Can a magnet damage or otherwise alter a computer?

[Rodion15]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Only an unusually strong magnet may interfere with a computer. But just the hard drive. Will the hard drive be damaged or just wiped?

However, non-insulated cables may be interfered by magnets. But how strong should the magnet be? Will a wireless charger placed on top of a laptop while on test alter anything? Probably not.

https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/i-didnt-know-that/idkt-magnets-computers

 

[solarasreign]

Try it and report back. For science.

 

[Rodion15]

Try it and report back. For science.

well, I actually did some tests by passing a strong magnet on several MacBooks at our workshop. I didn't find this altered its function in any way. My boss wasn't quite convinced at my explanations, and warned me against putting any magnetic stuff around our Macs during testing. Thus this post.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Did those MacBooks have HDDs or SSDs?

I very much doubt a wireless charger on top of a laptop would have any effect whatsoever. On the other hand, I don't see any benefit to keeping the charger on top of the laptop in the first place...

 

[Rodion15]

Did those MacBooks have HDDs or SSDs?

I very much doubt a wireless charger on top of a laptop would have any effect whatsoever. On the other hand, I don't see any benefit to keeping the charger on top of the laptop in the first place...

A wireless charger emits electromagnetic waves, such as a magnet does. I want to know if placing a wireless charger on a macbook during our testing at the workshop can interfere in any way, we keep all sorts of devices together and we're always shuffling them around as the table fills up.

Please avoid lazy answers, they simply don't help.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Yes, I know what a wireless charger is (and no, magnets do not emit EM waves). Before knocking my response, could you try answering my question? Did those macbooks have HDDs or SSDs? Same question for the laptops that may end up being stored next to wireless chargers.

 

[Rodion15]

I’ve been reading some articles that coincide in this:

No. Only an unusually strong magnet like the giant above may wipe a hard drive. But just the hard drive. And it left me with the doubt: will the hard drive be damaged or just wiped?

However, non-insulated cables may be interfered by magnets, but nothing will get damaged. But how strong should the magnet be? Will a wireless charger placed on top of a laptop while on test alter anything? Probably not.

https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/i-didnt-know-that/idkt-magnets-computers

 

[James Mason]

HDDs, because they record data with magnetics, can be negatively influenced by magnets, scrambling the "data" on them and thus "erasing" it.

 

[Rodion15]

HDDs, because they record data with magnetics, can be negatively influenced by magnets, scrambling the "data" on them and thus "erasing" it.

But only an unreasonably strong magnetic field will affect them it seems.

 

[TJ Hooker]

It would seem that you have nothing to worry about. The magnetic field strengths generated by a wireless charger should be far lower than those required to affect a hard drive. Also, reading a bit about the Qi charging, it looks the spec calls for magnetic shield to be placed below the coil of the charging station, so the field strength beneath the charger should be even weaker. Finally, I'm pretty sure the chargers turn off when not in use, so if they're just sitting on top of a laptop not charging anything there should be little to no magnetic field being generated.

 

[Mark RM]

the magnet required to affect a modern hard disk while OFF isn't something you will find lying around your house or office. While ON, that's a different matter.

 

[Rodion15]

the magnet required to affect a modern hard disk while OFF isn't something you will find lying around your house or office. While ON, that's a different matter.

but have you seen the video I linked. It doesn't.

 

[Mark RM]

the magnet required to affect a modern hard disk while OFF isn't something you will find lying around your house or office. While ON, that's a different matter.

but have you seen the video I linked. It doesn't.

Ever put a three pound rare earth cube magnet on a moving hard drive? It doesn't change the data on the platters, but it causes the heads to go nuts while they're moving. when we were playing with it we were able to get the heads to contact the platters. Technically, the magnet wiped no data, it just crashed the heads into the moving drive.

 

[Rodion15]

the magnet required to affect a modern hard disk while OFF isn't something you will find lying around your house or office. While ON, that's a different matter.

but have you seen the video I linked. It doesn't.

Ever put a three pound rare earth cube magnet on a moving hard drive? It doesn't change the data on the platters, but it causes the heads to go nuts while they're moving. when we were playing with it we were able to get the heads to contact the platters. Technically, the magnet wiped no data, it just crashed the heads into the moving drive.

Thanks for your answer.


So the final answer to this thread "Can a magnet damage or otherwise alter a computer?" would be:

It shouldn't damage or otherwise interfere with newer computers that feature SSDs instead of Hard drives. Although it may interfere with any non-insulated wiring, it shouldn't damage anything.

If the computer includes a mechanical hard drive, a very powerful magnet may interfere or damage the hard drive as it may crash the heads/platters.

 

[Mark RM]

Thanks for your answer.


So the final answer to this thread "Can a magnet damage or otherwise alter a computer?" would be:

It shouldn't damage or otherwise interfere with newer computers that feature SSDs instead of Hard drives. Although it may interfere with any non-insulated wiring, it shouldn't damage anything.

If the computer includes a mechanical hard drive, a very powerful magnet may interfere or damage the hard drive as it may crash the heads/platters.

I agree with your statement.