Best Of

The Acer TravelMate 5520 experiencing overheating and automatic shutdown could be worth repairing if the issue stems from a clogged fan or dried thermal paste, which are relatively inexpensive fixes. However, if the problem is a faulty motherboard or CPU, the cost of repair might outweigh the value of the laptop, making replacement a more practical option.

Factors to consider:
Cause of overheating:
Dust and debris: A common cause is dust buildup blocking the vents and fan, preventing proper cooling.
Dried thermal paste: The thermal paste between the CPU and heat sink can dry out over time, hindering heat transfer.
Failing fan: The fan itself might be malfunctioning and not spinning properly or at all.
Faulty motherboard or CPU: In some cases, the issue could be more serious, involving a failing motherboard or CPU.
Cost of repair:
Cleaning the fan and vents is a relatively inexpensive fix.
Replacing thermal paste is also a low-cost repair.
Replacing the fan can be moderately expensive, depending on the availability of parts.
Repairing or replacing the motherboard or CPU can be very expensive.

Age and condition of the laptop:
The TravelMate 5520 is an older model, and the cost of repair might be more than the current market value of the laptop.
Your technical skills: If you're comfortable opening up the laptop and cleaning the fan or replacing the thermal paste, you can potentially save on repair costs.
If you're not comfortable with disassembling and reassembling the laptop, you'll need to factor in the cost of professional repair.

Your needs:
If the laptop is still functional for your current needs after cleaning and replacing the thermal paste, it might be worth keeping.
If you need a more powerful laptop for demanding tasks, replacing the TravelMate 5520 with a newer model might be a better investment.
-----------------------------------------
If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful.