Laptop Buying Help

GeorgeBee

Ok I'm looking for a laptop. I want it mainly for internet browsing, some document work and the odd game (Total War, Sims, etc.). Mainly internet use though.

I don't want it any slower than my current PC because that would drive me mad. However I don't actually know what makes a PC fast?! I thought it was the GHz thing but most laptops I've found have a lower number?!

Anyway, my current spec is...

Intel Pentium 4
3.4GHz
2GB Ram
300GB hard drive

I'd like to spend around £400, but would go to £500.

I've been looking but really don't have a clue what I'm looking at!!!

Any help is much appreciated!

santer_2

Some places to look, then maybe post back with any of interest to see if there is any advice, suppose RAM and Video card will be worth looking at for games, possibly sound for the effects etc

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/laptop-computers/

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/laptop/

Hammyman

GeorgeBee wrote: »

I thought it was the GHz thing but most laptops I've found have a lower number?!!

Processor speed in GHz as a method of judging different types or model range of CPUs became worthless in the late 1990's when AMD released a CPU that ran as fast as Intel for 2/3 of the clock speed. Its even less relevant now in the days of dual and quad core processors. Even different generations of a dual core will have large performance differences for the same clock speed.

In short, as long as you stay away from the low T number intels (T3500, T4200) and the Celerons, anything you buy today will be faster. However there is one big caveat - the graphics. A lot of onboard graphics are no quicker than onboard ones were half a decade ago. At £400, you will struggle finding one that will run your games at a decent framerate.

GeorgeBee

Ok, I've had a browse through the laptop thread at the top, and HotUKDeals as well.

I thought this one sounded quite good, the cashback bit is a bit of a pain but the 3 year warranty is tempting. Is it a decent spec though?

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Lenovo_Edge_15_1079088.html

But then I'm put off a bit because right now I'm on my Lenovo notebook and it's sloooooow!

Or this one, which I think is pretty much the same, but cheaper, but less warranty. It's really hard to compare on my notebook as it gets upset if I have too many tabs open!

http://www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?ProductCode=ASU-COM-K52F_EX658V-BR&tduid=d27dda8f96ab3df76528d6e6eaec1612

And these two:

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Dell_Inspiron_M501R_1077418.html
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/hp-g72-b10sa-intel-core-i3-350m-17-3-hd-screen-windows-7-home-premium-3gb-ddr3-r/938244

closed

For general use (excl high powered games), the spec of your existing pc should be fast, once you do the factory restore advised in your other thread.

It was fast when it was new, it will be fast now, the things that slow them down are viruses and startup bloat loaded since purchase.

Same applies to your Lenovo notebook, clean out the bloat or factory restore and it won't be slow

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2436849

GeorgeBee

Oh I've done the factory restore, it worked for a few weeks and then suddenly went again - no warning whatsoever, so it's been factory restored again (about 3 days ago) and it's just started working again (touch wood). I'm still keeping this PC but letting my OH take it over for his games and I'm getting a laptop instead. It was a factory refurb which cost me £200 about 3/4 years ago so I'm half expecting it to blo up or something sooner or later!

I think I need to upgrade my memory on my notebook, it's only 1GB.

I just want a laptop more than I need it to be honest!

