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Photos: Bad capacitors

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  • Swollen capacitors on iMac

    Swollen capacitors on iMac

    Faulty capacitors are causing video failure and periodic system shutdowns in some Apple G5s. The red arrows points to several swollen capacitors on the back of this new iMac. (Not all of the capacitors are bad). When functioning properly, capacitors temporarily store electrical charges and release them as needed. After the problem crops up, the system log shows the problem as a "Graphic Chip Error." The only way to fix the problem, according to Apple, is to replace the mid-plane.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Dell leaky capacitors

    Dell leaky capacitors

    A technician working under contract with Dell between December 2004 and April 2005 took this close-up of two leaky capacitors inside a Dell Optiplex GX270.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Intel D865GBF motherboard

    Intel D865GBF motherboard

    Computer repairman Paul Kamberis began encountering faulty capacitors in February. This shot shows an Intel D865GBF motherboard found in MPC (formerly Micron PC) and other white-box computers. The faulty capacitors all have the letter "X" stamped on the top.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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Blown capacitors can cause distorted video, power failures, periodic system shutdowns and more.

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Swollen capacitors on iMac

Faulty capacitors are causing video failure and periodic system shutdowns in some Apple G5s. The red arrows points to several swollen capacitors on the back of this new iMac. (Not all of the capacitors are bad). When functioning properly, capacitors temporarily store electrical charges and release them as needed. After the problem crops up, the system log shows the problem as a "Graphic Chip Error." The only way to fix the problem, according to Apple, is to replace the mid-plane.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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