A not-so-rare but often overlooked problem...

[IEC]

So my P4 file server/linux box has been down for about 2 months now because I haven't had time to fiddle with it besides basic troubleshooting/running tests. Well, I eliminated everything besides the motherboard and RAM - but the RAM was known to be previously good so it had to be the motherboard. Had to be.

Well guess what... I went over the board thorougly today and found this:

NINE (9) leaking 1000uF/6.3V electolytic capacitors - slight amounts of brown ooze was damning evidence - mostly from the BOTTOM

FOUR (4) bulging 1000uF/6.3V electrolytic capacitors - slight bulges, but bulges nonetheless

On an MSI 645 Ultra motherboard with 1.5GHz P4... all the mystery caps have no distinguishing marks other than the ratings. Could be one of the infamous batches from way back when an incorrect EL cap formula was stolen...

Just when I bought a new S775 motherboard and a 3.2GHz Celeron... at least I can sell the new stuff and just buy a motherboard for the old P4.

:|

Edit: Now with 100% more pictures (I apologize for my camera's crappy macro)

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/amdrok/ariafrost_badcaps01.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/amdrok/ariafrost_badcaps02.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/amdrok/ariafrost_badcaps03.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/amdrok/ariafrost_badcaps04.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/amdrok/ariafrost_badcaps05.jpg

 

[edfcmc]

that sucks. YOu can have the motherboard repaired for about $50 bucks at http://www.badcaps.net , but why bother. I had 1 motherboard fail, it too was a MSI server motherboard circa Athlon Thunderbird Era. I find it odd that it is still ocurring to this day. Based on my previous horrible experience, I now only buy motherboards with japanese capacitors, I am under the belief that Asus, Abit (current), and DFI, all now use Japanese capacitors.

 

[sxr7171]

I know you already apologized for it, but seriously you have to do better than that. My Canon from 5 years ago took better shots than that. My cameraphone can do far better. Sorry to be such an ass, but you should read the manual of your camera or something. I was dying to see these leaking caps. Anyhow sorry for your bad experience with the MB.

 

[eplebnista]

Originally posted by: edfcmc
that sucks. YOu can have the motherboard repaired for about $50 bucks at http://www.badcaps.net , but why bother. I had 1 motherboard fail, it too was a MSI server motherboard circa Athlon Thunderbird Era. I find it odd that it is still ocurring to this day. Based on my previous horrible experience, I now only buy motherboards with japanese capacitors, I am under the belief that Asus, Abit (current), and DFI, all now use Japanese capacitors.

EPoX's boards also have Rubycon caps.

 

[LouPoir]

I have run into that problem many times -

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

Originally posted by: sxr7171
I know you already apologized for it, but seriously you have to do better than that. My Canon from 5 years ago took better shots than that. My cameraphone can do far better. Sorry to be such an ass, but you should read the manual of your camera or something. I was dying to see these leaking caps. Anyhow sorry for your bad experience with the MB.

first i thought i forgot to put my glasses on...

 

[Peter]

If the board is still essentially working, have the capacitors exchanged. It's a cheap thing to do, 1000 µF caps aren't hard to get at all.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Before you throw the board out, turn it into an experiment. Read off all of the specs from the caps, go to Radioshack, get yourself similar capacitors (usually very cheap), and dig out a soldering iron. Try swapping them out yourself. Just make SURE not to put heat on the board for very long... 2-3 seconds at a time tops.

Remember, this is a last resort. The board was junk anyway, right?

 

[Peter]

Don't get the "very cheap" stuff, they won't work and they won't last. You need low ESR high temperature range types, about $1 apiece in low quantities.

 

[eplebnista]

Originally posted by: Peter
Don't get the "very cheap" stuff, they won't work and they won't last. You need low ESR high temperature range types, about $1 apiece in low quantities.

I agree. I source my caps from Mouser.com.

 

[Vette73]

Also contact MSI as some offered longer warrentys and support if the caps went bad. I think AMD came out with longer support for their boards if you have a Cap problem.