PSU Bad Caps?!

[chubbyfatazn]

My aunt's computer recently died, and she asked me to take a look at it.

Lo and behold, the PSU doesn't work (it's a Maxpower). So I replace it with a spare I had lying around (an Enermax).

I popped off the cover (it doesn't even have a warranty sticker, lol), and I see a bunch of caps with little or no identification (or maybe that's just me). The 12v caps were made by GL. Sucks.

None of the caps were leaking or blown, but I did catch a few that were angled a bit oddly. I remember reading that caps at weird angles are a sign of failure. Anything?

Sorry for no pics.

[davmax]

Re: PSU Bad Caps?!

It is assumed that the other power supply worked in the computer.

A lot of capacitors fail without any external evidence. The challenge for you is whether it is worth any effort to replace the caps. Make sure there is no blown fuse. Also that the caps on the motherboard show no signs of failure.

[chubbyfatazn]

Re: PSU Bad Caps?!

I did read somewhere that oddly angled caps are a sign of impending failure. But in general nothing bulging or leaking.

It's not worth it, cause it's just a 300W supply. In her case it can power her Celery just fine. The systems I build nowadays need upwards of 550W.

[gonzo0815]

Re: PSU Bad Caps?!

I The systems I build nowadays need upwards of 550W.

Show me one. I havent had one touched with more than 200w. May be its just me and my poor friends.

[hkivan]

Re: PSU Bad Caps?!

Can you show me some pictures of your Maxpower ?

[chubbyfatazn]

Re: PSU Bad Caps?!

Show me one. I havent had one touched with more than 200w. May be its just me and my poor friends.

OK fine, so I'm being a bit on the high side.

My 500W isn't cutting it for an OCed CPU and an X1900 GPU.. it's like a little over 30A on the 12v rails. Not that good.

Sorry for the pics, I don't wanna unpack it and watch the dust fly out. I did find some hardened goopy stuff on a yellow-colored box attached to the PCB. It looks like that box thingy cracked and some brown-colored goop oozed out.