Opinion on a motherboard problem
Opinion on a motherboard problem
In short, I owned a B450 board a while back and heard a spark from it. At that time the motherboard powered on with a CPU LED indicator. When that happened, my R5 5600G experienced several boot issues, sometimes not starting at all. Because the damage likely affected the CPU, I decided to leave it there instead of repairing the motherboard. Recently, I bought a multimeter and checked the capacitor from the photos. It showed no voltage, so I removed it, cleaned the solder, and tried again. The board now works fine.
I’m planning to build a budget PC for a friend and want to know if leaving it without the cap is safe. Should I just replace the cap and test longer? How can I confirm the cap was the issue rather than power delivery if I swap it? And since it’s now working, should I send it to a local technician for a closer look? In my country, finding parts is tough, and shipping from places like eBay or AliExpress takes a long time—sometimes 1 to 2 months.
It might help to use a capacitor that matches the voltage requirements. Replacing it with one of higher capacitance value is ideal, though the rated voltage should be at least as high as the original. A value above 6.3V is acceptable, but the exact original capacitance isn't clear. Updated November 27, 2024 by Average Nerd
The capacitor probably contained a minor production flaw leading to early breakdown. Swapping it for another similar solid electrolytic type with matching capacitance would work, but increasing its voltage tolerance is the safest choice for lasting performance.
It's likely the voltage isn't reaching the capacitor due to a defective phase—such as a faulty hi-side or lo-side MOSFET under the heatsink. Even if you add the capacitor, it might not get power from that bad section, but other working phases could still supply voltage. It works best with parallel capacitors, so you'll receive power from the healthy ones. The part is a 560µF, rated for 6.3V. It's a solid polymer type, not an electrolytic one. Since it helps smooth voltage to the CPU which operates below 2V, you can use even a 4V rated solid polymer if needed. You might consider larger values like 680µF or 820µF—but keep in mind size matters for placement. Make sure the height and width fit without obstructing the heatsink or cooler. These capacitors are affordable on LCSC sites; you can find options with 8mm diameter, 9mm height, 560/6.3 here: [link 1], [link 2], [link 3], [link 4], [link 5]. You can also look at 680/6.3, 6.3mm x 8mm, 680/6.3, 560/4 options.