BIOS Updates forum

I just got one of these from a friend (they complained it "smoked").

When I opened the thing up, I found that it has bad caps (CPU VRM).

Can I assume that if I replace the caps, the thing will work...or will I find more problems down the road?

Thanks.

Usually replacing the caps will do the trick. Sometimes it's not actually the caps but the VRM itself that is the problem (and will bulge the caps due to overvoltage).

All I know is that there are "tented" caps all over the place. Some have black stuff coming out of the top.

When I get some free time, I'll look closer.

Thanks.

if the caps are bad replacing them will fix the problem. well, mostly...the problem is: if the caps are bad the cpu will demand the current directly from the mosfet drivers which are not designed to work under this condition. so if there was smoke coming out of the case it could be the caps going bad or the mosfet drivers dying. you can check the mosfet drivers for shorts as a start. if they are shorted they need to be replaced (don't forget to replace the caps!).

OK.

Thanks cp.