But my particular GX620 was a very good computer and I got
my $10 out of i many times over. Its power supply was
rather iffy but again, Dell's proprietary power supplies of
that era tended to have the bleeding caps issues also.

Well, by then computers were well into the "churn out crap"
days for the masses :(

Don't all capacitors eventually leak or pop, or do they actually make "higher quality" ones that don't?

Mike

--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (1:2320/107)

Hello Mike,

But my particular GX620 was a very good computer and I got
my $10 out of i many times over. Its power supply was
rather iffy but again, Dell's proprietary power supplies of
that era tended to have the bleeding caps issues also.

Well, by then computers were well into the "churn out crap"
days for the masses :(

Don't all capacitors eventually leak or pop, or do they actually make "higher quality" ones that don't?

Leaking is problem electrolytic capacitors.

Popping is also problem of tantalum capacitors. It is better to replace them all during recapping. Their failure is usually a short circuit.

Lifespan very depends on series, manufacturer, environment and circuit design.

In ~2005-2015 decade there were experiments with materials and it was
time of electrolytic capacitors plague even from well-known manufacturers.
Much better nowadays.

For prototyping I use probably short-living noname Chinese caps - it
would be a bad idea to use them in production.

In real life I see some electrolytic capacitors survived 30 years and
still in good shape.

---
With best regards.
Anatoly, the Knight of the Truth Table.
--- AfterShock/macOS 1.1.0
* Origin: Little Station BBS @ ls.vdovichev.me:23 (2:385/180@fidonet)

Don't all capacitors eventually leak or pop, or do they actually make "hig quality" ones that don't?

I mean, there is the old "nothing lasts forever" (even cold November rain LOL), but there are lots of older equipment that still has very old caps that are in spec. Some eras of caps are worse than others.

... Slaying foul maidens, rescuing fair dragons.

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (1:129/305)

Mike Powell wrote to All <=-

Don't all capacitors eventually leak or pop, or do they actually make "higher quality" ones that don't?

If they are electrolytic capacitors, they run a risk, especially liquid aluminum electrolytiuc capacitors. Solid state capacitors, such as ceramic, film, and solid polymer capacitors, cannot leak or pop.

... Never express yourself more clearly than you are able to think.

--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Mike Powell wrote to All <=-

Don't all capacitors eventually leak or pop, or do they
actually make "higher quality" ones that don't?

If they are electrolytic capacitors, they run a risk,
especially liquid aluminum electrolytiuc capacitors. Solid
state capacitors, such as ceramic, film, and solid polymer
capacitors, cannot leak or pop.

Good to know the difference. I was not aware there was one until reading the responses here.

I actually learned something... on FIDO even! :D

Mike

--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (1:2320/107)

Good to know the difference. I was not aware there was one until reading responses here.

I actually learned something... on FIDO even! :D

Mike

I have found that with the ubiquiti of bots and nonsense on Facebook groups, BBSing and FidoNet is the place to be (again) because there is somewhat of a barrier to entry. I hope it stays this way (a safe zone) for quite some time.
Enough activitiy to keep interest and the network alive, but not an influx of all the masses lol

... See ya in the chronostream, Time Jockey!

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (1:129/305)

Good to know the difference. I was not aware there was one
until reading responses here.

I actually learned something... on FIDO even! :D

I have found that with the ubiquiti of bots and nonsense on
Facebook groups, BBSing and FidoNet is the place to be (again)
because there is somewhat of a barrier to entry. I hope it
stays this way (a safe zone) for quite some time.
Enough activitiy to keep interest and the network alive, but
not an influx of all the masses lol

Yeah, people like to rip on FIDO but I have found that there are some pretty knowledgeable people on the BBS networks, so long as what you are asking about isn't too obscure.

Mike


--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (1:2320/107)

Yeah, people like to rip on FIDO but I have found that there are some pret knowledgeable people on the BBS networks, so long as what you are asking a isn't too obscure.

Mike

I haven't heard anyone rip on Fido! I don't know what's to rip. I mean, I do 99% of my BBSing on vintage hardware, so I do sometimes miss being able to copy links directly to a browser and things like that, but I think using syncterm on a modern system would fix that.

... It's only my opinion, but it's better than yours.

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (1:129/305)

99% of my BBSing on vintage hardware, so I do sometimes miss being a
copy links directly to a browser and things like that, but I think u syncterm on a modern system would fix that.

Netrunner lets you copy and then paste wherever you want.

--- TriToss (tm) Professional 11.0 - (Unregistered)
* Origin: Camelot BBS - Milton, Wv (1:275/103.0)

99% of my BBSing on vintage hardware, so I do sometimes miss being a
copy links directly to a browser and things like that, but I think u syncterm on a modern system would fix that.

Netrunner lets you copy and then paste wherever you want.

--- TriToss (tm) Professional 11.0 - (Unregistered)
* Origin: Camelot BBS - Milton, Wv (1:275/103.0)

Netrunner? I am unfamiliar with that one!

... I M a tru beleever in hour edukashun sistum.

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (1:129/305)

Re: Re: Capacitors in older machines
By: Mike Powell to Sean Dennis on Sun Sep 27 2026 14:51:50

Don't all capacitors eventually leak or pop, or do they
actually make "higher quality" ones that don't?

If they are electrolytic capacitors, they run a risk,
especially liquid aluminum electrolytiuc capacitors. Solid
state capacitors, such as ceramic, film, and solid polymer
capacitors, cannot leak or pop.

Good to know the difference. I was not aware there was one until reading the responses here.

From experience -- larger electrolytics tend to fail when power is first applied to them after months of no use--cycling power on and off to them, especially those in a power supply, will tend to make them leak or pop when
coming up for the first time. Extremely large electrolytics (not what you'd find in a vintage computer) are supposed to be "formed" first before use with a slow ramp up of voltage to the regular operating voltage after nonuse for months or their first usage for this reason.

xo
Bryn
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)