Hi all,
My laptop is a 3 1/2 year old Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi1546, the one with a x1800 mobility for very cheap (ha). Current problems:
1. A year and a half after I got it the graphics card died from heat, a very common occurance in this laptop, and ever since 3D has been a no-go. Its fine in 2D apps, surfing, HD videos etc etc but throw anything more intensive at it than Total Annihilation and it freezes. VPU recovery is also regular (where the card stops responding and is automatically reset to get it working again).
2. The DVD drive is temperamental now.
3. For some reason the laptop sometimes locks up for about 30 secs, during which the CPU seemingly cannot process anything, then will start working again and "catch up" after (eg if I am watching streamed media off internet or HDD the picture will freeze for about 30 secs, the sound will continue fine, and then the video will look like its fast forwarding until it catches up with the sound. if I am just surfing I can't do anything until after the 30 secs). This happens a few times a week.
4. Finally, sometimes if it gets warm when sitting on my lap or whatever, RGB spots flash randomly over the screen, not many but a few. They go away if I turn it off and let it cool down.
So is it dying? Would replacement be wise? I am asking as I am currently wrestling with whether to get a netbook (cheaper and more portability = HP mini 311) or laptop (more capable but more expensive = Acer 5739G) with my Christmas money. Netbook will mean having to continue to use this Amilo mainly, but the netbook will be very handy for uni.
My laptop is a 3 1/2 year old Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Xi1546, the one with a x1800 mobility for very cheap (ha). Current problems:
1. A year and a half after I got it the graphics card died from heat, a very common occurance in this laptop, and ever since 3D has been a no-go. Its fine in 2D apps, surfing, HD videos etc etc but throw anything more intensive at it than Total Annihilation and it freezes. VPU recovery is also regular (where the card stops responding and is automatically reset to get it working again).
2. The DVD drive is temperamental now.
3. For some reason the laptop sometimes locks up for about 30 secs, during which the CPU seemingly cannot process anything, then will start working again and "catch up" after (eg if I am watching streamed media off internet or HDD the picture will freeze for about 30 secs, the sound will continue fine, and then the video will look like its fast forwarding until it catches up with the sound. if I am just surfing I can't do anything until after the 30 secs). This happens a few times a week.
4. Finally, sometimes if it gets warm when sitting on my lap or whatever, RGB spots flash randomly over the screen, not many but a few. They go away if I turn it off and let it cool down.
So is it dying? Would replacement be wise? I am asking as I am currently wrestling with whether to get a netbook (cheaper and more portability = HP mini 311) or laptop (more capable but more expensive = Acer 5739G) with my Christmas money. Netbook will mean having to continue to use this Amilo mainly, but the netbook will be very handy for uni.
