Asianometry What Happened to the Capacitors in 2002?
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Mar 16, 2025 In the early 2000s, a bizarre crisis erupted as PC motherboards suffered from the infamous capacitor plague. Reports flooded in of popping sounds and strange smells as capacitors leaked or burst. Consumers were baffled, often bringing their failing machines to repair shops, unaware of the underlying issue. The inconsistency left many wondering what caused such a widespread problem in the tech world. Delve into the theories and challenges posed by this peculiar crisis that left its mark on electronics.
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The Capacitor Plague
- In the early 2000s, PC motherboards suffered from "capacitor plague."
- One user heard a pop like a firework, smelled a fishy odor, and then their computer failed.
Capacitor Basics
- Capacitors store electricity, discharging it rapidly, unlike batteries.
- Electrolytic capacitors (E-caps) use an electrolyte and etched aluminum foil.
E-Cap Use Cases
- PC motherboards use E-caps for filtering and decoupling.
- These smooth out power fluctuations, acting like drainage ponds for voltage spikes and dips.