A motor in a fan that converts heat into electrical energy was not working properly. I used multimeter to check for continuity and found it was fine, checked thermal coupling was producing adequate volts. Seems like a lack of thermal paste and soot buildup can be issue.
This is a solid polymer capacitor commonly used on laptop motherboards for power regulation, especially around CPU and GPU circuits.
Compared to traditional electrolytic capacitors, polymer capacitors have much lower ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance). This allows them to respond faster to voltage changes and smooth out rapid fluctuations in high-speed power systems.
These capacitors are part of the voltage regulation network. They help stabilize power by absorbing spikes and supplying quick bursts of current when the system demands it.
Removal can be difficult because the pads are connected to large internal copper planes (power and ground). These planes act as heat sinks, pulling heat away from the solder joints.
Because of this, a higher temperature and sustained heat from a hot air station is required. Preheating the board can also help. Care must be taken to avoid damaging nearby components.