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#21
Looking at it from another point of view, my experience is that I don't have RAM chips suddenly failing very often at all. It's extremely rare, and in most cases, it's a server that detected an ECC issue and flagged the RAM even though it didn't fail at all. <This coming from a person who doesn't go to any lengths at all aside from touching a case or other metal before I start working.
However, in my case, I always have all of my machines plugged into UPS's that regulate their power. It's very well possible that many of these BSOD's from suddenly failing chips could be coming from power issues from the mains.
And also remember that we have people who overclock to the max and others who dabble in overclocking after reading how fabulous it can be and perhaps damage their own equipment by pushing it too far.
This is how I feel as well. I understand it from a technical perspective, I know that it exists. But I work with a ton of IT folks and help desk guys and home hobbyists and we seem perfectly fine working without all of these extra measures.
I don't want to seem combative either. That's not my reasoning for continuing to post. I too don't want somebody being intimidated, or deciding to not build a computer because they feel there is a high risk of component failure because they don't know which website must be followed in terms of how many precautions are necessary. I want these people to know that for many of us in the industry, touching the chassis or other metal has proven effective/efficient in almost 100% of cases.
1). Sure, I wouldn't drag my feet in footed pajamas on shag carpet before I began. I wouldn't have glasses of water/pop/beer sitting open on the workarea I was going to be working in. I would leave the components in their static bags until I was ready to actually work with them. And I would touch the chassis or other metal before I begin working. However, i would not be putting on wrist straps, special shoes or using a static mat during assembly.
2). As somebody who has gone onsite, and had many vendors come onsite, I can tell you that I have NEVER (and I mean absolutely NEVER) witnessed anybody actually use a mat or a wriststrap on site regardless of the equipment being handled. Be it desktops/laptops/switches/SAN's/PBX's/etc.
From a slightly ironic standpoint, I'd almost be nervous if somebody showed up onsite and brought all this stuff along. It would make me feel like they had just gotten the job or just passed the test, but didn't really have that much real world experience.