While troubleshooting a customer's desktop PC, you observe that the system powers off randomly after only a few minutes of use. After opening the case, you notice several electrolytic capacitors on the motherboard are swollen and leaking a brown residue. According to CompTIA A+ best practices for motherboard repair, what is the most appropriate immediate corrective action?
Run the operating system's built-in memory diagnostic utility to test the RAM.
Update the video card driver to the latest manufacturer-supplied version.
Install additional case fans to improve airflow across the components.
Replace the motherboard with a known-good board that meets the system's specifications.
Swollen or leaking capacitors indicate that the motherboard's voltage-regulation circuitry is failing. Because capacitor replacement requires board-level soldering skills and voids most warranties, A+-level field technicians typically replace the entire motherboard with a known-good board that matches the original specifications. Adding fans, testing RAM, or updating drivers will not correct the underlying hardware fault.
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