Your laptop is running slow, you’re getting non-compatibility pop-up messages and it’s making a strange noise. It sounds like your laptop needs some TLC, but how do you know if your laptop is worth repairing? Ask yourself these questions.
- Is it under warranty?
The average lifespan for a laptop is 3-5 years. In most cases, a quality laptop will outlive its warranty and, rightfully so. If you are experiencing system issues and you believe it requires repairs, having an existing warranty in place is a great incentive for taking your current laptop in for diagnostics and repairs before it’s too late. - How old is your laptop?
If your device is more than 5 years old and the warranty has expired, it may not be worth repairing. Laptops that are noisy due to hardware such as a fan or have a multitude of desktop apps that will not function properly indicate repairs or an upgrade to your laptop may not suffice. A good rule of thumb is if your laptop is older than 5 years, has a list of productivity issues, and is no longer under warranty, it’s best to buy a new one versus repairing it. - What’s the cost of repairs?
The cost to repair your laptop should never exceed the original purchase price of your current laptop or the cost of a new one. Furthermore, repairs of your existing laptop should not exceed 50%-70% of the cost of a new computer. If so, ditch the old device and invest in a new one. Taking into account the cost of a new computer also entails purchasing new security and software. Weigh the pros and cons to determine if repairing your device is the more cost-friendly option. - Can it be upgraded?
Many laptop speeds and productivity issues can be fixed with a system reset or factory reinstall, increasing the RAM (memory), or swapping out a traditional hard drive for a faster and more reliable Solid-State Drive (SSD). Assess any peripherals that are normally operable with the laptop – are they still supported? If your laptop can successfully be upgraded, it may be fully functional for another year or two.
If your laptop is less than 5 years old, has minor functionality issues, and can be upgraded for a fraction of the cost of a new laptop, the best solution is to get it repaired. If you would like a diagnostic test and quote for repairs on your laptop, contact Geeks on Site today. Our team of knowledgeable Geeks is standing by to offer suggestions and be of assistance as you figure out what’s your next step with your laptop.
Bob Cohen
When diagnosing PC laptop problems, looking at the cost to repair versus replacing is always a good idea before spending money on costly repairs. We're talking about parts and hardware here, not software. Software problems can usually be remedied by a competent technician and at the most, would require that the operating system and software be reinstalled. A hardware problem always requires that the laptop be taken apart, and depending on the repair, this can be take from an hour to several hours of labor, plus any parts costs, and some parts are expensive.
Remember though, if you repair a broken laptop, you will still have a laptop that is an older model and probably out of warranty. New laptops that have a lot of features, and the latest software, are available from $400 for a Windows based system. Mac laptops are start at about $1,000 and go up in price from there so the decisions are a little different for repair versus replace for Macs.
If your PC laptop can be repaired for less than 50% of the cost of replacing it, it's probably OK to repair if it's 1-2 years old. If your laptop is 3 years old or older, a replacement is probably better since there is a higher likelihood that you'll need to replace it within a few years. Laptops just take more wear and tear than desktops but I have seen some that have lasted 5-6 years.
Mac laptops are a different issue. If you're no longer under warranty, your labor is going to be the same for almost any repair, but the parts costs for Macs are usually higher than those for a PC, with the exception of the hard disk drive, which uses industry standard disk drives for Intel based Mac models.
If you can, get a diagnostic from a technician who can advise you on the best course of action. It's worth investing in a diagnostic call to see if your laptop can be repaired and to get an idea of the parts cost. Then you can make a smarter decision about repair versus replacement. (For netbooks, a replacement is always the best course, since they are almost non-repairable items).
Laptops take more wear and tear than desktops. Computers and sensitive electronics really don't like to be banged around much. Remember, if a repair is going to cost 50% or more than the cost of replacing, it's not worth doing, because you'll still have an older laptop when you're done. Also, if your laptop is 4 years old or older, you're better off replacing since you'll only get a year or two of use out of it even after the repair since something else is likely to wear out.
Here's a quick reference guide to some common laptop items and my recommendations for going ahead with the repair. It's not cast in stone however, and your decision will be based on the prices quoted from your local repair technician, which can vary quite a bit.
- Memory Memory is always easy to replace and upgrade. Access to the laptop memory is usually on a panel on the bottom of the laptop. Do it? YES
- DC power jack. Sometimes the jack where the power adapter connects gets broken loose from the internal connections. The parts are usually inexpensive, but this requires that the laptop case be removed and replaced. Do it? YES
- Keyboard If a keyboard is damaged or needs replacing, it's generally worth doing. Keyboard parts range form $35 to $100. For most laptops, a keyboard replacement only requires that the top bezel be removed, and doesn't require a complete disassembly. It still can take about 1-2 hours of labor though. Do it? YES
- Hard drive. The hard drive can usually be removed and replaced without the need to take apart the entire laptop case. It can usually be upgraded as well. Do it? YES
- LCD. If the LCD panel is not working, it could be either the graphics circuit on the mother board or the LCD. If you can, plug the laptop into an external monitor. If you can get a display, the problem is the LCD panel. Prices for LCD parts alone range from $150 to $350 depending on the quality and availability. It takes a complete disassembly to replace and repair this item so there is usually at least 2 hours or more or labor involved. Do it: NO, unless the laptop is less than 2 years old and a replacement would cost more than $1,000.
