Need help identifying SMD capacitors on videocard - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: pAckmAn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2019, 01:57:57 pm
content: Hi All,I have an issue with laptop vidoecard - internal MXM card, GTX 1080, if that matters. The issue is (ceramic?) capacitor that blew up - see attached. My multimeter doesn't have capacitance measurement.Also, any recommendations what to check? It seems suspicious that ceramic capacitor blew up.

author: Armadillo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2019, 02:09:27 pm
content: Firstly, heat it up with a hot air gun and pluck the 2 capacitors out of the board.With those out of the way, plug in the board to see if it still power up.Then you decide.I would think 22uF 10V X7R 1206 [check physical size].

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2019, 03:33:46 pm
content: Looks almost like something metallic has touched the circuit board where it shouldn't... doesn't look like the capacitors themselves actually blew up? Loose screw rattling around inside the laptop? Wouldn't be the first time a wayward screw caused havoc...

author: pAckmAn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2019, 03:41:13 pm
content: Quote from: SilverSolder on January 02, 2019, 03:33:46 pmWell... this surface is in between MXM graphic card and motherboard. And half of the capacitor fell off after I took picture - so it did blow upBut I'll check the motherboard to make sure it doesn't have damage too. Although it does work without videocard.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2019, 04:46:12 pm
content: It looks strange to me that there are ceramics at all. There is even a + symbol close to the pads. But on the other end there are two part identifiers (actually three). So the designer didn't seemed to be sure what will do.But from the picture it seems that on the cap is a part blown away. Close to the PCB on the right side of the cap. Not an expert here, but if I remember the pictures of cracked ceramic caps that's one of the most common area. So it could be that the cap was cracked due to bending or other stress on the PCB. And because of that it created a short (like Daves 1000W DIY PSU:EEVblog #1035 - Flaming DIY Power Supply).

author: pAckmAn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2019, 10:33:20 pm
content: Quote from: Armadillo on January 02, 2019, 02:09:27 pmJust removed both capacitors and it started to work. The second capacitor that looks OK actually short the circuit - I tested it after desoldering. The question is - how safe is it to run it without capacitors? It's clearly a grounded capacitor, so I assume it only grounds high frequency noise... But I don't know how important that is in videocards.The size is 0805.

author: Armadillo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2019, 10:42:21 pm
content: Well, good for you now that you determined it's cost economical to repair it with just 2 cheap MLCC.Just replace the 2 caps for added peace of mind.

author: LapTop006
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2019, 12:28:19 pm
content: Quote from: Twoflower on January 02, 2019, 04:46:12 pmLook at the other footprint above, it appears to be a combo footprint, 2x ceramics, or a single tant.

author: mictas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2019, 07:32:38 pm
content: Are you able to provide the systems information, I mean more the model number, logic board version etc?

author: pAckmAn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 03, 2019, 07:56:03 pm
content: Quote from: mictas on January 03, 2019, 07:32:38 pm

author: mictas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2019, 08:39:28 pm
content: Quote from: pAckmAn on January 03, 2019, 07:56:03 pmOkay, I did bite off more then I can chew.I wasn't able to locate anything useful, sorry about that.Still, have you looked at getting the cheap-o Arduino component tester, that you can build or buy?

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2019, 09:27:53 pm
content: N17EG3, made for Clevo laptops, probably by Clevo, bottom of the barrel

author: pAckmAn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 03, 2019, 09:51:56 pm
content: Quote from: mictas on January 03, 2019, 08:39:28 pmNo worries, at least you triedYeah, I'm about to order a new meter with capacitance meter function. I will then desolder capacitors nearby and measure them to know the exact capacitance.

author: pAckmAn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 06, 2019, 09:03:13 pm
content: Ok, now I've got capacitance meter. I desoldered similar-looking capacitors nearby and measured them. It appeared to be 5.4 uF - seems to be too much for such a small (0806?) capacitors. In parallel pair it's ~11 uF. I don't have 5uF - 5.5uF SMD capacitors, so going to replace it with one 10uF. I know mathematically it's the same - just wonder if there's any practical consideration about replacing 2 with 1 with double capacitance?

author: Armadillo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2019, 09:31:46 pm
content: Hi, Hope I am not pouring cold water onto your new meter.But for MLCC caps, particular care must be taken. See attached and particularly observe the frequency and applied voltage used. If your meter cannot adjust these parameters, then ..........The purpose to put 2 is to lower the ESR but you may also consider it as [N+1] reliability design.Edit; 2 small are not the same as 1 bighttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/how-to-test-the-capacitance-of-ceramic-capacitor-under-dc-bias/?action=dlattach;attach=17857