Computers

[andrewducker]

My desktop is about 7 years old. My laptop isn't great for games. Logic dictates that I should get a new PC, but I couldn't really justify it.

Until this morning, when the laptop died. Totally refused to turn on, with the caps-lock light flashing 5 times in succession, a signal that the internet informs me means "motherboard fucked".

I phoned HP, who do out of warranty repairs, to be quoted £260. As it only cost me £400 this seems a tad silly. A part of me wishes I'd got the three year warranty with it. I'd never bothed with a desktop, but laptops don't have replaceable parts in the same way.

So it looks like I'll be buying a new PC in the near future. Not that we can really afford it. It's going to have to be a cheap one.

A quick google tells me that an Athlon 630x4 and an ATI 5670 are both at the right point on the price/performance graph for me. Anyone want to tell me different?

(Figures from here and here)

Comments

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

I'd try involving trading standards as HP producing goods not fit for purpose. A laptop should have more life expectancy than 18 months, regardless of warranty - especially considering you don't carry it around like a laptop or overly abuse it. Worth contacting citizens advice for some support.

[cairmen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, seconded.

[marrog.livejournal.com]

Actually, quite possibly - I'm sure I heard recently of a friend of a friend successfully calling Dell out on a year anna half old laptop as not being up to reasonable wear and tear.