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Recap Bench

Recap guides

Old electrolytic capacitors dry out and leak, and the leak eats the board. A recap replaces them before that happens. Pick a machine for its capacitor list, a shopping list, the steps and a checklist that saves.

Open the interactive Recap Bench

Consoles and handhelds

  • Sega Pico (1993). Sega's learn-and-play computer for little kids is now collectible, and the capacitors inside are old enough to fail. One tidy list covers the whole board.
  • Sega Game Gear (1991). The Game Gear eats batteries and its capacitors fail early, which is why so many have no sound or a rolling screen. It has three boards: main, power and audio.
  • Game Boy family (1989). The original, Pocket, Light and Color each have their own board list. The ConsoleMods page points to the list for each board number.
  • Game Boy Advance and SP (2001). Surface mount parts on a small board. The write-ups here show what the job looks like before you start.
  • Super NES and Super Famicom (1990). Capacitor lists for the SNES, in several board revisions, are kept in a community repository.
  • Sony PlayStation (PS1) (1994). Capacitor lists for several PlayStation board revisions live in the same community repository.
  • Atari 5200 (1982). The external power brick is the usual casualty (diodes, fuse, aging filter caps), while the console itself is mostly a chip and solder problem.
  • ColecoVision (1982). Worth doing mainly for the potted power supply and power switch, not the logic board. The PSU, VRAM and switch are the usual failures.
  • GCE Vectrex (1982). A CRT vector display with big analog boards. Cap kits are common, and one forum thread calls recapping easy.
  • NES and Famicom (1983). The original NES has few electrolytics. The big one is the RF modulator cap, and a wavy picture or no display is the usual symptom. Board variants differ.
  • Sega Master System (1983). A modest cap count. SMS II recaps are common during RGB and regulator refreshes, but we found no documented failure epidemic. One write-up lists values for an early PAL SMS II board.
  • Atari 7800 (1986). Only a few electrolytics. Owners argue about whether recapping a working unit is needed, though one example had a slightly leaked cap.
  • PC Engine and TurboGrafx (1987). Duo, CD and handheld models are repeatedly named as the most cap-prone consoles, and ConsoleMods says almost all Duos have failing caps. Plain HuCard base units are less urgent.
  • Sega Genesis and Mega Drive (1988). A plain Genesis is fairly sturdy, and a recap is mostly for sound and picture quality or a leaked cap. The Sega CD and 32X add-ons are the real problem children.
  • Atari Lynx (1989). A classic cap-failure handheld: failing power-circuit caps are blamed for no power, flicker, display problems and crackly sound, and leaks can damage the board.
  • Neo Geo (1990). AES recaps are common, with big 2200uF-class caps plus video and audio parts, and CD models show up in leaking-cap logs. MVS boards vary by revision.
  • Philips CD-i (1991). Many SMD electrolytics sit across the video, audio, servo and power sections. The one full list we found is for the CDI350.
  • Sega CD and Mega-CD (1991). Model 1 SMD caps should be replaced even with no visible leak, and the Model 2 is sturdier. The Model 1 JVC drive controller boards suffer too.
  • 3DO (1993). Early FZ-1 units have leaky caps near the power supply and CD-ROM drive board that can cause reboots, bad audio and disc read errors.
  • Atari Jaguar (1993). We found no Jaguar guide with capacitor values. The board and supply use electrolytics, so it is likely worth a check, but treat it as unverified.
  • Rare 90s consoles (1993). AtariAge names the LaserActive as one of the most cap-prone consoles. The rest of these rare machines are likely to age similarly, but we found no guide.
  • Sega 32X (1994). Switching-supply ripple can cause video noise on the 32X, and replacing two caps is a documented fix. We found no full recap guide.
  • Sega Saturn (1994). The community names EMI filters, the battery and the laser as the usual Saturn failures, with a recap as a sensible refresh. Boards run VA0 to VA6.
  • Nintendo Virtual Boy (1995). Virtual Boy failures are mostly the DC-DC converter or regulator, flex cables and cartridge contacts. We found no widely documented cap leaks.
  • Satellaview (1995). A Super Famicom family add-on. One refurbishment log recaps a SHVC-029 alongside a Super Famicom, with no values, and that is all we found.
  • Sega Nomad (1995). A Genesis handheld from the same cap-failure family as the Game Gear. Leaked caps appear in repair logs, and kits exist.
  • Nintendo 64 (1996). Guides agree the N64 is not a capacitor-plague console, so a recap is preventive. The PAL power supply and aging caps are still worth a check.
  • Neo Geo Pocket (1998). A kit exists for the Neo Geo Pocket Color and Slim, but we found no step-by-step guide or parts list, so treat this one as unverified.
  • Sega Dreamcast (1998). Power supply caps are the headline risk (leaking or blown), plus motherboard and GD-ROM board caps. ConsoleMods says to recap the original supply rather than swap it.
  • PlayStation 2 (2000). Original (phat) PS2 power supplies lose caps, and the console then shows no LEDs, no fan and nothing at all. The rest of the board is normally fine.
  • Nintendo GameCube (2001). The optical drive board is the usual cap victim, causing disc read errors, and the mainboard and DC-DC boards are good preventive jobs.
  • Original Xbox (2001). On 1.0 to 1.4 boards the 1F clock supercap can leak alkaline fluid and eat traces, so remove it promptly. Other board caps date from the plague era.
  • PlayStation 3 (2006). Some units get the Yellow Light of Death from failing NEC/TOKIN caps, though that is one cause among several, and the slim is less likely.
  • Atari 2600 (1977). The Console5 wiki has a page for this one. We have no capacitor list or tips of our own for it yet.
  • Mattel Intellivision (1979). The Console5 wiki has a page for this one. We have no capacitor list or tips of our own for it yet.
  • Magnavox Odyssey 2 (1978). The Console5 wiki has a page for this one. We have no capacitor list or tips of our own for it yet.
  • Sharp Twin Famicom (1986). The Console5 wiki has a page for this one. We have no capacitor list or tips of our own for it yet.

