What usually dies first in a circuit?

[Bishop]

I have repaired several LCD screens and recapped several motherboards, and I was just wondering.

What part usually dies first, there's got to be a point where most damage occors first?

What happened to the old re-set switch?

Where did do it yourself before you call the factory go?

In the early PC's the factory put in a re-set breaker inside the case so only the servicemsn could open it up and push it after a power surge. Warning labels were there to keep the buyer out.

I was given a PC Friday to see if I could fix it by a friend. Nothing was out of place, nothing looked fried, but the mother board was dead. All the other parts worked in my test PC, but the MB?

I worked in DATA for 30 years, 10 years in house before PC were available for the home or business, and our stuff was protected internally and externally. The trash factories put out today is surprising..

Has anyone a clue? Is it always the caps the first to die?

[Scenic]

Re: What usually dies first in a circuit?

heat -> caps -> transistors/mosfets/regulators

or poor soldering and running any of the components close to their specified max. limits from the factory..

[PCBONEZ]

Re: What usually dies first in a circuit?

If you are talking nothing breaks and it 'just wears out' then caps would be it.
Caps and coils are about the only things that aren't solid state anymore and coils don't have liquid to dry up or chemicals.
.