Fix motherboard or new computer???

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paint_by_numbers

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:confused: I have a dilema....

I have a PC with a broken motherboard, I took it into a repair shop and they quoted me R1833 to replace the motherboard, CPU and RAM....

Intel pentium E2160 - dual core 1.8ghz box cpu , ( no VT,
vPro, ViiV ) , 65nm , Lga775 , 800mhz fsb - 2x64k L1+ shared
1mb L2 cache - with EDB , EiST, EM64T , WDE , ASC , SMA ,
ADMB - R650

Corsair CM2X512-5400C4 - XMS2 , with heatsink , 512mb ,
ddr2-667 ( pc2-5400 ) , CL4 , 1.9v - 240pin - lifetime warranty - R191

Asus P5GC-MX/1333 ; support intel Core2 / P4 / Penitum-D ,
intel 945GC + iCH7 chipset , 1333(oc)/1066/800/533 fsb , 2x
DDR2-667 upto 2.1v , 4 x s-ata2 ; 1 x parallel ata , on-board VGA + realtek ALC883 5.1 audio + 10/100 lan ; 2x pci , 1 x pcie(
1x) , 1 x pci-e(16x) - micro atx - R566

Plus VAT and labour

My question is, it is worth spending that much to repair the PC or am I better off buying a new entry-level tower for R2000??

Or, I could buy a used PC.

Please advise as I have two kids and a bond, so every rand counts :)
 
It depends on what you need. My Motherboard was fried by lightning in Jan, and it's time for a upgrad so I got new CPU, MB, RAM, GRAPHICS, CHASSIS. And the old PC is still sitting around, got a few PCs at home and with other left overs I just need a new MB to setup it up to make it worthwhile again. But I struggle to find a MB because it's a discontinued product.
 
it's the motherboard that got fried with me also, so I need new motherboard, CPU and RAM. I might just get a refurbished system from a local shop and sell of any spare parts
 
paint_by_numbers said:
it's the motherboard that got fried with me also, so I need new motherboard, CPU and RAM. I might just get a refurbished system from a local shop and sell of any spare parts
Click to expand...

So only the MB fried? Then why are they replacing the CPU and RAM too? Old MB which they could not find one similar to replace?
 
cyberarmy said:
So only the MB fried? Then why are they replacing the CPU and RAM too? Old MB which they could not find one similar to replace?
Click to expand...

No, they couldn't find a replacement. Or, they are trying to swindle me. Unfortunately I don't know a lot about PCs, I just have to trust that what they are telling me is the truth.

I think the RAM was a bit dodgy also.
 
paint_by_numbers said:
No, they couldn't find a replacement. Or, they are trying to swindle me. Unfortunately I don't know a lot about PCs, I just have to trust that what they are telling me is the truth.

I think the RAM was a bit dodgy also.
Click to expand...

IMO that ram they are selling you is kind of a waste rather ask for Corsair Value Select DD2-667 you can get 1GB stick for about R230!

I don't think you will need ram with heatsinks :)
 
Friend of mine got the exact same issue, He bought a and hand Core 2 Duo PC for R2k instead.
 
agree - what were the specs of the old system - too many tossers out there trying to sell new lamps for old
 
paint_by_numbers said:
I actual have no idea what the orig specs were, but I will be getting it back without the repairs done. It was given to me by a friend and I just took it straight to a repair shop.
Click to expand...

If only the motherboard is not working, you just need to open the case and write down the motherboard model and tell us, and we will be able to tell you if possible and what you can buy to replace it without incuring more cost.
 
They are not trying to swindle you by trying to replace your board, ram and CPU.

You have a very old socket 478 motherboard. They just don't make them anymore. You will battle to find a decent one even in the second hand market. The PC stores that can get them charge a fortune for them because they end of line products. Some have been made after end of line to cater for situations like yours. Some even came out with sata ports on the board (the original socket 478 didn't even have those). However these are now like hens teeth.

I would recommend you upgrade to the new specs. This should future proof you for applications and software for the next few years. Quite honestly, if your board didn't pack up you would have been looking for a new one in the foreseeable future anyway.

I'm not going to say that the one they want to sell you is best for your application without knowing what you need your PC for, but there are lots of people here who will give you good tips on what to look for.
 
psivius said:
What are the spec's on the entry level PC?
Click to expand...

This is what I was looking at to buy... http://www.chaosnet.co.za/index.php?id=2306

I am a web designer that works on an Apple Powerbook and I basically need a PC to do my background tasks such as Skype, email, internet and to check my web designs on IE etc. So I need nothing blazingly fast, just enough to run XP comfortably.
 
Winga said:
They are not trying to swindle you by trying to replace your board, ram and CPU.

You have a very old socket 478 motherboard. They just don't make them anymore. You will battle to find a decent one even in the second hand market. The PC stores that can get them charge a fortune for them because they end of line products. Some have been made after end of line to cater for situations like yours. Some even came out with sata ports on the board (the original socket 478 didn't even have those). However these are now like hens teeth.

I would recommend you upgrade to the new specs. This should future proof you for applications and software for the next few years. Quite honestly, if your board didn't pack up you would have been looking for a new one in the foreseeable future anyway.

I'm not going to say that the one they want to sell you is best for your application without knowing what you need your PC for, but there are lots of people here who will give you good tips on what to look for.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I think I am going to buy another PC rather than get it fixed
 
paint_by_numbers said:
Thanks, I think I am going to buy another PC rather than get it fixed
Click to expand...

The components the computer repair shop have quoted you on, although not top of the range, are actually far better and newer generation than the ones you will be getting if you bought the new box in your link.

I don't know how old or reliable the rest of the components are in your old computer, but see what they recommend you keep (I would recommend a power supply change) and you could be better off repairing your existing PC.
 
Erm secondhand motherboards can be picked up real cheap, check the classifieds first you might be able to score a motherboard for a very low price that suits your needs.
 
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