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Suggestions for my 8790 that sits at the Sager factory

post #1 of 6
4/22/06 at 3:43am
Thread Starter 
Ok here is my situation: I have had a 8790 for less than 2 years now...started to game on it then I got artifacting. I eventually stopped gaming, but the artifacting spread to the desktop so I stopped gaming. It got really bad and just 3 weeks ago shut off and wouldn't reboot. Fortunately I live about 45 minutes away from the Sager factory, so I took the computer in personally to have it inspected. I told them what was happening and that I thought it probably would need a new video card. They told me they would call me back in 3-5 business days. After two weeks I finally called them and asked them what was happening. I finally spoke to "Sean" who told me that I would need to replace the whole motherboard. He explained to me that since the video card is sodered onto it, I would have to replace the whole unit with a refurbished one which would cost like ~$520 or something after $80 installment cost and tax. I am out of warranty too.

Until tonight, I never knew about this forum. I have read through the big thread about the artifacting, and basically have come to the conclusion that I will no longer even attempt to game on it. I just hope that I can use it for everything else like email, microsoft office, videos, and other non 3-d gaming intense apps.

My question is what do you guys suggest I do? I am leaning towards paying the ridiculous amount of money for them to refurbish the motherboard and get it back to me, so that it at least works. But before I do so, I want to make sure that that would be the wisest decision. Is there any places on the internet that sells the same motherboard or having Sager reburbish it be the best bet? Also, if I do have them reburbish it, is there any warranty that they will give me in case it artifacts again? I don't want to give them my money then get the laptop back and have it start happening again. What do you suggest?
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post #2 of 6
4/22/06 at 9:28am
Since it's already started artifacting on the desktop, my guess is that the unit overheated enough that you're not likely to get much more mileage out of it even using non gaming/3-D intensive apps. Possible that a good cleaning could give you a little more time- hard to say; personally, I'm guessing against it.

You are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Or at least, an expensive place. I don't know that you're going to find a cheaper/better alternative to Sager for this fix. You might want to email Sager and see if there are any warranty options at this point (doubtful, but never hurts to ask). Might want to check and see how long a refurb'd MB is warrantied for, too. That's an important point to check, IMO.

Even emailing one or two of the resellers that've been mentioned around the boards might be worth your while. They might have other options available (once again, doubtful, but email's free).

Good luck.
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post #3 of 6
4/22/06 at 9:43am
Verify how long their work was warrantied for. Check total estimated cost against something like a new machine of rough equivalent speed (but not top of the line - just a rough modern equivalent) say like the 9300/9400 maybe. Then weigh out the length of warranty vs the cost of just getting into something new. If the cost is far less to repair, and the work is guaranteed at least a year, I'd give thought to repair. But also factor in that other components (like the power supply) could also go and would not be covered. That is why if the cost of repair starts getting close to the cost of replacement, replacement can be smarter.

Sorry this is a lot to lay out but that's my $.02
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post #4 of 6
4/22/06 at 2:08pm
Get it fixed bro. I am going through the very same thing now, my laptop just went out for repair at Pro-Star.com for motherboard replacement. Mine however never artifacted and/or overheated. I took the required steps of taking it apart and using AS5 whereever I could and insured good airflow over and into the keyboard keys ( for the graphics ) and from underneath with a 'NotePal' by CoolerMaster to keep it cool underneath. After two years, it just stopped working. I went to turn it on one morning and nothing, no heat, no lights, no power going into it. The power supply is still good as verified with a voltmeter.
I did alot of investigating into getting a new one versus fix this one, and for 600.00 Im getting a new mobo and warranty.
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post #5 of 6
4/23/06 at 11:29am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the responses. I think I am now leaning towards repairing it. I like the computer a lot, but will now defiinately be more conscious of now gaming at all and will clean it often.

Ruffy, how much of a warranty are they going to give you with the repair?...also are they giving you a new motherboard or a refurbished one? Sager told me since it is an older model, they could only refurbish it for me.
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post #6 of 6
4/25/06 at 6:09am
Id say get it back and take out the parts you want either for a new laptop or do what I did and buy a desktop of equal to greater performance for 1/3 of the price and then get an older smaller more portable laptop for moving back and forth. Realizing I had paid about 300 percent for my laptop that spent 90 percent of its time on my desk really made me wonder why, and even if you do port it around thats a hell of an expensive drop or backpack theft just waiting to happen. 600 bucks plus the sale of the parts you sell from the laptop will be more then enough to build an equivilent system.
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