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Question

Replace motherboard or buy new laptop?

by Jul 25, 2018 2:44PM PDT

Sorry if this is a stupid question but I'm rather illiterate with computers. I hope this is the appropriate sub to post this question

I have a Lenovo T430 with Ubuntu with an Intel i5 processor, but the motherboard is defective and I can't power on my computer.

- If I buy a used motherboard from ebay where it says in the description "This unit has been tested to successfully power on and boot to the BIOS screen", all I have to do is boot the computer as normal, and then it will enter Ubuntu and I can access all my old data just as before?
- If the replacement motherboard doesn't include a CPU, then I can just use my previous one on the new motherboard and it'll work fine, right?
- I saw used motherboards with the same product number on eBay around $30-70. Is it worth it?
- What about paying $70 or so to the computer shop so they can repair it?
- If the above aren't worth it, then how can I transfer my data to a new computer? I just buy a new computer and insert the SSD from the old one into it and I'll recover everything? I don't need to erase anything if I want to resell that Lenovo (everything but the SSD and damaged motherboard)?

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
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Clarification Request
Here's an example used/refurb i5 Groupon.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 25, 2018 3:05PM PDT
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RE: Here's an example used/refurb i5 Groupon.
by mickkol Jul 25, 2018 7:13PM PDT

I think the repair shop said they will just charge $70 for the whole motherboard replacement process

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That doesn't sound right (the 70$)
by orlbuckeye Jul 26, 2018 5:25AM PDT

Because the charge a hourly labor rate plus parts. So maybe they charge 70 for motherboard + labor.
Sounds more accurate.

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Better clarify that.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 26, 2018 1:54PM PDT

Here the charges would be 150 for one hour labor and if 70 for the motherboard you are over what that groupon would cost if you use your first purchase code WELCOME.

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Answer
Laptop
by Jul 25, 2018 4:50PM PDT

When this laptop functioned did it do everything you needed?

Is this new mobo an exact match for the old?

Do you have the skills to replace it or will you need to pay someone else to do it?

If it's a match then it should be just a remove old and install new

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RE: Bob__B
by mickkol Jul 25, 2018 7:15PM PDT

> When this laptop functioned did it do everything you needed?

Yes, it did everything I needed

> Is this new mobo an exact match for the old?

Yes, I've seen a few motherboards on ebay that have the same product number as the damaged motherboard

> Do you have the skills to replace it or will you need to pay someone else to do it?

How hard is it to replace it? I already disassembled the laptop to remove the motherboard on my own. So it's pretty much the same process to insert the new one in it, right? Except I need to use thermal paste to place the previous CPU onto the new motherboard?

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Mobo
by Bob__B Jul 25, 2018 7:53PM PDT

If it's the same mobo then it's just a matter of swapping a few parts and some thermal paste.

Then it's just a matter of installing the new mobo into the laptop and plugging things in.

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