Bitfenix Prodigy Build Feedback

rmy

rmy

Associate
Joined
20 Feb 2013
Posts
5
Hi all, after 5 years or more with an Antec p182 I've decided to downsize to a SFF system and was after some suggestions/feedback as I've not kept up with hardware for a long time.

I want a good machine (current one is a q6600 which still holds it's own pretty well) although I do absolutely no gaming on my PC and have little desire to overclock the cpu, it will be used for work and I want it to be quiet, part of the reason for the p182. I will also be using it to play video on my tv and using my 5.1 speaker system via SPDIF Optical out.

My questions/concerns:
  • Will the integrated graphics suffice on the cpu for general useage?
  • Not sure on the Gigabyte or the ASUS motherboard - feedback?
  • CPU cooler - will it fit? I want something quiet and nothing too expensive.
  • PSU fit
  • SSD choice, I want 128gb for windows + software.

Components:
Plus DVD writer.

Comes in around the £600 mark depending on motherboard choice.
 
Given the "no overclocking" and "no gaming", I'd spend far less on the motherboard.

I built a gaming rig for the girlfriend in a white prodigy (with pink accents), and based it on this Asrock board. The whole machine is rock solid, incredibly responsive (even using a shonky Intel 40GB SATA 2 SSD as the OS drive). Granted hers has an i5-2400 CPU, but it's going to be similar performance.

The whole build came in at around £350, and that's with a used Radeon HD5850.
 
Problem I've found looking at MiniITX boards is that all the cheaper boards either don't have an optical connection (a discrete sound card with optical is £25, so quickly negates any money saved on the mobo) or have other limitations. The asrock board you mention only has 3 sata connections, all of which are sata2 not sata3, and with an SSD, HDD and ODD 3 are taken immediately, and I'd like the option of a 2nd HDD should I need it in the future.

I'm happy to spend the money on quality components, I'm not after a cheap build for the sake of it.
 
I've decided on the P8H77-I, my current motherboard was an ASUS P5K and it's been execellent.

As for the soundcard, I've looked around for reviews and such, and I think I've settled on the ASUS Xonar DX. It reviews well across the board, and seems like the best option, especially since I won't be gaming. Although I may leave the soundcard purchase until a few months after the rest of the system, depending on where I'm living and my media setup.

Probably going to buy in the next month or 2, when it does happen I'll probably share with everyone.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, hence the Xonar DX post above. If anyone has any other suggestions for a sound card at the £50 or so price bracket let me know.
 
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