using magnetic screw driver inside the PC case....... safe?

[PremiumG]

silly question but...

is it safe to use a magnetic screw driver in the PC case? I mean i assume the hard drives are shielded; especially since in older cases the hard drive was right next to the internal PC speaker which is magnetic.

so is it ok to use a slightly magnetic screwdriver in a PC case?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yes it's safe. People are way too scared of teh 3v3l magnetz. It's the deadly PSU caps that they should be afraid of.

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Yes it's safe. People are way too scared of teh 3v3l magnetz. It's the deadly PSU caps that they should be afraid of.

QFT.

I have used magnetic screwdrivers on PCs for years, even around the hard drives. A magnetic screwdriver simply does not have enough gauss to hurt anything in your PC.

 

[eplebnista]

Yes

 

[bacillus]

Originally posted by: eplebnista
Yes

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Captain_Howdy

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Yes it's safe. People are way too scared of teh 3v3l magnetz. It's the deadly PSU caps that they should be afraid of.

QFT.

I have used magnetic screwdrivers on PCs for years, even around the hard drives. A magnetic screwdriver simply does not have enough gauss to hurt anything in your PC.

What if I own a solid neodymium-iron-boron magnet?
j/k

 

[imported_Kensai]

It's safe.

 

[Intelia]

No its not unless your very careful not to touch any components. Just use a non mag driver. I bet you don't use a grounding wire either.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Intelia
No its not unless your very careful not to touch any components.

What are you basing that off of?

Unless this is some sort of super screwdriver, the magnetic field it produces is pretty darn weak.

 

[imported_michealo]

grounding wire? i won't even unplug a PC when i work on it, that's what's grounding it

over 15 building pc's, never had one problem

 

[vapore0n]

magnetic screwdrivers shoulnt be a problem unless you run it up and down really fast next to a coil.

 

[JonMooring]

Originally posted by: vapore0n
magnetic screwdrivers shoulnt be a problem unless you run it up and down really fast next to a coil.

haha that sounds fun, let me give that a go!

 

[ArchAngel777]

I have built over 500 PC's and do I use an anti-static bracelet? LOL, no... Overrated... Do not get me wrong, it is still possible to damage something. Possible, but definitely not probably. Out of those 500+ PC's, only 2-3 failures. Anyway, it is totally safe to use a magnetic screw driver. Personally, I recomend working on the PC without it plugged into the PSU, but that is my personal preference. Of course there is no ground, but like I said, that is overrated anyway. I think anyone who builds a lot of systems can attest to that.

Edit ** But I should note that I do not touch the chips ever. Only the edges of the card or motherboard etc... I suppose if someone was careless and fondled up the parts everywhere without be grounded, it might be more likely to have a component failure...

 

[pulsedrive]

Quick test: Put the magnetic screwdriver up against a CRT, if it doesn't distort it, there REALLY isn't a strong enough magnetic field to hurt anything.

 

[Thyme]

Originally posted by: michealo
grounding wire? i won't even unplug a PC when i work on it, that's what's grounding it

over 15 building pc's, never had one problem

Before ATX, leaving it plugged in to ground it was a good idea, but with ATX, there's always current as long as it's plugged in, so you run a higher risk working on it when it's plugged in.

 

[GregMal]

I have used a magnetic screwdriver for years on many, many PC builds
and have never had a problem. It's great for those little screws that have to
go in way down in the case on the MB install........

 

[xiaobao12]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777
I have built over 500 PC's and do I use an anti-static bracelet? LOL, no... Overrated... Do not get me wrong, it is still possible to damage something. Possible, but definitely not probably. Out of those 500+ PC's, only 2-3 failures. Anyway, it is totally safe to use a magnetic screw driver. Personally, I recomend working on the PC without it plugged into the PSU, but that is my personal preference. Of course there is no ground, but like I said, that is overrated anyway. I think anyone who builds a lot of systems can attest to that.

Edit ** But I should note that I do not touch the chips ever. Only the edges of the card or motherboard etc... I suppose if someone was careless and fondled up the parts everywhere without be grounded, it might be more likely to have a component failure...

so should you leave the PC plugged into the wall? i don't quite understand...sorry

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: xiaobao12
so should you leave the PC plugged into the wall? i don't quite understand...sorry

I would never try that with mine...at the very least, the NIC appears to draw power even if the computer is turned off.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Yes it's safe. People are way too scared of teh 3v3l magnetz. It's the deadly PSU caps that they should be afraid of.

 

[xiaobao12]

Originally posted by: michealo
grounding wire? i won't even unplug a PC when i work on it, that's what's grounding it

over 15 building pc's, never had one problem

are you saying that by leaving it plugged in to the wall, its grounded?

 

[Mesix]

I use one

 

[Topweasel]

Yes, By leaving the Computer plugged into the wall it is grounded through the outlet. On AT keeping it plugged in was Just plainly the way to do it, now you have an issue with ATX powering the computer even when it is power off. This is what the switch on the back is meant for. If you have ATX and no switch just touch the frame of the case while it is plugged in then unplugg it before starting work. It is also a good idea to power th machine on while unplugged or with the ATX switch off this will discharge the power in all of the caps. As for the Screw Driver nothing and i mean nothing is affected by it, the only thing that may have trouble is the hard drive, but I took a Power full VHS tape clearer to a hard drive once (It also can give none magnetic screw drivers a bit of a magnetic charge for a few days) and imeadiately stuck it back into the machine, work fine so I had to go through the old fashion way of 4 or 5 full formats. I would think that if that didn't have any imeadeate impact on the HDD then any long term damage caused by a passive magnetic screwdriver will be unnoticeable.

 

[theMan]

i cant think about how many times a magnetic screw driver has saved me from losing a tiny screw or something deep down in the case or on the mobo. just dont set it down on something for a long time.

 

[KayKay]

i've built all of my computers and every friends with a magnetic screwdriver. never had a problem

 

[ArchAngel777]

so should you leave the PC plugged into the wall? i don't quite understand...sorry

Nope, I advise people not to leave them plugged in. But I do understand why a lot of techs do. Having the power cable plugged into the wall and into your PC provides a ground when you touch the case. So, you essentially ground yourself when putting any part of your skin on the metal case. Typically a lot of techs will touch the case, then pickup the component they are going to install and place it in. The way they can be sure they do not have any charged static electricity is to touch the case (which is grounded through the PSU ---> Power Cable ---> Outlet ---> Earth Ground