Replacing bad caps?

[RockNRoll]

I have a Dell socket 478 motherboard with 14 bad capacitors. They haven't exploded yet or anything they've just gotten to the point to where the tops are bulging and have that dried crusted brown stuff on top. I know they can be replaced, but I want to know if it would be worth it and if I can get the proper caps cheap enough, cause I don't know if the board actually works either, though I believe it does or probably will because when plugged in the light does go on and the fans spin.

There's 9 of the 1800uF 6.3v (the ones near the CPU) and 5 random 1500uF 6.3v scattered about the board. So how cheap could I get capacitors, and where? I've checked radio shack and they dont have the proper ones, and I also believe they must be what's called low ESR.

[Lgbpop]

You can fix it, but why on earth would you want to? After you go to all the time and work finding the caps, then doing the repair, you have a used Dell mobo with that *** Dell BIOS. Doesn't seem worth it when you can buy a replacement of better quality for about $50.

[RockNRoll]

Well see I was figuring it'd be fun, and I also was wondering about price comparison. I just might buy a new board if I can't fix this one for cheaper. Like I said, if it's not worth it, it's not worth it, I just couldn't find much info on how much replacing those caps would cost me as opposed to a new board, and like I said, I figured it'd be fun, but not if I have to spend the same as a new board. :p

[Midknyte]

you might want to check the dell website for a recall. they were replacing some motherboard even though the system was out of warranty.

[Rocketmech]

There are many reasons why one would want to replace bad caps , usually its due to cost and time . Caps are cheap , usually around .50 ea . A whole mobo , say 19 caps , would be under $20 with shipping . You can get them from Mouser or Digikey and from a few other reliable vendors . Stay away from the Ratshack and look for a local electronics supply or a tv , video/audio repair shop . You will want low impedance (low esr)105c temp rated caps , preferably a quality brand such as Panasonic , Nichicon , Sanyo or Rubycon . I usually buy Panasonic FC series from Digikey or Nichicon HE , PW series from Mouser . When in a pinch I buy local , if I can .

I've repaired many bad caps over the last few years , and in my experience replacing bad caps on a board that didn't POST before usually won't afterwards due to fried surface mount components , in which case the board needs replacing or in some cases the bad caps fried the cpu . So, keep that in mind .

There is a ton of info at www.badcaps.net on the subject for anyone interested . ;)

And I'm with Midknyte , check with Dell you could get lucky. The same advice applies to others with different manufacturers that have bad caps on their motherboards . Some will repair at a low or no cost .

[Lgbpop]

Interesting take on the subject - I never thought it out quite that far. Guess I'm rather biased against OEM-quality mobos, the DIY boards are so much better IMO.

[Peter M]

Well, fact is, in the timeframe when the forged chemicals were around (late 2000 through early 2002 at least), /everyone/ was affected, from the chinese bottom feed OEMs all the way through to the finest server board makers.

Now, replacement. Attempting that only makes sense as long as the board still works, like Rocketmech said. If you wait until it fails, then something else has died too, not just the capacitors.

Finally, why do it? Because the cost of replacing a mainboard usually isn't just the mainboard. Often enough you'd end up buying a new processor, new RAM, a new graphics card, and a new case to top it off. So if your old setup still gets the job done, then why not repair it?

[Lgbpop]

Finally, why do it? Because the cost of replacing a mainboard usually isn't just the mainboard.That's true if you're talking a Slot A or similar, but a 478? They're only a few years old and still plentiful if you know where to look, although the prices haven't dropped the way they should for "old" tech.

[BipolarBill]

I would repair it just for the "joy" of it - for the experience. It's cheap fun and can't hurt.

I would definitely still prepare for a new motherboard/upgrade anyway.

[RockNRoll]

Yeah BpB see I figured it'd be fun just for the experience. :D Thanks for all the info guys and I'll check out Dell too.

All very helpful info as always. Thanks again!:cool: :t

[fizur2002]

and also, if you mess up when replacing the caps, you get this little lesson, well i wont do that next time for when it really counts.

[Midknyte]

http://channel.tomshardware.com/2007/07/27/how-to-fix-a-motherboard/

[Peter M]

That's true if you're talking a Slot A or similar, but a 478? They're only a few years old and still plentiful if you know where to look, although the prices haven't dropped the way they should for "old" tech.

478 is an excellent example for how things look the same but aren't.

