Is my case grounded?

brycematheson712 · 12-26-2007, 07:19 PM

I built a new computer yesterday after recieving all the parts for Christmas (in sig). After putting it together, everything runs great! No glitches, nothing. It runs nice and fast...just like I like it!

Now, there's only one problem though. I'm worried that it's not grounded. I think this, because everytime I go to touch the case, or press the power button I get a nice little shock. EVERY time. Now, I'm VERY worried, because I know how bad Electro-static shock can be to computer components and I'd really like to fix it now. Is there anything that I forgot to do or that I did wrong?

Also, sometimes whenever I plug in a USB Flash Drive in the front or back as SOON as the metal connectors of the Flash Drive touch the connectors on the PC the computer monitor will go black and I have to reboot to get it to turn back on. It will sometimes do this with the front audio connectors too. It doesn't always do this, but I'm assuming it's another problem with the grounding issue.

Can anybody help? I'm nervous! Thanks.

WhiteFireDragon · 12-26-2007, 07:28 PM

the overall grounding for your comp is through the PSU. so i guess just touch the metal frame of your case to discharge any static. more info on this can be found on this thread

Bronson7 · 12-26-2007, 11:23 PM

How did you mount the motherboard? Your case may be grounded but not in a good way. You may have something shorting out to the case. Double check all your stand-offs, if used, (some cases have built in stand-offs). You definitely have a problem that needs addressing now before you do irreparable damage.
Bronson7

brycematheson712 · 12-27-2007, 01:02 AM

I just used some metal standoffs to mount it. Is that okay? That's what I've always done in the past and I've never had problems.

PabloTeK · 12-27-2007, 01:06 AM

That'll work. If a case was to short out the earth pin is connected to the metal work so it'll ground and take the current away. This is standard in non double-insulated appliances.

brycematheson712 · 12-27-2007, 01:22 AM

It's not doing it anymore, and I don't know why and I sort of do and don't want to know at the same time. It only did it when I first turned it on this morning, but every other time that I've touched the case it hasn't done a single thing.

What's this 'earth pin' that you're talking about?

12-26-2007, 07:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
brycematheson712 Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: C:\Windows\System32\ Posts: 203	Is my case grounded? I built a new computer yesterday after recieving all the parts for Christmas (in sig). After putting it together, everything runs great! No glitches, nothing. It runs nice and fast...just like I like it! Now, there's only one problem though. I'm worried that it's not grounded. I think this, because everytime I go to touch the case, or press the power button I get a nice little shock. EVERY time. Now, I'm VERY worried, because I know how bad Electro-static shock can be to computer components and I'd really like to fix it now. Is there anything that I forgot to do or that I did wrong? Also, sometimes whenever I plug in a USB Flash Drive in the front or back as SOON as the metal connectors of the Flash Drive touch the connectors on the PC the computer monitor will go black and I have to reboot to get it to turn back on. It will sometimes do this with the front audio connectors too. It doesn't always do this, but I'm assuming it's another problem with the grounding issue. Can anybody help? I'm nervous! Thanks. __________________ CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 2.75GHz MB: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L RAM: Corsair 2GB (2x1GB) XMS2 DDR2 @ 833MHz GPU: nVidia 8600GT XXX 256MB @ 620/1600 HDD: 160GB Western Digital Caviar SE SATA II OD: Memorex 52x-32x-52x CD-RW // Sony 18x DVD-ROM PSU: Rosewill 450W Dual Fan CASE: Rosewill R604TSB-N SOUND SETUP: Philips HTS3410D 5.1 Channel 3DMark06: 5374

12-26-2007, 11:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bronson7 Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 102	How did you mount the motherboard? Your case may be grounded but not in a good way. You may have something shorting out to the case. Double check all your stand-offs, if used, (some cases have built in stand-offs). You definitely have a problem that needs addressing now before you do irreparable damage. Bronson7 Last edited by Bronson7; 12-26-2007 at 11:29 PM.

12-27-2007, 01:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
brycematheson712 Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: C:\Windows\System32\ Posts: 203	I just used some metal standoffs to mount it. Is that okay? That's what I've always done in the past and I've never had problems. __________________ CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 2.75GHz MB: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L RAM: Corsair 2GB (2x1GB) XMS2 DDR2 @ 833MHz GPU: nVidia 8600GT XXX 256MB @ 620/1600 HDD: 160GB Western Digital Caviar SE SATA II OD: Memorex 52x-32x-52x CD-RW // Sony 18x DVD-ROM PSU: Rosewill 450W Dual Fan CASE: Rosewill R604TSB-N SOUND SETUP: Philips HTS3410D 5.1 Channel 3DMark06: 5374

12-27-2007, 01:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
PabloTeK Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Peoples Republic of Nae Butta! Age: 17 Posts: 2,238	That'll work. If a case was to short out the earth pin is connected to the metal work so it'll ground and take the current away. This is standard in non double-insulated appliances. __________________ Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 @ 2.8GHz \| Gigabyte EP43-DS3L \| GeIL 3GB PC2-6400 \| BFG GeForce 8800GT 512MB OC \| Seagate 500GB 7200.11 SATA \| Western Digital 250GB SE16 SATA \| Coolermaster CM690 \| Corsair HX520W

12-27-2007, 01:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
brycematheson712 Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: C:\Windows\System32\ Posts: 203	It's not doing it anymore, and I don't know why and I sort of do and don't want to know at the same time. It only did it when I first turned it on this morning, but every other time that I've touched the case it hasn't done a single thing. What's this 'earth pin' that you're talking about? __________________ CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 2.75GHz MB: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L RAM: Corsair 2GB (2x1GB) XMS2 DDR2 @ 833MHz GPU: nVidia 8600GT XXX 256MB @ 620/1600 HDD: 160GB Western Digital Caviar SE SATA II OD: Memorex 52x-32x-52x CD-RW // Sony 18x DVD-ROM PSU: Rosewill 450W Dual Fan CASE: Rosewill R604TSB-N SOUND SETUP: Philips HTS3410D 5.1 Channel 3DMark06: 5374

12-26-2007, 07:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
WhiteFireDragon Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 625	the overall grounding for your comp is through the PSU. so i guess just touch the metal frame of your case to discharge any static. more info on this can be found on this thread

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