naugahyde covered card table: Is it a safe computer build surface (ESD's)?

I am building my first at-home computer. Will using a naugahyde covered card table a good or bad option? Thanks.

 

First, congrats for taking the plunge and building your own! Second, :dood rock on for being concerned about ESD! :highfive I wish everyone was.

Now, understand that it does not matter what surface you build on because it is the static in YOU that matters most. You can build up a destructive charge in your body just by squirming in your clothes or in your chair!

So you want to keep you and your computer "at the same potential" so there is no static buildup in you that may jump (arc) to your ESD sensitive devices.

And you keep you and your computer at the same potential by remaining in constant or near constant contact with the computer case - either by wearing a ESD/antistatic bracelet or planting your hand on bare metal of the case interior and keeping it there.

You also need to avoid touching the electrical contacts of the sensitive devices (RAM, CPU, cards, the motherboard).

And don't slide anything across your table top - carefully lift and put down (holding on to or touching the bare metal of the case interior first).

The motherboard manual typically addresses ESD concerns too.

Sadly, there is no industry standard for labeling so it is common for the case's front panel wires to be labeled slightly different from the motherboard's front panel cable header. The case wire might say RST while the motherboard might be labeled Reset. Or one may say Power and the other PWR LED, not to be confused with HD LED. So check your motherboard and case manuals.

Another word of caution and common mistake by new and/or distracted builders is using too many case standoffs when mounting the motherboard. Note that cases are designed to support 1000s of motherboards of different sizes. So cases typically have several more mounting holes for standoffs than motherboards have mounting holes. If you install a standoff where there is no corresponding motherboard mounting hole, it can (and typically does) result in shorting out the motherboard the first time you power up. So triple check standoff placement before mounting the board.

Also remember motherboards typically require two (sometimes 3) connections from the PSU and many graphics cards require 1 or 2 additional power supply connections too.

Remember good cable management help optimize air flow. And generally you are looking for front-to-back flow of air through the case.

For TIM (thermal interface materials) today's TIM pads are fine but if applying your own TIM, the most common mistakes are failure to thoroughly clean the mating surfaces before applying new TIM, and applying too much TIM. You only need to fill the microscopic pits and valleys of the mating surfaces, any more is in the way! So you want as thin a layer as possible, but complete coverage.

Take your time, use good lighting and good luck.

 

Bill AFE7Ret:

Thanks. Terrific information. It's greatly appreciated.

Stan NAVE7Ret

 

:drink