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Difficulty: EasyMotherboard, RAM, CPU, and Power Issues

During a routine physical inspection of a desktop computer that has been experiencing unexpected shutdowns, a technician notices that several cylindrical components on the circuit board near the CPU socket have raised, bulging tops and dried brownish residue. Which component needs to be replaced to resolve this issue?

  1. The motherboardAnswer
  2. B
    The SO-DIMM laptop memory modules
  3. C
    The operating system bootloader configuration
  4. D
    The dual-channel RAM slot routing configuration

Answer

The motherboard must be replaced due to physical failure of distended capacitors.
Bulging tops and dried fluid leakage on motherboard capacitors (distended capacitors) indicate severe physical hardware failure. Damaged capacitors cannot properly filter voltage, causing unexpected reboots and system failure. Replacing the motherboard is the standard solution.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the physical symptom described on the circuit board.
Recognize that cylindrical components with bulging tops and residue are distended (blown) capacitors.
Capacitors regulate voltage on the motherboard; when they overheat or age, internal pressure causes them to swell and leak fluid.
2
Determine the required corrective action.
Conclude that replacing the motherboard is necessary.
Failed capacitors prevent stable power delivery to components, causing system instability and requiring motherboard replacement in standard service procedures.

Key Concept

Identifying physical motherboard failures caused by distended or leaking capacitors
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Topics

Motherboard, RAM, CPU, and Power Issues

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