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PCs Plagued by Bad Capacitors

Hawaiian Rules writes "CNET has a story detailing a new threat to Dell PCs, Apple iMacs and other computers with Intel boards. This has been documented on BadCaps.net for some time, but the article also discusses what to do if you suspect you've got a case of the bad caps."

32 of 335 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Not the first time by Slashdiddly · · Score: 5, Funny

    Watch out for all the 'Geeks popping a cap in your mother' jokes.

    Sorry I couldn't resist

  2. What to do if you have a Bad Cap: by racecarj · · Score: 3, Funny

    Call Capman

  3. Re:Not the first time by Senjutsu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sorry I couldn't resist

    Few people have that capacity.

  4. Re:Not the first time by CosmeticLobotamy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Because they store less than one coulomb per volt.

    I don't get it.

  5. Modern Times by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Internet really has become quite a zoo. Once the chairman of IBM thought "there is a world market for maybe five computers". Now there's a server farm just for bitching about bad capacitors. We really live in an age of miracles.

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  6. Re:Not the first time by fossa · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't get these modern jokes... I just can't stay current.

  7. CAPS BAD? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ME NO UNDERSTAND!

    1. Re:CAPS BAD? by AdamTheBastard · · Score: 2, Funny

      HOW DID THE PARENT'S POST PASS THE LAMENESS FILTER?!

      Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
      Reason: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

  8. bad caps by iggy_mon · · Score: 5, Funny

    if you suspect you've got a case of the bad caps

    yeah, this one time in college, there was this girl... it was my first time, not hers though... i didn't know...

    oh! caps! never mind...

    --
    --iggy_mon - www.ananonymouskiller.com - Die Trying -
  9. Re:Not the first time by richdun · · Score: 4, Funny

    Such a waste, especially when consider they had such high potential.

  10. Re:Not the first time by roman_mir · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't post jokes with such frequency, it takes too much power.

  11. Ohm my god. As farads I'm concerned... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    you all deserve a kick in the joules.

    1. Re:Ohm my god. As farads I'm concerned... by Rellik66 · · Score: 4, Funny

      For what, bad conduct?

      --

      Too many zeros, not enough ones

  12. Re:Not the first time by gordo3000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sorry I couldn't resist

    Few people have that capacity.


    The story just induces bad jokes, doesn't it?

  13. Re:Not the first time by Doppler00 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sorry I couldn't resist

    Few people have that capacity.


    Well, it doesn't require that much inductive reasoning.

  14. Re:Not the first time by aktzin · · Score: 4, Funny
    I don't get these modern jokes... I just can't stay current.

    Not even Faraday?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farad

    --
    Quantum mechanics: the dreams that stuff is made of.
  15. Re:Not the first time by The+Clockwork+Troll · · Score: 3, Funny

    I doubt the parent wanted a pun cascade but I farad might come to this.

    --

    There are no karma whores, only moderation johns
  16. Re:Not the first time by zpeterz63 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess I shouldn't be that shocked.

  17. I think you mean... by buck_wild · · Score: 2, Funny

    a bad rubber.

    Unless you call that a cap. In that case, more power to ya.

    --
    If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
  18. Re:Problem's been around for awhile. by penguinoid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bad Caps have been a problem since 2002 at least.

    I THOUGHT COMPUTERS WITH BAD CAPS WAS A PROBLEM SINCE THEY INVENTED CHAT. That has to have been well before 2002.

    --
    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  19. Re:Not the first time by sd_diamond · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ohmy God; can we please get back to the current topic? And try to conduct yourselves with a little more dignity.

  20. Re:Not the first time by QuantumFTL · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sorry I couldn't resist

    Few people have that capacity.

    The story just induces bad jokes, doesn't it?

    This thread shows there is little impedance to such humor on /..

  21. Re:Not the first time by nihilogos · · Score: 2, Funny

    *sigh* If only I had the power to stop these jokes. At least keep them current.

    If your resistence to these jokes is R, then the power you require to keep them at a current I is given by P = I^2 R

    Why the heck can't we use the <sup> tag anyway?

    --
    :wq
  22. Re:More than just Intel boards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    A dent? Bitch please, they aren't filled with TNT! (You ass)

  23. Re:More than just Intel boards by lga · · Score: 2, Funny
    A dent? Bitch please, they aren't filled with TNT! (You ass)

    If you think that capacitors can't explode and leave a dent then you have obviously never stuck one in a 240V mains socket and turned it on. (This works best with lab bench sockets, where you can flip the switch from *behind* it.)

  24. Re:Bad caps turned the iMac G5 into a lemon by Slashcrap · · Score: 2, Funny

    Also, on the iMac G5 Apple will extend coverage specifically for the capacitor issue, so even if your warranty coverage expires they will fix your machine at their expense (http://www.apple.com/support/imac/repairextension program/ [apple.com]).

    Wow! Apple sure do give great customer service!

    I think I'm going to go out and buy a faulty Mac with substandard parts just so I can experience it!

  25. Re:Not the first time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    No, it's the French that are revolting.

  26. Re:More than just Intel boards by MECC · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've popped big capacitors, much bigger than those found in PCs, but not the coke can sized ones (I'm not crazy). They will explode with vigor, and I could see them putting a very small dent in thin metal, but not in the gage of metal I see most cases made of - its not impossible though. However, its rare for one which is correctly connected to actually blow up. Usually failure is just a breakdown of the dielectric, resulting in a shunt or short circuit. Worse still, before they go bad, they often change their capacity, resulting in a very different circuit. But, hook one in backwards - yes it'll go boom.

    More fun than blowing them up is to charge them and toss them at someone while saying 'catch'. Even more fun is getting a coke can sized one and welding things together with it (you can only get a little spot welded, though - perfect for carraige bolt stick men).

    Or better yet, wire one to the inside of a door handle and charge it up. Man, I never thought my grandma could jump so high....

    --
    "We are all geniuses when we dream"
    - E.M. Cioran
  27. Re:Not the first time by Guysmiley777 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Something something [b]dielectric[/b] something.

    --
    Coding with assembly is like playing with Legos. Coding an application in assembly is like building a car with Legos.
  28. Re:I declare this horse officially dead. by Grayden · · Score: 2, Funny

    Watt are you talking about?

  29. Re:Not the first time by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 3, Funny

    You have a susceptance to complain.

  30. Re:Not the first time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    He probably lives in the tri-state area.