> -----Original Message-----
> From: PCBUILD - PC Hardware discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of John G. Cakars
> Sent: March 1, 1998 17:21
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [PCBUILD] Capacitors
>
>
> Packard Bell POS P75, Win95a
>
> An article in "Microtimes" said that cheap motherboards use aluminum
> electrolytic capacitors instead of tantalum capacitors.  It said that
> the "cheaper capacitors which would degrade over time and no longer
> supply correct voltages and correct timing to the CPU."
>
> Well, knowing Packard Bell, I thought I would ask them what kind they
> were using.  Their wonderful reponse was:  The type of capacitors are
> not available to us.  The motherboard may need to be replaced.  You may
> order Packard Bell components from..."  That was helpful.
>
> So is there any truth to the difference in capacitors?   If so, how long
> would it take for a motherboard to develop problems?  Should I worry
> about my Packard Bell motherboard?

        Yes, but don't worry. Capacitors do change, especially electrolyte types,
but they do so so slowly that your board will be so obsolete it won't matter
anymore. Aside from that, a capacitor changing value shouldn't usually
change the voltage, that is not how they are designed. About the only thing
a capacitor with a lower value will do is not filter all the noise that is
present in a system, but again, not a factor because it usually takes many
years for something like that to happen. TTYL