I rebuilt my PC, moving the components from a Silent Base 601 case into a Shadow Base 800. Since the rebuild, I feel a shock or tingling sensation when touching the area around the power supply. I live on the ninth floor of an apartment building, so I assumed grounding could not be the issue, but this never happened with the old case. What should I check, and is it safe to keep using the computer?
1 Answer
Stop using the PC and unplug it until you find the cause. Living on an upper floor does not rule out a grounding or wiring problem. A loose motherboard standoff, stray screw, damaged wire, or another part touching the case could create a short, but shocks near the PSU can also indicate a faulty outlet, power cable, or power supply. Test the outlet with a proper outlet tester and inspect the build carefully. Do not open the PSU itself; replace it or have it professionally tested if the problem continues.
Blowing dust out of the PSU with compressed air usually is not a problem, but using a vacuum directly on electronics can create static electricity and may damage components. That would not normally explain a shock from the case, though, so treat the electrical sensation as a safety issue first.