Ti4600 Capacitor broke off

[BadMrFrosty]

Hi, recently I purchased a new PNY Verto GeForce FX 5900 Ultra to replace my GeForce 4 Ti4600, so i replaced it, when i took out the GeForce4 Ti4600 I must've bumped a capacitor or something because it fell off. Its a purple capacitor, it says Sanyo, 105 ' C and 510/4 (OSCON) on it, the card still works (sort of) it works until you launch any 3D application and/or when it just feels like stop working. My question is, is it worth trying to fix it? Im not much of an electrical guru, with solder and components and et cetera. PNY has been absolutely worthless in terms of getting a replacement, they claim that im not the person that bought this video card, and that I should be able to produce a reciept from something i bought like 2 years ago. I wont be buying another PNY card after this.

The capacitor broke off at the legs, so the legs are still sticking out of the solder pts. I guess its an old card so thats good, but i'd really like to keep it because it ran Star Wars Galaxies just fine and i was going to put it in a box for my alternate character.

Any advice?

-Drew
BMF

 

[BugsBunny1078]

you can get any size capacitor from radio shack.

 

[Harvey]

You'll need someone who's good with a solder iron. The numbers you gave, Sanyo, 105 ' C and 510/4, don't give enough information. 105 (don't have the degrees symbol handy) means it's rated for high temps (105 degrees C, instead of 85 deg. C). I'm not sure about the other numbers, possily a date code.

You need the value of the cap in uF (microfarads) and the voltage rating. Get the info from the capacitor, and go here to get the value of the cap you need. If you can't find a local source for Sanyo caps, go to Digi-Key, and select the closest cap you can find for ratings and size.

Soldering a surface mount cap may be difficult if the solder pads aren't sufficiently exposed at the edges, and you'd better know what you're doing to try this. It would be easier to get a cap with the right values with wire leads, and tack solder it to the board.

The cap is relatively cheap so yes, it's worth it, but if you don't know what you're doing, you could further damage the card.

Good luck.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: BugsBunny1078
you can get any size capacitor from radio shack.

take it down there, the capacitor that is, show it to them, find a replacement and solder it on or just solder your old one back on

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: BugsBunny1078
you can get any size capacitor from radio shack.

No, you can't, especially surface mount and high temp caps. Digi-key's a far better source.

If you're in a major city that has a real electronics supply source, you may be able to call them and give them the full info on the cap that I noted, previously, and ask if they have direct replacement. Replacing it with a cap having the same value and wire leads may look funky, but it be easier to add to the board. You'll have to clip them fairly short, but you can tack solder them to the connection pads.

WARNING!!! Electrolytic caps have a positive and negative polarity. Be VERY sure to get the polarity right, or it may act like an exploding party favor when you power it up. :Q

 

[BadMrFrosty]

I took your advice and walked across the ST to radio shack, they tried to sell me a really nice Sprint PCS cell phone, but had no idea about capacitors. Sigh. Anyone wanna make a quick $15 bucks? I ship this thing to you, ya get it working, send it back?

-Drew

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: BadMrFrosty
I took your advice and walked across the ST to radio shack, they tried to sell me a really nice Sprint PCS cell phone, but had no idea about capacitors. Sigh. Anyone wanna make a quick $15 bucks? I ship this thing to you, ya get it working, send it back?

-Drew

YGPM

 

[PCTweaker5]

Nice!

 

[BugsBunny1078]

you can get any size capacitor from Radio Shack but some you have to order.
They make a catalog which they sell for 5$ which has literally access to thousands of electronics parts and directories to others. If there is an electronic part you need radio shack can get it for you. you can even find some on their website.
They have 45 different capacitors listed on their website. Last time I checked they also had several manufacturers websites listed and they will order you any part from any manufacturer listed in their book. SO you can probably get the same exact one.

 

[Keysplayr]

Well, my advice would have been not to try to run the card without the capacitor repaired but I guess its a little late for that huh.
Not a good idea to run the card at all until that capacitor is replaced. So dont. Yes, a Ti4600 is definately worth getting repaired. You could buy the capacitor at Radio Shack and take the card to electronics repair place. How much could they charge you for soldiering a capacitor on. A couple of bucks maybe, for all that gruelling labor.

Good Luck.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Just wanted to say that your handle rocks, BadMrFrosty - but I'll still whoop your butt with Blob.

