The early 2000s capacitor plague is probably not just a stolen recipe – Ars Technica

🔍 Summary:

The “capacitor plague” that affected numerous electronic devices in the early 2000s has been revisited in a detailed YouTube video by the Asianometry channel. This phenomenon, where devices experienced motherboard failures often accompanied by dramatic effects like popping or even flames, was initially attributed to faulty capacitors produced due to a stolen and incomplete chemical formula from Japan, used by manufacturers in China and Taiwan.

The video explores the broader context of these failures, linking them to a shift from Japanese to Taiwanese manufacturers and the complexities of global outsourcing. It delves into the technical aspects of what makes a capacitor function properly and how the flawed capacitors deviated from this. The narrative also touches on the impact of rising CPU temperatures due to increased processing demands and the intricate supply chains that characterize the electronics industry, suggesting that these factors also played a role in the widespread capacitor issues.

The story of a single individual causing the widespread defect by stealing a formula is scrutinized and questioned in the video. It suggests that the problem was too extensive to be caused by just one batch of bad capacitors, pointing out inconsistencies in the timeline and misattributions of the capacitor types involved, such as those in the original Xbox.

Overall, the video provides a comprehensive look at the capacitor plague, challenging the simplicity of the initial explanations and placing the issue within the larger context of technological and industrial challenges of the time.

📌 Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/was-the-early-2000s-capacitor-plague-corporate-espionage-or-just-industry-woes/