ESD to computer case!

[BlocksRocks]

Just shocked my computer case while the PC was on and the screen flashed for a split second and came back to normal, should I worry?! I don't know how this could of happened considering I have standoffs! Could it of been linked to the USB ports!? My computer case is a Corsair 100r.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Standoffs have zilch to do with anything. Those are simply there to make sure the circuitry on the back of the motherboard doesn't touch the case, which itself is a ground, hence why you discharged to the case. It shouldn't have affected your monitor though. Are you plugged into a power strip from the PC power supply or directly into the wall?

Test yourself by walking across your floor the same as you normally do, and touch one of the screws that hold the switchplate on the wall for your light switch. If you notice a shock, then you have a a static issue with your carpet or other flooring. You may need to get an anti-static mat or static floor treatment, or simply make sure you discharge yourself on something else like the metal portion of a lamp, before touching your computer after you've walked across your floor.

It might also be a good idea to get a device known as a polarity checker, that plugs into your wall outlet. They are fairly inexpensive and will tell you if the circuit is wired correctly, or if anything is switched or shorted. Also if the ground circuit is properly connected.

 

[SuperMassiveScum]

Standoffs have zilch to do with anything. Those are simply there to make sure the circuitry on the back of the motherboard doesn't touch the case, which itself is a ground, hence why you discharged to the case. It shouldn't have affected your monitor though. Are you plugged into a power strip from the PC power supply or directly into the wall?

Test yourself by walking across your floor the same as you normally do, and touch one of the screws that hold the switchplate on the wall for your light switch. If you notice a shock, then you have a a static issue with your carpet or other flooring. You may need to get an anti-static mat or static floor treatment, or simply make sure you discharge yourself on something else like the metal portion of a lamp, before touching your computer after you've walked across your floor.

It might also be a good idea to get a device known as a polarity checker, that plugs into your wall outlet. They are fairly inexpensive and will tell you if the circuit is wired correctly, or if anything is switched or shorted. Also if the ground circuit is properly connected.

Not entirely true - standoffs do ground your motherboard to your PC case (Note the metal pads around the mounting points on newer motherboards).

The screen may have flashed due to the sudden interference in the PSU power rails affecting the GPU, probably not a biggie.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Standoffs have nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not you release ESD to the case. They also don't protect anything from ESD. They all they do is isolate the backside circuits and solder points from touching ground. If you look at the area where the standoffs are, you will see that they are completely isolated. They are not there to provide ground, in fact, many motherboards or prebuilt systems use plastic push pins as standoffs. All the ground your system needs to the motherboard is provided through the cabling.

The discharge you experienced may not be a "biggie" and you probably didn't harm anything, but you may have. ESD can cause micro-damage that begins to send sensitive components on their way to an early grave, most especially if it's a recurrent problem. I wouldn't want to see it happening regularly and I'd take steps to see that it doesn't. In most cases, the discharge will likely be dissipated through the case's ground, but sometimes it can have an effect on hardware, especially if, like you saw, there are clear indicators that the system was affected by it.

 

[BlocksRocks]

Standoffs have nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not you release ESD to the case. They also don't protect anything from ESD. They all they do is isolate the backside circuits and solder points from touching ground. If you look at the area where the standoffs are, you will see that they are completely isolated. They are not there to provide ground, in fact, many motherboards or prebuilt systems use plastic push pins as standoffs. All the ground your system needs to the motherboard is provided through the cabling.

The discharge you experienced may not be a "biggie" and you probably didn't harm anything, but you may have. ESD can cause micro-damage that begins to send sensitive components on their way to an early grave, most especially if it's a recurrent problem. I wouldn't want to see it happening regularly and I'd take steps to see that it doesn't. In most cases, the discharge will likely be dissipated through the case's ground, but sometimes it can have an effect on hardware, especially if, like you saw, there are clear indicators that the system was affected by it.

How would I know if I damaged a component?

 

[Darkbreeze]

You won't, until it fails. Unless you do this consistently, it's doubtful any damage has happened. Just take steps to not do it on a continual basis.