So your dying board is 478 and there's still 478 boards in the shops? Fine, buy a new one.

Here's how things go from here (often enough): Returning home, you'll find that the new board doesn't support your FSB400 processor anymore. After another round trip to the shop for a new CPU, you'll find that the new board uses DDR RAM, rendering your SDR useless. Another round trip ... to be continued.

[Lgbpop]

Maybe you're the type who buys replacement hardware without doing your homework first, but I'm not and I assumed most of the members here would not do that either. I'm not going to state the obvious for the few that don't. Give me a break. :)

[BipolarBill]

Please don't take Peter's opinions as personal. His posts tend to be for the masses and are meant to grab everyone's attention. You could call him "minimalist". That's what the M stands for. ;)

[Peter M]

Exactly. That's why I said "often enough" in my above post.

In fact, that's my point - if you look at replacing the board (doing your homework properly), you'll often find enough good reason to order a handful of capacitors for $10 rather than a box full of stuff for $200.

[Lgbpop]

To each his own, I guess. :)

[Brodieboy143]

plus theres the extremely satisfying feeling when you recap a board yourself and it actually posts for you. i did it once even though it was a socket 370 board and wasn't really worth repairing, or keeping for that matter. got a set of 10 rubycon mbz's off eBay for $10. it really is worth it for the experience, even if you don't keep it

[bruceb]

You can do it easily if you follow some simple rules:

1): Work on a static safe surface, no rug and use a grounding wrist strap.

2): Your solder iron should be either a Grounded Tip or Isolated Tip or a
cordless iron so you get no static electricity damage.

3): When you remove the caps you can either clip the leads and then
remove the wires from the board one by one .. easier than trying to
remove the entire cap while both leads are soldered in & no damage
to the board this way. You have an option of just making a small 1/16"
loop with a tweezer or fine needle nose pliers in the wires. Then just
solder the new caps to the wires and trim the length .... Watch the Polarity
markings on the Board and the Caps ... Electrolytics will explode if the
polarity is wrong.

4): You need a good work lamp and maybe a magnifier to double check
everything. Finally, get a can Flux Off or Denatured Alcohol to clean the
rosin residue after soldering.

Good luck.

[RockNRoll]

Thanks man that's some good info! I'll keep that in mind. I forgot I wanted to do this lol I gotta find some caps. Thanks again. :D

[RockNRoll]

Though I would have liked to try replacing the caps, I have good news. I researched the bad cap recall and found out that the Optiplex that I had falls under the "products affected" list, and that the recall runs till January 2008. I just finished talking to Dell. They're replacing the board absolutely free of charge. :D

[bruceb]

It is nice to know sometimes, a warranty will actually be honored properly.
Kudos to Dell .. Now did they say if it is a Brand New mobo or a refurb ??
Hopefully, new.

[RockNRoll]

That they didn't specify, and I didn't think to ask. I'm not thinking of much anything since my little incident with the uber caffeine Mountain Dew as seen in offtopic lol.

One thing I thought of... All I told them was it was from a GX270 Optiplex... They all had the same mobo I hope lol. I never specified what type of mobo it was.

[sm8000]

If you gave them the serial # or some other ID they'll be able to ship the right part for sure.

[RockNRoll]

Hm, so you think maybe some GX270's had different hardware?

[sm8000]

Dell has a habit of recycling model names through generations. I wouldn't worry yet though, let's see what arrives first.

[RockNRoll]

Wow, well I got the board already and it IS the same board (yay). It IS refurbished though but I got the Optiplax for nothing so I am really not one to care to complain about that, though in a case where someone bought the computer brand new and gets a refurb replacement it can be an issue.

All in all very happy, came fast, and they even sent it on the little metal slide-out thing. :D

[BipolarBill]

and they even sent it on the little metal slide-out thing. :D...otherwise known as an I/O shield. ;)

[RockNRoll]

...otherwise known as an I/O shield. ;)

lol, thanks, yeah that, though this one isn't just a backplate style, the mobo actually attatches to it and then you slide the whole thing in the case.

Nifty.. :D

[BipolarBill]

Oh - the motherboard mounting tray. Big makers have nifty cases - except for the drive bay limitations.

[RockNRoll]

Oh - the motherboard mounting tray. Big makers have nifty cases - except for the drive bay limitations.

It's like an I/O shmobo mountield tray. It's got the I/O shield attatched. :D