closed

post a hijackthis log from the notebook

GeorgeBee

Ok, here's a HijackThis log from my notebook.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 15:48:34, on 14/05/2011
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.17096)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Bluetooth Software\bin\btwdins.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Small Business\Business Contact Manager\BcmSqlStartupSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\QSTART.SYS\DVMExportService.exe
c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlwriter.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\tvt_reg_monitor_svc.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\Scheduler\tvtsched.exe
c:\program files\lenovo\system update\suservice.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Energy Management\utility.exe
C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Energy Management\Energy Management.exe
C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\Scheduler\scheduler_proxy.exe
C:\Program Files\MouseDriver\OfficeMouse.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboTaskBarIcon.exe
C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Bluetooth Software\BTTray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Lenovo\BLUETO~1\BTSTAC~1.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msiexec.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://lenovo.live.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=74005
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {1CB20BF0-BBAE-40A7-93F4-6435FF3D0411} - C:\PROGRA~1\Crawler\Toolbar\ctbr.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgssie.dll (file missing)
O2 - BHO: RoboForm - {724d43a9-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\roboform.dll
O2 - BHO: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Toolbar Helper - {BDBD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live Toolbar\msntb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Windows Live Toolbar - {BDAD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live Toolbar\msntb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Crawler Toolbar - {4B3803EA-5230-4DC3-A7FC-33638F3D3542} - C:\PROGRA~1\Crawler\Toolbar\ctbr.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &RoboForm - {724d43a0-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\roboform.dll
O3 - Toolbar: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EnergyUtility] C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Energy Management\utility.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Energy Management] C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Energy Management\Energy Management.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alcmtr] ALCMTR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AzMixerSel] C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\InstallShield\AzMixerSel.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TVT Scheduler Proxy] c:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\Scheduler\scheduler_proxy.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iWareV3] C:\Program Files\MouseDriver\OfficeMouse.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RoboForm] "C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboTaskBarIcon.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [FlashPlayerUpdate] C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil10e.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: Bluetooth.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Windows Live Search - res://C:\Program Files\Windows Live Toolbar\msntb.dll/search.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Crawler Search - tbr:iemenu
O8 - Extra context menu item: Customize Menu - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComCustomizeIEMenu.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Fill Forms - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: RoboForm Toolbar - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComShowToolbar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Save Forms - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Send to &Bluetooth Device... - C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie_ctx.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Send To Bluetooth - C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie.htm
O9 - Extra button: Fill Forms - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F46} - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Fill Forms - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F46} - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O9 - Extra button: Save - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F49} - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Save Forms - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F49} - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O9 - Extra button: RoboForm - {724d43aa-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComShowToolbar.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: RoboForm Toolbar - {724d43aa-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - [URL]file://C:\Program[/URL] Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComShowToolbar.html
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: @btrez.dll,-4015 - {CCA281CA-C863-46ef-9331-5C8D4460577F} - C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @btrez.dll,-12650 - {CCA281CA-C863-46ef-9331-5C8D4460577F} - C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O18 - Protocol: tbr - {4D25FB7A-8902-4291-960E-9ADA051CFBBF} - C:\PROGRA~1\Crawler\Toolbar\ctbr.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bluetooth Service (btwdins) - Broadcom Corporation. - C:\Program Files\Lenovo\Bluetooth Software\bin\btwdins.exe
O23 - Service: DVM Meta Data Export Service (MDES) - DeviceVM - C:\QSTART.SYS\DVMExportService.exe
O23 - Service: System Update (SUService) - Lenovo Group Limited - c:\program files\lenovo\system update\suservice.exe
O23 - Service: ThinkVantage Registry Monitor Service - Lenovo Group Limited - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\tvt_reg_monitor_svc.exe
O23 - Service: TVT Scheduler - Lenovo Group Limited - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\Scheduler\tvtsched.exe
--
End of file - 9485 bytes

GeorgeBee

Anyone got any advice on the laptops? Leaning towards the Lenovo one.

grumpycrab

GeorgeBee wrote: »

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Lenovo_Edge_15_1079088.html

GeorgeBee wrote: »

Anyone got any advice on the laptops? Leaning towards the Lenovo one.

I admire closed's persistence at getting old laptops back to speed again - a great moneysavingexpert!

To quickly compare a new laptop's performance use http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
The linked Lenovo has a benchmark score (an indication of oomph) of 2335 (this is good; don't get anything less than an i3 processor).
It will play most games BUT NOT modern 3D action games.

Finally, do you have a budget? If it is £370 the Lenovo is pretty good esp. with the warranty.

GeorgeBee

Thanks for the link GrumpyCrab, it does look like its got good oomph especially compared with my current desktop PC (which is fast enough) at 548!!!

I mean it's not going to get used loads for games, only if I'm really bored, mainly internet use.

Budget-wise looking around £400, £500 tops, so I can live with waiting 86 days for the cashback to come through. And yes, the warranty is very attractive!