Repairing computers is the core part of our business. But we know that there are times when it’s in a client’s best interest to purchase a new computer instead of repairing their existing one.
The “Is it worth repairing, or is it better to buy new?” dilemma you may be facing with your computer is like the dilemma you face any time one of your major appliances breaks. Deciding it it’s worth fixing your leaking dishwasher, or placing another service call for you clothes dryer, is never easy or straightforward.
Here are four factors to consider when determining if it’s better to buy a new computer instead of repairing your current one:
- Cost The price of the repair is usually the main determining factor in this dilemma. How much would you spend repairing your computer versus replacing it with a new one? Our suggestion: Follow the 50 percent rule! If the repair will cost you more than half of the price to replace it, don’t repair.
- Is it a hardware issue? If a major component in your computer has failed, many times the cost of the part alone is more than the value of the computer. Some manufacturers are better than others in terms of pricing and availability of parts, but all of them are in the business of selling computers and not parts. So keep that in mind when you hear that the part you need may cost $200 or more!
- Age If your computer is more than, say, 3 or 4 years old, and the repair is going to be a few hundred dollars, the question becomes, do you want to risk spending that money and then have something else go wrong? Think of it like an older car – at some point it just makes more sense to buy something new rather than have the old one need repair after repair after repair.
- Features/Time for Something New technology changes rapidly and sometimes you just want something new with the latest features.
Overall, most issues that we see are, in fact, worth repairing. But if you aren’t sure if it makes financial sense to repair your current computer, or want our advice on what new computer to purchase, we’re here to help! In fact, we stock and sell Dell and Mac computers, and can acquire any brand you prefer.
With our breadth of experience repairing all kinds of desktop and laptop computers over the years, plus our New PC and Mac setup & data transfers service, we are well-qualified to help you identify and buy the best new computer for your needs.
Why Buy from Us?
- Experience Unlike the kid at Staples or Best Buy, we have years of experience in selecting the best model and features specifically for you. We strike the right balance between needs and wants. You get the maximum value for your dollar.
- Convenience We are your point of contact for questions or if you need support. Rather than waste hours of time on the phone with some tech support person half way across the globe, [th_phone] or email us – we know you and you know us!
- Value We provide you with a fair, FIXED price on the hardware AND the labor to set everything up, transfer over all your data, emails and settings and make sure that you understand how to use all your new equipment in the comfort and convenience of your home or office. Whether it takes 1 hour or 5 hours you are guaranteed that the cost will never be higher than what you were quoted.
- Warranty Service When you purchase from us directly all manufacturers warranty service is handled by us – we make the calls and deal with their tech support and there is NO cost to you for this service!
If You Decide to Purchase a New System and Setup from Us, What’s Next?
We will go over your needs, give you an exact total cost (including setup, etc.), take a deposit and schedule your installation and delivery. We do keep some models in stock so most of the time we can have your new system and setup completed within a few days.
If you have questions, please visit our Resource Center or send us a quick chat! We’re happy to help.
I appreciate your suggestions regarding computer repairs and the age of the computer. I’ve had my laptop for about 2 years now. It has worked really well up until now. It seems to be really slow. I had my friend look at it and he said it needs to be fixed. So now I’ve been trying to decide whether to repair it or simply get a new one. Thanks for the helpful suggestions!
Its never an easy decision, glad our post helped.
I like your 50% cost rule that we can use to decide whether to repair or replace our computers. However, I’d also like to point out that it can pay to get creative with your computer replacement parts as well. My friend’s network card recently died in his fairly new laptop. Instead of replacing the piece for about $100, he bought a WiFi USB dongle for $10 dollars. He’s still able to connect to the internet just fine, without having to spend a lot of money on repairs.
I have a computer that is several years old now, and it’s been having some problems. It will crash at random times, and occasionally not respond to my inputs. I’m not sure of the problem just yet, but like you suggested, I think that it will be cheaper to buy a new computer than repair the old one, especially if it’s a hardware issue. Thanks for the help, I’ll make sure to see if I can get it repaired before replacing it!
That is awesome that you offer reliable computer repair for both mac and pc! I am glad you went over the four factors to help you determine whether you need to replace your computer or repair it! It is interesting that there are a lot of issue that your computer may have that will make it not worth repairing. Thank you for sharing your tips on computer repair!
