Why should you buy a new laptop ?

[Big Jim]

Customer came in with a HP DV7 with a quad core I7 1st gen in it.

we updated it to W10 (Clean install)
Cleaned out the fan and applied new thermal paste (previously idling at 95oC and maxed at 900Mhz)
upgraded to 8GB Ram
put in an SSD.

From pressing the power on button to having a loaded desktop (including entering the PIN) took 21 Seconds.

I don't have a PC anywhere that can boot that fast.
It runs superbly, I was honestly shocked at how well it ran.

 

[Your PCMD]

I don't have a PC anywhere that can boot that fast.

What are you running, a Walmart machine? My computers at home from power button to desktop is around 15 seconds.

 

[Diggs]

I'll say it again. Even a Core2 Duo with an SSD is a better user experience than most brand new Corei5/7s on a spinner. Refurbished machines with an SSD (not saying a Core 2 Duo) are a much better bang-for-the-buck for most users.

 

[Big Jim]

What are you running, a Walmart machine? My computers at home from power button to desktop is around 15 seconds.

home laptop = XPS 6th Gen Core I7, NVME SSD
business laptop, 3rd gen I5 Samsung, SATA SSD
home desktop = Ryzen 3700x + X470 NVME SSD
shop PC1 = 4th gen I5 Dell Optiplex SATA SSD
shop PC2 = Sandybridge I5 SATA SSD
shop PC3 = Ryzen 2600 + B450, NVME SSD.

I haven't checked recently but I don't think any of them boot that quick, POST takes around 10 seconds alone on the 2600 Ryzen.
I would do a quick check on my home desktop but I have about eleventy billion windows/programs open and I don't want to close them.

 

[Your PCMD]

I'll say it again. Even a Core2 Duo with an SSD is a better user experience than most brand new Corei5/7s on a spinner. Refurbished machines with an SSD (not saying a Core 2 Duo) are a much better bang-for-the-buck for most users.

I need to add something constructive here and not come across as a smartarse.

I don't know if in the UK you have pawn shops @Big Jim but we do here.

I visit them as often as I can to get stupid good deals on laptops. Typically $20 to $100 depending on the brand and model. I take them to my shop, open them up and replace the HDD with an SSD, repaste the CPU, clean them inside and out, upgrade memory to 8GB minimum and install Windows 10 with all the updates and latest version. Sell them all day long from $200-$300 making a good chunk of profit. They are stupid fast when I sell them.

Sometimes, typically I print out a comparable "new" laptop that can cost 2-3 times the amount and display it by the unit I'm selling and that usually seals the deal. I haven't sold a new laptop in over a year, but I've sold over 75 refurbs I did.

POST takes around 10 seconds

Enable fast boot in BiOS.

 

[Kitten Kong]

I need to add something constructive here and not come across as a smartarse.

I don't know if in the UK you have pawn shops @Big Jim but we do here.

I visit them as often as I can to get stupid good deals on laptops. Typically $20 to $100 depending on the brand and model. I take them to my shop, open them up and replace the HDD with an SSD, repaste the CPU, clean them inside and out, upgrade memory to 8GB minimum and install Windows 10 with all the updates and latest version. Sell them all day long from $200-$250 making a good chunk of profit. They are stupid fast when I sell them.

Sometimes, typically I print out a comparable "new" laptop that can cost 2-3 times the amount and display it by the unit I'm selling and that usually seals the deal. I haven't sold a new laptop in over a year, but I've sold over 75 refurbs I did.

We have a lot of pawn shops here Rob. Mostly chain stores such as Cash Converters. They never sell us el cheapo laptops. It's always full price, as if we are normal joe bloggs. I have tried to get in there, for doing the repairs, (closed shop - always done via their repair centres).

 

[Markverhyden]

I have a Latitude D630 with 16gb RAM and SSD. Went from boot time on a spindle of around 120 seconds to some 35 seconds. Had similar improvement with my 2012 MBP Pro.

To be honest I've only recommended a customer to buy a new computer once in the last two years. The value of business class refurbs with SSD's are very hard to beat.

 

[Your PCMD]

We have a lot of pawn shops here Rob. Mostly chain stores such as Cash Converters. They never sell us el cheapo laptops. It's always full price, as if we are normal joe bloggs. I have tried to get in there, for doing the repairs, (closed shop - always done via their repair centres).

Facebook marketplace? Gumtree? Offerup? I get good deals from FBM and Offerup often.

 

[Big Jim]

Enable fast boot in BiOS.

I'm fairly sure it already is, might be the el-cheapo MSI motherboard and el-cheapo RAM.
dunno, PC runs sweet when in operation though.

 

[Big Jim]

ok so I lied, I managed to login on the Samsung in under 21 seconds.
took about 7 seconds to the login screen, then I mistyped the password trying to be as quick as possible. wasting a couple of seconds

It still doesn't detract from the achievment of an 8 YO laptop loading windows in 21 seconds IMO.

 

[mikeroq]

You have to keep in mind that bottleneck these days is storage. Processors and memory are much faster.

So to me it's not really an achievement that an 8 year old laptop with an SSD and Windows 10 can boot in 21 seconds. Plus keep in mind fast startup and it's a fresh install.

Myself don't upgrade computers that old for customers. I advise them to get a refurbished business laptop or a new laptop. 8 years to me is way too old. Something on it could go out at any time. That is true of any computer but much higher for something that's been used for 8 years.

There could be many factors why you would want to go to a new laptop:

Processing power
Memory support (say old max 8gb, new max 32gb for example)
Ports (like USB 3.0/3.1, USB-C, Thunderbolt)
Weight
Thinness
Heat output
Size of AC adapter
Battery Life
Larger/better screen, higher resolution
Windows Hello support

I have a Latitude D630 with 16gb RAM

Somethings not quite right....

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

SSD's help any old computer for sure. If a computer is <3 years old...we upgrade, rather than replace. If it's > 3 years old..we take a longer look at it...and decide. If over 5...not really worth it, other performance reasons, and reliability.