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So my computer just crapped out..

post #1 of 28
4/22/10 at 3:30pm
Thread Starter 
Short story: Dell 1705 now has a failed graphics card, I am pretty pennypinching right now, so I can't really replace the computer with anything that cool right now. Should I:

A. pay the $250 on ebay to buy a replacement graphics card, and just keep trying to keep this lappy alive for a couple more years. (it's already 3 years old, but running fine except the 100gb harddrive is full).

B. Go without and try to save for a few months till I can buy a moderate replacement. ~$1000

C. Go without for about 9+ months (Christmas Bonus time) till I can buy a good replacement. ~$2000

D. Try to strech to find a cheap (possibly used ~$500) replacement for the next couple years till I can then buy a cool computer.

E. Try to strech and build my own moderate replacement desktop (always wanted to do a build but never have before, and don't have lots of free time due to the baby). What can a fairly moderate desktop be done for?


I use it mostly for mundane stuff, however I'll want it to play Civ V once it comes out this year, and SW:TOR when it comes out next year, for example.

what should I do? any other options taht might be better?
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post #2 of 28
4/22/10 at 3:45pm
If you tend to use the computer on a regular basis, I'd suggest the ebay solution for now since it will get you back up quickly. Then you can still save up and get something better later in the year.
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post #3 of 28
4/22/10 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Djembe View Post
If you tend to use the computer on a regular basis, I'd suggest the ebay solution for now since it will get you back up quickly. Then you can still save up and get something better later in the year.
We can use my wife's work computer for a while, but it means she has to bring it home every night, and certainly no games or such.

Yeah, that's probably the easiest solution, but I guess my biggest dislike of it is that is that it's $250 that's basically going into something I won't be keeping longterm. I had sorta been targeting the next year or so for replacement of it anyways.

Can a desktop be built for $750 or so that would be pretty good? I have no idea what it will cost to go that route, but it might be a good way to go since we now will have a permanent 'office' for it to be located in...

what about a netbook for the next 6-12 months? Can those run word/excel. I could possibly get by with one if I knew a computer was on the way in a year, and then it would fill a role in the future...
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post #4 of 28
4/22/10 at 3:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shlo_mo_shun View Post
We can use my wife's work computer for a while, but it means she has to bring it home every night, and certainly no games or such.

Yeah, that's probably the easiest solution, but I guess my biggest dislike of it is that is that it's $250 that's basically going into something I won't be keeping longterm. I had sorta been targeting the next year or so for replacement of it anyways.

Can a desktop be built for $750 or so that would be pretty good? I have no idea what it will cost to go that route, but it might be a good way to go since we now will have a permanent 'office' for it to be located in...
Desktop price varies depending on what you've already got (i.e. case, monitor, etc.) but yes, you can put together a nice desktop for $750.
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post #5 of 28
4/22/10 at 3:58pm
oh, yes: moved to Notebook General

It's rare to need to move a thread from OT to somewhere else!
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post #6 of 28
4/22/10 at 4:27pm
Another option -

F. "bake" the poor thing. We have plenty of good input in the Dell Section

cheers ...
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post #7 of 28
4/22/10 at 5:55pm
All of your options seem logical. I guess it's what matters most to you.

Personally I hate seeing hardware "die", so I'd try and buy replacement parts to fix it. I HATE walking away from something when it's possible to salvage it for parts or fix it.
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post #8 of 28
4/22/10 at 7:41pm
Thread Starter 
Fine, move my thread.

Thanks for the assurance that I'm thinking this through. I just want to be sure whatever I do, that I've got all the options on the table that might work. As far as the salvage option, it just seems a waste to blow $250 on something that I only really will use for another year anyways. The battery is shot so although this is a laptop, I can only use it plugged in anyways...

