Hey everyone! My mom's computer is getting really slow—it's at least 6 years old—and she asked me to build her a new one. Currently, she's using a 4-core Intel Core i5-6500 at 3.2GHz with 8GB of RAM. Since she's a lawyer and needs it primarily for reading and writing long documents, she's willing to spend up to $500. I created a build that comes out to a bit over $600, and I'm looking for your advice on what parts I can compromise on to fit her budget while still getting a solid upgrade. Here's the link to my build: [PCPartPicker Build](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/734B3w). Thanks in advance for your help!
5 Answers
Have you checked out some Ryzen 7000 mini PCs? They're really powerful for stuff like spreadsheets and often come well under $500. Plus, they have great integrated graphics which could be useful!
You might want to consider getting her a laptop instead. A decent Dell or Lenovo with a modern i5 or i7, 16GB RAM, an SSD, and integrated Intel graphics can be found used for under $500. It would be lightweight and portable if she ever needs to take it anywhere. But I get the fun of building it yourself too!
Honestly, a new 6-core processor would be a huge upgrade enough for heavy word processing. But remember, her old processor might just need a repaste. It's kind of wild how she'll benefit from even a basic setup with a decent SSD. Don't get too carried away with high-end parts if she's mainly using it for documents!
She got her old processor repasted a year or two ago, so I’m not sure what's slowing it down. I'm still learning about building PCs, so I want to make sure whatever I choose will make a noticeable difference.
Your build looks solid! One suggestion would be to look for a cheaper case since aesthetics may not be a priority for her. Good cases can be found without breaking the bank!
Thanks! Any specific case you recommend that could help reduce the cost?
I suggest going for an Intel Core i5-13400 or similar. They’ll be more than enough for your mom's needs. Pair it with a decent cooler and you should be under budget while still allowing for good performance. Here's a link to a suggested build: [Here](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/sPQfBq), hope it helps!
She already has a laptop for travel. She specifically asked for a desktop after seeing mine!