Fix old laptop or build new desktop for casual user?

[amdphenomkde]

Hi. My grandfather has a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop that he bought in 2005. It had been running troublefree until about 2 months ago when the hard drive failed. It suited all his needs pretty well. However, it only accepts IDE hard drives and they are hard to find new, and even then they're not very big. I could find a cheap used one at Micro Center, but I don't know if that's a risk worth taking since they've probably been used quite a bit. I've specced out a cheap desktop build with parts from Newegg and it would be less than or around $500. This might be more than he needs, but it's futureproof for a typing and web browsing computer.

Specs of the old laptop:
Intel Pentium M 1.6 GHz
512 MB DDR2-400
128 MB discrete graphics
Empty IDE bay
CD-RW/DVD read-only
15" display
Windows XP Home Edition

Specs of potential build:
Case: Rosewill R218
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147082

Motherboard: Asrock H61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157315

CPU: Celeron G530
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116409

RAM: 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

Hard drive: 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

Monitor: 20"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009317

DVD burner:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Windows 7 OEM-$99.99

I would plan to use the integrated graphics, but I might throw in a 6450 or 210 if it's less than $50. As you may have noticed, the motherboard does have DVI, which is nice. Please tell me if this build looks ok, and if I should build this, fix his old computer or have him buy a prebuilt one.

Thanks!

 

[twelve25]

DId he want a laptop, again? there are lots of $300-400 laptop options that work great for office/web.

I wouldn't fix the computer, though, not worth it.

 

[angaddev]

I went OTT with the i5, but it is within your budget and includes windows, and for this type of use will be future proof for a long time, at least 5 years.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-GL Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($66.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($24.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $533.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-30 03:08 EST-0500)

 

[amdphenomkde]

I went OTT with the i5, but it is within your budget and includes windows, and for this type of use will be future proof for a long time, at least 5 years.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock B75M-GL Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($66.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($24.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $533.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-30 03:08 EST-0500)

Thanks to both of you for the quick replies. I didn't know there were i5s for $150. Thanks for the parts list, angaddev! The only thing is, my grandfather's newest monitor is a CRT, so he needs a flat-panel, which can probably be had for about $80 for a 17" or 18". I think I'll try for the i5 and get that motherboard but get the original case and power supply combo (sorry, I forgot to type power supply in the initial post) and the original DVD burner because it was $7 cheaper. Twelve25, you have a good point too, a laptop is what he's used to and they are cheaper than building a desktop. I will take that into consideration as well. Thanks again to both of you!

 

[amdphenomkde]

Best answer selected by Amdphenomkde.