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best place to build PC?

G

GaryKing

Member
would a carpeted area NOT be a good/okay place to build a PC? should it be somewhere with a hard surface, like a hardwood floor?
 
My buddies and I have built several PCs on my carpet floor. But then maybe all of the pizza crumbs and dust have shielded us from any potential static...
 
I've built every computer I've ever had on my carpeted living room. It doesn't matter just be careful, and lay some news paper down or something
 
You can build anywhere if you are careful,kitchen is a good place.

Living room is no problem,I just put all my hardware parts on a wooden surface like a table and build from there..

 
I usually do it with telekinesis so nothing touches any surface until its done.

Seriously though. I always construct PCs on my living-room floor, with some moist towels down. Static isn't that big of a deal here though. That being Seattle. Coastal moist air. Little chance for static.
 
Originally posted by: halfadder
My buddies and I have built several PCs on my carpet floor. But then maybe all of the pizza crumbs and dust have shielded us from any potential static...
Click to expand...
Do you attract the same degree of static electricity if you wear sneakers instead of just socks on the carpet?
 
I thought static couldnt hurt as long as u dont touch any connectors/pins ?
Unless maybe when u go dressed as a whol furry ball or something? (lightning kaboom lol), Sorry, just painted a picture of a furry whollen man electrifying his computer lol...

When u need to touch any connectors/pins, just touch something grounded in your living room or something first
 
tile is usually on top of concrete and thus cold, attracting more humidity. Humidity dissapates static readily.

Never wear sneakers when static is a concern.
 
Static will travel through any conductor... and there are conductors covering like what? 75% of the surface area of everything you touch when building a computer?

ESD straps are cheap people!
 
I've built 4 computers (rebuilt / upgraded many more) on my carpeted bedroom floor without any problems. Just remember to touch an unpainted portion of your case every so often, or wear an ESD strap like ribbon13 said.
 
Originally posted by: ribbon13
ESD straps are cheap people!
Click to expand...
What's a proper ground to connect the strap to? Certainly not the chasis where the actual peripherals are? Perhaps the removal, metal side door of the case?
 
Originally posted by: symbol
What's a proper ground to connect the strap to? Certainly not the chasis where the actual peripherals are? Perhaps the removal, metal side door of the case?
Click to expand...
Why not? The point is to (gradually, not violently) equalize the voltage potential of two bodies - namely you, in reference to the components/chassis. In other words, the chassis is exactly what you should be grounded to, the one that the components are all connected to. That is further facilitated by the fact that the strap has a bleeder resistor inline with the connection, usually.

You can also purchase anti-static work mats, and those have a metal ground clip on them that you can attach the wrist-strap to. I generally use the mat in most situations where I have to lay the case down, it keeps me from accidentally scratching up the furniture with the case.
 
Static can kill your components but if you take good precautions it cuts down your chance of zapping and killing your stuff to slim and none. The best place is to stand on a floor that doesn't aid in producing static (like hardwood floors). If you can, wear shoes with rubber soles. A lot of flip flops (slippers) are made of all rubber/plastic as well. Even taking these precautions, touch the PSU and metal computer case for a couple of seconds before handling something like RAM, video cards and mobos. You will have a very hard time zapping to death your stuff with just a few simple precautions. I've even built my computer on a carpetted floor with me and the case lying on top of a bed. Definitely a no-no but if you take some precautions you can greatly reduce the risk of static.
 
I like building on a table. I've built on carpet, just make sure you ground yourself on the case before grabbing components.
 
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