it's just something quick I'll earth myself on the case.

Be careful and it'll be okay

 

Many years ago when I was a systems manager I may (or may not) have killed a couple of servers that I couldn't get budget to replace... no shoes, a bit of carpet surfing and a nice winter jumper can transform you into a good representation of the Imperial Emporer...

 

Nope. I always make sure to avoid touching the gold contacts on ram, gpus ect, and I always (well..almost always) touch the radiator before I begin to earth myself.

 

I always touch something metal to discharge any static before picking things up and don't touch pins or contacts. Haven't broke anything yet.

 

Well seems as I thought that anti static straps are a waste of time! I wonder if it comes from the old days when computers ran on tape? Mind you on Mythbusters they tried everything to clear the info from a credit card with static amoung other things, and that didnt touch it.

It just seems strange that every 'PC Toolkit' includes a static strap, and recommend a static matt, ive assembled lots of PCs on the carpet, no issues thus far!

Alex.

 

I've used my antistatic wrist band on and off: not always practical to work next to a radiator, so i just take off my socks and hope.

On a side note, I've electrocuted my case with 12v from (my) dodgy molex wiring a couple of times while the system was running: shited it first time it happened, the system shut off instantly. Turns out you just need to switch the PSU on and off. Works fine now.

 

I've never killed a computer component. I tend to ground myself and the anti static bag before i open anything, but thats about all the precaution i take.

I suspect i killed my old Zune 80 with static when i tried to replace the glass screen covering though. i was being so careful with everything, but i'd forgotten to ground myself

 

Personally I haven't, and I'm far from careful. Carpet, I just sit there cross-legged like a little kid and install bits and pieces. That said, I don't touch anything if possible apart from the silicon itself. I'd say that the chances that you will kill something that way are very, very low, unless you are almost purposely trying to do so.

 

The wife killed an 8800 Ultra by wrapping it in bubble wrap to pack away.

I could have killed her!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bitch!

 

Storing it as a museum piece? The 8800 Ultra was (and still is) a wicked card!

I just keep touching the PSU every other minute when installing new hardware. I reallyshould bother to turn it off at the mains to be honest...

 

Yes you should. While you would probably survive an electric shock (assuming you have a strong heart) your hardware would not.

And to be honest, I'm actually amazed you even take the risk of being electrocuted at all. I had an electric shock when I was a teenager, and I can tell you they aren't pleasant.

 

I have too!

While it wasn't pleasant, it isn't in the 'worst things ever experienced' box!

I do turn the PSU off though .