GPU Caps Out of Spec?

itachi · 11-03-2021, 11:21 PM

My friend has this EVGA GTX770 GPU that, after 7 long years of use, is now starting to act up with artifacting and causing random black screens requiring a hard power down.

I decide to check the caps, since I've revived other GPUs by replacing bad ones. Physically they all look fine. These are all very low ESR caps, like aluminmum polymer <=10 mhom and tantalum polymer in the range of 20-30 mohm. They all test fine ESR wise.

They're grouped as follows:
4x 270u 16V Al-polymer
3x 100u 16V? tant-polymer
9x 330u 2.5V tant-polymer
4x 470u 2.5V tant-polymer

The odd thing is, all 9 of the 330u range from about 208u to 247u. They clearly have "330" marked on them in large numbers, but they all seem to average to around 220u. The ESRs all test 20 or 30 mohm. Does anyone know if that's a sign of them failing, or are these actually 220u caps in disguise.

**PeteS in CA** · 11-04-2021, 11:21 AM

Polymer caps don't have a liquid electrolyte that can evaporate over time. BTW, the dielectric in an electrolytic or polymer cap is not the electrolyte or the polymer. The dielectric is a layer of aluminum oxide on the surface of the anode foil. The electrolyte-soaked paper or polymer is a conformal conductor between the cathode foil and the aluminum oxide surface.

Some ultra-low impedance electrolytics have had problems with the electrolyte attacking the aluminum oxide layer, but I've not heard of problems with the polymer affecting the aluminum oxide layer.

**stj** · 11-05-2021, 04:16 AM

maybe they are breaking down slowly because of the ripple current.

11-04-2021, 11:21 AM	#2
PeteS in CA Badcaps Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 City & State: San Jose, CA My Country: USA, Unsure of Planet Line Voltage: 120VAC, 60Hz & 115VAC, 400Hz I'm a: Professional Tech Posts: 3,370	Re: GPU Caps Out of Spec? Polymer caps don't have a liquid electrolyte that can evaporate over time. BTW, the dielectric in an electrolytic or polymer cap is not the electrolyte or the polymer. The dielectric is a layer of aluminum oxide on the surface of the anode foil. The electrolyte-soaked paper or polymer is a conformal conductor between the cathode foil and the aluminum oxide surface. Some ultra-low impedance electrolytics have had problems with the electrolyte attacking the aluminum oxide layer, but I've not heard of problems with the polymer affecting the aluminum oxide layer. __________________ PeteS in CA Power Supplies should be boring: No loud noises, no bright flashes, and no bad smells. ************************** All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring ************************ To kill personal responsibility, initiative or success, punish it by taxing it. To encourage irresponsibility, improvidence, dependence and failure, reward it by subsidizing it. ************************** Laughable prediction, https://principia-scientific.com/doc...l-most-people/ ; Fully Vaxxed May 2021; Viva CallSJ "5K" (actually 3.26 miles), 9/19/21, 51:19; ZombieRunner Halloween 10K, 10/31/21, 1:49:30; ZombieRunner Quarry Lakes half marathon, 4:19:07, 12/12/21

11-05-2021, 04:16 AM	#3
stj Great Sage 齊天大聖 Join Date: Dec 2009 City & State: Europe My Country: some shithole run by Israeli agents I'm a: Professional Tech Posts: 26,430	Re: GPU Caps Out of Spec? maybe they are breaking down slowly because of the ripple current.

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