Grounding and Static

[Nabobalis]

My current PSU has a RTN/GND cable and that if I fixed my anti static band to that cable I would then be grounded if the PSU is plugged into the mains socket, correct?

I'm going to be building my computer soon and I am slightly paranoid about static, so how likely would I get enough static to do damage to a component in a room with a laminate flooring and a wooden table?

Does it matter where the band goes? Having it round my ankle would make life a lot easier.

 

[hool10]

I have never used those things. What you do to prevent static is not being a moron.

1. Don't build a pc in very hot, dry weather where your constantly zapping things.
2. Don't shuffle your feet across the carpet. PICK UP YOUR FEET!
3. Be in bare feet.
4. Keep unused hardware in the baggies.
5. The most important tip ever: touch the metal case to get rid of that electricity every time you wak away from your spot where your working.

All you truly need to do is touch that case though.

 

[Nabobalis]

I have never used those things. What you do to prevent static is not being a moron.

1. Don't build a pc in very hot, dry weather where your constantly zapping things.
2. Don't shuffle your feet across the carpet. PICK UP YOUR FEET!
3. Be in bare feet.
4. Keep unused hardware in the baggies.
5. The most important tip ever: touch the metal case to get rid of that electricity every time you wak away from your spot where your working.

All you truly need to do is touch that case though.

Well 1 won't be a problem with the current weather.
Got little carpet and anyway I need to rearrange it so I will just roll it up.

Even if the case isn't grounded it's fine just to touch it to discharge the static? So I could just hook my band to it and that's it really.

On a different note, do 8800GTX have handles that add an extra 3-4" to the card? Or is it just mine.

 

[Asus]

What ground cable are you talking of on the PSU specifically? Personally, I don't like the idea of being chained to a PSU. What if it fails and electrocutes the stuff and you? If you are just touching the case at least you could fall back and not have constant contact.

Yeah, just touch the case. All the matters is that you and the case,hardware are the same charge and touching the case balances that. So when you get in there you and the hardware are the same charge and there is no electrons wanting to jump back and forth.

 

[Nabobalis]

What ground cable are you talking of on the PSU specifically? Personally, I don't like the idea of being chained to a PSU. What if it fails and electrocutes the stuff and you? If you are just touching the case at least you could fall back and not have constant contact.

Yeah, just touch the case. All the matters is that you and the case,hardware are the same charge and touching the case balances that. So when you get in there you and the hardware are the same charge and there is no electrons wanting to jump back and forth.

The PSU would be turned off and would not be the one that goes into my new build anyway as it would stay in my old computer. My Tagen 420W has a grounding/return cable according to the manual that should go on to one of the motherboard screw that holds it to the case to help stability.

Ok, so when I'm building this thing I just occasionally touch the case when I'm placing everything on the motherboard which rests on its anti static bag. I'm just scared of wrecking something.

Edit: Still wondering about my 8800GTX with a handle. I swear I didn't see anything about it in any reviews

 

[Asus]

What brand of 8800 did you get? Most retail models don't but I know OEM versions that Dell and other places get have it.

 

[Nabobalis]

What brand of 8800 did you get? Most retail models don't but I know OEM versions that Dell and other places get have it.

Yep was an oem version. Why would the oem version have a handle though? Can it be removed without taking a saw to it?

 

[Asus]

Here is a picture of a system OEM verion of the 2900XT with a handle. Does it look like that?

 

[Nabobalis]

Kind of, a bit more metal for the actual handle. It seems to be screwed on, but I think it might be glued on or something because no why could two screws hold the handle that well.