While troubleshooting a desktop PC that randomly reboots and occasionally fails to POST, a technician notices several electrolytic capacitors on the motherboard that have domed tops and traces of dried electrolyte around the vents. Which of the following best describes the condition of these capacitors?
They have vented a small amount of gas during normal operation and remain fully functional.
They are solid-polymer capacitors whose slightly domed tops are a normal design feature.
They were installed with reversed polarity, but once the excess electrolyte dries, they will work normally.
They have swollen and failed internally, so the capacitors (and likely the motherboard) need to be replaced.
Domed or bulging tops and any sign of leaking electrolyte indicate that the capacitors have swollen because their internal electrolyte has broken down under heat, age, or over-voltage. A swollen electrolytic capacitor can no longer filter DC properly, leading to system instability, random shutdowns, and eventual motherboard failure. Such capacitors must be replaced, or the entire board should be swapped. The other options describe situations that would not produce visible bulging and leakage or are normal operating characteristics for different capacitor types.
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