m Ransley wrote:
Im only worried about the equipment for things like static charge and
surges, so what can happen.

Grounding addresses numerous issues. Same wire may perform
different functions. Others have noted an obvious and first reason for
third prong ground wire - human safety. If using only two wire
receptacles, then a GFCI can be installed as a kludge and legal
alternative to missing safety ground in wall receptacle. GFCI
installed either in receptacle or in breaker box.

Safety ground wire also is part of protection to interconnected
equipment - data lines. Even if equipment does not connect to building
safety ground, still, all should interconnect their third prongs to a
common point. A $3 power strip will interconnect equipment ground
prongs. This grounding function is especially useful for devices that
use common mode signaling such as RS-232 serial ports and Centronics
type printer interfaces. Common point grounding performed to
protection interface drivers AND to reduce failure do to signally
noise.

Third function: static electricity involves a completely different
circuit. Safety ground is not relevant. Items in a room not normally
considered electrical conductors are good conductors for static
electricity. In a simplest example, static electricity current flows
out via fingers, through electronics, down table into rug, and then
back to your shoes. A complete circuit necessary for electric current
flow. Safety ground need not be part of this circuit. Furthermore,
better manufacturers conductively 'paint' inside of cases and keyboards
so that a static discharge gets into that floor without passing through
electronics. IOW, if that common AC electric ground device (ie power
strip) is metal and in contact with the floor (or an anti-static floor
mat), then equipment ground (third prong) wire would conduct a static
electric discharge direct to floor (and shoes) without passing
destructively through any electronic circuits.

A static discharge mat in front of keyboard that discharges to floor
(even through table) might discharge hands before touching a keyboard.
Again, this type grounding is about discharging back to floor and shoes
- a different type of grounding that may or may not use equipment
ground wire. That internal conductive paint made more effective when
it somehow connects to floor.