When capacitors are mentioned as leaky, they mean "electricaly leaky",
and not physicaly leaky. You will need the proper test instruments to
really determine if a cap is electricaly leaky or not. On some
occasions, they can leak some electrolyte if they were severly
overheated, but this is not very often.

To properly test caps, an ESR meter, and a true capacitance meter are
required. Or, a proper capacitor analyser can be used. Each one does a
different type of test, to determine if the cap is defective or not.

In the case of a power supply, these are normaly changed as a complete
module. The value of the parts and the time involved to service one,
is not very viable. Also, the manufactures do not support component
level service on power supplies and cards.

You should call the manufacture of your computer for proper and safe
power supply. It not only has to physicaly fit, but you also want it
to be electricly rated, and electricaly safe for your application.

Before changing the supply, you should take the machine to a proper
computer service centre to have it properly evaluated, so you know
that for sure the supply is defective. You may end up spending money
on a new supply, and the machine will still have the same fault!

Jerry G.
http://www.zoom-one.com

--


"Caroline" wrote in message nk.net...
Thanks, Wayne. I read the thread and went to the www.badcaps.net site that a
poster suggested. Very interesting.

Thanks also, Jerry and Bennett.

Update:

I carefully inspected the capacitors and none are leaking. Nor do they appear to
be bulging. Also, the badcaps.net site suggests that massive motherboard
capacitor problems may have only begun shortly after I purchased my computer in
September, 2001. So I think I have lucked out on this count.

Without too much difficulty I disconnected and removed the 90-Watt power supply
and took its dimensions. After some research and leg work, it turns out the big
trick in replacing it is that it's a "micro" size. CompUSA had a perfect fit 150
Watt version for $70 at its store; online CompUSA had a $33 (taking into account
shipping) 145 Watt version.

Ebay also lists many 145 W and higher Watt versions whose dimensions and screw
holes appear to fit dead-on, too. Lowest price with shipping = $32 at the
moment.

I drove to three independent computer shops and they had nothing that would
physically fit. Also, they were not optimistic I'd find one locally.

Again, I don't know if a new power supply will improve my computer's
performance. Like Bennett said, it could be a software problem. Or it could be
something else. It's not crippling my computer use, but I figure it can't hurt
to replace the power supply. I did clean the power supply fan more thoroughly
than I ever have, so maybe this will help, too.

I will watch Ebay for a week or so then make a decision.

Whatever happens, I have a little more command of how the hardware of my
computer goes together and look forward to maybe putting together my own when
this one dies. So I appreciate everyone's "community service" in offering
assistance here and shall try to return the same "service" to others.