{"id":446947,"date":"2022-05-14T15:00:59","date_gmt":"2022-05-14T12:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry\/"},"modified":"2022-05-14T15:00:59","modified_gmt":"2022-05-14T12:00:59","slug":"what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry\/","title":{"rendered":"#What Is Capacitor Aging in PSUs, and Should You Worry?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2f6a7589f88\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2f6a7589f88\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry\/#%E2%80%9CWhat_Is_Capacitor_Aging_in_PSUs_and_Should_You_Worry%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;What Is Capacitor Aging in PSUs, and Should You Worry?&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry\/#Why_Do_Capacitors_Age\" >Why Do Capacitors Age?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry\/#Liquid_vs_Solid_Capacitors\" >Liquid vs. Solid Capacitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry\/#The_Negative_Effects_of_Aged_Capacitors\" >The Negative Effects of Aged Capacitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry\/#Choose_a_PSU_That_Takes_Aging_Into_Account\" >Choose a PSU That Takes Aging Into Account<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhat_Is_Capacitor_Aging_in_PSUs_and_Should_You_Worry%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;What Is Capacitor Aging in PSUs, and Should You Worry?&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-795410\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/psu-ewaste-damaged.jpg?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/psu-ewaste-damaged.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/psu-ewaste-damaged.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A damaged PSU in a pile of e-waste.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/ewaste-disposal-electronic-components-inside-damaged-1743893948\">KPixMining\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Capacitors play a crucial role in protecting electronic components from dips and surges. Over time, though, they degrade, becoming worse at their job. Here\u2019s how to minimize the risk of capacitor aging when\u00a0buying a PSU.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How Important Is the Power Supply (PSU) When Building a PC?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Do_Capacitors_Age\"><\/span>Why Do Capacitors Age?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Capacitor aging is essentially the degradation of the electrolyte. That\u2019s the substance that fills in the space between the layers of insulation inside the component. Capacitors are made using different materials with different properties. Therefore, the rate and severity of degradation vary depending on the type of capacitor in question.<\/p>\n<p>In the late 90s and early 2000s, the computing world experiences a \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arrow.com%2Fen%2Fresearch-and-events%2Fvideos%2Farrow-tech-trivia-capacitor-plague\">capacitor plague<\/a>\u201d which caused millions of dollars in damage as capacitors with defective electrolytes rapidly aged and capacitors failed. While new capacitors don\u2019t have this problem, it demonstrates what eventually h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ens to all capacitors.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Liquid_vs_Solid_Capacitors\"><\/span>Liquid vs. Solid Capacitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-779897\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/capacitors.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A photo of capacitors sitting loose on a PCB.\" width=\"650\" height=\"395\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/electronic-component-capacitor-on-blue-printed-1074550598\">Andrei Kuzmik\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There are many different ways to make a capacitor (and even supercapacitors), and two common types of capacitors use either a liquid electrolyte or a solid organic polymer. Liquid electrolyte capacitors experience evaporation and can even develop leaks. Temperature plays a role as well. The hotter a capacitor runs, the shorter its lifespan. According to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gigabyte.com\/webpage\/8\/article_02_all_solid.htm\">Gigabyte<\/a>, at 85c a liquid polymer capacitor only has a lifespan of around 8000 hours.<\/p>\n<p>Solid capacitors do much better and can last many times longer. That\u2019s especially true at lower temperatures comparatively. If solid capacitors are so much more resilient to aging and catastrophic failure, why not simply use them exclusively in power supplies? It turns out that different capacitors have different electrical characteristics, and liquid electrolyte capacitors have an important role to play in PSU design. This means at least some of those capacitors will use a liquid electrolyte. There\u2019s also a difference between high-quality liquid electrolytes and less expensive ones.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Negative_Effects_of_Aged_Capacitors\"><\/span>The Negative Effects of Aged Capacitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Aged capacitors show two main symptoms. First, their capacitance drops over time. Eventually, it can fall outside of the minimum specifications for that capacitor. This makes the power supplied through the capacitor unstable. The second symptom is an increase in the ESR or\u00a0<em>Equivalent <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series<\/a> Resistance<\/em>. When electrical resistance becomes too high, it can cause component damage and failure.<\/p>\n<p>In the context of Power Supply Units in a computer, a PSU with aged capacitors can\u2019t provide its full rated wattage or, at the very least, can\u2019t provide it in a stable fashion.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choose_a_PSU_That_Takes_Aging_Into_Account\"><\/span>Choose a PSU That Takes Aging Into Account<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While you can\u2019t do anything about the fact that capacitors age, you can keep it in mind when you buy your next PSU. It\u2019s a good idea to use a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/outervision.com\/power-supply-calculator\">power supply calculator<\/a> so that you know how much wattage you need at a minimum. The calculator will give you a recommended PSU wattage. If the calculator in question doesn\u2019t take aging into account, add 10% (or go one model up) from that number to ensure that the PSU can keep supplying enough power for your computer to run reliably.<\/p>\n<p>If you buy a PSU with significantly more capacity than your system needs, it should run under less strain and at lower temperatures. Which should also make capacitors age more slowly.<\/p>\n<p>You can also make your current PSU last longer by making sure it has enough airflow and not running it at high temperatures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Manage Your PC&#8217;s Fans for Optimal Airflow and Cooling<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/794997\/what-is-capacitor-aging-in-psus-and-should-you-worry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;What Is Capacitor Aging in PSUs, and Should You Worry?&#8221; KPixMining\/Shutterstock.com Capacitors play a crucial role in protecting electronic components from dips and surges. Over time, though, they degrade, becoming worse at their job. Here\u2019s how to minimize the risk of capacitor aging when\u00a0buying a PSU. RELATED: How Important Is the Power Supply (PSU) When&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":446948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/psu-ewaste-damaged.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-446947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/446947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=446947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/446947\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/446948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=446947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=446947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=446947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}