During preventive maintenance, what situation highlights the risk of ESD when working on a computer?

Replacing a motherboard is a situation that significantly highlights the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD) when working on a computer. During this process, various sensitive components, such as the CPU, RAM, and expansion cards, may be involved, all of which can be adversely affected by static electricity.

Components like the motherboard have integrated circuits that are particularly vulnerable to ESD. A small discharge can damage these components, leading to malfunctions or permanent failures. Because the motherboard is the central hub of connections for all parts of the computer, ensuring it is protected during handling is critical.

While other activities such as replacing a power supply or cleaning a case might also carry some risk of ESD, they typically involve less direct interaction with the most sensitive components compared to handling a motherboard. Upgrading software involves no physical interaction with hardware and thus eliminates the risk of ESD altogether.