Our dell is broken. The CPU is clogged and the motherboard is damaged. It keeps shutting off saying that it is "due to a thermal event". Please explain the cost difference between the two options considering these following things:
-if we buy a new computer we would have to pay to have someone set up the networking and we would have to purchase anti-virus softwares.
- we also have no idea how much it costs to replace hardware because we are not sure to what extent the hardware needs to be replaced?
Could someone give us a minimum and maximum expected cost quote?
2007-02-26 10:34:58 · 4 answers · asked by Eclipseoftheheart 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
As long as the broken computer has good parts that aren't out dated, I always replace the mother board and chip and memory and fan and use the old good hard drives and CD or DVD drives.
If you replace the MO BO, chip, fan and RAM, it could be as cheap as $100 for a bare bones system on line you can build yourself.
If you go new, it could be as little as $500 with a new operating system.
The choice involves the questions of
how much time do you want to invest rebuilding?
how comfortable are you at rebuilding?
and
how old is the old stuff?
Best of luck
2007-02-26 10:47:53 · answer #1 · answered by Klaatu verata nichto 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok. A Motherboard repair can range between $300 to $800. If you need a new Harddrive it can cost between $50 and $100. And that excludes having to put in the O/S again. If you need your files recovered that will cost more money.
From the perspective of working on Geek Squad. A nice computer is in the range of $600 to $1,000 a cheaper one would be $400. We do an Advanced Security and Performance on new computer for $150, and that entails giving you Antivirus, AntiSpyware. Installing it on the computer for you. Optimizing the computer for you. Getting all the pre-installed Adware off of it. Making you Recovery Discs(which most of the computers no longer come with) And installing any available updates. You get almost $100 worth of stuff, and they do it for you for another $49. If you already have a Network setup it's just a matter of plugging the ethernet back into the new computer.
So on the new computer end it can cost between $600 to $1,000 plus over $150; and on the repair end it can be $100 to $800 depending on the severity. If it's more than 4 years old. I wouldn't bother. After that point they kind of turn into old cars, you replace parts on it, and two months later something else craps out on you, you just end up throwing money at it.
If you are near a Best Buy or Circuit City I would take it to the Geek Squad or Firedogs, they will do all that estimating of repair costs and stuff for you for free.
2007-02-26 11:31:10 · answer #2 · answered by The Ninth Cut 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In whichever way we look at what your problem is, It is definitely cheaper to replace hardware; there are so many components in a computer so entire new computer is too costly unless you do see a need to update the entire machine to update to current needs within your business/home.
"Mobo is damaged" - doubt it, least you can see "due to a thermal event" on screen, then all that is really broken is not even related to a blueprint of a computer, that means fans and cases. I forseen $100 to replace entire chassis and fans all around (CPU fan likely be the one broke) and having a local store guy do the service.
Upward can go $500 if so many things broke.
2007-02-26 12:26:09 · answer #3 · answered by Andy T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like your computer is over heating take it to a computer shop and have them clean it out with air from a compressor
2007-02-26 11:56:53 · answer #4 · answered by damcmichael 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