By all means do it. The straps are cheap and its an easy thing to do. I promise you'll feel like a total idiot the first time you fry one of your expensive computer components and realize it could have been avoided if you had worn that strap.
I'm not proud of this but when I worked in a computer repair shop we never wore these things. I myself have had static discharged onto several different types of computer components and never had anything get damaged.
One day I was bored and decided to try to destroy an old stick of ram by static. I shock that sucker about 10 times and nothing happened. But who know, you could get unluck and shock your cpu and be the 1 in 1,000,000 that actually damages it.
When I'm working on my personal computer I just make sure I touch the psu every once in a while. And I don't work on my computer while wearing sox and rubbing my feet on the carpet.
alright, should i look at say best buy or are these things like in hardware stores? could i just wear rubber gloves?BigGhostrider12
Best Buy should have a wristband under the Dynex name for about $10. Rubber gloves would be a bad idea, since you'd lose your sense of touch and wouldn't be able to screw things in as well.
As a side note, I have ruined a stick of RAM due to static discharge, so I make sure to always wear a wristband when working on my PC. It's not likely to happen, but it's supremely annoying when it does.
Radio Shack usually has them as well. Yeah, just make sure you touch something that is grounded once in awhile as well. I don't wear any shoes or socks either and work on hard floor as well.
In all my years of building rigs (since 1991) for myself and others, I have never ever used a wrist strap. I also have never ever damaged any components either due to not wearing a strap. I have always just touched a metal part of the case before touching anything else. IMO it's all paranoia. Use a strap if it makes you feel better and give you more confidence but in my experience, the strap is bogus.
The strap can't hurt, but it is usually not necessary. Newer computer components are not as fragile as they used to be; it's just a good idea to discharge your static electricity by touching the outside of the case before you begin working, much like you do right before you pump gas.
alright i think i'll save my money for a game on steam or something. but i'll make sure to do as some of you said and just touch the power source or case before handling something. Thanx guys
The strap can't hurt, but it is usually not necessary. Newer computer components are not as fragile as they used to be; it's just a good idea to discharge your static electricity by touching the outside of the case before you begin working, much like you do right before you pump gas.DGFreak
You're supposed to do that before you pump gas?? ... Noted.
In all my years of building rigs (since 1991) for myself and others, I have never ever used a wrist strap. I also have never ever damaged any components either due to not wearing a strap. I have always just touched a metal part of the case before touching anything else. IMO it's all paranoia. Use a strap if it makes you feel better and give you more confidence but in my experience, the strap is bogus.Tyson8earzz
Strap is definitely, definitely not bogus if you've worked in environments where they pay close attention to ESD - like subpar PSU's though, problems caused by it are nearly impossible to trace back to the time you didn't wear a wrist strap 6 months ago and damaged your RAM ever so slightly.
I don't use them anymore... Due to the fact that it's impossible to build up static where I live and I've never fried any of my components, however in a dry environment where static is build up simply by walking on socks or rubbing on any fabric, I would put the wristband as top priority.
I don't use them anymore... Due to the fact that it's impossible to build up static where I live and I've never fried any of my components, however in a dry environment where static is build up simply by walking on socks or rubbing on any fabric, I would put the wristband as top priority.nintendog66
[QUOTE="nintendog66"]I don't use them anymore... Due to the fact that it's impossible to build up static where I live and I've never fried any of my components, however in a dry environment where static is build up simply by walking on socks or rubbing on any fabric, I would put the wristband as top priority.Frantz22
Impossible? Proof please?
Well not actually impossible, but it's VERY difficult.
Touch a radiator or tap first too. That will rid your body of any static also take off your shoes and DON'T wear any nylon if possible work on your rig butt naked whilst grounded to a radiator :lol: better safe than sorry
[QUOTE="nintendog66"]I don't use them anymore... Due to the fact that it's impossible to build up static where I live and I've never fried any of my components, however in a dry environment where static is build up simply by walking on socks or rubbing on any fabric, I would put the wristband as top priority.nintendog66
Impossible? Proof please?
Well not actually impossible, but it's VERY difficult.
For the last 8 years I've worked in PC/Notebook/Server deployment not once have I used an anti-static strap. If you're standing on carpet maybe you need them, if not they're a waste of your time imho.
[QUOTE="BigGhostrider12"]someone said they just instal things with one hand while keeping the other grounded on some metal in the computer, idkteddyrob
I just keep one of my bare foot toe on something metal like the radiator. Then I have both hands free.
FYI, make sure you don't have any unexpected friends dropping by for the couple of hours while you're building your pc. Not flaming you, I just pictured this style of discharging static during a build and lol'd. But, yes, if you live in a dry area, it will make things a lot less complicated to just cough up the 4-6 bucks on a strap and have peace of mind. Of course, you could also work on your comp on one foot with one hand tied to the metal case. :)
I worked in a few computer repair shops and we never used them. The last place I worked had those anti-static mats on the floor. Those were worthless. Everytime I would grab the case to start working I'd get shocked.
I've got one at home on my own workbench that I never use. Just grab the unpainted part of the case before picking up any components.
I got a set that came with my ABS PSU. Useful for me because whenever i have to mess with my machine, I have to have all the parts all over the floor (carpeting) because of the lack of space anywhere else.
I've never used one and have had no problems with the PCs I have built over the years. Just make sure to touch the metal frame of the case before touching any components.
Only idiots would fork over 6-10 dollars if said idiots lived in a place with hardwood flooring to tempt the fates with lottery odds. You'd be more likely to see a return by buying an extended warranty than worry about static discharge.
I have one but never use it, the UK electrical saftey board suggests you jjust touch an unpainted part of a radiator every now and then. As long as you're not wearing loads of llayers you should be fine.
It's funny cause they always had us use them in school but I've never bothered to use one while working/building my PC. If you just make sure to touch the case often and wear some shoes instead of going bear-foot then you'll probably be ok.
[QUOTE="BigGhostrider12"]alright, should i look at say best buy or are these things like in hardware stores? could i just wear rubber gloves?ajkalan
Best Buy should have a wristband under the Dynex name for about $10. Rubber gloves would be a bad idea, since you'd lose your sense of touch and wouldn't be able to screw things in as well.
As a side note, I have ruined a stick of RAM due to static discharge, so I make sure to always wear a wristband when working on my PC. It's not likely to happen, but it's supremely annoying when it does.
Me I have been around computers for at least 20+ years and I have never worn a wrist band but I do every once in awhile touch the inside of the medal case and that seems to work just fine for me. I have a computer right now that is like 2+ years old and I have replace everything in it except for the mother board and not once did I ware a wrist band nor did I work on carpet. It has all been on some sort of hard floor. I have also work on my Mom's pc and have replace ram and and some other stuff as well and nothing has gone wrong and I plan to build my self a pc some time next year I believe. Eveyone has there own opion and there for they can choose to ware a wrist band or not.
We seem to have come to an agreement. If your newb at building or paranoid, or live in a super dry place, a band is a good idea. If you know what your doing and are working on hardwood floors (naked or not lol) you don't NEED it.
[QUOTE="BigGhostrider12"]someone said they just instal things with one hand while keeping the other grounded on some metal in the computer, idkmarkop2003
If the computer is plugged in then keeping yyour hand on the PSU will ground you
Dude, seriously? NEVER build or mess with anything inside your computer with it plugged in.
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