Capacitor touching graphics card?

[Sumguy]

So it appears that my motherboard would be perfect for my new 3850 if it werent for one pesky little capacitor touching the back side of the video card. I noticed it would happen before I actually put the card into place, but I am pretty sure the side of the capacitor will hit it. After a couple of hours of telling myself "I'm sure it would be fine, it has that little plastic covering, right?" I decided I would rather save myself the $180.

What exactly would happen if I put the card in there? The capacitor would kind of...lay on it. My guess is that the card would explode, or the capacitor would explode, or it would break in some way (magical voltage fairies with watt-wands that kill electronics)...either way I wouldn't be too happy about it. Then of course, in an optimistic light, Im just being paranoid and it would be fine. Since I myself have absolutely no clue, what do you think would happen?

 

[JustaGeek]

IMHO, nothing will happen, if the capacitor touches the card's PCB only.

If you have enough space, stick a little piece of electrical tape to the capacitor - don't wrap it around, just a little piece to "break" the potential short.

That's what I would do...

 

[PurdueRy]

nothing will happen...there is no electrical contact on the top of a electrolytic capacitor.

 

[Modelworks]

Depends on the type of capacitor.
I would put a small peice of tape between the capacitor and the card.
My concern would be if the metal on the capacitor were to bridge two points on the cards pcb.

 

[Aluvus]

:camera:s?

 

[bruceb]

It can cause a short IF it is an electrolytic capacitor in a Metal
can, which is covered by the plastic casing. The top of that
type of capacitor is typically connected to the "-" side of the cap.
So if that touches a voltage source, yes, it will cause a short.
If you can bend it over a bit so it clears the board you are installing.
And check the area of the new board. See if any foils are near that are.
You could also just slip a small section of insulating tubing over the cap.

 

[AmberClad]

I have a motherboard cap (the electrolyte type, with the plastic cover) that touches the front of my video card's PCB. I don't think it's a problem unless you push the cap over at a 90 degree angle, so that the exposed metal top is touching the video card.

 

[Sumguy]

Thanks for the advice so far, it lessened my paranoia a bit. I realized that my description is less than adequate, though Figures, I can sleep through math class and blankly stare around the room and pass, but throw words at me and I'll find some way to turn a sentence into finely tuned garbage. So, I'll be putting up some pics soon.

 

[0roo0roo]

if ur paranoid a tiny bit of electrical tape between

 

[Sumguy]

So...my camera wont work for some reason, so I just found a pic of the card and circled the approx area of where the capacitor will be.

Here is whats on the...top of the card?
http://i220.photobucket.com/al...Upsideright/awsnap.jpg

And the bottom (the capacitor basically lays around the yellow portion, about 1/4th an inch of it will be there).
http://i220.photobucket.com/al...psideright/awsnap2.jpg

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Sumguy
So...my camera wont work for some reason, so I just found a pic of the card and circled the approx area of where the capacitor will be.

Here is whats on the...top of the card?
http://i220.photobucket.com/al...Upsideright/awsnap.jpg

And the bottom (the capacitor basically lays around the yellow portion, about 1/4th an inch of it will be there).
http://i220.photobucket.com/al...psideright/awsnap2.jpg

If its the side of a capacitor(on the mobo) it won't do a thing.

 

[JustaGeek]

I would still use the tape - better safe than sorry...

 

[Sumguy]

Alright then, guess I will just tape it up and then slap the card in there. Thanks for the advice.

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: Sumguy
Alright then, guess I will just tape it up and then slap the card in there. Thanks for the advice.

Don't "tape it up", or the capacitor might overheat. Just put a small piece of tape where the parts are touching...