Dell GX270 = Bad Capacitors

[gamehead200]

I don't know if anyone's heard of this happening, but after trying to repair a bunch of Dell GX270s at my dad's business, I got fed up and just Googled the model number... To my surprise, I found this:

http://news.com.com/PCs+plagued+by+bad+cap..._3-5942647.html

Seems that the GX270s were built with faulty capacitors that bulge, leak, and crust up. Because of this, Dell decided to replace all of the faulty mobos with new ones for free, even if the computers are no longer under warranty. I spent a good two hours on the phone with a Dell technical service agent getting it all sorted out (most of it being on hold). He made me turn on each computer to see if it would boot or had any video/sound problems. Then he asked me to check the capacitors on the motherboards. 1 of the 5 computers did not boot at all. It just shut off after POSTing. 2/5 of the computers I checked had capacitors that were leaking/crusting over. The others had swollen ones. He told me to tape up any openings in the computer (fan vents, creases, etc.).

How nice... Now I've inhaled toxic chemicals from leaking capacitors but am getting 5 new motherboards out of it.

Just thought I'd share that with you all (in case any of you have that specific model).

[nmX.Memnoch]

Not to be rude but this is like 2 years old.

We had a TON of those machines where I work. Every single one of them has had a motherboard replacement.

[puntoMX]

He told me to tape up any openings in the computer (fan vents, creases, etc.).

Alright, listen, don´t worry about the caps that are already leaking stuff, nothing will come from it to you, unless you eat them .

I think he just wanted to scare you...

I also got a load of those mobos here, DELL MEXICO will not replace them and DELL USA says that it´s my problem that I live in Mexico . Some times replacing those caps will do the trick, but most of those rotten mobos have bad southbridges too, so for example no IDE response or what ever.

Good thing that they will send you new ones, I wish DELL MEXICO was so nice to do that...

[gamehead200]

Not to be rude but this is like 2 years old.

We had a TON of those machines where I work. Every single one of them has had a motherboard replacement.

I know that.

[CptMurphy]

The hospital where I work at has replaced about 300 mobos on the 270s. Good thing dell extended the warranty till next year.

[gamehead200]

Wow... I called yesterday and the technician called me up today to come and replace them. Talk about service, lol.