Page "Motherboard" Paragraph 44

Motherboards use electrolytic capacitors to filter the DC power distributed around the board.

These capacitors age at a temperature-dependent rate, as their water based electrolytes slowly evaporate.

This can lead to loss of capacitance and subsequent motherboard malfunctions due to voltage instabilities.

While most capacitors are rated for 2000 hours of operation at, their expected design life roughly doubles for every below this.

At a lifetime of 15 years can be expected.

This appears reasonable for a computer motherboard.

However, many manufacturers have delivered substandard capacitors, which significantly reduce life expectancy.

Inadequate case cooling and elevated temperatures easily exacerbate this problem.

It is possible, but tedious and time-consuming, to find and replace failed capacitors on PC motherboards.