Resolved Refurb mobo for HP Envy 700-210?

I'd like some advice for having a local computer shop replace the original motherboard in a relative's HP Envy 700-210 desktop. This shop just diagnosed the mobo as being bad. $220 includes parts and labor, although the hardware only comes with a 30 day guarantee.

The computer itself was purchased 2-3 years ago, for $500-600. Obviously we are disappointed that a major hardware failure happened so soon. The alternate to going that route, is to replace the desktop tower, with a unit somewhere in the $600-700 price range. We really don't know yet, which unit, so we can't compare at this point.

One thing I'd love your feedback on, is the following:

Are HP motherboards liable to early failure? If we pay that much for a refurb, would it be likely that we would see it fail also in a year or so?

Of course, any other thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Do you have the Product Number(P/N) 0f the machine. This way I can get you the Part Number of the originally installed motherboard.

 

The machine is actually in a shop as we speak. Sorry.

 

No. Most motherboards, regardless of brand, typically last until they are retired and replaced for other reasons - which is usually at least 5 years.

It shouldn't be electronics can be fickle. The problem is, we don't know why the current board failed. A bad power supply can take out a motherboard, for example. Or if that computer was never properly cleaned, the interior could have been blanketed with heat trapping dust. If there are pets in the house, a thick and very efficient blanket! Poor mains power can beat up on a computer (though usually the power supply takes the brunt of the abuse).

You say "refurb", do you mean the replacement motherboard is a refurb? Or will it be new?

Do you have backup copies of your data?

 

Backup copies of data have been made.

I asked the tech exactly what was bad about the old motherboard, and he didn't tell me.

There are no pets; that house is pretty darn clean, so I doubt there was too much dust (and while there is some ventillation for the tower, it is in a computer desk that has very little dust in and around it.

The "new" mobo will be a refurb one.

 

I will ask the tech guy to test out the power supply, to see if that made the old mobo fail, if he has any way to do that. After reading your comments, I read on tomshardware that a bad power supply can send excessive power to the mobo from the outlet, causing mobo failure.

 

That would take some very extensive troubleshooting that is typically beyond the capability of most shops. They would need bench mockups and complete schematics for that specific board.

Sure, any 1/2 way decent shop can test a PSU and I am sure that is one of the first things they did. But if the problem is intermittent, it will not be conclusive.

As far as excessive power from the outlet (surges and spikes), that is why I always recommend every computer be on a "good" UPS with AVR.

There really is no way for me to say what is best for you. There are just too many "ifs" that no one can really answer. If the new board works as expected and nothing else is bad, then $220 is probably worth it.

If me, I would probably look it as an excuse to get a new computer.

 

Oh that computer is hooked up to a decent UPS, I forget 10 or 15 mins of backup power supply.

Yeah the numbers here are pretty close. One of the folks in the home wanted to just get a new one. If it were a step up from 220, I'd just say get a new one; much less and of course it would pay to repair. This is kind of right in the middle, 220 for a used part that might not last. Oh well.

Thanks to you both for your answers.

EDIT: I decided to mark it as solved, because an answer has been given, but if anyone has any more input, feel free to provide any. I won't be going to the shop for another day or two.

 

Backup power during a power outage is just an added bonus. The big advantage to using a UPS is the AVR (automatic voltage regulation). Surge and spike protectors are little more than fancy and expensive extension cords.