Bit of a noob question but do you need a specialist type of screwdriver or anything and what size should you be looking for in screwdrivers? Recommendations as to what you use are very welcome and where to find them.
That's a silly question really, but no you don't need any special kind, and the size just needs to fit the screws obviously. There is no standard or anything if that's what you're asking.
No2 posi drive does the trick, gives abetter grip of the screws than a philips and you don't often find flat head scews in electronics. If your nimble enough try not to use a magnetic screw driver (though I've never seen anything damaged by using one), mixing magnetism and electronics can have odd results.
No2 posi drive does the trick, gives abetter grip of the screws than a philips and you don't often find flat head scews in electronics. If your nimble enough try not to use a magnetic screw driver (though I've never seen anything damaged by using one), mixing magnetism and electronics can have odd results.
GarGx1
bah never had issues with standard philips screwdrivers.. ive been taking apart pc's since i was 15
No2 posi drive does the trick, gives abetter grip of the screws than a philips and you don't often find flat head scews in electronics. If your nimble enough try not to use a magnetic screw driver (though I've never seen anything damaged by using one), mixing magnetism and electronics can have odd results.
ionusX
bah never had issues with standard philips screwdrivers.. ive been taking apart pc's since i was 15
Not saying you can't use a philips, hell if you want you can use a flat head terminal driver with a sprung head grip ;), it's just that a posidriv is a better fit for most screws in a computer and no one wants to slide the tip of a screw driver across their mobo.
Get yourself a standard set of screwdrivers for about ten bucks and a 1/4-inch nut driver, or a nut driver set which is also about ten bucks. All real men own these things. The nut driver holds onto the screw better in many situations, it won't bugger the slot, and you can use it as a finger to install certain CPU coolers. Don't get anything with interchangeable tips---they wiggle and fall off, the mounting arrangements get in the way, and some of them are magnetic. Cheap ones are fine. And this was not a stupid question.
I was thinking the same... I read a few posters recommending them.. but surely they can't be good around electronics/computer hardware. I drop screws into the PC case, underneath the motherboard ALL THE TIME because of my terrible hands and fingers, but all you have to do is tilt the case ever so slightly and the screw will just roll right back in your favor.
The magnetic field on the magnet tipped screwdriver is so minute that I don't believe there's any possible way for it to cause damage, even to the hard drive which would be most susceptible. I've already done at least 4 builds with one (including the build in the sticky) and I've yet to have a problem.
The magnetic field on the magnet tipped screwdriver is so minute that I don't believe there's any possible way for it to cause damage, even to the hard drive which would be most susceptible. I've already done at least 4 builds with one (including the build in the sticky) and I've yet to have a problem. General_X
Just because you haven't had a problem doesn't mean you never will. Also 4 times is not a big enough sample size to draw any conclusions. Case in point, I had a friend corrupt his harddrive by using a magnetic screwdriver.
[QUOTE="General_X"]The magnetic field on the magnet tipped screwdriver is so minute that I don't believe there's any possible way for it to cause damage, even to the hard drive which would be most susceptible. I've already done at least 4 builds with one (including the build in the sticky) and I've yet to have a problem. GummiRaccoon
Just because you haven't had a problem doesn't mean you never will. Also 4 times is not a big enough sample size to draw any conclusions. Case in point, I had a friend corrupt his harddrive by using a magnetic screwdriver.
How could he be sure it was the screw-driver and not just a faulty hard drive (assuming he was installing it for the first time)
[QUOTE="General_X"]The magnetic field on the magnet tipped screwdriver is so minute that I don't believe there's any possible way for it to cause damage, even to the hard drive which would be most susceptible. I've already done at least 4 builds with one (including the build in the sticky) and I've yet to have a problem. General_X
Just because you haven't had a problem doesn't mean you never will. Also 4 times is not a big enough sample size to draw any conclusions. Case in point, I had a friend corrupt his harddrive by using a magnetic screwdriver.
How could he be sure it was the screw-driver and not just a faulty hard drive (assuming he was installing it for the first time)
He was replacing his video card and used a magnetic screw driver, and I told him he should use a non-magnetic screw driver just in case and to prove to me it was safe he ran it over his harddrive.
Just because you haven't had a problem doesn't mean you never will. Also 4 times is not a big enough sample size to draw any conclusions. Case in point, I had a friend corrupt his harddrive by using a magnetic screwdriver.
