List of DELL models affected by capacitor failures

[spasmous2]

I have a GX270 at work for which I have replaced the motherboard twice
due to blown capacitors (brown goo, bulging etc). My colleague has a
280 and has replaced it once. I thought this was a 2003-4 one-off but
we now have 3 Optiplex 745 from 2007 that all exhibits the same
capacitor problems. This sucks all the more as I only noticed it after
they were a few months out of warranty

So now I am looking at another computer purchase. We are locked into
Dell so I was wondering if anyone has a definitive list of the faulty
models. I can confirm 270, 280 and 745 from personal experience but
would appreciate other's input. Thanks.

 

[Paul]

I have a GX270 at work for which I have replaced the motherboard twice
due to blown capacitors (brown goo, bulging etc). My colleague has a
280 and has replaced it once. I thought this was a 2003-4 one-off but
we now have 3 Optiplex 745 from 2007 that all exhibits the same
capacitor problems. This sucks all the more as I only noticed it after
they were a few months out of warranty

So now I am looking at another computer purchase. We are locked into
Dell so I was wondering if anyone has a definitive list of the faulty
models. I can confirm 270, 280 and 745 from personal experience but
would appreciate other's input. Thanks.

Find a web site selling replacement capacitor kits

Kits on offer here.

http://www.thecapking.com/index.html

GX-280
GX-270
Precision 470
GX-260 SDC
GX-240 tower
GX-620 USFF
SX-280
SX-270

http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/12906-gx-series-capacitors

"We've had 75% of our Precision 470s go down with popped MB
caps as well."

A couple hours with a search engine, ought to build you a list.

*******

An alternate algorithm, would be to spot a Dell to
buy, then look for a picture of the motherboard. If it has
electrolytic caps, don't buy it. If it is a 100% polymer cap
design, then buy it.

This is a picture of some polymer caps.

http://www.capacitorlab.com/capacitor-types-polymer/sepcpolymer.jpg

It's not that all electrolytics are defective. You can get
ten to fifteen years from them, before the seal on the bottom
dries out. But if a company has a history of buying defective
or counterfeit parts, at some point you have to assume
they haven't changed their practices.

Even polymer caps have been faked. I've seen one report, where
someone suspected a company was taking electrolytic caps and
putting them in a "polymer can", which is a pretty dangerous
practice if true. Electrolytic caps should have pressure relief
(vent mark stamping in the metal), to function as a pressure
relief in case of trouble. A polymer metal can, doesn't have
pressure relief. The idea in that case, is to get the desired
"visual appearance of quality", and garner a few more pennies
per unit...

Paul

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I have a GX270 at work for which I have replaced the motherboard twice
due to blown capacitors (brown goo, bulging etc). My colleague has a
280 and has replaced it once. I thought this was a 2003-4 one-off but
we now have 3 Optiplex 745 from 2007 that all exhibits the same
capacitor problems. This sucks all the more as I only noticed it after
they were a few months out of warranty

So now I am looking at another computer purchase. We are locked into
Dell so I was wondering if anyone has a definitive list of the faulty
models. I can confirm 270, 280 and 745 from personal experience but
would appreciate other's input. Thanks.

The problem with the Dells from about 2002-2004 involved wrongly made
Nichicon HM and HN capacitors (Nichicons from 2005 and later are OK),
and but I believe your Optiplex 745 is instead affected by Nippon/
United Chemicon KZG or KZJ series capacitors, which the experts at
BadCaps.net still consider to be bad. Here's a thread from that site,
about the Dell 745:

http://badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9494

BadCaps.net is a great website for information about problems like
this and how to repair them, and the owner also sells high quality
capacitors and has a motherboard repair service.

YouTube videos about the problem and repair are here:

(part 1)

(part 2)

I believe he replaces the bad caps with Chemicon KZH types, which seem
to be OK, but if you're doubtful, consider Nichicon HN or HZ. I'm not
sure, but Panasonic FM or Sanyo WG may also be suitable. If you're
considering a switch to polymer capacitors (all-silver cans, no vent
slits on top), I don't think it's possible to get them in the 1800uF,
6.3V size originally used on the motherboard, but normally half the
original capacitance is used with polymers. Again, BadCaps.net has
information about the switch.