Do I really need a anti-static strap/mat for dismantling a desktop?

"Since there are conflicting answers here, let me try to clarify:

It is not vitally important to either your safety, or the safety of your computer's electrical components that you use an anti-static strap / mat. That being said, it does not hurt anything at all to be using one, and it will definitely help to ensure that everything you're doing is safer.

Anecdotally (take this with a grain of salt): I have been casually doing computer repairs on and off for more than a decade, and have never used an anti-static strap / mat myself. I have never shorted out any of the components I was working on, but I've certainly been taking some risks by not using a wrist strap.

Like Tracey said, if you take other necessary precautions, you can get away without it. It's more a question of how comfortable you are with making sure you're always holding onto a grounded chassis, and how confident you are that you won't accidentally zap something. If you do zap something, you'll certainly be sorry you weren't more careful - that's just a risk I've been willing to take.

For reference, iFixit does sell a pretty low-cost and effective Anti-Static Wrist Strap."

"Getting electronics hit with ESD will drive you nuts. The RAM gets hit most often but it will cause intermittent errors and strange malfunctions that don't always show up with diagnostics. I have spent days trying to figure out what was wrong with a ESD hit machine. The mat is to prevent ESD (electrostatic discharge) which can severely damage electronic parts. Here's the Wiki on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostat...

Here's my former answer on this issue: You can build up a static charge wearing almost anything. ESD (Electrostatic discharge) 1/10 the amount of a felt shock can destroy RAM and other electronic components. If your wall jacks are grounded you can discharge yourself when you sit down. Reach over and touch the center screw of the plate. If you're still worried you can buy a wrist grounding strap that plugs into the wall for under $5.00 at your local Radio Shack or you can use a grounded mat.

Also take a look at this: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) control

For those that think I'm nuts please do a little study on the subject before you respond, here's a tutorial on it: http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/el...

Here's more from the ESD Association: http://www.esda.org/"

"I support Mayers' position (granted a little late in the dialog)

You should use a grounding strap and mat that is bonded to a good ground point. At times I do cheat. But, I do so by having the unit I'm working on plugged in (ground cord devices only) and turned off. Then I keep one hand holding the metal chassis so I'm at the same voltage potential as the device and my tools I am using, never moving or touching anything else.

The issue is your climate plays a big part on how much static electricity is present (ESD). A humid environment wont face the same risks than a very dry environment does. So in the middle of the winter in Alaska it's a must, in the rain forest of central America not so much a need.

OK - What proof is there is any harm not using one? The damage is not always instant, often it can take a few days or a year or two to show up. Which make it hard for many to believe it was a factor.

When I was working at IBM they gave us a very compelling demo. Using a electron microscope they show us a circuit which had test leads exiting which we applied an ESD charge. With our own eyes we could see the area vaporize and become damaged. We did this three times with different voltages two showed damage but still worked. It was clear the damage weakened the chip as it did finally fail."

"Absolutely, if your intention is to have long lasting, less trouble prone, equipment.

First, the mat and strap are to used when equipment is not energized. The mat is supposed to be impregnated with metal to help dissipate charges, if you use energized equipment on the mat, if may lead to injury to yourself or your equipment.

Second, the strap should dissipate your charge to ground slowly, and the mat should dissipate any charge on the equipment to ground, again slowly. So, when you touch your equipment, both you and the equipment should be at the same potential, thereby limiting any flow of electricity.

I worked on electronics in the Navy for ten years, and they were sticklers for using mats and straps. They spent large sums of money on the program, and provided microscopic images of the damage cause by ESD during training. Most people cannot see the damage that ESD causes, but everyone that knows electronics uses it. Your CPU comes in a shielded bag, as does your RAM, your Motherboard, GPU, etc... all manufactures recognize its importance. Sure ""most"" people go without using them, but a $25 mat and strap are small investments for you, why risk it.

P.S. You always hear about people having strange issues with new equipment, DOA equipment, etc... some I am sure are related to ESD damage. Corporations would use it if they didn't think it was necessary, as it adds costs to production."

I've never used one, and never witnessed damage that could be attributed to not using one. With these issues that are so debatable, the answer is usually that, no, it probably doesn't matter. If it did, the evidence would be far clearer. I mean, I'd advise against installing shag carpeting in the area where you repair computers, buy beyond obvious stuff like that, I'd say you're fine.

"This one is really very simple. Ive been a pro PC tech for my entire adult life, over 20 years. If you intend to tie your hand to something while you work on your PC, why not just go ahead and handcuff that hand to a rear belt loop? It'll work out about the same, is my point. Yep, there are lots of folks that would love love love to sell you thirty five cents in material and manufacturing costs for a mere $20 USD, but the truth? Always always have the habit of having your hand on the metal chassis that is the inside framework of every single PC, server, point of sale terminal, etc etc. It has to have that metal framework, because specs require it for other things to ground to, to prevent a fire. Static is because of a differing electrical potential (imagine your body is a big ole capacitor, because actually, it is. Your body and it's ability to hold electrical potential is the cornerstone of touchscreen tech, in fact.) between two objects, and it discharges, nullifying that differing electrical potential. However, your PC chassis will always discharge static safely, if it's the first part of the PC you touch. Just get into the habit of physically moving it around the bench by that chassis with an un-gloved hand, and you will be fine. Ive never worn a wrist strap, not once in 20 years. Not once in 20 years have I killed a part with static. In fact, I bet if you were standing behind a pro bench looking to churn and burn through 40 repairs in a shift and you pulled out a wrist strap? You'd prolly get laughed at a mocked behind your back as an anal retentive OCD case. A static wrist strap is a solution desperately in search of a problem, and I assure you, anyone claiming you need one does not do productive work on serious hardware, period.

Update

Its funny, even people at work occasionally buy into this nonsense- I dont mean nonsense like ESD doesnt exist, but nonsense that you need to do anything but discharge your body to the chassis. Ive even seen something labeled 'ESD damage' in the outbound rack, pulled it, and no... you just didnt look hard enough, there are known issues with any RAM with adolf revision 2.0b chips from that ODM running over this other obscure VIA chipset on freeBSD.... split the 2GB RAM into two boards and that oddball error you are having will stop entirely. From my perspective, working the back side of small computer shops- ""ESD damage"" is a catch-all diagnosis, and something like half the time I can find the problem and fix it. I find a lot of power supplies with blown out 12 volt rails after bad thunderstorms get labeled 'ESD damage' when it really is not. In response to the person posting all of those wonderful ESD guides? We cant know who wrote wikipedia, not really- but I notice just about everyone else on your list, conveniently, has wrist straps for sale for 1200% markup... Am I wrong to be suspicious of the claims that its absolutely needed when I have absolutely ignored that professionally for my entire career, and have yet to damage a single part? See, I can know that because if I was running around having ESD problems, my RMA numbers on brand new hardware being installed would reveal it."