Leaking Caps

[Cricket]

Anyone with a EPoX motherboard from about 2 and a half to 3 years ago should check the capacitors for signs of leaking.

I was changing the motherboard battery in my brother-in-law's PIII 1GHz system with the EPoX 3SPA3L motherboard and noticed some of the capacitors were bulging and had signs of leaking. Since I built my 1GHz PIII system the same time I built his, I checked my motherboard as soon as I got home and saw the same capacitors were also bulging and leaking. Rats.

The systems are running fine for now, but it's only a matter of time before they start to act up. Rats.

Since I don't want to hunt for another Socket 370 i815EP motherboard, it looks like I'll be upgrading these computers a little sooner than I thought I would. Rats.

Anyway, if you have a EPoX motherboard from a few years ago, check the capacitors.

Cricket

[Panama Red]

Not good Cricket. At least you have time to prepare for "imminent failure"!! Good Luck.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Panama Red At least you have time to prepare for "imminent failure"!!

Nah, I'll just put that one on the side for now and go back to using my old reliable PII 400MHz system. I'll get around to upgrading the PIII 1GHz to a P4 2.something sooner or later.

Cricket

[ConLog]

Cricket, it's easy enough to solder new caps onto a motherboard - I had to do it myself with an Abit motherboard I once had.

[PMich]

There's the answer. Rather than get mad about it use it as an excuse to learn something new. Hopefully your soldering skills will be better than mine.

[ConLog]

Smoothing capacitors of the type leaking on crickets mobo tend to be 1500, or 2200 micro farad 6 volt caps which cost about $1 each. Unfortunately they are slightly more difficult to get a hold of than other types of electrolytic capacitors.

Defo a better idea though than upgrading an entire mobo.

A small wattage soldering iron and a desoldering tool like the one in the link are essential.

http://www.hvwtech.com/pages/product...?ProductID=444

[Alfie]

Contact Epox,this is probably one of the motherboards that came out with the faulty ones,see what they have to say.

[Cricket]

Thanks for the suggestions, but since this is my fastest computer (only 1GHz) and it is almost 3 years old (it served my wife well), we've decided to upgrade the system to a 2.6C P4...then we'll finally have an up to date system.

I may try to replace the leaking caps with new ones, just for the experience.

I'll email EPoX USA to see what they have to say.

Cricket

[DragonNOA1]

Good idea Cricket, you never know what Epox might say. Maybe they'll let you have a new board! That would be great. I always recommend calling the company of what ever product is giving u problems b/c you never know when they might send a replacement or something. Good Luck.