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Buy New Parts vs. Wait for a new Lappy?

post #1 of 6
9/19/06 at 12:47am
Thread Starter 
Hey guys, I have an i9300 that I bought about 1.5 years back for ~900.

1.6
512
64mb x300
8x dvdrw

It was pretty much the minimum specs at the time. The laptop has been suiting my needs at uni for a while (albeit a bit heavy), but I dropped it off my bunkbed the other day, and now the screen is cracked and the dvd drive is broken. The screen is still usable but the crack spans all the way down and causes color vibrations when any motion occurs.

I have two options -

1) Replace the hardware. In this case, can you guys refer me to where I can get parts? I am completely out of the hardware loop. The most I do is buy media off newegg. If I do this, I'll also considering upgrading ram.

2) Let it be. I'll get an external hd or dvdrw but the cracked monitor stays. I'll buy another laptop in one or two years.

I am a college freshman and do not yet have a job. I doubt my parents will buy me another laptop, and I would rather not tell them about the situation. Financially, I'm pretty tight at the moment. Feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 6
9/19/06 at 2:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrcuperchino
Hey guys, I have an i9300 that I bought about 1.5 years back for ~900.

1.6
512
64mb x300
8x dvdrw

It was pretty much the minimum specs at the time. The laptop has been suiting my needs at uni for a while (albeit a bit heavy), but I dropped it off my bunkbed the other day, and now the screen is cracked and the dvd drive is broken. The screen is still usable but the crack spans all the way down and causes color vibrations when any motion occurs.

I have two options -

1) Replace the hardware. In this case, can you guys refer me to where I can get parts? I am completely out of the hardware loop. The most I do is buy media off newegg. If I do this, I'll also considering upgrading ram.

2) Let it be. I'll get an external hd or dvdrw but the cracked monitor stays. I'll buy another laptop in one or two years.

I am a college freshman and do not yet have a job. I doubt my parents will buy me another laptop, and I would rather not tell them about the situation. Financially, I'm pretty tight at the moment. Feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!

you can buy replacement parts from dell, but they'd be expensive. I think you can buy cheaper standard cd/dvd player/burners and if you can deal with the screen that's the most expensive part.
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post #3 of 6
9/19/06 at 2:40am
If you are not doing anything graphic intensive might i suggest picking up a cheap laptop from bestbuy or compUSA, they run about $499 & would easily outperform your current setup.

If you can wait till Black Friday you would be able to snag a great deal from one of you local stores (ie; wallmart, target, bestbuy, compUSA etc).
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post #4 of 6
9/19/06 at 3:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by logan1
If you are not doing anything graphic intensive might i suggest picking up a cheap laptop from bestbuy or compUSA, they run about $499 & would easily outperform your current setup.

If you can wait till Black Friday you would be able to snag a great deal from one of you local stores (ie; wallmart, target, bestbuy, compUSA etc).


I would never buy a black friday laptop, they're cheap in every way possible. If I were you i'd just replace the screen and LCD I could get it done for 300, if you just look on Ebay. maybe 400. but you can get the DVD burner for like 80 dollars or so and 300 perhaps for the screen.
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post #5 of 6
9/23/06 at 10:12pm
if you're looking to upgrade, upgrade.
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post #6 of 6
9/23/06 at 10:22pm
I'd suggest your 2nd option i.e. buying a new laptop when you have the money.

Upgrading will almost cost as much as a new one if you wait for right coupons (Dell). Also, you can't upgrade much except for the gfx and memory. Buy an external enclosure for $25 & a 5.25" writer for ~$35 for the moment if DVD writer is your top priority.

You could theoritically upgrade the CPU but unless it's at least Core Duo (I'd suggest Merom), the cost will be close to a new one but you'll get at the most 50% performance (assuming Code Duo or Merom is not supported on 9300). I'd wait for sometime since money is a problem and get a new one (a good one) when I can afford.
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