Computers

  • Macintosh SE/30 (1989). The SE/30 is a legend, and its surface mount logic board capacitors are famous for leaking. Replacing them now saves the board.
  • Amiga 1200 and 600 (1992). Both have a lot of surface mount capacitors and are well known for leaks. A good guide to the job is the best place to start.
  • Apple II power supply (1977). The original Astec-type supply has paper-style line-filter caps that pop and electrolytics that dry out. The power supply is the part to recap.
  • Commodore PET 2001 (1977). Mostly a RAM and ROM machine, but one repair report found rectifier-circuit caps failing together with bad RAM chips.
  • TRS-80 Model I to 4 (1977). The classic failure is the paper-style X2 line-filter caps in the power supply, and swapping them is cheap preventive work.
  • TRS-80 Color Computer (1980). A published list covers the 24 electrolytics on the CoCo 1 'F' board, including one huge 10000 uF part.
  • BBC Micro and Master (1981). The original RIFA X2 caps in the power supply are known to go pop, and the starter electrolytic is stressed too. Cheap kits exist.
  • Commodore VIC-20 (1981). Few caps, and cheap kits exist for the two main board revisions. A recap here is preventive.
  • IBM PC, XT and AT (1981). The classic fixes are RIFA line-filter caps and shorted tantalum beads, on the board and on ISA cards, rather than a blanket recap.
  • Osborne 1 (1981). The Astec power supply has three paper line-filter caps that blow and smoke, so do those first.
  • Commodore 64 and 64C (1982). Board electrolytics are often fine, but a recap is common preventive care. The power brick is potted and is usually replaced instead.
  • Kaypro II (1982). Same story as the Osborne: the rice-paper RFI caps in the power supply are the ones that blow.
  • Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1982). A widely recommended preventive recap, with cheap kits and capacitor lists by board issue for the 48K.
  • TRS-80 Model 100 (1982). Aluminium electrolytics in these portables can leak and wreck solder and traces.
  • Acorn Archimedes (1983). The bigger risks are the soldered NiCd battery and a shorting 12V tantalum, though early supplies can have RIFA caps too.
  • Apple Lisa (1983). The Lisa power supply and video board use low-ESR electrolytics (2200 uF 16V HF-type) that people routinely replace.
  • Commodore SX-64 (1983). In the SX-64, weak or cracked caps in the 12V supply section and around the CRT circuits are linked to a dim picture and a sagging 12V rail.
  • Compaq Portable (1983). Old power supply caps and failing tantalums are standard on these. The Portable III has the best write-ups.
  • Apple IIc power converter (1984). The IIc's Astec AA7341B converter has eight electrolytics that are known to fail, and a documented teardown includes a part table.
  • Commodore 16 and Plus/4 (1984). Small boards with only a handful of electrolytics, plus kits. A popular fix also adds filtering and protection.
  • Mac 128K, 512K, Plus and SE analog board (1984). The analog board's electrolytics and the line-filter caps are the standard recap on compact Macs.
  • Amstrad PCW and PC1512 (1985). We found only one PCW8256 thread, where a year-long hunt for a fault ended at a bulging cap on the CRT board. Nothing turned up for the PC1512.
  • Commodore Amiga 1000 (1985). The A1000 supply is the usual cap target, and board revisions mix old and new parts.
  • Toshiba T1100 and Libretto (1985). We found no Libretto or T1100 recap guide. The closest is an EEVblog video on a T1000LE that went looking for bad caps but ended unresolved.
  • Apple IIGS power supply (1986). The IIGS supply uses yellow canister electrolytics, two large black electrolytics and .22 uF safety caps that age and fail.
  • Commodore Amiga 2000 (1987). Power supply electrolytics and the battery can both damage an A2000. Two Jan Beta videos cover a PSU recap and a battery leak repair with recap.
  • Commodore Amiga 500 (1987). Battery leak damage is the bigger risk on the A500, and a recap is mostly preventive.
  • Compaq LTE and Contura (1988). LTE electrolytics leak and eat traces, so they are best dealt with before the board is damaged.
  • NeXT Computer and NeXTstation (1988). SMD caps on the main board and in the power supply are known to fail, and a community list covers the lot.
