unplugging a PC once turned off?!?!

[Maniac618]

When I want to unplug a PC from the mains outlet in the wall, do I first have to take the power chord from the pc or can i just turn off the electricity switch on the wall?

I'm about to install a graphics card and I know I have to take the power chord out of the PSU, but before I turn off the electricity on the wall must the cable be out before then too?

Also my antec PSU has a switch should i press this to off before or after I have unplugged from the wall or taken the chord out of the PSU? help me with the correct order please! Sorry for being a n00b!

 

[SKORPI0]

Turn off the computer, turn the PSU switch to off position, pull the power plug.

Install video card then do reverse to turn on computer.

 

[Maniac618]

pull the power plug from the PC or the wall?

 

[gsellis]

It matters not. The goal is to create a gap large enough that the standard spark cannot bridge it. In other words, create a "spark gap"

Note - "Spark Gap" is one the first issues you should look for when troubleshooting why something is not turning on.

 

[SKORPI0]

Turning off the power supply would suffice (IMHO), but as a precaution I pull of the power cord from the PSU side. Good luck.

 

[ronach]

As stated, switching off the PC Pwr Supply switch is sufficient. You should leave the pwr cable plugged into the wall so that you still have grnd reference [ from the pwr cable third wire ] available to the case of your pc. That way you can grnd yourself temporarily to the case [ to discharge static electricity ], then go about the business of changing your vid card.

Note; above I said the PC PWR SUPPLY SWITCH, located on the pwr supply it self, usually found on the back of the computer, not the pc front panel pwr switch.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: ronach
As stated, switching off the PC Pwr Supply switch is sufficient. You should leave the pwr cable plugged into the wall so that you still have grnd reference [ from the pwr cable third wire ] available to the case of your pc. That way you can grnd yourself temporarily to the case [ to discharge static electricity ], then go about the business of changing your vid card.

Actually, that's completely unnecessary to leave it plugged in, and it could be a risk to both the computer components as well as potentially yourself...

Originally posted by: ronach
Note; above I said the PC PWR SUPPLY SWITCH, located on the pwr supply it self, usually found on the back of the computer, not the pc front panel pwr switch.

Oh, well, then yes. But that wasn't clear from the first part of your post.

It's still safer to just yank the cord from the back of the PSU after shutting down the machine, because what happens if, during moving the PC around, the switch gets flipped, and components get fried due to standby power supplied to the PCI, USB, and DIMM slots? Plus, some cheaper PSUs don't even have a "kill switch" in the back.

 

[imported_jediknight]

Is it necessary to turn the PSU switch off before unplugging? I never do that (am I asking for trouble?)

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: jediknight
Is it necessary to turn the PSU switch off before unplugging? I never do that (am I asking for trouble?)

No, not really. It might help to drain any excess energy in the PSU components, but unless you're planning on cracking open your PSU, this is not usually a problem.