Should you just get a new computer?
I have seen a lot of power supply failures lately. This seems to happen every summer but I don't keep detailed enough statistics to prove it. I am not sure why it happens either. It could be that people turn off their computers for summer vacation and it is the first time the computer has really been turned off in a long time. This might give things a chance to cool down and become brittle. Maybe it is just a coincidence.
In addition to the power supply failures, I have seen a variety of other problems lately that are typically rare such as hard drive failures, power button failures, and dead printers.
The question, "Should I just by a new computer?" always comes up.
My typical answer is no, but once in a while it is worth considering. Here is the thought process I use to determine whether to fix an old computer or just get a new one.
1. How old is the computer? If the computer is older than 4 years, you will be hard pressed to get it repaired for less than the price of a new one if the repair involves any kind of part.
A dead power supply can mean that a power surge spread to the motherboard and perhaps the RAM or processor. The only way to tell is to replace one piece at a time and see how far the problem has spread. Not only can the parts be pricey but there is typically a good labor charge as well.
2. Do you have all of the original software? If you have lost your Windows XP disk or your hard drive failed and the partition is gone, there is a good chance that you will have to buy a new copy of Windows XP. If you can find it, the cost is around $100 for an upgrade disk and even more for a full and/or professional version.
3. How many other problems are you having that would be solved with a new computer? Some people only use their computer for book keeping, email or Internet. In that case, repairing your existing computer may be worth it. But, if your computer was having a tough time keeping up or it was reaching its limits before its death, there is really no reason to have it fixed.
4. After you spend money on the repair, will your computer be worth at least the amount you spent on repairs? A used Pentium 4 system with 512MB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive runs around $200.
That makes your Windows 98 system with a 4 GB hard drive worth exactly nothing. If you find someone who wants it and will pay you for it, they will likely curse you for scamming them when they realize how limited the system is.
Many stores ofter some great deals when you buy a computer, monitor and printer. In fact these deals can be so good that if you buy the bundle, it costs less than buying the tower by itself. Shop around before spending a few hundred dollars on an expensive repair.
We don't care much for Vista, but I have seen some problems with buying a Vista system then trying to convert it to XP. It is best to buy Vista and stick with Vista.
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Power Supply Failure
I would be willing to bet that summer thunderstorms and disturbed weather patterns when it is very hot can cause fluctuations to power supplies; hence, weak computer parts may fail.
I have used a UPS for nearly 20 years because of surges, brownouts, and just plain poor "living-in-the-country" electricity supply issues. The units cost very little compared to the losses you can have when the power supply jogs. Sue
Voltage fluctuations?
Do any electrical engineering whizzes out there know what effect/s voltage fluctuations have on pc power supplies? It seems logical to believe there are more voltage fluctuations during the hottest part of the summer when, thanks to air conditioning and refrigeration, the demand for electricity is at its highest.
Voltage
I'm a mechanical enginerd - is that close enough?
"Dirty" power (spikes, fluctuations, interruptions, etc.) can & does take a toll on computer power supplies. In my experience, it's a cumulative effect - one or two occurrences generally won't take down a computer, but a couple of weeks or months of a bad electric signal has wiped out some of our office computers. (We've had continuous construction in our area for a couple years and the power is constantly affected)
A good surge protector or battery back-up will help. Also, we have noticed that most computers come with a barely adequate power supply (200 watts is common for Dell desktops) and the addition of any peripheral or even daily use will overload the stock power supply and shorten its life. Anytime we replace a power supply, we go up to 450w or 500w.
Great comment
Rick and I are not power or hardware experts. All we know is what we see when it goes wrong. Thanks for adding your comments and providing an expert viewpoint!
Voltage fluctuations?
Do any engineering whizzes out there know what effect/s voltage fluctuations have on power supplies? Surely there must be more voltage fluctuations in the hottest parts of the summer when demand for electricity is highest.
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