Bad Capacitor or what?

Hardware: Abit KT7A-Raid motherboard
CPU: Athlon 1.2 GHZ, no overclock, 1GB RAM
OS: Windows 2000 Advanced Server/Latest Patches, Motherboard bios latest version

I know that Abit had, or has, an issue with bad capacitors, and that this motherboard was part of the problem in the past. I have tried to figure out what the issue is with this server, but finally I'm lost, and think it could be the caps, though I'm not sure. The symptom's are easy enough, the machine reboots itself at times, even when nothing is being done on it, other times during CPU intensive programs running, or massive coping of data, it will reboot on it's own. Anytime the CPU is at 100 percent, and stays that way for a while, it will reboot. How I've tried to verify it's nothing easy to fix, I've done the following:

Replaced ALL ide cables with brand new cables, just to rule that out
Replaced the cpu heatsink/fan, now the temps DO NOT go above 45-47 C, even at 100 percent cpu cycles, case temp never above 28 C
Tried to clean the motherboard the best I could of dust and what not
No virus/malware of any type, checked with multiple virus/malware apps
Replaced old PSU, to make sure it wasn't that, with a new Rosewill 500Watt PSU

Beyond that, I have no clue what else it would be, not an OS issue, as I've tried a clean install a year ago, and still had the issues, though it's not an everyday thing, UNLESS the cpu starts to cycle at 100 percent for a while, then it will reboot, but it's not a heat issue, as stated in the above marks. At times the server is just online, nothing going on, and it will self reboot, no errors as to why via Event Viewer. Looking at the motherboard, I don't see "signs" of bad caps, as I've read what to look for, other then 1 or 2 caps being bent like to the right, not standing straight up. The tops don't look swollen, but I may just not be seeing them correctly. I have had 2 drives screw up on me, both were used on the RAID port of the motherboard, and from reading, this could have been an issue to bad caps, though I don't know. Does anyone have suggestions as to what to look for/do. Should I just have all the caps replaced just to be sure? I'm told no matter what, this board will blow it's caps at some point due to what Abit used back in the day, but I don't know if it's needed or not. Any suggestions or help would be great. If caps should be replaced, since I don't know how to do that, could people suggest where I could get this done, maybe even in the Dallas area? I have heard of badcaps.net, and if I can't find something closer, I will probably go to them. Thank you.

Any bulging on the top of the capacitors means you have bad caps. The top of the capacitors bulge and eventually they burst and leak brown gunk out the top/bottom.

If you don't see bad caps, and your sure you've got a good power supply, my next suspect would be the RAM. Have you run memtest?

you probally just forgot to mention it, but if you havent, I would let it run Memtest86+ overnight for fun.

The labor charge to swap out those caps is gonna kill you. 2 hours work for an ET + the time to determine what each cap is and order a replacement, I would start scrounging the surplus computer guys for new old stock of a comparible socket A board.

http://www.geeks.com/products.asp?cat=MBB

Cheap Tyan dual MP board looks like fun, new but pulled from unused system. Top of the line in its day and caps stitting unused do not degrade (unless exposed to extreame heat) I think it will run your single cpu, depends on its buss speed. So so long ago.... well you get the idea.

Hmm...

If you still have your Win2K media, why not spend <$59 for a new AGP motherboard w/ a 2800+ Sempron and reinstall. That will fix any/every problem you have/will experience(d), and rather significantly improve your performance. There are User Migration tools (or just copying over user profiles, on the cheap) that you could probably "try before you buy" long enough to get your settings/info over to the new install.

Fresh OS install, better performance from the hardware, and no dealing with Surface Mount component replacement (much more difficult/involved than "Through-hole" component work), all for <$59.

Check out this link:

http://www.pricewatch.com/motherboard_combos/sempron_2800_cpu_fan.htm


If you really want to keep the same hardware, good luck chasing down all the gremlins that could be hidden that ancient board.

Yeah, my bad, I did forget to mention I had run Memtest for roughly 12 hours, all passed, so it's not memory. I wish it had, would have made things much easier on me. Thanks for the feedback and links, issue is getting a motherboard with a raid setup as I have this server set to. I found the same board on ebay for $10, but I don't know if getting a new board will actually fix anything, seeing as this board supposedly has bad caps on it that will blow in time, and should be replaced. With my luck I'll get the new board, and have the same issue, being back at square one, lol... thanks again...

abit usa had its ass handed to them in a class action lawsuit... take some pics of the caps on the board and post them here...

Every mobo manufacturer has had a problem with bad caps at some time & apparently some (Dell, HP?) still may in some systems.
At least abit were open enough to admit it & do something about it whereas many weren't.

I'm going to take full pics of the motherboard and post, maybe someone will be able to spot something I can't. As to the caps on other motherboards, have no idea, never had any of my other computers with issues relating to caps. I know from reading online, and the lawsuit, that Abit had bigtime issues with caps, and that this motherboard was one of the biggest offenders. To date I can't claim that my issue is cap related, but due to the problems, can't rule it out neither. Hopefully I'll find the issue, caps or not, and have this server back up as it should be...So I hope...

I have this if you are interested:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1214508

Bulging caps are a sign of them going bad, but also be on the look out for discoloration on the tops of the caps. When one of my mobo's died, the caps had a brownish substance on their tops that kind of looked like rust. I actually successfully replaced both of them and had the system (mATX HTPC) working fine for another 6 months until 3 more caps started leaking. trashed it after that.

*cracks knuckles*

Official KT7/KT7-RAID expert here.

Your problem is one of two; either the capacitors are failing, which on the KT7-RAID are usually the ones near the PS/2 ports showing with no others actually showing failure despite failed state.
OR, you're looking at the SuperIO controller failing. This causes similar symptoms. It's exacerbated by activity on serial or parallel ports especially.

To clarify; the capacitors on the KT7/KT7A's are known and documented to fail with no external symptoms. The symptoms seem to indicate the slim possibility of bitrot in the chipset from age, but unlikely because it can be disassociated from disk activity. What it most likely is, is a sudden Vdrop on the CPU as capacitors fail to hold charge.

well, was gonna say somethin' but look like these guys got you covered.

In the missing posts is the one where he fixed this by replacing a single cap, IIRC.

Either way, by replacing cap(s) he got it working. Pretty cool.

r3ddawn said:

Thanks for the feedback and links, issue is getting a motherboard with a raid setup as I have this server set to.

Click to expand...

The RAID controller chip is the Highpoint HPT370, so any PCI slot controller with that same chip will support the current RAID array. That would give you the ability to swap mobos without being tied to a specific onboard RAID controller. Those are old controllers now, but there were a bunch of them made. I happen to have one in my own home server. I think mine is based on the HPT374, but as I remember, it booted an array created on an HPT370 just fine.

There were also several other Abit mobos with that same controller. BX133-RAID for one I believe.

If you reduce the CPU speed a bit, that may give you enough stability to get a backup of your data and then staying with that RAID controller is no longer an issue.

Way past time to retire that old hardware anyway.

AMD 754 and even 939 stuff is dirt cheap these days and would make for a great new server. I built a spare system based on a $9 754 CPU from Ebay and a $20 open box mobo from Newegg. The box runs great overclocked to 2.2Ghz. It will likely be my new server when the current one dies.

Good luck!

EDIT:

Just saw the post above....... eh.... nevermind.