Do any capacitors bulge naturally?

[techs]

I'm troubleshooting a failure to post on a Phenom based, 2 year old computer.
My Post card just gives me a "fail" reading as the machine just powers up and doesn't post.
In examining the capacitors I noticed about 8 small ones next to the cpu have slightly bulging tops. I would deduce this is the problem, but all eight look identical. I have never seen 8 capacitors all bulging the exacting same amount.
Are any capacitors made with bulging tops?
Thanks.

 

[stag3]

no, time to replace the motherboard
those capacitors will open up and leak soon
ive seen almost every capacitor bulge and leak
on dell motherboards so it is possible that 8 of yours are
doing it at the same time also

 

[corkyg]

Consider it a warning.

 

[bruceb]

I agree, time to either replace the caps or the whole board.

 

[pcgeek11]

Do any capacitors bulge naturally?

Yes.

Failed or failing capacitors bulge naturally.

 

[RebateMonger]

If you have a motherboard that's failing to POST and have bulged capacitors, that's a pretty good indication it's a capacitor problem.

No, I've never seen an as-made electrolytic capacitor with a "bulged" top.

 

[techs]

thanks

 

[Modelworks]

You can remove and test them if unsure. Some capacitors do have a slight bulge when new, it really depends on the your definition of slight.

 

[pcgeek11]

You can remove and test them if unsure. Some capacitors do have a slight bulge when new, it really depends on the your definition of slight.

I'm not going to say it isn't so, but in my 35 years electronics experience I have never seen a new electrolytic capacitor with a bulge ( not even a little bit ) more often they are level or even indented a little from the breakaway cuts in the can.

Just my 2 Cents.

 

[notposting]

And they will all go at around the same time, since they are generally out of the same batch and undergoing similar conditions.

Just had to do a second wave of cap replacement on my htpc, the caps near the cpu went this time (near power input last time). Replaced with solid caps this time.

 

[pcgeek11]

And they will all go at around the same time, since they are generally out of the same batch and undergoing similar conditions.

Just had to do a second wave of cap replacement on my htpc, the caps near the cpu went this time (near power input last time). Replaced with solid caps this time.

Same here I always try and get solid when available.

++
Tantalum Electrolytic Capacitors
Large capacitance to volume ratio, smaller size, good stability, wide operating temperature range, long reliable operating life. Extensively used in miniaturized equipment and computers. Available in both polarized and unpolarized varieties. Solid tantalum capacitors have much better characteristics than their wet counterparts.

 

[bruceb]

Agree, tantalum caps are the best. But they are also about 4x more costly than the regular mini electrolytics. That is why most board makers on use them on high end products.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Nope, its failed