Is this a failing capacitor? - Hardware & Software

Is it just me or is this capacitor bulging at the top? (Ignore the dust, the computer is about 7/8 years old) Red: Suspect capacitor Green: Good capacitor [url]http://imgur.com/8Ip5c.jpg[/url] Now compare it to another capacitor: [url]http://imgur.com/smzun.jpg[/url] Notice how the top of the good cap seems to dip inwards (like the other caps on the board) while the suspect one doesn't. Is this capacitor failing?

Looks fine to me. I'd call that within standard norms.

Unless it's leaking you have nothing to worry about(yet).

[QUOTE=winsanity;21723517]Unless it's leaking you have nothing to worry about(yet).[/QUOTE] The suspenseful "yet"

Typically they'll push outwards if they're failing, or have crusty brown stuff leaking on the outside Yours looks okay.

Put your ear up to it and listen for a squeal. Caps often do that before failing.

For the love of god, clean that mobo up.

[QUOTE=T2DM;21729603]For the love of god, clean that mobo up.[/QUOTE] ^this. And that capacitor should not be a concern...yet

If nothing's broken what does it matter?

Other than the fact that someone appears to have taken a shit all over your motherboard, it's fine.

They will explode when they fail.

This will happen when it fails. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-RZ5RTAdSg[/media]

[QUOTE=Second-gear-of-mgear;21731155]This will happen when it fails. [media][/QUOTE] Holy shit. You really need to clean your motherboard OP. :/

It looks like you filled your case with wood shavings.

It doesn't look too bad right now. I have seen worse. But you can see the indications for it running to the end of his life in the future (depending on how hard it is used).

[QUOTE=leontodd;21734119]It looks like you filled your case with wood shavings.[/QUOTE] actually this is what a PC looks like when filled with woodshavings [IMG]http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/noobtrap3000/HPIM0507.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=Second-gear-of-mgear;21731155]This will happen when it fails. [URL="http://www.facepunch.com/#"]View YouTUBE video[/URL] [URL]http://youtube.com/watch?v=D-RZ5RTAdSg[/URL] [/QUOTE] Jesus fucking Mary on a pogo-stick! ...I have a 160,000uF cap laying around somewhere...

[QUOTE=Second-gear-of-mgear;21731155]This will happen when it fails. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-RZ5RTAdSg[/media][/QUOTE] Uh no that's what happens when you use them wrong.

Capacitors that are bulging slightly are generally fine as long as they have not vented, which can be hard to tell without actually testing the capacitor. Electrolytic capacitors do not age very well but unless you're experiencing random crashes and such do not worry about it. Anyone with £0.20 and a brain can replace bad caps, if you're that worried go and buy a new one with the same ratings. Why you are worried about one cap I do not know, the dust and grime on the other hand is something you should deal with. [QUOTE=Xera;21736218]Uh no that's what happens when you use them wrong.[/QUOTE] Your quite right, capacitors unless they are the non-vented type normally do not explode, but there are exceptions that could cause it to such as a blocked vent.

[QUOTE=Chryseus;21738262]Capacitors that are bulging slightly are generally fine as long as they have not vented, which can be hard to tell without actually testing the capacitor.[/QUOTE] When an electrolytic capacitor starts bulging, it means it has already failed. The bulging is caused by the electrolyte inside the capacitor breaking down and forming hydrogen gas which eventually pops the vent on the top (or blows out the bottom if the vent fails.) When capacitors fail, their farad rating can change, and turn them into resistors, both of which can damage other components on the motherboard. I've seen bad caps fry the south bridge on one motherboard, which essentially bricked it. If you see one bulging capacitor on the board, likely the other ones are bad too, even they aren't visibly failing yet. I'd recommend replacing them as soon as possible before they degrade more. You can get capacitors from [url]www.mouser.com[/url], and it usually costs at most $30 to recap an entire board. [QUOTE=Chryseus;21738262]Your quite right, capacitors unless they are the non-vented type normally do not explode, but there are exceptions that could cause it to such as a blocked vent.[/QUOTE] non-vented capacitors aren't electrolytic, they're usually aluminum polymer, and those types of capacitors don't fail usually ever.

The thing is, the system sometimes (Not very often): - BIOS wont find the hard drive, finds CD drive fine (Only recently started doing this) - Computer freezes while in BIOS - Computer freezes during booting (Screen is blank with HDD LED constantly on. Only recently started doing this) Just wondering if it's related? PS. Yes, the mobo is dirty. I have cleaned the CPU fan and heatsink, just not the rest of the mobo.

[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;21735475']actually this is what a PC looks like when filled with woodshavings [img_thumb]http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/noobtrap3000/HPIM0507.jpg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] oh what.

I didn't realize capacitors exploding were so violent.

[QUOTE=1solidsnake2;21743324]The thing is, the system sometimes (Not very often): - BIOS wont find the hard drive, finds CD drive fine (Only recently started doing this) - Computer freezes while in BIOS - Computer freezes during booting (Screen is blank with HDD LED constantly on. Only recently started doing this) Just wondering if it's related? PS. Yes, the mobo is dirty. I have cleaned the CPU fan and heatsink, just not the rest of the mobo.[/QUOTE] Have you tried clearing the cmos?

The top has not domed but I can't see the capacitor brand. Also, fucking dust your system out.

Jesus christ, get that dust out

[QUOTE=1solidsnake2;21743324]The thing is, the system sometimes (Not very often): - BIOS wont find the hard drive, finds CD drive fine (Only recently started doing this) - Computer freezes while in BIOS - Computer freezes during booting (Screen is blank with HDD LED constantly on. Only recently started doing this) Just wondering if it's related? PS. Yes, the mobo is dirty. I have cleaned the CPU fan and heatsink, just not the rest of the mobo.[/QUOTE] Yes, failing caps can cause all of these symptoms.