Solid State Capacitors (Caps)

[Stormcrow]

Yep, capacitors are rated for certain temperatures and voltage loads before they burst. Naturally, an el cheapo Taiwan junk capacitor has a much lower thermal and electrical threshold then a high quality one, so board manufacturers like to slap on some cheapies to save costs and increase profits instead of opting for highly rated and more reliable capacitors like the solid state ones. Because of the cut corners, the capacitors can't take as much load or heat and burst from the strain, like when in a stressful environment such as a hot overclocked system.
This is the number one reason not to by Powmax and related power supplies, the crapacitors in them are the lowest of the bargain bin, and due to the PSU itself being so inefficient and dumping a ton of heat around itself with only teeny little wimp heatsinks to protect it, those caps will a'splode in no time. Usually taking something with them.

[Hiniku]

Originally Posted by garetjax

Here's food for thought. When the hell is EVGA going to produce an nVidia based motherboard that uses solid capacitors? .

I see solid caps on the EVGA 780i board, did you really mean: when will they release a board with nothing except solid caps? It looks like they have solid caps where they provide the most value, output stages of the synchronous switchers, input stages, etc. They are useful in those circuits because they have a lower ESR relatively speaking than a comparable alum. elec. cap and a higher ripple current rating. But in most other areas they don't add any value, other than increasing cost. This of course assumes one is using good quality caps all around.
I'm curious though, is there any history of NV reference motherboard designs having popped caps?

[screwballl]

looking at this GA-EP35-DS3P board, I see nothing but solid caps on it.... same with my GA-965P-DS3 board as well...

[Hiniku]

Originally Posted by screwballl

looking at this GA-EP35-DS3P board, I see nothing but solid caps on it.... same with my GA-965P-DS3 board as well...

Yep, Gigabyte, along with other companies has been using the "all solid caps" thing as a marketing bullet for a while now. IIRC they also have iron core inductor instead of ferrite and low rdson FETs as marketing bullets. As if anyone would design a VREG with high rdson FETs.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Hiniku

I see solid caps on the EVGA 780i board, did you really mean: when will they release a board with nothing except solid caps? It looks like they have solid caps where they provide the most value, output stages of the synchronous switchers, input stages, etc. They are useful in those circuits because they have a lower ESR relatively speaking than a comparable alum. elec. cap and a higher ripple current rating. But in most other areas they don't add any value, other than increasing cost. This of course assumes one is using good quality caps all around.

Yes, that is what I was referring to. However, I am not making a case about why capacitor B should be used in lieu of capacitor B and why.

The point I was making, was the fact that Asus has been offering solid caps on nearly all their motherboards for a long time, without creating (much of) an additional cost to the consumer. On the other hand, you have an nVidia 780i motherboard selling for $250-$300 without all-solid caps. I just don't understand how the 780i can command the price it does without having all-solid caps, where Asus has them on all their motherboard solutions and yet their prices don't reflect an added cost for having all-solid caps on them.

My point is thus proven with EVGA soon to be releasing their 780i FTW motherboard which charges a premium over the standard price of the 780i ($250-$300) in that it will have all-solid caps among other things when it should have already came with the motherboard in the very beginning.

[screwballl]

I wonder if there is still not yet seen issues relating to DDR3/chipsets and solid caps that they are just now fixing

[Hiniku]

Originally Posted by garetjax

Yes, that is what I was referring to. However, I am not making a case about why capacitor B should be used in lieu of capacitor B and why.

The point I was making, was the fact that Asus has been offering solid caps on nearly all their motherboards for a long time, without creating (much of) an additional cost to the consumer. On the other hand, you have an nVidia 780i motherboard selling for $250-$300 without all-solid caps. I just don't understand how the 780i can command the price it does without having all-solid caps, where Asus has them on all their motherboard solutions and yet their prices don't reflect an added cost for having all-solid caps on them.

My point is thus proven with EVGA soon to be releasing their 780i FTW motherboard which charges a premium over the standard price of the 780i ($250-$300) in that it will have all-solid caps among other things when it should have already came with the motherboard in the very beginning.

I'm sorry but the only point being proven here is that sexy marketing can win over substance and logic. All things being equal(segment/features) the cost of the materials is driven solely by volume. Asus ships around 100million boards a year, EVGA, I don't know but I bet it's not even close to that. So Asus can go this route without a large cost impact, EVGA can not. So their options were keep the cost down and use solid caps where they add real value, or cave in to marketing, use all solid caps and pass the cost onto the us the customer.
Anyway I didn't mean to start a big argument so I apologize and promise not to talk about it anymore.

[Capper]

Originally Posted by Hiniku

I'm sorry but the only point being proven here is that sexy marketing can win over substance and logic. All things being equal(segment/features) the cost of the materials is driven solely by volume. Asus ships around 100million boards a year, EVGA, I don't know but I bet it's not even close to that. So Asus can go this route without a large cost impact, EVGA can not. So their options were keep the cost down and use solid caps where they add real value, or cave in to marketing, use all solid caps and pass the cost onto the us the customer.
Anyway I didn't mean to start a big argument so I apologize and promise not to talk about it anymore.

you are not starting an argument, and one more opinion is greatly appreciated.....you bring up a good point......companies always have to look at things from a cost perspective....thats just a good business practice.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Hiniku

Anyway I didn't mean to start a big argument so I apologize and promise not to talk about it anymore.

No apologies needed bud! We're just having a conversation about solid capacitors, that's all. =)

Originally Posted by Hiniku

Asus ships around 100million boards a year, EVGA, I don't know but I bet it's not even close to that. So Asus can go this route without a large cost impact, EVGA can not. So their options were keep the cost down and use solid caps where they add real value, or cave in to marketing, use all solid caps and pass the cost onto the us the customer.

This makes sense and it's logical. I didn't even think about manufacturing and shipping yields to be honest. Thanks for the insight. =)

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by screwballl

I wonder if there is still not yet seen issues relating to DDR3/chipsets and solid caps that they are just now fixing

I don't see why there would be any. What do you mean