Worth repairing?

Kagemusha · 19 Apr 2011 at 10:35

Hi guys,

I have a Fujitsu Siemens E8210 Lifebook.
It cost ~£2k in 2006, bought from Singapore, for two years it worked great, but then it began to overheat, so I bought a laptop rest with a couple of fans in it to try and cool it - it worked for a while.

Fast forward almost 2 years (moved house and forgot about it) I tried to fire it up the other day, it makes a horrible clicking, grating sound, it could even be the CPU fan....it lasts barely into windows before crashing (artefacts on screen so maybe just graphics card - Ati X1400 Mobility), also 40% of the keys on the keyboard no longer work.

It was probably damaged in the move, or just being left alone for a while - battery is in decent shape though I reckon.

My questions are;

1. Is it worth repairing, buying a new graphics card and replacing the keyboard?
2. If repaired would it be worth sticking on thebay and see what happens?
3. Should I just test the water and put it on thebay and see what happens without repairing it?

At the min its just a glorified paper weight, any advice appreciated.

petecarter · 19 Apr 2011 at 10:45

Are you emotionally attached to it? Because I think that makes all the difference. To me it doesn't seem worth repairing, especially with the issues you've already had in the past. But it might be a nice little project if you want to keep it for old times sake.

Kagemusha · 19 Apr 2011 at 16:26

Emotionally attached? No! Well only in regret. I should have bought a Mac...but thats another thread for another sub-forum.
Anyway, I like taking things to bits and I've never dismantled a laptop before so I will probably take a screw driver to it and see whats what.

*idea* I could make some PC component coasters.

tonym · 19 Apr 2011 at 17:08

Could be something as simple as a clogged heat output port causing it to overheat. If you're feeling brave (and to be fair, it's dead anyway so.....), whip the bottom off and check. Give it a good going over with an air duster.

**EDIT** Hang on, just seen the keys not working bit...... Could just be a loose connection inside for that, obviously the dusts not going to cause that.

Emlyn_Dewar · 19 Apr 2011 at 17:17

It doesn't work anyway, might aswell take the base plastics off and power it up. If any of the fans don't run, see if ebay has spares. Keyboard would be an easy change also, assuming you can find the right part.
Take heatsinks off and give them a clean, clean up CPU/GPU and apply new thermal paste, rebuild.

Wouldn't cost much and it's highly unlikely it would even take that long to do.
In the end you could have a working laptop, I'd say it was worth it. Even if you tested it for a few days and sold the thing afterwards.

Edit: I'm assuming it's the CoreDuo version, due to it having an X1400?
That'd still be a decent performer with a memory upgrade and a 7200rpm/cheap SSD.
Definitely go for the fix.

postmanfw · 19 Apr 2011 at 17:29

Sounds like its clogged up and needs dust removed.

New fan wont cost much neither would a keyboard so i would say its def worth fixing

Kagemusha · 20 Apr 2011 at 09:32

Emlyn_Dewar said:
Edit: I'm assuming it's the CoreDuo version, due to it having an X1400?
That'd still be a decent performer with a memory upgrade and a 7200rpm/cheap SSD.
Definitely go for the fix.

Cheers, yes you are correct is the CoreDuo version.

Had the keyboard off last night and seems as though its dead. fleabay had some for around £20+P&P. I'll take the rest apart at the weekend.

edscdk · 20 Apr 2011 at 09:38

tonym said:
**EDIT** Hang on, just seen the keys not working bit...... Could just be a loose connection inside for that, obviously the dusts not going to cause that.

jsut to add a little bit, though I always assume a half in ribon cable would result in a non working KB it does actually cause some keys to work and others not to work.. !!!

scaper28 · 20 Apr 2011 at 11:21

Id say take it apart and try fixing it befor you right it off

Obvious things I would try

Strip down and remove all dust via an air duster .

clean thermal compound and replace the GPU & CPU with ICD 7 compound .

re do all the ribbon cables and connections

put it all back together and see how you get on.

I have just bought myself a Dell Studio 1558 off ebay and I didnt like how hot the CPU &GPU was getting , I removed the rubbish thermal pads , used ICD 7 also used copper shims for the GPU as well as ICD7 and now my temps have lowered by 30c on GPU and 20C on CPU

Massive difference .