Accidentaly touched GPU while pc was running

[asen__123]

Hello,Yesterday i opened my pc while it was running and i accidentaly touched the GPU.I suppose that when i touched the case of the pc i automaticaly grounded myself(although it was powered on).So i was wondering if there was static electricity and if it damaged the GPU.However it doesnt seem like it was damaged it was working fine or some other components were damaged.I have a carpet in my room but i did not wear any socks during the opening process.Is there anyone that could tell me if there is a chance that something is damaged?

 

[Supahos]

There's a small chance but most likely it would have immediately messed up if it was going to. Keep on keeping on.

 

[Aspiring techie]

Trust me, if you would have ESD'd your GPU while your machine was running, you would know.
The chances of discharging static are lower than most people think. While I don't recommend it, I work with computers on carpet and no antistatic wrist strap. So far, nothing fried.

 

[toshibitsu]

I've touched my GPU' multiple times with different cards(intentionally). Moreso curious to find out just how hot each card feels while idle/gaming. The Titan was the one that felt like touching a kettle with boiling water in it.
Obviously, don't do this yourself.

 

[mwryder55]

Trust me, if you would have ESD'd your GPU while your machine was running, you would know.
The chances of discharging static are lower than most people think. While I don't recommend it, I work with computers on carpet and no antistatic wrist strap. So far, nothing fried.

When I worked for a software vendor in the early 80's one of our customers put in deep pile carpeting in their office. The users would often send out bolts of static to the dumb terminals killing them, especially during the winter. They had to spray the carpets with Downy to cut down the static risk.

 

[Aspiring techie]

Trust me, if you would have ESD'd your GPU while your machine was running, you would know.
The chances of discharging static are lower than most people think. While I don't recommend it, I work with computers on carpet and no antistatic wrist strap. So far, nothing fried.

When I worked for a software vendor in the early 80's one of our customers put in deep pile carpeting in their office. The users would often send out bolts of static to the dumb terminals killing them, especially during the winter. They had to spray the carpets with Downy to cut down the static risk.

That's why I prefer hardwood to carpet.

 

[Archer27]

While the guys above me have had good luck, I wouldn't be so quick to say that touching PC hardware ungrounded is safe.
It is entirely possible that some damage was done and the card is walking wounded or it's also possible nothing happened at all.
Walking wounded is when a component has been damaged but is not noticeable until a few months down the line when the component starts becoming problematic or fails outright.
From an engineering perspective, the dissipation of charge is relative to humidity, the difference of charge between two objects and grounding.
Since the PC was grounded, and it is summertime, it's possible any residual static was discharged and no damage was done at all. The fact you touched the case first also should have rid you of any surface charge.
Also, most modern motherboards have anti-ESD circuitry that is passive or active varying by board. GPUs don't have this circuitry, but you would do more damage to a graphics card not installed in a PC with ESD.

 

[asen__123]

Any way to check if something was damaged even when its not noticable ?

 

[asen__123]

Also when I touch the case to open it doesnt that automatically ground me to it and im just being paranoid and nothing happened at all cuz when there is a static electricity there should be sort of like a snap sound right ?

 

[IAmTheTofu]

Your graphics card is 99% fine, you're just very paranoid.

Trust me, unless you had a balloon rubbed over your head, I don't think your graphics card is broken. As long as the GPU didn't show any immediate signs (noise, turning off, etc.) it's fine.

 

[Archer27]

Any way to check if something was damaged even when its not noticable ?

Without super expensive screening equipment it's near impossible to tell.
You are correct that touching a plugged in case grounds you,
I agree that the card is 99% fine.