Should I fix it or get a new one?

by lapgal May 12, 2009 1:48AM PDT

I have a Compaq laptop that is about 2 years old. The screen started getting shaky and blacking out a few months ago, so I took it to a guy who fixed the shaky problem, but the screen is now so dim you can barely see anything. He said it probably needs to have the video card replaced ,which in this case, would require the whole motherboard being replaced. He said it would cost about $200 - 300 dollars (not sure if that includes labor).

Do you think I just buy a new laptop? What would you do?

Discussion is locked

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What I'd do

by FrankQC May 12, 2009 2:22AM PDT

I would just get a new laptop. Newer the better -- hardware wise.

You could get a Netbook (which cost along the $200-400 range).

Frank

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Without the model number

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator May 12, 2009 2:23AM PDT

I would not consider repair. Here's why. The dv6000/9000 line is fairly well known to have an issue that HP fixes by changing the main board.

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Response to: Should I fix it or buy a new one

by lapgal May 12, 2009 3:41AM PDT

My Compaq is a C714NR, btw. Are you saying that I would more than likely continue to have issues if the board got replaced?

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That model new was spotted at 399USD.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator May 12, 2009 4:02AM PDT

There is no ExpressCard slot or PCMCIA slot so this is strictly a value machine that you need to consider that for 499 at almart you can get a dual core 3GB with much more than what this value machine had.

Unless you can get it fixed cheap.
Bob

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Most likely your graphics card is

by orlbuckeye May 12, 2009 5:11AM PDT

discrete which means it will need the motherboard replaced. My laptop had a problem about a month ago and I thought the issue was the motherboard. I was quoted as 300 for the mobo and 120 for labor. Luckily it was just a memory chip was bad. I'm waiting for Windows 7 to be available before I buy a new laptop.

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Have you considered a netbook?

by Nooorm May 12, 2009 6:44AM PDT

If you are just using it to surf the web, chat & send email...a netbook might be a good low cost option.

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Tricky one...

by Zouch May 22, 2009 12:25PM PDT

Generally, I'd agree with the opinions here that a flaky laptop will tend to continue to be flaky and at the price of a new replacement for general business uses (Office, email, surfing) repair money is wasted money.

That said, a laptop should certainly last more than 2 years, 5 is more reasonable, so you might want to write (a letter, not email or phone) to Mr. Hurd, CEO at HP and suggest that he replace it on a goodwill basis. Or if you have a small claims court in your country, you could try that.

The dim screen being due to the graphics chip seems a bit unusual, have you tried plugging into an external monitor? If there are no unusual effects there, it would suggest the chip is OK, at least as far as the cable. But replacement of laptop screens is almost always uneconomic.

Should I fix it or get a new one?

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