New computers have gotten more expensive this year. Memory chips are in short supply because AI data centers are buying so many, and research firm Gartner forecast in early 2026 that average PC prices would rise about 17%. That makes it worth asking whether your current computer can be fixed first.
Usually worth repairing or upgrading
- It is slow but less than about five years old. Often the cause is startup clutter, a full drive or unwanted software, which a cleanup fixes.
- It still has an older spinning hard drive. Swapping it for a solid-state drive (SSD) is one of the biggest speed improvements you can make.
- The laptop battery barely lasts. Batteries wear out and can often be replaced.
- One part is broken on an otherwise good machine, such as a screen, keyboard or charger.
Usually time to replace
- It cannot run Windows 11 and you will still need it after Windows 10 security updates end in October 2027. See Still on Windows 10?
- The repair costs more than about half the price of a comparable new computer.
- The main board has failed, or several things are going wrong at once.
- It is still too slow after a cleanup for what you use it for.
If you do buy new
- Buy for what you actually do. Email, browsing and photos do not need a high-end machine.
- Get enough memory and storage up front, because many laptops cannot be upgraded later.
- Plan how your files will move over. See setting up a new computer.
We will look at your computer and tell you honestly whether it is worth fixing. If it is, we fix it. If it is not, we will say so. See our PC tune-up service.