Re: Gadget show £500 PC
 

Never used them and never will, most of the evidence shown is from static discharge, you can feel a charge building long before you can even come close to the point of a discharge.
Industrial and commercial both have to take anti static precautions very seriously as it is a LEGAL requirement when manufacturing such products and not only could they be held liable for a class action case if a large batch of their products are found to be defective due to static damage but they would also be un-eligable for insurance as they are not taking deemed neccesary precations to prevent such damage.
Millitary is also a fairly obvious one as this isnt just a legal requirement, these devices can be responsible for human lives so all precautions must be taken to prevent such damage.
Now if your life really is dependant on your computer Zing and you build up that much static electricity you feel the need to handle every comonent with an ASW then thats fine and upto you.
As pointed out though by someone else I was correct, my components would have failed long ago if damaged and underperformed in the inbetween, not just underperformed indeffinatley.

Do you all handle hdds with an ASW? you know that is 100% not needed unless you find the overwhelming urge to touch the logic board? you do know there are no metal contacts along the edge of a PCB or CPU that could conduct the static charge aswel dont you?
Ofcourse this does mean handling the stuff you buy more carefully but I would hope you handle them carfully anyway otherwise I certainly wouldnt want to buy a machine one of you have built.

Re: Gadget show £500 PC
 

Personally I've built dozens of PCs and have never bothered with a wristband or other ****e and haven't done any damage to anything (yet) ;)

Re: Gadget show £500 PC
 

Never realised my comment would 'spark' so much debate. ;)
Obviously people are free to take the risk of handling components without ESD precautions if they want, but personally I wouldn't.
My point was that IMO 'most' system builders would use a strap and yet a show promoting self-build neither used or discussed ESD.

Re: Gadget show £500 PC
 

Grounding yourself to the metal case whilst the computer is plugged into the mains should be enough?

Re: Gadget show £500 PC
 

Certainly better than nothing but some clothing (nylon, iirc) can generate static charge even by moving you body around.