Hello, my laptop's problem began last week by having a purple/pink screen problem during the Windows startup. I went to repair local shop and they told me thats its the GPU. So, I would like to ask will it be better if I send it to local repair and they repair it by using "heat gun" and how effective it is or better buy a new main board and replace it?

Thank you

Well, there are a lot of things to consider.

1.  What would it cost to repair?  This is the key question, what will it cost to fix it?  Do they guarantee their work? Do you have to pay a bench charge even if they can't fix it?  If you are limited and can't afford a decent replacement that will do at least everything your current machine will do an a bit more, then you need to really examine repair options.  I would suggest that you go into a repair assuming that they cannot fix it and if they do it will be a short term repair.

2.  How old is it?  If it is more than a few years old, look to getting a replacement machine. If the repair shop prices the repair very favorable, you might want to look into fixing it and selling it on Ebay or some place similar to apply toward the new machine.  

2.  What is it worth?  If you laptop is an older unit and was a top of the line or gaming model, then you might want to go the repair route, but I would send it in to an authorized service center for a quote instead of having some one hit it with a heat gun.

3.  If you get it fixed, how long do you expect it to last before another major problem?  Do you feel comfortable paying the repair charge with the possibility of another major mechanical problem within the next year?

4,  How much can you afford to spend on a replacement?  Can you afford a true replacement right now?  One that has current technology, good reviews, and a decent expected lifespan?  If you are just buying something to have something that works, you might want to look at used or refurbs with warranty.  

6. How much does the hardware problem affect using the device?  Does the problem really affect you use?  Is the screen just messed up when the unit start? Is it OK when Windows loads?  Have you tried an external monitor?  

7. What other options are there? There are external graphics cards but they are probably not the best choice for gamers.  With Black Friday approaching and computers going on sale through the Christmas season, can you wait for a good deal?

These are things you will have to look at and make you decision based on cold fiscal facts! Not the emotion of I want a new unit or I love my old lappy!

Just a note, if the tech is going to hit it with a heat gun, he probably thinks you have a cold solder joint which he is going to "reflow" by heating the solder to a couple of hundred degrees.  This is usually one of those last resort option.  Solder starts to get very soft in the 185-degree range.  Higher than that, the solder gets very soft and can effectively de-solder from connections on the mother and daughter boards.  I reflowed my sons PS3 motherboard when it had a bad solder joint, but I removed the motherboard, stripped all connection from it a cooked it for exactly 5 minutes at 185-degrees and then did not touch it until it cooled to under a hundred.  

So what I an getting at with this anecdote, is start pricing machines!!!

Good Luck!

1) well the cost of repair is 75$ which I can pay. Guarantee,cant tell,they told me its a more of a 50-50 chance of success from what they told me. But from what I read about "heat gun",it does help.

2) 5 years old, even if get a replacement and its been replaced. I wont mind to play couple of months till some personal businesses get resolved.

3) I can afford to buy a replacement main board 100$ plus shipping. Besides, My laptop already had a problem with the fan and its been replaced. Of course, I cant guarantee if other devices will get malfunctioned.But, what I wrote in 2) just couple of months till some personal businesses get resolved.

4) The problem only goes when Windows start, I get purple/pink with green big lines. Once,it goes to desktop screen,everything its normal but Overheating causes the problem again where the heat sink is and fan start spinning fast again. Not sure if the gaming cooling pad did some damage when I use it when I play Left 4 dead 2, Payday 2 or any other games.

5) Not sure if trying an external monitor will do trick since I tried same results.


And, the tech guys in repair shop will check and diagnose if thats the problem. And the tech guy told me if its successful I pay if not then no. I can ask them again about payment tho.

What make and model laptop is it?  If it's a nicer laptop, it may be an actual dedicated video card, so you can replace just the video board.  I have two laptops that I can replace the video cards (I have replaced one of them).

the video card is included with motherboard. I asked someone and thats what he told me.
I still can tell ya tho. hp dv6 3064ca

Interesting!

Fixing a laptop graphics card using oven! HP Pavilion DV6:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPPoyasMbIk

not sure using the oven will do the trick. otherwise, if something gone wrong I would say "oups I overcooked the motherboard" lol

Ok, here's where I have a problem.  During BIOS boot the graphics system is having a problem, usually the computer cold at time, so it failure is not heat related.  But as soon as windows takes over the video drive duties it works fine.  This might indicate a BIOS issue.  You might want to check you BIOS and reinstall or if a newer version is available, install it.  

For the second part, after it heats up quite a bit you have the problem again.  This might indicate a bad or clogged fan or cooling system or breakdown of the thermal compound that sits between the video processor chip and the cooling system, fan or heat sink (provided there is a separate daughter card for the video system).  

Now, with two video problems as a result of different causes, to me, this seems to indicate your are approaching a total failure of the video system.  

I would absolutely not put any more than $100 into repairing this system without a 1-year warranty from someone I could trust.  Laptops with decent video cards, Nvidia 2GB mobile processors, and  mobile i5 and i7 processors, can be had in the $500 - $599 range.  See it the guys fan heat gun it  and if not, hang on to it till you get a replacement.

Reflowing the solder like Hawk's video is a last resort and really only for those comfortable disassembling and reassembling laptops. They have ribbon cable and one-way clips and have special disassembly needs.  I took my in-warranty Asus Republic of Gamers G75VW apart completely to change out the wifi card that was on the opposite side after removing the bottom. I have been building computers since my first 286-SX and I was very nervous doing it. Once  the mainboard and if daughter-board are out, the reflow process in the oven has to be doing exactly right and like my PS3, something more than once.

Actually, its not the problem with BIOS system. I say its a total failure because I tried to install a patch for one of my video card and the screen totally turned purple/pink with distorted stuff and then I prob can say purple of screen of death then my laptop restarts. So, I came in conclusion that I will simply buy a new motherboard and get it replaced. And, they cost of repair is 75$ only if it works but then again for how long. My best solution would be to get a replacement since it would hold for much longer than getting fixed by the heat gun. But, I would definitely check with the repair guys whats the problem, It could be something else gone wrong so I would still need a new main board.

Laptop been clogged ,I hardly can say that since a repair shop near me did a whole check up on my laptop thats when they told me my fan needed to be replaced.

Just grab a new one.  Trust me....I've upgraded, repaired, built, rebuilt, etc... NUMEROUS laptops.  They're a PAIN IN THE ASS to work on, and costly to repair.  I currently have 4 that I've rebuilt and one that I haven't touched.  All 4 that I've rebuilt, work flawlessly now, but it took some doing.  Two of them had dedicated video cards.  I'm completely comfortable doing it, but it's just not worth it.  Too many nicer laptops out there for pretty cheap.  Take that $100 and dump it into a new one like Pistazien said.

The motherboard you'll get for $100 definitely is NOT going to be new.  At best, it will be a motherboard taken form a new unit that is parted out. Otherwise, it might be from a used machine that went back to the factory for a warranty repair or a used unit that something else went defective.  

Forget that unit, get an Intel processor with Nvidia graphics laptop.

When you say "forget that unit" ,you mean get a new laptop with an Intel processor with Nvidia graphics.

I ll pass with any laptops, I think I will try at least fixing even it will buy me few months or not. It would be still worth it cuz Im really miss playing Payday 2 lol. And by that time, I will try to get parts to build a new desktop. After that, I prob will buy a new laptop.