new motherboard ruined?

[modelcars87]

i was sitting at my desk checking a new motherboard i ordered out. i grounded myself prior to touching it, then put it back. a little bit later, i was holding the motherboard, checking it out (it was inside the anti static bag), then my finger touch the back of the board (there was an opening where i cut it earlier). is the motherboard ruined now?

 

[Arfer Daley]

dont panic matey you have to give it a pretty hearty whack of static too kill it ive handled loads over the years never killed one yet i guess ive been lucky if in doubt build your system on the table before shoving in your case

 

[townsbg]

Merely handling the board isn't going to cause static shock. The only time I've had static shock I could see it and feel it. After that I had smoke coming out of the back of my floppy drive. The best thing that you can do to prevent static shock is to use a grounded wrist band and stay off of carpet or wear shoes.

 

[modelcars87]

U think its OK?

 

[UsernameIssues]

U think its OK?

Your board is probably fine. As townsbg mentioned, wear a wrist strap to stay grounded when handling things like this. Wearing certain types of shoes while on carpet can create more static than being barefoot.

Merely handling the board isn't going to cause static shock. The only time I've had static shock I could see it and feel it. After that I had smoke coming out of the back of my floppy drive. The best thing that you can do to prevent static shock is to use a grounded wrist band and stay off of carpet or wear shoes.

townsbg,
"Merely handling the board" may not create a static buildup, but that is not the issue. A static charge can already be on the human and then discharge thru the board. We have no way of knowing how much charge was present when the OP touched the board. If you can saw/felt a static discharge, then the static discharge was many times the voltage level that can harm electronic components. The vast majority of components can only handle a static discharge of around 2000 volts. Somewhere around 4000 volts, the device's protection circuits can fail and the device gets damaged. Walking across carpet can generate 35,000 volts of static charge.

That said, once a device is mounted on a board, it is harder to damage it via static discharges. Device damage usually happens when humans (or robots) handle a device prior to mounting it on a board. If a human develops a static charge while holding a device, the damage usually happens when the device is being put down. (e.g. as the device is being put down - the corner of the device touches some grounded surface - this allows the static discharge to travel from the human - thru the device - and rapidly out to the grounded surface.)

Board manufacturing facilities go to great lengths not to have grounded surfaces that allow for rapid static discharges near where devices are going to be handled. Board assembly surfaces are made from materials that allow any static buildup to be slowly discharged to ground.

Once a device is mounted on a board, it is harder to get the static charge to travel thru any one particular device. In the OP's specific case, any static buildup on the OP that might have been transferred to the board probably did not have had a rapid discharge path to ground via the board or one of its devices.

 

[profdlp]

Hook it up and run it. Beats guessing.

 

[modelcars87]

Someone said that even if was damaged it can still run. It will just run slower or die fastet

 

[modelcars87]

Faster

 

[profdlp]

If it actually had static electricity damage I think you would find out fairly quickly. Set it up and test everything. Every USB port, all SATA connections, etc.

I'm assuming you are concerned about returning it. If you can't get it to glitch after a thorough workout I would not worry about it.

 

[modelcars87]

OK. Thanks

 

[UsernameIssues]

"Die faster" is correct. There is no practical way to test to see if a device on the board has been slightly damaged due to ESD event(s). It might still function and meet all specifications (e.g. be just as fast as it should be)... but it might die after 20 years of use instead of 50 years

That said, from what you described, your board is fine.

 

[townsbg]

The OP never mentioned actually having a static discharge. Did you actually have a static discharge? If you didn't see or feel anything then you likely didn't damage the board but then my observations are limited to only one personal incident. As mentioned you can connect it and test. You would likely know if you had a static discharge. I'm sure you've had it happen before when you touch a metal surface and get a mild jolt. It's the same thing.

 

[modelcars87]

Yes, I think I know what you mean. I did not feel anything.

 

[Layback Bear]

We could guess forever.

As I see it you have these choices.

1. Throw the motherboard away.
2. RMA the motherboard
3. Install the motherboard test and use it.

I would suggest that #3 is your best choice.

 

[modelcars87]

I will give it a shot and see

 

[UsernameIssues]

The OP never mentioned actually having a static discharge. Did you actually have a static discharge? If you didn't see or feel anything then you likely didn't damage the board but then my observations are limited to only one personal incident. As mentioned you can connect it and test. You would likely know if you had a static discharge. I'm sure you've had it happen before when you touch a metal surface and get a mild jolt. It's the same thing.

I'm not trying to agrue with you townsbg, but the voltage at which people feel static discharges varies considerably one day to the next. Many damaging static discharges will never be felt by a human. That mild jolt that you referenced was probably around 3000 volts. The duration of a static discharge is tiny (about 10 nanoseconds) - so the overall power is small - so the jolt is perceived as mild.

Lots of chips are going to be damaged with static discharge voltages above 2000 volts. Lots of people will never feel a static discharge in the 2000 volt range. That said, there are chips that can not handle a static discharge in the 100 volt range. Non-disclosure agreements prevent me from telling you the names of companies that use chips with that low of a ESD protection rating. It is really sad since it is hard to create a board assembly area where there is never going to be 100 volts of static buildup/discharge from time to time.

I'm not trying to say that the OP damaged the board. I don't think that he/she did. I'm just attempting to counter the concept that people can know when a damaging static discharge occurred based on whether they felt a discharge or not.

 

[Eric3742]

modelcars87

Not need to worry too much.
The most important is connection, which best handle carefully.
Meaning, connect wire & cards & RAM require care.

For example, my friend RAM slot was damaged by me, as i tend to use too much force.
Something stuck in the slot and cannot be remove, as it may damage the gold contact.

These required care attention, as you need to know what to insert /slot in first, in order.
Power connectors best slot in last, starting with the MB power connectors.
It is these inserting that you need to take note, not the MB.

Added: I never bother with these static &or ground issue.

Added 2: Do note that the power connection is not connect to any power supply point, while working on the MB, for any things such as open the computer to tinker on any items.

 

[Mellon Head]

If memory serves me correctly, the average person cannot feel electrostatic discharge that is under 4000 Volts.

The JEDEC Human Body Model for ESD testing aims for a target of 1000 Volts, though 2000 Volts was previously acceptable. Due to new fabrication processes (the transistors in your CPU are getting closer together) the threshold for damage is getting lower. Where 2000 Volts used to be a safe margin, that is no longer the case. With today's chips it doesn't take much to fry one, which is why a person should always handle a computer assembly with a proper ground strap on the wrist, and/or leave the items in an anti-static bag until you are ready to install them.

Note that a person can develop up to a 100 V charge even with a wrist strap on.

To the OP:

You may have damaged your board, but it's impossible to know unless it either doesn't work, or exhibits flaky behavior. The only way to know is to install it and use it.

 

[sdowney717]

Over many years I leave them laying around touch wherever, never a problem.

 

[modelcars87]

well, i had something else come up today. i got a new power supply and took it out of the box. i made sure to touch something metal, like a screwdriver, prior to opening. when i took it out, i felt what seemed like a vibration on my thumb. not a shock or anything, but a vibration. so i am wondering if its ok? i was sitting on a tile floor, but there was a bit of carpet where my foot was, so i didnt know if that could cause anything