Static shock damage?

[Aryder]

This is my first build and I did something pretty stupid. While putting togeather my system, I totally forgot about how static can damage hardware. I was standing on a thick chinese throw rug or something at my comp desk...and I was handling the sides and bottom of my MB while setting it to the MB tray from my case. I never touched anything directly, only the sides and the bottom with the tips of my fingers. I also set the CPU to the MB, I handled the sides of the CPU and touched the top of the CPU directly with one finger (why? I don't know) But I'm worried I might have caused some static damage to the cpu or MB. I don't have the system up and running yet, still waiting on power supply. But I was wondering if there was a way to determine if there was any static dmg done to my CPU or MB.
Should I be worried or am I over-reacting? Thanks

P.S. I'll be setting the rest of my rig up in the bathroom on tiles.

 

[Atheus]

Touching the top of the cpu and the sides of the motherboard does not put static into the system, as these bits don't conduct electricity. You have to touch the top of the cpu with something anyway, in order to apply thermal paste.

Static will enter the pins of the components, which stick out of the bottom of the mobo and cpu and everything else. Even then, static damage is so rare i wouldn't worry.

 

[wpshooter]

You are probably over concerned. Get yourself a good anti-static Wrist-band. And don't put computers together on a carpeted surface and be careful then walking over a carpeted floor and then touching the computer.

One of the components that I have found are the most prone to static damage are floppy drives.

 

[Aryder]

Cool, I was worried like all day that i might have damaged something, but I was very carefull to begin with. Lesson learned. Thanks all

 

[deathwalker]

I dont think you will have any problems. Also in many cases the damage static electricity does is not immediately noticeable..often the effects are long term.

 

[montag451]

As deathwalker says, and those are the WORST sort of problems, cos you are hard pushed to find out what the problem device is.

Although, I did kill a cpu recently as i was wearing a fleecy jumper - I felt the shock as i touched the unit, and won't tell you the words that passed my lips as i realised that i just gave a £100 piece of silicon 10 times more of a shock than it can handle.

 

[theslug]

I accidentally had a static buildup and touched the outside of my case, causing my computer to reboot itself. Should this happen?

 

[montag451]

Originally posted by: theslug
I accidentally had a static buildup and touched the outside of my case, causing my computer to reboot itself. Should this happen?

No.

It should be earthed.
Where are you? In the US? Isn't it mandatory to have an earth wire there?

 

[theslug]

Yeah I'm in the US, and it is grounded with a standard 3-prong cord.

 

[montag451]

You got me there.

I would say it is a prob with psu if your system isnt fully grounded, but, then again, it could be a fault with your wiring.

The only way to check would be to get an electrician out, or to somehow, get your psu fully tested.
If it was a one off, then no problem - for now.
If it happens a few times, time to take action.

 

[theslug]

It's happened before in more than one location with this computer, so I don't think it's the wiring here.

I do have wires that go from the case fans to a set of rocker switches in the front of the case, so it's possible that maybe some wiring got exposed and is causing a short. Could also be the PSU like you said, so I'll try testing it.
Thanks

 

[SuperSilicon]

Sounds like you are over-reacting to me.

 

[theslug]

Nothing wrong with being on the safe side. If it was just once, I wouldn't care, but it's happened before.

 

[fsardis]

a static discharge will burn a components. that is to say you will only burn a component if you make it the passage for electricity from your body onto the ground.
hence, unless you touch the cpu pins with your hands and at the same time touch the rest of the cpu pins on the wall or other element that has a different charge, you will be ok.
when you see the spark you will know the component is dead.

 

[montag451]

You can destroy a cpu with a much less discharge than a visible spark.
It is right, if you can see a spark, or feel it, then the component is dead - but, it doesn't mean that if you don't feel it, or see it, the component is ok.

 

[fsardis]

to be honest with you in the years i have been building computers ive never worn once in my life a static bracelet. also ive never take any serious precautions when building a pc. i have yet to kill a component from a static discharge.

 

[SuperSilicon]

Ive killed a few things, I don't reccomend working on your system with a hangover.

 

[montag451]

Originally posted by: SuperSilicon
Ive killed a few things, I don't reccomend working on your system with a hangover.

Yeah, I wan't gonna say anything cos i didn't want to sound like the only idiot.
Safety in numbers, eh....

 

[SuperSilicon]

10 years working with hardware your bound to do something retarded.

 

[montag451]

I do something retarded everyday, whether I need to or not.
Its a matter of principal.

 

[SuperSilicon]

Its funny/ironic right before this topic came up I belive I destroyed my videocard via static shock. Didnt realize it untill I just had my machine tested. $350 dollars later waiting on my new card to arrive.

 

[montag451]

ouch

 

[NateSLC]

I just replaced a motherboard for a friend who zapped the power switch with a sizeable shock. The motherboard was just plain dead, but all the other components survived.

 

[theslug]

I replaced the faulty Antec TP480 with a Fortron and I still have the same issue. Weird thing is it was working fine for weeks now until tonight. I touch the outside of the case and it reboots. What else could be wrong?