Shorten Motherboard Life

[fadsarmy]

I didn't know but the most common cause of shortening the life of your precious motherboard after static  discharge is to access the motherboard whilst it is powered on. I have been doing this for years but recently I learnt my lesson.

The pc was actually off but still connected at the mains. I was trying to remove a pci card and I dropped the screw onto the board which powered it on. Next thing I know is that the onboard NIC is gone from device manager. I killed it.

I also tried to change a fan whilst motherboard was on. As I connected it to the header the pc restarted and learnt that the fan header had died.

You may get away with it a million times but one day you'll be caught out!

[Dark Mantis]

That's a good lesson to us all. To be honest I expect most of us take chances like that sometimes and expect to get away with it. As you say in the end the numbers stack against you.

[bytheway_r]

You know, the situations you described - that's exactly how I do things. Somehow I never bothered to think if there's any danger to the board when the PSU's on.

Guess I'll watch myself from now on .

[Greed4Speed]

 
We all learn somehow, I've killed one or two things in the past.