- Mother Board. Since mother boards are generally one-piece units for laptops, any failure requires complete replacement of this item. The part can range from $200 an up and it's usually a better idea to replace the unit. Do it: NO, unless the laptop is less than 2 years old and a replacement would cost more than $1,000.
Prices for electronics usually come down in price and chances are you can get a better laptop for the same money you paid for yours, or even for less. Then you'll have a new one with the latest software (saving you upgrade costs) and a new warranty, along with better performance.
No computer lasts forever, but to get the most out of your investment, you probably want to stretch its life out for as long as you can. Upgrades and repairs can carry your machine along for a decent amount of time, but at a certain point, you might be better off investing in a new computer instead of dribbling away your money on continuing maintenance.
Eventually, every computer slows down—even if you’re using it for the exact same things you were five years ago.
“Over time, you’ll get Windows updates, or a new version of macOS, and these things can weigh heavily on the PC,” says Joe Silverman, owner of New York Computer Help. Even some of your apps will update themselves over time, and the web pages you visit may just require more resources than they used to. (Remember what the web looked like in the 90s?). When the machine slows to a crawl, you’ll have to bite the bullet and spend your money on something better.
Before you shell out for a new set of RAM though, you should figure out what’s actually causing the slowdown. This will tell you whether you really need a replacement, or you’ll find it worthwhile to eke out more time with an incremental repair or upgrade.
Diagnose the problem
Your computer consists of multiple components, each with their own specific purpose. Any one (or more) of them could be causing your slowdowns or other issues. To make sure you spend your money in the right place, you need to diagnose the source of the problem.
First, make sure it isn’t a software issue. “It’s always good to run a virus or malware test, and make sure there are no infections in the background,” says Silverman. You can also check programs’ resource usage: On a PC, open the Windows Task Manager (hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and click More Details; on a Mac, open Spotlight (press Command+Space) and search for Activity Monitor instead. If you see one program gobbling up all the CPU or RAM, uninstalling it and replacing it with an alternative may speed things up.
“Check the operating system, too—there could be corruption somewhere,” says Silverman. “If you haven’t reinstalled the operating system in five years, it might be time.”
If you can’t narrow the issue down to just one program—or the problem lies with an essential one, like your web browser—then you may need to upgrade your hardware. During the next slowdown, open up that same Task Manager, head to the Performance tab, and look at your CPU and memory usage. If either of those graphs shows particularly high, sustained usage, you know which part probably requires an upgrade.
It’s also possible that one of your components is failing entirely. “Do a hard drive test with a program like HD Tune, which has a free trial,” says Silverman. “It will let you know how slow or abnormal some of the read-write activities are, and if your hard drive is failing.” I also like CrystalDiskInfo, which isn’t as thorough as HD Tune, but will give you a basic, clear idea of your hard drive’s health for free.
While you’re running through potential trouble areas, check your RAM as well. “Failing RAM could cause slowness, but it can also stop your computer from turning on, or it may shut down randomly,” says Silverman. “So run a RAM test like Memtest, which will check each stick and see if it’s good or not. If you have a bad stick, you want to make sure you replace it.”
Once you narrow down the problem to a specific component or two, you’ll be able to better target your repairs.
Run the numbers
Unfortunately, upgrading parts costs money—and some replacements are more worthwhile than others.
“RAM can definitely improve performance, and upgrading from a mechanical hard drive to a solid state drive, or SSD, is probably the best way to speed up your computer,” says Silverman. As a bonus, you can probably perform both of those upgrades yourself. “But I wouldn’t upgrade the motherboard or CPU,” he says, “since it’s going to be a nominal speed bump.” When you replace the CPU with a newer model, you often have to swap out other components to ensure compatibility—and at that point, you might as well just buy a new machine.
To determine whether an upgrade is worth your money, look at how much it will cost, and compare that to the computer’s age. “If the computer is seven years old or more, and it requires a repair that is more than 25 percent of the cost of a new computer, I’d say don’t fix it,” says Silverman. “If your computer is three to four years old, that’s a better time to start looking at an upgrade, since you can buy one to three more years of time.” At that age, you can probably get away with a repair that costs 50 percent of a new machine. Pricier than that, and again, you should think about a new computer.
Final thoughts
It would be great if we could tell you exactly what to do when your repair or replacement will have a specific cost. But it’s difficult to give hard numbers that apply to everyone. That’s why it helps to perform those diagnostics.
In general, if you know a single component bears the blame for slowing down your computer, upgrading that part can probably extend your machine’s lifespan by a few years. If a lot of components are struggling to keep up, you’re running on borrowed time. In that case, you’re probably better off buying a new PC.