Are bad capacitors killing your computer? — Updated, 2024

Every time I work on a computer, I clean the dust and visually inspect the innards. One of the things I look at inside the machine is the capacitors on the main board. There is a known common problem that is causing some capacitors to leak and fail, thus become bad capacitors.

The Problem

The first flawed capacitors were seen in 1999, but most of the affected capacitors were built in the early to mid 2000 s, and while news of their failings (usually after a few years of use).

This has forced most manufacturers to fix the flaws, some capacitors were still being sold or integrated into designs as of early 2007.

Badcaps tayeh 4 200x149 - Are bad capacitors killing your computer? — Updated, 2024

The Cause

An incorrect electrolyte formula within a faulty capacitor causes the production of hydrogen gas, leading to bulging or deformation of the capacitor’s suit, and eventual vent of the electrolyte.

In rare cases, bad capacitors have even been reported to pop or explode forcefully.

Although modern manufacturing techniques normally ensure they vent safely rather than explode, manufacturers have been known to omit the key safety features that allow this.

What to Look For Visually in your computer

# Bulging of the vent on the top of the capacitor. (The’ vent’ is the impression stamped in the top of the can. The impression forms the seams of the vent. It is designed so that if the capacitor becomes pressurised it will divide at the vent’s seams, relieving the pressure rather than conforming it to explode.)

Sitting crooked on the circuit board as the bottom rubber plug is pushed out.

# Electrolyte (a crusty brown substance) leaked onto the motherboard from the base of the bad capacitor.

# Venting from the top of the capacitor, visible as rust-like brown deposits, or a visible hole in the vent such as the image 1 and 2 displaying bad capacitors

Bad Capacitor 01 200x150 - Are bad capacitors killing your computer? — Updated, 2024

Symptoms

# Not turning on all the time; beeping noises; having to hit reset or try turning the computer on again.

# Instabilities (hangs, BSODs, kernel panics, etc.), especially when symptoms get progressively more frequent over time.

# Memory errors, especially ones that get more frequent with time.

# Spontaneous reboots, or freeze while booting.

# Never starting the POST; fans spin, but the system appears dead

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