We get this question constantly: "My computer is acting up — should I fix it or just get a new one?"

There's no universal answer, but there is a framework that usually points to the right call. It comes down to three things: the age of the machine, what's actually wrong with it, and how much longer you need it to last.

The Age Question

Under 3 years old: Almost always worth repairing. Parts are still available, the machine has plenty of life left, and the repair cost is usually a fraction of replacement.

3-5 years old: This is the judgment zone. A single repair makes sense. But if you're looking at multiple issues or the repair cost is more than a third of what a new machine would cost, it's time to think harder.

Over 5 years old: The math starts tilting toward replacement. Not because the computer is worthless, but because you're probably one repair away from another repair. Old machines tend to fail in clusters — fix the hard drive, then the power supply goes, then a fan, then something else.

What's Actually Wrong?

Some problems are cheap fixes that buy you years of life. Others are warning signs that more is coming.

Usually worth fixing:

  • Hard drive failure — swap in an SSD and the machine often runs better than new
  • RAM upgrade — if the machine is sluggish but otherwise healthy
  • Fan replacement — cheap part, easy fix, prevents heat damage
  • Software issues — a clean Windows install can resurrect a "dying" computer
  • Power supply failure (desktops) — usually a straightforward swap

Think twice about fixing:

  • Motherboard failure — expensive repair, and if one component failed the others are the same age
  • Laptop screen replacement — often costs half what a new laptop would
  • Multiple simultaneous problems — a sign the whole machine is aging out
  • Anything on a machine that's already been repaired twice in the past year

The Hidden Cost of Old Computers

There's a cost that doesn't show up on any repair invoice: lost time. An old, slow computer that takes five extra minutes to boot, ten extra seconds to open every program, and randomly freezes once a day adds up.

If your staff spends 15 minutes a day waiting on slow equipment, that's over 60 hours a year per person. At any reasonable billing rate, that's more than a new computer costs.

We're not saying "buy new every time." We're saying factor in the daily friction, not just the repair bill.

When Replacement Is the Clear Answer

  • The computer can't run the software you need (too old for current Windows, not enough RAM for your applications)
  • Security updates are no longer available for the operating system
  • The repair would cost more than half of a suitable replacement
  • You've already repaired it twice this year
  • It's so slow that your staff actively avoids using it

When Repair Is the Clear Answer

  • The machine is under 3 years old with a single identifiable problem
  • An SSD upgrade would solve the performance issues
  • The problem is software, not hardware
  • It's a specialty machine (specific software, specific configuration) that would be painful to rebuild
The 50% Rule If the repair costs more than 50% of what a comparable new machine would cost, replacement usually makes more sense — especially if the computer is over 4 years old.

What We Tell Clients

We don't make money pushing new hardware. We'd rather you get another three years out of a machine that just needs an SSD than buy something you don't need.

But we also won't let you sink $400 into a repair on a computer that's going to need another $400 repair in six months. The goal is the lowest total cost over the next few years, not the lowest cost today.