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IBM Aptiva micro-ATX desktop computer

Alabamarebel1861

Experienced Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2020
Messages
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I bought this cheap little computer about three years ago mostly as a temporary system so I had something to use while I built my custom desktop but it has definetly earned a special place in my heart. It's a 300Mhz AMD K6-2 based system with 128Mb of RAM (upgraded from 64) and onboard graphics by Ati. For how cheap and basic this system is it has all the things I want on a basic home desktop and more, even coming bundled with 200 hours of America Online FREE! Overall my experience with the IBM Aptiva line of desktops has been one to remember and I'm going to continue to use this system as long as it will let me.
 
You got lucky with that system. Just a few years later, IBM started using shitty caps and from 1999ish to when they sold their PC division to Lenovo, they had horrific failure rates. I've recapped so many IBM P3 and P4 systems, both the motherboard and power supply caps would fail and leak everywhere.
 
You got lucky with that system. Just a few years later, IBM started using shitty caps and from 1999ish to when they sold their PC division to Lenovo, they had horrific failure rates. I've recapped so many IBM P3 and P4 systems, both the motherboard and power supply caps would fail and leak everywhere.

I just received a P4 as a gift and was pretty excited about it, cracked open the case and just about every cap is bad.

WTF ibm???
 
I just received a P4 as a gift and was pretty excited about it, cracked open the case and just about every cap is bad.

WTF ibm???

Yep, good ole IBM P4 systems, guaranteed to fail.

If you opt to fix it, be sure to replace ALL capacitors, even the tiny ones. This includes the power supply, which is probably a proprietary form factor.
 
Dont feel bad, IBM's were built better then dells at the time, that would mysteriously end up in permanent sleep mode...
 
I just received a P4 as a gift and was pretty excited about it, cracked open the case and just about every cap is bad.

WTF ibm???
It wasn't IBM it was the industry. Same happened to Dell, Intel, Apple, etc systems. It goes back to an era of very bad electrolytic capacitors. I've recapped my Aptiva/NetVista P4 systems, but also a bunch of Intel/Gateway/Dell/Compaq system boards.
 
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