- M4H

 

[Harvey]

I love this place, but you people talking to him about getting the cap he needs at Radio Shack are going to hurt somebody with your lack of knowledge. :disgust: OSCON capacitors are a new breed of ultra low ESR (Effective Series Resistance) caps that have a new type of electrolyte and are rated for extremely long life and stability at high temps (up to 105 degrees C). They're not especially expensive. The hard part is knowing where to find one piece of suitable replacement part.

Other manufacturers may have an equivalent, but if you don't replace it with the same quality of cap, you're begging for trouble, and maybe even a flaming component. I don't know how stringent the requirements are in this application, but in an extreme case, an inappropriate cap with higer ESR could quickly become an SED (Smoke Emitting Device). :Q

Please... If you don't know what you're talking about, do your homework before you give possibly dangerous advice about buying lame parts at Radio Shack.

 

[Varun]

found this link with google

http://www.videocard-forum.com/nvidia/Need_help_determining_capacitor_value_402809.html

if it is the same cap from that post, it could be 82uf 16V cap, but be sure you know what you are doing before you destroy the card with a soldering iron

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Harvey
I love this place, but you people talking to him about getting the cap he needs at Radio Shack are going to hurt somebody with your lack of knowledge. :disgust: OSCON capacitors are a new breed of ultra low ESR (Effective Series Resistance) caps that have a new type of electrolyte and are rated for extremely long life and stability at high temps (up to 105 degrees C). They're not especially expensive. The hard part is knowing where to find one piece of suitable replacement part.

Other manufacturers may have an equivalent, but if you don't replace it with the same quality of cap, you're begging for trouble, and maybe even a flaming component. I don't know how stringent the requirements are in this application, but in an extreme case, an inappropriate cap with higer ESR could quickly become an SED (Smoke Emitting Device). :Q

Please... If you don't know what you're talking about, do your homework before you give possibly dangerous advice about buying lame parts at Radio Shack.

Harvey, if this person gets the correct information on the cap that fell off, are you saying that if he goes out and buy a replacement cap with the exact same specs that it wont be right? If he goes out and buys a cap that doesn't have the same specs, then I can see that what you say could happen. But thats it man. You think nvidia oems use top the top quality and most expensive caps on their cards? Your dreaming. They will try and get away with the cheapest way they can to increase that almighty bottom line. He will do just fine. Electronics isn't brain surgery. But you do need a steady hand and a little talent to soldier, which is why I suggested he go to an electronics repair store. Maybe even buy the cap from them.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
Harvey, if this person gets the correct information on the cap that fell off, are you saying that if he goes out and buy a replacement cap with the exact same specs that it wont be right? If he goes out and buys a cap that doesn't have the same specs, then I can see that what you say could happen. But thats it man.

I'm saying that I read the specs on this cap, and a garden variety electrolytic of the same value from Radio Shack will not do, and I doubt whether many Radio Shack sales people would even know the difference. Since this is probably not a high volume item, I doubt Radio Shack could even get it through their system on custom order. What I said was, if you don't know the difference, please don't advise others to substitute components like that.

You think nvidia oems use top the top quality and most expensive caps on their cards? Your dreaming. They will try and get away with the cheapest way they can to increase that almighty bottom line.

The OSCON line is not spec'd as a high price part, but it may cost more than a cheaper common part. The OEM saves money because it does the required job for less money, overall, because it avoids the older technique of adding a second high frequency cap in parallel with the electrolytic, saving board space, another part insertion, and another line item on the bill of materials. There's a reason they spent the money for this part, and that's it.

He will do just fine. Electronics isn't brain surgery. But you do need a steady hand and a little talent to soldier, which is why I suggested he go to an electronics repair store. Maybe even buy the cap from them.

I don't know your experience. I do know mine. I design pro audio electronics, and I know what I'm talking about when it comes to spec'ing components. If he goes to an electronics parts house that knows what this part is, and why it was spec'd, they would probably get it right. Some Radio Shack employee may happen to know his electronics, but that's a random event. When asking them for advice about a replacement component in a high frequency digital design like a vid card, your odds are about the same as asking a burger flipper at Micky D's.

 

[Mem]

I don't know your experience. I do know mine. I design pro audio electronics, and I know what I'm talking about when it comes to spec'ing components. If he goes to an electronics parts house that knows what this part is, and why it was spec'd, they would probably get it right.

