New build: advice sought

[Brainonska511]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming (Diablo 3, SC2, TF2, maybe a few other games over the coming year or two; I tend to upgrade once every few years) and basic computer tasks.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

~$900 +- 20%. I wouldn't mind spending less (eg: i3 instead of i5)

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

No brand preference, but probably aiming to go with an Intel/Skylake build

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Recycling a 120GB Intel SSD and a 500GB WD Green drive, but the former will be secondary storage for some programs and the latter will be serving as an internal backup drive.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Not planning on overclocking.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?

1920x1080, 60Hz. No upgrades planned in the near future.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within the next month or two.

10. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

Windows 10 Home edition

Below is a set of parts that I think would be good, but I was wondering if there may be a better value for some parts, based on my criteria. For GPUs, I figured I'll probably spend between $120 and $170 (I don't really know what's best in that range anymore). Perhaps CPUs, I'd be better served with an i3 instead of an i5. Same with CPU coolers - I'd like something quieter than the stock cooler and something better, but I'm not overclocking, so it doesn't have to be the best of the best or an AIO.

As far as cases and sizes go, I'm pretty set on going mITX this time, most likely with the Corsair 250d. I also need wireless of some sort, hence the choice of the mITX/H170 boards.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xK7gRB

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS8900 Quiet CPU Cooler ($38.99 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock H170M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($59.49 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($86.75 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 370 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($133.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 250D Mini ITX Tower Case ($78.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($62.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer (Purchased For $0.00)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($87.95 @ OutletPC)
Total: $898.89
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-03 22:52 EST-0500


For comparison, my current setup was built in Jan. 2012 - an mATX setup with a Sandy Bridge i3-21000, 8GB of RAM, HD5770, an H67 motherboard, and the above mentioned Intel SSD (added in summer 2014).

 

[Denithor]

You're probably going to want more GPU than a 370. Of course, now is not the right time to be upgrading, especially as long as you keep a system. Next generation of cards are expected from both camps later this year.

That in mind, if you do go forward with upgrade plans, I'd suggest getting the GPU first and install in your current machine. See if that makes the difference - 5770 is REALLY weak by today's standards. I'd suggest a 380/X as the baseline card for you.

 

[Brainonska511]

You're probably going to want more GPU than a 370. Of course, now is not the right time to be upgrading, especially as long as you keep a system. Next generation of cards are expected from both camps later this year.

That in mind, if you do go forward with upgrade plans, I'd suggest getting the GPU first and install in your current machine. See if that makes the difference - 5770 is REALLY weak by today's standards. I'd suggest a 380/X as the baseline card for you.

Isn't there always something new around the corner and aren't the new cards coming in Q3 or Q4? I'm not really looking for something very high end, and considering that I've been using the HD5770 for as long as I have, I would have thought a GTX 950, 960, R7 370 or 380 would be decent options for a noticeable upgrade.

On the upgrade the GPU first, then everything else front: I think getting a new GPU into my current case can be quite difficult. I have this Cooler Master Centurion 541 mATX case - the inverted motherboard mounting, poor airflow around the GPU, and poor drive bay design limits the length of graphics cards and is a real pain the butt to work inside of. I'm partly looking to downsize (physically) my computer and ditch this mediocre case.