Repair or replace
Should I Repair or Replace My Laptop?
Before discarding a machine and spending £600–£1,200 on new retail hardware, review the technical viability matrix. Upgrades frequently yield better performance than entry-level new machines.
Usually worth repairing
When Repairing Is Highly Recommended
- Machine is under 6–7 years old with a multi-core Core i5/i7 or Ryzen 5/7 CPU
- Slowness is due to a failing mechanical hard drive (SSD clone solves this immediately)
- Broken screen panel on a premium chassis with good internal components
- Battery swelling or diminished charge capacity (replaceable in 30–60 mins)
Usually time to replace
When Replacement Makes Practical Sense
- Severe liquid corrosion spanning across CPU, GPU, and layered PCB traces
- Obsolete 32-bit dual-core architectures that cannot support modern TLS encryption
- Combined cost of chassis, screen, and motherboard exceeds replacement value
- In this scenario: we focus strictly on data recovery (£75) to extract your files
Financial benchmark
The 50% Hardware Threshold Rule
If the total estimated repair cost (parts + labour) is under 50% of the cost of an equivalent new machine, repair or upgrade delivers outstanding return on investment. Furthermore, you avoid hours of data migration, licence re-activations, and software re-configurations.
Upgrade example: A 2018 laptop with a 500GB SSD upgrade (£165) frequently runs Windows 11 faster and more reliably than a brand-new £350 budget retail laptop equipped with a low-tier Celeron processor and soldered eMMC storage.
Unbiased Hardware Assessment in East Sussex
RoamTech provides objective technical recommendations across Hastings, Bexhill, St Leonards, and Eastbourne. If we assess that your device is beyond economic viability, we will advise you honestly.