Greetings-- 

  

Yes, this could be the problem.  When you run a computer without the case sealed, the air-flow for cooling the various components is actually not as good as when the case is closed.  A closed case allows the air-flow from the various cooling fans to be of both higher volume and higher speed.  Limiting the intake for outside air to a smaller area--bottom front for a tower case--and the egress for exhausted, heated air to a 'smaller area' (the power supply fan, the processor fan, and any case fans installed) is more effective (because of higher air-flow velocity, due to the 'venturi effect' of smaller intake and exhaust apertures and the natural expansion of gasses due to heat) for the purpose of cooling video adapters, processors, and the "innards" of the computer, in general.  Bulging capacitors have been the cause for warranty motherboard replacement on several occasions within my own experience (with Gateway computers--not even cheap models).  If the capacitors are indeed bulging, I would recommend taking a digital picture of them and emailing the support group for whatever computer it is with the image as an attachment.  It is possible the company may send you a replacement motherboard. 

  

Paul A. Shippert 

School Librarian 

Margaret Brent Middle School 

former computer and network support grunt for 

Property Owners Association of Chesapeake Ranch Estates, Lusby, MD 



----- Original Message -----




From: [log in to unmask] 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 2:16:07 AM 
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Computer not Starting first booting 

Since the computer will not boot tell it has run for 10 minutes which 
seems to be a thermo problem. The graphics will lockup at times and I 
have to close programs if I can or reboot the computer. I'm told that by 
a computer friend that it could be bulging capacitors on the motherboard 
causing this. I have been running the computer with the cover off. Could 
this cause the problem? Looking at the motherboard some of the 
capacitors are not flat. I'm told these can be replaced. 
  I believe this started when I added a hard drive after one crashed and 
I was running out of space. I left the cover off since then. 

Harvey 

>>> I've tried disconnecting the drives that I don't need to boot the 
>>> computer 
>>> and even tried a different drive that I have Windows XP on also and it 
>>> did 
>>> the same where I had to run it for 10 minutes then reboot. There are no 
>>> beeps at the beginning when the computer is cold or on the second boot. 
>>> Also 
>>> I do not have a VGA port on this motherboard. 
>>> I am running 3 SATA drives plus a DVD drive and Video card is a NIVIDA 
>>> GeForce 8800 GT. I did try changing The SATA cables also still with the 
>>> same 
>>> problem. The power supply been 400W. How does one test this other then 
>>> buying a new power supply? Is it not better to buy one say at 500W if I 
>>> have 
>>> to replace it? 
>>> 
>>> Harvey 
>>> 
>>> 
> 
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                         PCBUILD's List Owners: 
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                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
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