  • Macintosh IIci and IIsi (1989). The IIsi is notorious for leaky caps, and both the IIsi and IIci have power supplies that need recapping.
  • Macintosh Portable (1989). Capacitors are routine to recap, but the lead-acid battery and the hybrid module are the bigger worries.
  • Sun SPARCstation (1989). SPARCstation power supplies have failed electrolytics and venting caps, and recap threads exist for the IPX and SS20.
  • Commodore Amiga 3000 and 4000 (1990). SMD electrolytics leak under the board, the A4000 is a recognised recap target, and kits exist.
  • IBM PS/1 and PS/2 (1990). PS/2 planars and supplies use electrolytics that fail, and PS/2 floppy drives use small SMD ones.
  • Macintosh Classic and Classic II (1990). Both boards leak: the logic board has SMD electrolytics, and the analog board's through-hole electrolytics need attention too.
  • Macintosh LC and Performa 450 (1990). '030-era SMD electrolytics leak on the logic board, and the LC III and Performa 450 have a cap installed against its marking that matters when recapping.
  • Amiga CD32 and CDTV (1991). CD32 SMD electrolytics are known to leak, and the factory polarity marking on a few through-hole parts is wrong.
  • Macintosh Quadra 700 and 900 (1991). Astec power supply electrolytics and logic board caps age out, and the Quadra 700 also commonly has battery damage.
  • PowerBook 100 to 500 (1991). Early PowerBooks have leaky electrolytics on the logic board and LCD boards, and the PowerBook 100 has the best documentation.
  • IBM ThinkPad 700 series (1992). Only three electrolytics to deal with on the DC/DC board, and one had leaked in the one repair we found.
  • PC motherboards, 1999 to 2007 (1993). Only boards from the plague years need this, so it depends on the exact model and date, not the family name.
  • Macintosh Color Classic (1993). Color Classic electrolytics are a common problem, and the analog board also burns certain resistors and zener diodes.
  • Macintosh TV (1993). The Macintosh TV shares the LC 520/550 family board and PSU, which have era SMD electrolytics. We could only verify Apple's service guide, which has a parts list but no cap values.
  • Power Mac G4 Cube power brick (2000). The Cube's external power brick is a known failure with dried-out caps, and a recap thread lists values.
  • iMac G5 (2004). Famous bad-capacitor failures hit the power supply and logic board, and Apple ran a repair extension.
  • Sinclair QL (1984). Owners generally report the QL's own board capacitors lasting well, so the usual trouble is elsewhere: the keyboard membrane, microdrives, the plug-in power supply and the hard-working 7805 regulator. The exception reported is US-market boards, where one supply capacitor near the right microdrive connector has failed.
  • Amstrad CPC (1984). Community consensus is that the CPC mainboard capacitors rarely need replacing and the machine has no internal PSU. The things that do bite are the monitor's power-supply capacitors, dry solder joints on the power and video sockets, drive belts, and damage from plugging the wrong external supply into the 5V socket.
  • Atari 8-bit computers (1979). For the 8-bit Ataris the discussed weak point is the power supply: electrolytics that short or stop filtering, and, on external-supply models such as the 130XE, a regulator that can fail and send too much voltage into the computer. The 800 and 1200XL have internal supplies, the 130XE uses an external one.
  • Atari ST, STE and Falcon (1985). The documented ST-family complaint is an aging power supply, with an STE that needed minutes to warm up fixed by a supply swap. UK recapping services also treat the board and PSU electrolytics of the STF, STE and Falcon as age-limited and sell preventive recaps, but they do not publish a failure pattern.
  • HP 95LX, 100LX and 200LX (1991). These are mechanical-first machines: broken case latches, cracked hinges (especially on the 200LX), screen columns dropping out and dirty keyboard contacts are the common faults. The one capacitor story is a 95LX with a false low-battery reading caused by a single 0.1uF tantalum.
  • Macintosh II (1987). The Console5 wiki has a page for this one. We have no capacitor list or tips of our own for it yet.

