Advent 7039

Advent Computers is usually associated with the value-for-money PC deals you find on the high street. While such packages are notorious for their extensive software and peripheral bundles, the compromise is found with the specifications - usually slower processors, limited Ram and budget graphics or audio cards. However, the newly revamped Advent notebooks have offered good hardware and value for money, and the 7039 is a fine example of a reasonably priced PC.

Operating at 1.79GHz, the Athlon 64 3000+ processor doesn't sound much on paper. However, in Sysmark 2002 it achieved 192, comparable to many notebooks equipped with the Pentium 4-M. The Athlon 64 architecture means it can push data around much quicker than previous AMD processors. It's also privy to an integrated DDR memory controller, which squeezes better performance from the 512MB of Ram.

The 7039 has an average-sized 40GB hard disk. While it's still reasonable for a notebook, we would have liked to have seen a 60GB model, especially considering the price. However, with brand new technology such as the Athlon 64, sacrifices have had to be made to keep the cost down.

Another surprisingly good feature is the graphics chip. Underneath the bonnet lies a 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, which delivered an excellent score of 9,869 in 3Dmark 2001. This means you'll be able to play the latest 3D games at a reasonable resolution without dropping too many frames. You can also use other display devices through the S-Video and VGA-out ports.

Like most notebooks, sound is basic - only headphone and line-in sockets make up the collection of audio sockets. Nevertheless, there is a speaker positioned on each edge of the chassis and one above the keyboard, which combine to make a reasonable psuedo surround-sound speaker effect. Even so, the audio quality is very tinny. If you're serious about sound, you'd be better off investing in an external USB sound card that can offer 5.1-audio and digital in/out sockets.

The 15in TFT screen is clear and crisp. It's not the best we've seen but it doesn't suffer from any dark areas and we didn't notice any flares. It's a shame many 15in TFTs have a native resolution of 1,024 x 768, as 1,600 x 1,200 would provide more space on the desktop for other applications. That said, the Mobility Radeon 9600 does support dual monitors for when you're working from a desk.

Battery life is always a pertinent feature of a notebook and, unless it's got Centrino technology chugging away, you can't really expect anything more than a couple of hours on a single charge. The 7039 managed two hours, 26 minutes, which isn't bad considering what's packed inside, but you'll definitely require the mains charger if you plan a day trip.

Talking of mobility, the 7039 isn't the lightest notebook around, weighing 2.5kg. When positioned on a desk though, the keyboard and touchpad are comfortable to use thanks to the ample handrest space. There are also five buttons providing shortcuts to email, Internet, screen resolution, TV-out and to enable the 802.11g Wifi adaptor.

All ports and sockets are present, with four USB2, mini Firewire, PC Card, parallel, infra-red, network and modem. There's a DVD/CD-RW combo drive, and a SD/MMC (Secure Digital/ Multimedia Card) memory card slot. It also comes with Windows XP Home, Microsoft Works, Nero, Cyberlink Power DVD and a 12-month collect-and-return warranty.

For £1,200, we think it's a bargain. The 64bit processor feature may be redundant for the time being, but this still doesn't detract from its excellent system and graphics performance.

Contact: Advent 0870 546 4464
www.adventcomputers.co.uk

Specifications:

• Windows XP Home
• AMD Athlon 64 3000+
• 512MB of DDR memory
• 40GB processor
• CD-R/RW/DVD combo drive (24x CD-RW, 8x DVD)
• 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600
• 15in TFT (1,024 x 768 native resolution)
• MS Works, Nero and Cyberlink Power DVD
• 12-month collect-and-return warranty
• 2.5kg