is replacing all caps required for the best video signal?

[bulkchart32]

i have replaced caps on probably 8 xboxs. i have video issues with many of them and i'm wondering if replacing all of the caps is really needed? i usually replace the ones in front of the cpu/gpu and any others that look damaged. i ordered a 1.1v xbox that i am planning to mod and hopefully use it as my main xbox. i want it to look and sound the best possible.

[BreadFang]

It's not something I've noticed personally and I've done around 20 full capacitor replacements at this point.

There are no electrolytics in the video circuit directly, they're all ceramic. However, electrolytic capacitors in any of the power rails are important for keeping noise to a minimum across the board. So a full recap would still be indirectly beneficial to the video signal even if the difference isn't that dramatic.

Every Xbox at this point needs a full recap in my opinion. It's the very first thing I do when I get either a working or faulty unit.

[trencherfield]

I’ve had pink screen 1.0 and 1.1’s that have stopped that by replacing the two caps by the conexant encoder. But all the caps should be replaced by now. Its quarter of a century old!

For the cost its a no brainer.

[bulkchart32]

3 hours ago, trencherfield said:

I’ve had pink screen 1.0 and 1.1’s that have stopped that by replacing the two caps by the conexant encoder. But all the caps should be replaced by now. Its quarter of a century old!

For the cost its a no brainer.

but a full recap is a lot more work! i have also never replaced those surface mout type caps, just the ones with the legs. so i'd rather not replace any that will have no noticable difference.

[BreadFang]

5 hours ago, bulkchart32 said:

i have also never replaced those surface mout type caps

At least 2 of those are for the audio. If you want good results with your output then they're very necessary to replace.

Wurth Electronik do very good SMD electrolytic capacitors with low ESR. Plus they're red, fancy  

[ThatJewishNerd]

Every time I see red or blue SMD caps, my mind tells me that they're organic polymer caps.  I've recapped about 15 NeXTDimension boards and always used red organic polys.

[BreadFang]

That's true for a lot of brands but with most WE capacitors they're just red for branding. The blue 22uf capacitor is just a regular aluminium, Panasonic.

[trencherfield]

16 hours ago, bulkchart32 said:

but a full recap is a lot more work! i have also never replaced those surface mout type caps, just the ones with the legs. so i'd rather not replace any that will have no noticable difference.

Those SMD caps were fitted by MS. Nobody's twisting your arm to replace them if you don't want to. Nothing wrong in that. Your post title asked for the "best". As Fang has already told you those caps are there for a reason, designed for each specific part of the circuit. They might be fine, then again they might be borderline. Some may even fail within the can and you wouldn't know. All are ~variables~ we can do without.

The more you can get the board back to factory fresh, then safe to assume the better it will perform and also less likely to fail with spurious 'issues' in the long run. Again that's not to say it will do, we only do the best we can. How far you go is up to everyone's own opinion and of that, there are many to be found.