I totally agree with you that it is difficult to decide whether to repair or replace a computer. Mine has been really acting up lately and I have been contemplating repair or replace. After looking at your suggestions, though, I think I will replace my computer. It will allow me to catch up with technology, and the repairs would be more than half the computer is worth.
Computer repairs can get pretty pricey if you don’t know what you are doing. There are also parts that can be pretty expensive to replace. I remember when I was having a problem with the battery. Luckily batteries aren’t too expensive. You can get a new one easily just by searching online. Other repairs can be far more expensive.
It’s always a difficult decision between repairing or replacing old or worn out computers. I had a mac that died two years after I bought it, but my dad had a similar version that lasted almost six years with minor repairs here and there and it worked great. I always tend to look at repairing first, but sometimes it’s undoubtedly more cost efficient to just replace – like you mentioned with the 50% rule. Thanks for the tips!
I have had my laptop for almost 4 years now. It is usually running slow and might have a problem with the fan. I was planning on trying to repair it to save money, but after reading your article, I might just buy new. Since my laptop is so old, who knows what else will go wrong next. Thanks for the info!
I think it is hard to figure out what the problem is with your computer. I have a roommate right now that is facing a computer issue. We are trying to get him to get it fixed because it runs really slow.
The “Is it worth repairing, or is it better to purchase new?” problem you might be confronting with your PC is like the situation you confront at whatever time one of your significant machines breaks. Choosing it merits altering your releasing dishwasher, or setting another administration call for you garments dryer, is never simple or clear.
Im impressed, I should say. Pretty rarely do I come across a blog thats each informative and entertaining, and let me let you know
Computer Support Dallas
I think when it comes to the decision to repair or replace your computer, repairing it is usually the better option. Getting a new computer can be really expensive, and if you are getting your current computer repaired anyways, you can get upgrades that will make it better than anything stock you can get. Checking the pricing and options of places that repair computers is the first step to saving money.
I am interested in buying a desk top PC. I had a Samsung laptop for 3 years, hard drive went plus other problems. Like many people I have a desk top at work, and my experience with previous desk tops was positive and more reliable, and less expensive to fix than a lap top. I know more people use lap tops nowadays, but for my needs a desk top will suffice. I am a daily user but don’t download games, or a lot of graphics, and from time to time will download a movie. What would you recommend?
Your recent emails have started me thinking…
My HP s51210t is 4 years old now but running fine. But because of its age I’m wondering about replacing it before it crashes .. in particular I’m wondering if a replacement can be made to include all my apps from my current PC.
Every month I do a full system backup with Acronis 15. My question is, if I get a replacement, can my Acronis system backup be used to make the new PC run/look like my current PC?
Thanks – Bill
I like what this article mentions about considering the cost and the age of the computer. It makes sense that if you break a new computer it could be good just to have it repaired while if an old computer goes bad, it might be cost effective to buy a new one. It’s something to keep in mind when looking to have my computer fixed as it’s not brand new but it’s also not old enough to replace.
It’s good to know that that cost of a single part could be more than the price of the entire computer. I think that my motherboard is fried on my laptop, and I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it to replace it. However, I’ll be sure to check prices before I make any major decisions.
These are great factors to look at when thinking about the best way to deal with what’s going on with your computer. One that I usually forget about is the age. My laptop is only 2 years old but it’s already having problems and it came as a shock to me so now I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth it to repair if I should just invest in a new one. These points gave me some great things to consider.
Not sure whether to repair or buy a new computer. But thanks to this article I learned about the 50% rule! Looks like I will be getting a new one here soon!
Jenna,
Glad we could help in your decision making process. Feel free to contact our office and we would be happy to provide you with a very competitive quote that includes a brand new system along with the labor to set it all up, transfer over all of your information and settings all at a fixed price!
I didn’t realize that if your computer is 3 to 4 years old it will cost a few hundred dollars to get fixed. That is a good thing to be aware of if you are looking for a cheap fix. It might be a good idea to see if an IT service can fix it the problem before it becomes really bad.
It’s interesting that you mention the type of issue it could be. It makes sense that if the computer is having hardware issues, replacing the unit might be more of an option than if it’s a software issue. Either way, I’ll have to take my computer in because it’s not super old and with how technology advances, having the unit fixed so I can wait for the next big jump in technology would be good. Thanks for the post!
Glad you found this helpful.