SMPS output resistors

[FujiLim]

Do not know where exactly to ask this question, guess I would ask it here.

Having repaired few PC SMPS, most common problem were the bad output caps.
I have noticed most of the supplies have resistor or resistors(usually 3W resistor) very close to output caps and those caps due to the excessive heat fail quite fast.
These reasons for this that come to my mind:

• SMPS stability if for some reason there is no load and PSU is turned on
• Manufactures put them there so the PSU intentionally fail, like a time bomb

Or I am probably missing some stuff, I would like to get your input on this.

[retrolefty]

I suspect it's a minimum load requirement for the regulation chip/circuit. But I
will follow this thread. 

[T3sl4co1l]

Yes, minimum load.  Usually the underlying problem is compensation, where the output cannot be guaranteed no overshoot, over manufacturing and aging variances.  During startup, or when a load is disconnected, the output voltage shoots up, and it'll just stay there if no load is present.  It could also be that the controller oscillates in some way when lightly loaded.  The load resistor bleeds away the excess voltage, and keeps the voltage closer to nominal.

Tim