Also considering the Mx11 as a potential option. Could get an external keyboard, mouse and monitor for use at home down the road, and still have the ability to take it on the road for a mobile? For $799 for the base version it's about as cheap as I'm gonna get for a replacement anyways, right, and it should be able to play games at home for the next few years too it seems...
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post #9 of 28
4/23/10 at 9:56am
Oh man.. don't get me started on the m11x. I'm reviewing it right now for NBF. It's like a dream. What do you want to know about it? Or you could wait for me to post the review on Sunday. :P
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post #10 of 28
4/23/10 at 11:13am
If 250 and netbook get mentioned in the same list of options then just do that. You can get netbooks DANG cheap
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post #11 of 28
4/26/10 at 1:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GNandGS View Post
If 250 and netbook get mentioned in the same list of options then just do that. You can get netbooks DANG cheap
I've moved away from the netbook option becasue they don't have the storage I need. I have an external hard drive, but I'd like all my stuff backed up on the computer itself as well. Between irreplaceable photos (wedding photos, baby photos, etc...), music, and movies, I need at least 100GB of space alone, so I think a netbook is out.
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post #12 of 28
4/26/10 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve View Post
Oh man.. don't get me started on the m11x. I'm reviewing it right now for NBF. It's like a dream. What do you want to know about it? Or you could wait for me to post the review on Sunday. :P
I'm excited for the review. It can definitely wait, I probably won't get a replacement for a couple weeks or more depending on finances.
My only concern is the 11" screen. I saw a 13" mac in their store and a 10.1" netbook at Costco and both seemed way too small to use basically. Granted, I'd plan on setting up a separate monitor/keyboard for it at home, but in the meantime, I'd have to use that thing, which seems too small. That said, the price is right for something I could see working well for the next 3-5 years... I'll check for your review now though.
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post #13 of 28
4/26/10 at 1:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shlo_mo_shun View Post
I'm excited for the review. It can definitely wait, I probably won't get a replacement for a couple weeks or more depending on finances.
My only concern is the 11" screen. I saw a 13" mac in their store and a 10.1" netbook at Costco and both seemed way too small to use basically. Granted, I'd plan on setting up a separate monitor/keyboard for it at home, but in the meantime, I'd have to use that thing, which seems too small. That said, the price is right for something I could see working well for the next 3-5 years... I'll check for your review now though.
I've been busy with school and work and I'm delaying the review to next week until I can complete some tests.
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post #14 of 28
4/26/10 at 2:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shlo_mo_shun View Post
I've moved away from the netbook option becasue they don't have the storage I need. I have an external hard drive, but I'd like all my stuff backed up on the computer itself as well. Between irreplaceable photos (wedding photos, baby photos, etc...), music, and movies, I need at least 100GB of space alone, so I think a netbook is out.
My netbook comes with a 250GB drive

cheers ...
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post #15 of 28
4/26/10 at 4:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
My netbook comes with a 250GB drive

cheers ...
SSD??
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post #16 of 28
4/26/10 at 4:34pm
I wish. Trying to negotiate to get a hand on a 512GB SSD from the Toshiba Dynabook line at the moment.

cheers ...
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post #17 of 28
4/26/10 at 4:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
My netbook comes with a 250GB drive

cheers ...
I also forgot to re-mention the requirements for Civ V this year, and SW:TOR next year... Another reason the netbook is out.

good to know they have that much storage. For the price, it might make a good temporary solution still...
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post #18 of 28
4/26/10 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shlo_mo_shun View Post
I also forgot to re-mention the requirements for Civ V this year, and SW:TOR next year... Another reason the netbook is out.

good to know they have that much storage. For the price, it might make a good temporary solution still...
I've looked around and I can't find anywhere that has the Civ V requirements listed, but given that previous Civ titles had relatively modest system requirements, I wouldn't expect Civ V to require too much regarding hardware.
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post #19 of 28
4/27/10 at 10:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shlo_mo_shun View Post
I also forgot to re-mention the requirements for Civ V this year, and SW:TOR next year... Another reason the netbook is out.

good to know they have that much storage. For the price, it might make a good temporary solution still...
Oh shit. I saw a live demo of Civ V at PAxEast this year... game is gonna be SICK!
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post #20 of 28
4/28/10 at 7:11pm
Thread Starter 
I remember original CIV when it came out in 4th grade. I've seen more sunrises with those games still running on the screen, there's no doubt I'm getting it as soon as it releases.
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