Worth fixing my laptop??

Hi I have a Toshiba P100 that has been sitting useless for the past 8months.. The motherboard failed on me and I never bothered getting it fixed. However recently I decided to refurb it and buy and install a new motherboard myself. The laptop is in great condition otherwise and I had upgraded Ram and Hdd since buying originally.
Question I had was do you guys think its worth fixing..?? I have found a brand new motherboard for it for only $130 (place selling cheap as old model these days). I am also gonna replace screen hinges and back of screen cover (cracks around hinges as they are really stiff). Total cost is gonna be around $230 TOTAL.
Specs of laptop are Core Duo T2400 1.83Ghz x 2,
3Gb Ram,
250Gb 7200rpm Hdd,
17inch (really good quality screen-amazing viewing angles),
Harman Kardon speakers.

How fast do uz think that T2400 cpu compared to todays standards? I will be putting Win 7 on it which i know should run well..

 

I would say it is worth upgrading just because the quality of the screen is so good.

The T2400 is still fairly mainstream right now - for basic computing tasks like web/email/office productivity uses.

Windows 7 is definitely worth it too. Do you already have it or will you be buying it just for this project?

About the only thing I might consider in addition to Win 7 is a Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid HD - this will really give you a nice and responsive system.

So, for $130 for the MB, about the same for the XT and about the same for Win 7 (if you need to buy it), you will have much more computer for just a little more than the cheapest netbook now available.

Yes, I would say it is worth it (if cost is the only issue).

If cost is not an issue, for a little more than double the money - let's say $950+ you could get roughly double to triple the performance too (if you go for an i3/i5 based system) depending on what metric we're measuring.

So, Fishy, what would you use this computer for?

 

You could buy a new one for just a little more($300). Sell your broken Toshiba for $100 and buy a new one for $300.

 

What is available with a 17" screen for $300? That is above what he currently has?

 

-or- find another broken machine of the same model being sold (ebay?) as parts.

If, and only if, the price is right you might have enough good parts between the two machines to make one good one.

The key will be the price of parts. Not for $300, but for $600 and less you can get some pretty good machines. Figure what you might be able to sell you old hulk for and then what a new machine with warranty might be worth to you.

 

I already had a copy of Win 7 lying around.. and the 7200rpm Hdd should do be fine.. Here is a link to this sites own review of my laptop
Toshiba Satellite P100 and P105 Review (pics, specs)
It really was an amazing laptop for its time and yeah the screen alone is incredible (not the resolution but just how it doesnt have any of the issues that alot of cheaper new screens have with bad viewing angles, ghosting etc..)
I can basically put a new orange back on it (creacked at hinge), new top assembly (where the palms rest- its a little worn now), new hinges and new mobo all for less than $300 as thats how cheap the parts are now 30% what they used to be!

 

Even though that is my laptop in the review, mine came with the Geforce 7600 256mb and now has 3gb ram and 250gb hd.

 

Fishy, how would you use the machine (or, potentially a new one) if you did get it running again?

The expected usage scenario is more important to consider than just the cost of the 'fix'.

Will the machine satisfy your demands?

 

It will be more used as a second laptop to be honest.. (Have a macbook pro as main laptop but I still want a windows laptop). I bought a netbook (asus 100H) for a second laptop which i cant really stand as its so slow and was planning on selling it and putting the money into the Tosh to get it up and running again. I can basically get that Tosh looking as new as the one in them review pics for $300 and its VERY tempting. (especially considering all parts will be original, new oem parts) Can even get a brand new 9cell batt for $69.
For overall use I will be most likely using it every 2nd day on avg.. put Office on it and a few games.. 7600 is old now but I was able to play Fear etc at high settings, Crysis at Low-Med.. so not bad at all!.

 

He he hee...

Yeah, I've tried about 4 netbooks and they didn't last for more than a couple of hours - that is why I now have the U30Jc with an Inferno 100GB SSD and 8GB of RAM (my 'min' netbook requirements ).

Seems like your expectations are exactly in line with reality - like I said in my first post; this 'fix' is a go.

Good luck.

 

Any ideas anyone what the T2400's horsepower would rate compared to a new i3 of same clockspeed..? Like half..? if even?

 

Depends on the metric you're measuring. But in passmarks, the T2400 is around 880 and the lowest i3 330M measures 1976 (almost exactly double).

You would easily feel this difference in 'normal' use - let alone when you're pushing the cpu.