OOPS...help?

[oboeman2002]

Oops, when i took out my graphcis card, i accidentallly touched the bottem of it with one finger when i was trying to remove the radeon. Like i said, i just touched the bottem of the card with one finger. is the radeon 9800 pro now screwed up??

And, when i took out the grapchis, and then the motherboard (motherboard for RMA), i did not turn off the power supply and the psu was still hooked up to the outlet. when i unpluged the cords and all the ram and stuff from mobo, i did not turn off the power supply. did i do any damgae there?;Help, thanks a lot for your input

[Imperion1]

Video card is still good, you can touch any component anywhere as long as there is not any static (electrical) discharge.

As long as you unplugged the powersupply from the motherboard first, it should have had enough time to discharge any remaining current in the motherboard, before you started disconnecting things.

[oboeman2002]

i think i unplugged the psu from the motherboard last...

the psu was on and plugged into the outlet....is that ok??

And what does ground yourself exactly mean? Does that mean your psu is on and plugged into the outlet or is the psu off and its plugged into the outlet??

HELP
thanks

[Alex Iannuzzi]

Originally posted by oboeman2002

And what does ground yourself exactly mean? Does that mean your psu is on and plugged into the outlet or is the psu off and its plugged into the outlet??

HELP
thanks

It means to discharge the static electricity that you may have by touching a metalic item, such as a metal computer case. Static electricity can harm certain computer components (even though it's never happened to me )

[oboeman2002]

i understand that part alex..but what do u do to ground yourself?

[Bovon]

Originally posted by oboeman2002
the psu was on and plugged into the outlet....is that ok??

No, its not "ok"..but, you may have gotten lucky. There is 5 volts DC going to the motherboard anytime the power is connected to the power supply. This 5 volts energizes the motherboard for certain things even while its case switch has turned the system off (or Windows shuts the system down). Inserting or removing items that have power to them can create a spike in voltage similar to lightning, only hundreds of time less.

Always unplug the power cable from a computer prior to doing anything inside.

[Alex Iannuzzi]

Originally posted by oboeman2002
i understand that part alex..but what do u do to ground yourself?

Well before touching any parts inside the computer, you can either touch the case(if it is metal) or touch another metalic large item. So if u wanna get ur video card out, first touch something metalic and then go ahead and remove the video card.

[Bovon]

I really don't like to add to someone Else's post Alex, but that is a bit misleading. You undoubtedly know how to discharge yourself if you need it, but simply touching metal may not do the trick. A soup can is metal..and you can bounce one of those off the wall all day and never discharge yourself.

Static buildup in humans is caused in very dry times, and usually wearing certain kinds of shoes or garments, and walking on certain types synthetic carpet...if you have ever been shocked by touching a door knob etc, that was due to static charge buildup. Before working on sensitive electronics..it is prudent to discharge any thing you may have accumulated by touching metal that goes to ground..like a metal water pipe. In an ATX computer system, when the power cable is plugged into the power supply, the frame of the case is grounded back to the power company's grounding system...and will rid you of any built up static charge you may have..then..be very sure to remove the cable from the PSU before doing anything inside.

[mireland]

I always, work on either a linolium surface or use a plastic anti static mat, unplug power, wear my rubber soled shoes,wear a grounding strap and touch the outside of the case before I put my grubby hands inside my machine..talk about overkill but it's a generall habbit with me..

[oboeman2002]

Originally posted by Bovon
I really don't like to add to someone Else's post Alex, but that is a bit misleading. You undoubtedly know how to discharge yourself if you need it, but simply touching metal may not do the trick. A soup can is metal..and you can bounce one of those off the wall all day and never discharge yourself.

Static buildup in humans is caused in very dry times, and usually wearing certain kinds of shoes or garments, and walking on certain types synthetic carpet...if you have ever been shocked by touching a door knob etc, that was due to static charge buildup. Before working on sensitive electronics..it is prudent to discharge any thing you may have accumulated by touching metal that goes to ground..like a metal water pipe. In an ATX computer system, when the power cable is plugged into the power supply, the frame of the case is grounded back to the power company's grounding system...and will rid you of any built up static charge you may have..then..be very sure to remove the cable from the PSU before doing anything inside.

bovan....u are VERY VERY helpful Thank you so much.....

Ok these are the choices and choose which is correct (still kind of confused. )

1) plug the psu in the outlet and turn ON psu but computer is off
2) plug psu in outlet and turn OFF psu but computer is off
3) unplug psu from outlet and turn OFF psu but computer is off

I will touch the case after one of these choices...which one is right?


I REALLY REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE Everyone's help in helping me understand this question. THANKS!

[mireland]

go with #3

[cbh]

He was very lucky indeed.

[Bovon]

Originally posted by oboeman2002
1) plug the psu in the outlet and turn ON psu but computer is off
2) plug psu in outlet and turn OFF psu but computer is off
3) unplug psu from outlet and turn OFF psu but computer is off

I will touch the case after one of these choices...which one is right?

Sorry br mireland...but thats the wrong choice.

#2) is the closest I believe...but, get this picture.

Just by plugging in a power cable to the socket on a PSU does not "turn it on" in the real...ready to go, balls to the wall ready way...it will have the 5 volts energized and going to the motherboard...but...you ain't gonna touch the mother board yet..(I hope). When the power cable is connected to the PSU, it ALSO has the power company's grounding system connected as well. This is the setup we want to remove any static buildup. Then...you sit down, get ready to work..you touch the metal case while the power cable is connected to 1) the wall socket and 2) the computer. Now, with that little chore out of the way...yank the power cable 1) out of the wall socket or 2) the back of the computer, and allow it to flop down on the floor. You have 1) de-grounded yourself, and 2) are ready to proceed with your project.

I never have listed so many things "by the numbers" before

[oboeman2002]

thanks bovan...u are really helpful

I was lucky eventhough the psu was on! and it was connected to the outlet

So the key words is to
NEVER turn on the psu
AND after grounding yourself, unplug the psu cable from the psu!

[bushmaster]

Turn off psu, unplug psu from wall, push on button to discharge any residual voltage from caps, and touch a grounded metal surface to discharge any static electricity you might have built up in you.

Then you'll be 100% sure of no damage caused by errant electrical current. Now fumbling fingers and dropped tools is a different story altogether.