Is it ok to wrap CPUs in tin foil?

[Gaard]

I just inherited a bunch of old systems from my family so I'm in the process of gutting them all out, but am low on antistatic bags.

 

[amdwolfman]

Hmmmm,maybe put a soft cloth sprayed with anti-static cling (laundry-use) in with your parts.?

 

[Davegod]

its foil, metal, conductive.... anti-static bags have the metal on the outside, not inside. Just stick it upside down on a bit of wood or cardboard or something. A small cardboard/plastic box would be more than fine for longer. actually, roll or fold a bit of paper, oragami box or whatever.

 

[Eli]

NO.

 

[Shazam]

Well, it'll keep the alien transmissions out of the CPUs...

I wouldn't keep a CPU in tin foil, just to be safe. There could be some kind of spark from the rubbing of the pins and the foil. But maybe that doesn't happen.

 

[psianime]

It's not a good idea to wrap it in tin foil. If you want to wrap your CPUs for safe transport I would put it in a box or wrap it really good to protect it.

-psianime

 

[Bovinicus]

I would advise highly against that. Some plastic wrap would probably be sufficient. Put it inside a small box after you wrap it.

 

[Paulson]

Put it in styrofoam...

 

[BD231]

Originally posted by: Paulson
Put it in styrofoam...

lol

 

[EdipisReks]

dip it in fondue.

 

[Eli]

NO!

Do not put your CPU or any other device sensitive to ESD in styrofoam or plastic wrap! I'm sure you all have seen how much static those things can build up.

You may as well rub your CPU on the carpet.

 

[Pariah]

Computer equipment is not that sensitive anymore. You can wear sweatpants and put the CPU's in your pocket and do jumping jacks the whole way home and the CPU's will be fine provided you don't bend any pins which is what you should be more concerned about.

 

[speed01]

I like the Oragami box idea myself........

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Pariah
Computer equipment is not that sensitive anymore. You can wear sweatpants and put the CPU's in your pocket and do jumping jacks the whole way home and the CPU's will be fine provided you don't bend any pins which is what you should be more concerned about.

Nonsense.

 

[compudog]

Static is the enemy! Send my your address and I'll mail you some stuff to put them in.

 

[Pariah]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Pariah
Computer equipment is not that sensitive anymore. You can wear sweatpants and put the CPU's in your pocket and do jumping jacks the whole way home and the CPU's will be fine provided you don't bend any pins which is what you should be more concerned about.

Nonsense.

Convincing arguement. I do it all the time, as do most of the people I know, (minus the jumping jacks) and have never seen a problem. And to be quite honest, I don't think I have ever seen a CPU in an anti static bag, they're certainly not sold that way.

 

[compudog]

Originally posted by: Pariah

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Pariah Computer equipment is not that sensitive anymore. You can wear sweatpants and put the CPU's in your pocket and do jumping jacks the whole way home and the CPU's will be fine provided you don't bend any pins which is what you should be more concerned about.

Nonsense.

Convincing arguement. I do it all the time, as do most of the people I know, (minus the jumping jacks) and have never seen a problem. And to be quite honest, I don't think I have ever seen a CPU in an anti static bag, they're certainly not sold that way.

CPU's are in anti-static treated plastic clam-shell things. In the past they were in either treated plastic racks or treated foam. Every RAM chip I have ever gotten was either in the same type plastic clam-shell thing or a anti-static bag (pink LLDPE plastic or mylar)

Edited for ridiculous spelling...

 

[Aboroth]

Not all damage done by static electricity causes immediate failure. It can also cause latent failures, which are arguably worse, because it is harder to detect problems.

 

[MisterMe]

Ahhh just throw em in a box. Keep them organized and don't stir up a static charge on purpose and you won't have any trouble...

 

[Valinos]

I second this. I actually rubbed an old Pentium Pro on the carpet once to see if would still work...and it did!

 

[JC]

Prolly wouldn't hurt anything. At least it's conductive, doesn't build up static. But it doesn't help avoid bent pins....
Got a mobo wrapped in foil once, works fine.

JC

 

[everman]

How about taking some cheap hard plastic containers (like tupperware but cheap and usually thrown away), and wrapping the outside in foil? or you probably wouldn't need the foil really, just put them on something non-conductive.

 

[Adul]

go to radia shck and buy some antistatic faom for your cpus

 

[Toro 45]

Strange,I remember A while back someone asked a similar question about sending computer parts wrapped in tin foil because he was out of static bags.The general concensous then was it was fine..Just for the record I really don't know

Toro

 

[ssanches]

Originally posted by: Pariah

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Pariah
Computer equipment is not that sensitive anymore. You can wear sweatpants and put the CPU's in your pocket and do jumping jacks the whole way home and the CPU's will be fine provided you don't bend any pins which is what you should be more concerned about.

Nonsense.

Convincing arguement. I do it all the time, as do most of the people I know, (minus the jumping jacks) and have never seen a problem. And to be quite honest, I don't think I have ever seen a CPU in an anti static bag, they're certainly not sold that way.

Retail chips are always sold that way with protection; it's just the OEM ones that are sold loose. Even if you damage a CPU due to static, you will never realise it until it's too late. And the damage may not show immediately, sometimes it's latent and comes after a longer time. Why play Russian roulette when you have safer options?