I agree, just take the cap and card down and let them sort the problem out,in the end it`s best to let a expert do it if you don`t have the skills or are not sure.

 

[WT]

I bought a refurb MSI 5900 from Newegg and upon removing it from the antistatic bag, the lower right cap fell off !!! Since I could no longer buy a 5900NU (replaced by cheaper XT cards), I decided to have a local electrinics repair shop fix it. They replaced the cap and repaired it for me. Its wasn't cheap ($40 total), but I do have a great card that I could no longer find online to buy. Its interesting to read about the polarity of the cap, as my friend wedged the cap back onto the card and I Scotch taped it in place to test it by running 3Dmark03. If he had guessed wrong, I would be a lot less happy about the situation, I'm sure !

 

[BugsBunny1078]

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
Harvey, if this person gets the correct information on the cap that fell off, are you saying that if he goes out and buy a replacement cap with the exact same specs that it wont be right? If he goes out and buys a cap that doesn't have the same specs, then I can see that what you say could happen. But thats it man.

I'm saying that I read the specs on this cap, and a garden variety electrolytic of the same value from Radio Shack will not do, and I doubt whether many Radio Shack sales people would even know the difference. Since this is probably not a high volume item, I doubt Radio Shack could even get it through their system on custom order. What I said was, if you don't know the difference, please don't advise others to substitute components like that.

You think nvidia oems use top the top quality and most expensive caps on their cards? Your dreaming. They will try and get away with the cheapest way they can to increase that almighty bottom line.

The OSCON line is not spec'd as a high price part, but it may cost more than a cheaper common part. The OEM saves money because it does the required job for less money, overall, because it avoids the older technique of adding a second high frequency cap in parallel with the electrolytic, saving board space, another part insertion, and another line item on the bill of materials. There's a reason they spent the money for this part, and that's it.

He will do just fine. Electronics isn't brain surgery. But you do need a steady hand and a little talent to soldier, which is why I suggested he go to an electronics repair store. Maybe even buy the cap from them.

I don't know your experience. I do know mine. I design pro audio electronics, and I know what I'm talking about when it comes to spec'ing components. If he goes to an electronics parts house that knows what this part is, and why it was spec'd, they would probably get it right. Some Radio Shack employee may happen to know his electronics, but that's a random event. When asking them for advice about a replacement component in a high frequency digital design like a vid card, your odds are about the same as asking a burger flipper at Micky D's.

I never said to ask Radio shack about the part I said you could order the part through them.
WHich you can order any electronics part you need through radio shack. You do have to know what it is you're looking for because their employees are 7$ an hour cell phone salesman. But capacitor of any specification the company will sell you.
Obviously you are just ignorant of this . Ill repeat get the commercial catalog for 5$. Several manufacturers are listed in there which you can go to their websites and see their entire line of products. Then you can order that part which is not listed in any Radio shack catalog through Radio Shack. There is a form in the catalog which you photocopy and fill out and mail it in for the parts that Radio Shack does not carry.You can get the identical replacement part 99 times out of 100.
That is what Radio Shack is famous for. They get you any part you need no problem.

 

[Harvey]

Bugs -- You're right. I didn't know RS would order any component for you. Also, I live in L.A., so I'm spoiled with a wealth of local electronic resources, and RS would definitely be far down my list of sources to check.
.
BadMrFrosty e-mailed me after my initial reply. I've been trying to help him since then, and I got more aggressive in my search. Varun's link was interesting. It was a forum discussion that mentioned the same cap on an MSI Ti4600 board that, like the PNY board, was built along the nVidia reference design. This MSI card appears to have the same mechanical layout and parts. PNY's site doesn't list any e-mail address for tech support (lame), so I went through MSI's tech support page to ask if they would give me the value of the cap identified only as 510/4 OSCON.

I also e-mailed Sanyo's component sales address to ask for help identifying the part. Who knows? Maybe they'll sample me one or two...

I didn't mean to offend anyone, especially for trying to help, but I was bothered by the casual references to thinking Radio Shack was a good place to start. If you don't know what you're talking about, bad advice can be dangerous. Unlike brain surgury, in this case, the only thing that could die from a bad component choice is a vid card. Even if you're a skilled tech, there's always the slight chance of permanently damaging an expensive card when you unsolder and replace a component. I just wanted to give BadMrFrosty the best shot at being able to fix his card the first time.