+LogicalApex MVC Posted February 11, 2014 MVC Share Posted February 11, 2014 One of my machines has been experiencing the symptoms of a leaking capacitor (random instability). Prior to considering that a cause I did the usual troubleshooting things. I swapped out the video card (as the instability tended to happen in games), tested the PSU with a PSU tester, tested the RAM, cleaned; inspected; and reseated the CPU, etc. When none of that fixed the issue I pulled out my flashlight and canvased the board surface. I noticed the capacitor in the picture which lead me to assume this was a leaking capacitor. Asus claimed they fixed a leaking capacitor when this was sent in for a warranty RMA, but it came back still looking the same... I'm interested in others thoughts on this. My limited understanding of capacitors on a board such as this (Sabertooth X58) is that they are solid capacitors so there really shouldn't be anything to leak. But this seems to suggest otherwise. Also not happy that Asus RMA didn't appear to do anything. The board arrived back today and is undergoing stress testing... You can look at the rest of the images @ http://imgur.com/a/HG2rc Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Praetor Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 hum.. all am i seeing is just capacitors, where is the leak? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255101 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted February 11, 2014 Author MVC Share Posted February 11, 2014 hum.. all am i seeing is just capacitors, where is the leak? I should have annotated the image. I have attempted to do so in this post. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255109 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dashel Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Those are solid capacitors so there isn't anything to leak. (No top break points) You would need a capacity tester to find out for sure. To clarify, Asus was able to verify a failure? Did you try a different set of memory yet? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255127 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raa Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 That's not a leaking capacitor. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255131 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted February 11, 2014 Author MVC Share Posted February 11, 2014 Those are solid capacitors so there isn't anything to leak. (No top break points) You would need a capacity tester to find out for sure. To clarify, Asus was able to verify a failure? Did you try a different set of memory yet? That is my understanding as well. I'm wondering what really is attached to this capacitor... Asus stated they replaced a leaking capacitor. Just not the one in the picture... I'm not really able to find any solid information on solid state capacitor failure. As they supposedly can leak, but it is highly unlikely. As suggested here at least: http://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=71726 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255141 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juguard Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Just replace the cap yourself. Ive done that with a video card and a motherboard. Fixed them 100%... but it helps working with electronics and having the parts on hand. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255165 Share on other sites More sharing options...
riahc3 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Hello, Is it still a complete cylinder shape or does it have a bulge? And LogicalApex, I hate you :p I read "Leaking Capacitor Explosion" and I just came for the "explosion" part :laugh: Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255175 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dashel Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I can't seem to confirm if ASUS's TUF caps are Nichicon tantalum (true solid) or Fujitsu's Functional Polymer which can bloat/leak. If they used the word 'leak' I assume the latter. That thread also seems to indicate that poly caps should generally just pop on failure. Sounds like yours might be in the grey, I'm surprised ASUS repaired it vs just sending you a different one. snaphat (Myles Landwehr) and Phouchg 2 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255181 Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaphat (Myles Landwehr) Member Posted February 11, 2014 Member Share Posted February 11, 2014 ^ After looking it up, I'm going with Dashel. These could be FPCAPs which aren't solid but look like solid. That being said, can you get a better shot of the cruft. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255235 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted February 11, 2014 Author MVC Share Posted February 11, 2014 ^ After looking it up, I'm going with Dashel. These could be FPCAPs which aren't solid but look like solid. That being said, can you get a better shot of the cruft. I don't have a great macro lens so I put the best shots I could take in the album I linked to. I attempted to capture it from a few angles. The cruft is only on the capacitor. Not the hestsink next to it. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255763 Share on other sites More sharing options...
p1p3 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 To me it looks like its glued to the heat sink, possibly to dampen microphonics depending on what type of capacitor it is. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255827 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Veteran Posted February 11, 2014 Veteran Share Posted February 11, 2014 In the close-up shot it looks like there's brown crud around what appears to be a resistor package that is located under the corner of the heat sink and chip. It's a bit difficult to tell because it's out of focus. If that's one of the chipset components it's likely that cap goes to the DIMM slots due to the placement. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596255831 Share on other sites More sharing options...
goretsky Supervisor Posted February 12, 2014 Supervisor Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) Hello, Do other capacitors on the motherboard exhibit the same "popped straight up from the motherboard" effect? It's possible the seal at the bottom of the can might have ruptured. Regards, Aryeh Goretsky Edited February 13, 2014 by goretsky Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596257087 Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisj1968 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I should have annotated the image. I have attempted to do so in this post. Potential Leak.png I saw the leak. that has to be a serious issue because that liquid could cross circuits and MAYBE!?!, short circuit or permanently destroy the board. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596257091 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted February 12, 2014 Subscriber¹ Share Posted February 12, 2014 I can't tell. The one in focus seems to be all right. I'd like to see a top to bottom view of the area and the reverse side of the circuit. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596257099 Share on other sites More sharing options...
wibble64 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 you could try the badcaps.net forum, they are quiet helpful. goretsky 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1200049-leaking-capacitor-exploration/#findComment-596257475 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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