GummiRaccoon
How could he be sure it was the screw-driver and not just a faulty hard drive (assuming he was installing it for the first time)
He was replacing his video card and used a magnetic screw driver, and I told him he should use a non-magnetic screw driver just in case and to prove to me it was safe he ran it over his harddrive.
Well that was pretty silly, even when installing the hard drive with a magnetic screw driver the magnetic part would usually come nowhere near the actual platters of the HDD...
[QUOTE="General_X"]How could he be sure it was the screw-driver and not just a faulty hard drive (assuming he was installing it for the first time)General_X
He was replacing his video card and used a magnetic screw driver, and I told him he should use a non-magnetic screw driver just in case and to prove to me it was safe he ran it over his harddrive.
Well that was pretty silly, even when installing the hard drive with a magnetic screw driver the magnetic part would usually come nowhere near the actual platters of the HDD...
He was replacing his video card and used a magnetic screw driver, and I told him he should use a non-magnetic screw driver just in case and to prove to me it was safe he ran it over his harddrive.
GummiRaccoon
Well that was pretty silly, even when installing the hard drive with a magnetic screw driver the magnetic part would usually come nowhere near the actual platters of the HDD...
You say this, but I don't see you testing it out.
Well, every case I've worked in since 2008 has had tooless hardrive mounts...
[QUOTE="General_X"]Well that was pretty silly, even when installing the hard drive with a magnetic screw driver the magnetic part would usually come nowhere near the actual platters of the HDD...General_X
You say this, but I don't see you testing it out.
Well, every case I've worked in since 2008 has had tooless hardrive mounts...
"it's safe it's safe"
"But I am not going to put it near the parts it will affect if I accidentally drop it"
[QUOTE="General_X"]Well, every case I've worked in since 2008 has had tooless hardrive mounts...General_X
"it's safe it's safe"
"But I am not going to put it near the parts it will affect if I accidentally drop it"
I think you might have issues if you drop any sort of screw driver on any PC part...
Well seeing as you have only built 4 I can see why you would think that could never happen. I have built probably 100 machines and worked on thousands. Along with helping people on this foroum for about 10 years. People put screwdrivers where they shouldn't go. No one should suggest a magnetic screw driver to anyone else.
"But I am not going to put it near the parts it will affect if I accidentally drop it"
GummiRaccoon
I think you might have issues if you drop any sort of screw driver on any PC part...
Well seeing as you have only built 4 I can see why you would think that could never happen. I have built probably 100 machines and worked on thousands. Along with helping people on this foroum for about 10 years. People put screwdrivers where they shouldn't go. No one should suggest a magnetic screw driver to anyone else.
So my sample of four successful builds (which I remember actually using a magnetic screw driver on, not the total number of builds in my life) is beaten by your one case where someone deliberately swipes a magnet next the the platters of their hard drive?
I used thispen screwdriverwhen I assembled my entire PC. It came free with my Intel SSD so that's pretty much why. Any screwdriver that fits should do the job though. I see no reason why a cheap screwdriver wouldn't work.
[QUOTE="General_X"]I think you might have issues if you drop any sort of screw driver on any PC part...General_X
Well seeing as you have only built 4 I can see why you would think that could never happen. I have built probably 100 machines and worked on thousands. Along with helping people on this foroum for about 10 years. People put screwdrivers where they shouldn't go. No one should suggest a magnetic screw driver to anyone else.
So my sample of four successful builds (which I remember actually using a magnetic screw driver on, not the total number of builds in my life) is beaten by your one case where someone deliberately swipes a magnet next the the platters of their hard drive?
Been building PC's and working with electronics since 1990, I'll never recommend the use of a magnetic screw driver. In the end use what you want, it's your hardware.
The magnetic field on the magnet tipped screwdriver is so minute that I don't believe there's any possible way for it to cause damage, even to the hard drive which would be most susceptible. I've already done at least 4 builds with one (including the build in the sticky) and I've yet to have a problem. General_X
Agreed...same here. I've never had a problem with a magnetic tipped screwdriver over the last several builds and upgrades. It really saves on a lot of frustration.
I would suggest to the TC..go on Newegg and look for a basic PC tool kit that will give you everything you need.
Philiphs head screw driver.
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