Team-BHP - The Laptop Thread: Configs, deals & questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by HydroFuel (Post 3486487)

Is the keyboard backlit, is it ultraportable one? Once when I asked at croma store, they said backlit keyboard only comes in ultraportable ones.

Yes the keyboard is backlit. It is not ultra portable. However it weighs just 2.5kg. So its not an overweight hunk of rock either lol:. Its definitely something you can carry around when you wish.

I had considered the thinkpads as well but the area I work in - computer graphics requires serious horsepower and a good gpu. There was no thinkpad with a decent gpu at a sane price. This one had pretty much every thing I required.

Also if anyone thinks thinkpad sounds good, you haven't heard the modern MSI or Asus laptops. The former comes with Dynaudio designed speakers and the latter with Icepower tech from Bang & Olufsen. The asus even has an external subwoofer to reinforce the internal speakers. But even on its own, the speakers sound fantastic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reignofchaos (Post 3483364)

Picked up a new laptop - Asus ROG G56JR - Full HD IPS display, Core i7 4700HQ, 8GB DDR3L (upgraded to 16GB), Geforce GTX 760M, excellent touchpad and keyboard, all aluminium etc. Upgraded the storage from a 1TB hard drive to a 256GB Crucial MX100 SSD and now the machine absolutely flies.

Some pictures:

Congrats to you and my gratitude for all your help over the years.
I have a Sep 2011 Dell XPS with full HD and second gen core i7. The DVD tray never used to last more than 6 months and had to replaced twice under warranty. so last year, I did this:
1. bought a portable transcend dvd.
2. bought a Samsung 840 Pro and removed my old Intel 520 SSD from my desktop.
3. Bought a DVD to SATA converter from UK and thus made space for 2nd hard drive in my system.
4. So now I have a primary SSD and a second 1TB storage disk.

I really am impressed and since using SSDs from 2012, I think that for performance, they are as important as a processor. Really has breathed life into my laptop.

Need suggestion:

I have a 3 year old Dell Inspiron N5010 already out of warranty. A couple of week back the 1 GB ATI graphics card went kaput with the legendary 8 BEEPs.

Now, the problem is, in Dell Inspiron the graphics card is basically not a card, they are chipped into the MB. This mean, I have to replace the MB.

What should I do:

Give the laptop to Dell service center? What will be approximate cost for repair? Anyone has any experience, please help.
Give laptop to 3rd party repair shop. I generally don't have a good trust in them. But can try if someone suggest me a really trustworthy service center in south Bangalore.
Dump the laptop and go for a new one.

Thank you all in advance for helping me :).

Quote:

Originally Posted by PetrolRider (Post 3490557)

Give the laptop to Dell service center? What will be approximate cost for repair? Anyone has any experience, please help.
Give laptop to 3rd party repair shop. I generally don't have a good trust in them. But can try if someone suggest me a really trustworthy service center in south Bangalore.
Dump the laptop and go for a new one.

Thank you all in advance for helping me :).

Hi PetrolRider, It seems that your motherboard would have to be replaced since nobody in India will have the technology to remove the graphics chip and solder a replacement (assuming they can find a compatible part)

From my experience with running to the service centres / 3rd party assemblers, etc. I suggest you simply buy a new laptop. You can contact JustFix in Bangalore (I think they have a shop on Residency Road (near Brig Road crossing)) to help you transfer your data from the Dell hard disk. They might even be able to give you a quote for replacing your motherboard but it's likely to be at least 10-15k which is simply not worth it for a 3yr old laptop. Service center will probably quote 5k higher and charge you a thousand bucks to just inspect it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumar R (Post 3490591)

Thank you Kumar. Data transfer is a not an issue as I already have them backed up in my external hard disk (experience in loosing priceless family photos to HDD crash helps here). I somehow need to clean wipe the HDD. But, I don't see any way to dispose off a 3 year old not working laptop :deadhorse, hence no hurry in data wiping out process too.
Earlier I had a HP laptop which drags through 6 year with my abuses and still could fetch me some buck with reselling. But with Dell, really really bad experience. Battery went down in just one and half year, CPU fan in 2 year and now MB in 3 years. Though my office Dell did serve well, but I think Inspiron models have some serious issues with them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghodlur (Post 3481515)

I have a HP 630 laptop at home which while surfing the net yesterday conked off

Inspite of repeated service withthe known acquaintance, the laptop isnt in any mood to get repaired I guess. Finally visited HP service centre and by intial diagnosis my worst rumours are coming true. The motherboard of the laptop is showing signs of slow death and replacement is imment. What would the new motherboard for HP 630 cost? Any pointers as to where can I get an alternate if HP comes with an astonomical quote? I cannot afford a new laptop at this point but maybe 3-4 months down the line yes. So what should my stop gap strategy be?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghodlur (Post 3503633)

If you can afford to get a new one 3-4 months from now, I won't advise you to get motherboard replaced, rather get it repaired. Motherboard repair, no matter to what extent it may be, won't burn a hole in your pocket and you would be good for some months.

If this repair place isn't Hitec Computers in Tulsidham, maybe you want to have it checked there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghodlur (Post 3503633)

Inspite of repeated service withthe known acquaintance, the laptop isnt in any mood to get repaired I guess. ................. So what should my stop gap strategy be?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheetumanu (Post 3504009)

Thanks for the advice. I am also of the same opinion, run the laptop for acouple of months and look out for a better exchange offer somewhere during Diwali or push it till new year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by khoj (Post 3504224)

If this repair place isn't Hitec Computers in Tulsidham, maybe you want to have it checked there.

Maybe I should I have asked for this info earlier. Now its with HP service centre. Thanks anyways Khoj, will keep this info in my contact list.

Update:

HP diagnosis says the motherboard in my laptop has gone bad and needs replacement. The quote sent by HP is enormous in the range 12K:Frustrati. Does motherboards come so costly? Is there any place I can get the actual quote for the motherboard if part no is provided? I tried googling but could get the desired results. Any BHPians dealing with computer spares can help in this regards.please:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghodlur (Post 3505872)

You won't get a replacement motherboard elsewhere easily and you shouldn't try it either. There are experts who can repair the board. What has gone bad in the board?

I have a 2009 Dell Studio which was running fine till recently. Now when I unplug the adapter it simply switches off! The battery has LED indicators which shows the capacity remaining, and it shows about 40% charged. Not sure what the problem is.

How to diagnose if it is the battery or something internal to the laptop?