Audio and other gear

  • Commodore 1541 and 1541-II drive (1982). The 1541's power supply and big filter caps are the usual suspects, and one repair turned up a shorted filter cap. A shop page lists capacitors by board type, from Type 1 through the 1541-II.
  • Yamaha DX7 synthesizer (1983). A well-known power-supply recap on a 1983 synth with a plain linear supply. A forum moderator posted values, and a mainboard tantalum keep-alive cap gets called out too.
  • Famicom Disk System (1986). The drive belt is the main failure on the Famicom Disk System. The one detailed refurbishment we found recapped three boards as preventive work, without values or evidence of failures.
  • Commodore 1084 monitor (1987). Taicon-brand caps and the vertical-deflection electrolytics are the usual troublemakers, and a pinched picture is one reported result. Guides cover the 1084S and its sibling, the Amiga 1081.
  • Roland MT-32 and CM-32L (1987). About 20 electrolytics, including bipolars. Several owners measured the original Sanyo caps as mostly in spec, yet LAPC-I owners reported lost or muffled channels cured by replacing every electrolytic.
  • Roland Sound Canvas (1991). Mid-90s surface-mount electrolytics have leaked on some Sound Canvas units, and the SC-55mkII has a corrosive factory glue. Inspect first, and check the CR2032 battery too. We could not confirm anything for the SC-88Pro.
  • Sound Blaster 16 and AWE cards (1992). Cards rarely die from caps alone, but a recap can improve the noise floor and clarity if yours has cheap Elgen or Wincap parts. Veterans say diagnose first. Guides cover CT2230, CT2980 and CT4520 cards.
  • Dell UltraSharp 2001FP monitor (2001). Swollen caps are a known suspect on monitors of this era, but the one 2001FP thread we found turned out to be a bad inverter board instead.
  • Apple Macintosh 12-inch RGB Display (M1296Z). The Console5 wiki has a page for this one. We have no capacitor list or tips of our own for it yet.

How to recap, step by step