Static Electricity and computer hardware???

Question

I was seeing videos on CNET TV, and I saw one on how to install more RAM. The guy said to discharge yourself from static electricity before touching the hardware. Every time I open my computer to add or change something, I never worry about static electricity and my computer still works fine.

How does static electricity affect the hardware?

Answer 1

you can build up a few thousand volts of discharge on your body if you aren't careful. This can fry any sensitive circuit. As long as you ground yourself along the frame of the system, you really don't have anything to worry about.

Answer 2

Dont use vacuum cleaners to blow away the dust from your motherboards or any other electronic .It causes static charges in the air and your electronic circuits can get malfunctioned .Before opening your PC,touch the side of the PC(not the outer cabin) .This will discharge any static charges with your PC.But it is not like a tons of Volts.Dont touch your graphic cards .The moisture in your hands can damage it.If your body has an opposite charge to that of the PC,u get a static shock...Be safe ..Its your PC!!

Answer 3

It is not only about you it about the hardware components You can be charged with static electricity and some component are so sensible at this that you can influence thei behavior or you can damage them For this the hardware components are delivered in antistatics bags

Answer 4

Static electricity effects transistors and mosfets by introducing to much voltage on the (gates) of mosfets and the (base) junction of a transistor thus renerding it useless.

In a pentium there are over 1 million transistors,emagine if one shorted out--------------WOOPS.

Answer 5

It could blow the circuits. Not extremely likely but possible. Happened to me once adding RAM, the whole mother board was destroyed.