Blown capacitors on 8600GT

[LuDaCriS66]

Apparently a few pops were heard from the computer and this is what was found.

What are some possible causes for this? Was it just some bad capacitors on the card itself or could the PSU have been the culprit?

Oh and the card has never been overclocked afaik.

*Pics*
http://i31.tinypic.com/2euk0as.jpg
http://i30.tinypic.com/x35tg.jpg

 

[Syntax Error]

Could be PSU; what are you using and what is your computer rig specs?

 

[Zap]

The first pic shows that the fansink was kind of dirty. It could be excess temperatures that caused the failure. Capacitors have a temperature rating.

 

[Modular]

Originally posted by: Zap
The first pic shows that the fansink was kind of dirty. It could be excess temperatures that caused the failure. Capacitors have a temperature rating.

While they do have a temp rating, that fansink isn't that dirty...

 

[Elixer]

Could be a bad batch of CAPS. We just can't tell just from looking at the pics, the card would have to be seen by someone who can diagnose the issue, aka XFX, or a good tech.

On the bright side, XFX has a 'Double Lifetime Warranty', so send it back to them, and let them worry about the cause.

 

[Denithor]

It's an 8600GT, is it even worth sending back for refurb? Just grab an 8800GS for $35AR and be much happier.

 

[ScorcherDarkly]

I had an XFX 8600GT blow 5 caps just a couple months ago. Unfortunately, when I bought it at the very end of 2007 I was unaware of the lifetime warranty and didn't register the hardware =(. Won't be doing that again. Mine also had never been overclocked, and while the sink was dusty, it wasn't overly so. PSU was a Thermaltake 430W purchased the same time as the card.

I thought about buying a new one, but decided to wait for ATI's launch to replace it and am getting by on an old 6800 until then. It does surprisingly well on newer games. Nothing to brag about, certainly, but playable frame rates on TF2, L4D and WoW, all at medium settings. It's tiding me over.