Do broadband speeds depend on my computer spec?

Hi everyone,
I have a Virgin Media M600 account and when I run speed tests they average around 290 mbps download. This is from my PC which is connected to the router by ethernet cable. However, I have a lower spec PC which is also connected to the router by ethernet but which gives download speeds that average 120 mbps. So my question is, is it reasonable to have lower download speeds on a lower spec computer?
Thanks in advance

Speed tests use the processor to run and so a less powerful processor may not be up to doing the speed tests if the specific speed test is processor heavy. Also, what sort of network card/wifi do they have as you may be limited by the maximum speed of the network adapter.

120mbit = 100mb ethernet.
Is the old PC being limited by the ethernet connection?

In reply to a post by smouty:

120mbit = 100mb ethernet.
Is the old PC being limited by the ethernet connection?

That's not correct if it was 100Mb ethernet you would see around 90Mb on speedtests.

If the PC is slow enough it will affect the speed shown on a speedtest.

Thanks
Dan

In reply to a post by Wafter:

So my question is, is it reasonable to have lower download speeds on a lower spec computer?

Yes it is reasonable, and particularly apparent if the machine is older and perhaps has other 'bloat' like certain antivirus and antimalware software which will further hinder matters.

I would expect a relatively new machine, with a fresh build can easily maintain up to a gigabit in both directions, without much load on the CPU, but yes older machines may struggle.

I see this all the time on the Virgin Media forums and it's something ISP's should make people aware of. Especially when users are now getting the VMO2 boost to speeds. A lot of the new 1GB customers complain they are not getting the full speeds on, in technology terms, ancient kit.
A bit of PR around managing user expectations would not go amiss.

In reply to a post by Adduxi:

I see this all the time on the Virgin Media forums and it's something ISP's should make people aware of. Especially when users are now getting the VMO2 boost to speeds. A lot of the new 1GB customers complain they are not getting the full speeds on, in technology terms, ancient kit.
A bit of PR around managing user expectations would not go amiss.

I do believe Virgin try in a few pages on the site although it's too basic to explain why. I know they try and explain when you call them however the person who you normally calls assumes there is no fault and always blames the user, when a lot of the time isn't true.
I know they say that to me when i call about congestion issues, nothing to do with the router, but no its always lets swap the "Hub" as it magically solves all the lack of capacity everywhere from my house to the data centres.

Everyone says to me why don't you change provider if its slow WiFi instead of running ethernet and cables and the moment that phrase is said it deeply saddens me. They go I'm with provider "(BT)" with 36Meg down and 10 Up and i get signal at the end of the garden at full speed so why can't you get 100 meg in your whole house, i explain, they then go change to BT. I'm like, i know you get commission for every sign up but unless they do ultrafast then theres no way, especially if the prices are not competitive.
Its a big cycle of people not understanding the basics, trying to explain processors is a whole level of complexity on top. It would be nice if people didn't think virgin lied when they said WiFi is slow and unreliable. It would also be nice if people didn't think WiFi was their internet connection speed then we might get closer to average consumers understanding.

Many thanks to everyone. I think the solution is just an upgrade to the second PC.
Stay safe.

In reply to a post by Wafter:

Many thanks to everyone. I think the solution is just an upgrade to the second PC.
Stay safe.

Why upgrade for the sake of speed tests? If the old computer was or is satisfactory in real use you haven't got a problem.

The speed testing on the better computer tells you all is well with the service .

True, if the computer is doing what they want satisfactorily then upgrading is unnecessary.