I hate cheap capacitors!!! (sourcing)

[greenhawk]

I'm probably going to end up replacing the caps on the mobo of my Dell Precision 690 just because there's only like 4 of them that need replaced and I want that machine to work.

It pisses me off to see an otherwise good machine go down due to capacitors crapping out.

On the first, also remember to check out the power supply as caps on one can effect the caps on the other.

as to the second, I know what you mean, I personally stopped buying any computer gear that did not advertise a better build quality. Partly due to the ever present race to the bottom in part quality and partly as I live in a hot area / long way from the power stations (bad mains supply power). A computer can run soo much better when ruggedized with only a few better caps / design.

Also, I'm curious to whether having a machine in a higher ambient temp environment (90+F) vs a cooler one (60s) would noticeably decrease the lifespan of capacitors... I would think so.

Yes, especially cheaper caps (of the cylinder design). Solid caps do not matter any where near as much but then they are not as good for large power loads (cost wise).

 

[Rubycon]

Hadn't heard of Rubycon