The laptop’s getting old enough now that I’ve been thinking of getting a new one anyway, but I was hoping to wait until I could get one with Windows 7 pre-installed instead of Vista. So I don’t want to replace the laptop just yet, but I also don’t want to spend a lot of money keeping the old one going.
After a poking around a bit on the web, I’ve found a few websites that sell used or refurbished computer components for cheap, but they look a bit … shady. And I’m not sure how to tell the genuine ones from the rip-you-off ones.
So does anyone know of any good websites that sell used or refurbished laptop components?
If it matters, the laptop is a Sony VAIO VGN-FE790. I haven’t opened it up to look yet, but I’m betting it’s using an integrated video card (most laptops do). With any luck, though it’ll have a slot to add a video card so I don’t have to replace the whole motherboard.
Not video cards. Any video card that plugged in would only work for an external monitor too. It would never work with your laptop screen. They don’t exist anyway.
There are some but they are usually higher end models, we did a replacement on a blown video card on a $2500 dell laptop (4 months out of warranty) The card alone was like $400.
Yep, looks like I would have to replace the whole motherboard. Poo.
On a happier note, I just found out that if you buy a laptop with Vista now, you’ll get a free copy of Windows 7 when it comes out, so long as you buy one of the “approved” models. The HP Pavilion I’ve been wanting is one of the approved ones, so I’ll probably go ahead and get that this weekend, and just live with Vista until I get my free copy of Windows 7.
Apparently Microsoft is doing this to keep PC sales from dropping from people holding out for Windows 7. Makes sense.
