Had a client's PC totally die mid-data transfer yesterday

I was moving files off an old Dell Optiplex to a new SSD for a customer in Arlington, and the mobo just gave out with a loud pop and some smoke. Turns out a capacitor blew on the power delivery circuit near the RAM slots. Anyone else run into these old Optiplex boards just failing randomly like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

sam_cooper19d ago

A loud pop and some smoke" - yikes, that's wild. Must have been a real shocker when it happened mid-transfer like that.

craig.olivia19d ago

No way, that's exactly what got me thinking about something else. I wonder if the pop was actually the surge protector or extension cord failing before the PSU, @sam_cooper. A lot of people jump straight to blaming the power supply but it could be a cheap power strip that gave out first and took the PC with it.

schmidt.iris19d ago

Wait, was this a 7010 or 3020 model? @craig.olivia I've seen those old Dells blow caps near the RAM slots too, it's almost always that exact spot on the board. The weirdest part is these optiplexes can run for years without issues then just pop mid-task like yours did. I had a customer's 790 do the exact same thing during a backup once, just gave up and smoked. Those old dell boards are ticking time bombs if they've been running hot for years in an office.