Bitfenix Prodigy Mini-ITX gaming build

Faffer

Faffer

Faffer

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
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381
Location
London
Hi

I am looking to build a gaming PC that I can lug around without too much difficulty, as I am away from home for work. I mainly play Elite Dangerous and Path of Exile, so nothing too demanding, but I intend to get a 4k monitor in the near future. Also, I often have lots of browser windows/tabs open in the background (around 20 or so), along with Outlook, Windows Live Mail, Skype, a couple of Word docs, etc.

I already have a Bitfenix Prodigy and an XFX Core 550w PSU. I can grab 2x8GB RAM out of my current rig.

Looking at something like the following spec:

Asus Z97i-plus or Gigabyte GA-Z97N Gaming 5
Devil's Canyon CPU - overclocked (i7 worthwhile for my needs or is i5 enough? Do I need multi-thread?)
230mm Bitfenix Spectre Pro fan in front, 140mm Bitfenix Pro fan in rear
Corsair H100i (unless there is a better performing air cooler that will fit, with the rear fan in place?)
500GB SSD
3TB HDD (already have a spare lying around)
Nvidia 970/980 (possibly the air boss ultra, if it will fit, or just take the 970 fro my current rig)

Anyone have ideas on fan/airflow setup on this case? I was thinking one of the following:

1. Front and rear fans sucking air in, H100i fans exhausting upwards
2. Front and H100i sucking in, rear exhaust
3. Front sucking in, h100i and rear exhaust (but this will create negative pressure in case, is that bad?)
4. use an air cooler and rethink airflow in case

Any thoughts/comments on this build?

Thanks
 
I went with option one on a very similar set up (Exact same fans and near same cooler but a Oced i5) but my 780 got pretty toasty as its not a blower style cooler. If I was to build it again I would definitely get a reference card

Also I would personally cut the metal mesh out infront of the big intake fan to aid airflow.
 
I thought about a reference type card, but I've had two in the past and both times, I've ended up fitting aftermarket coolers due to excessive noise and heat.

I'm thinking option two would create better airflow within the case around the gpu area, but obviously blowing in hot air from the rad, which will hopefully be exhausted out of the rear without affecting the inside to much.

Alternatively, if I went with a traditional air cooler, it would also have the effect of drawing heat away from the gpu area, although I'm not sure how much space I'd have to play with in an itx build for one of the high performance air coolers.
 
After a bit more research, I'm almost decided on a Kraken X41 with push/pull fans exhausting out of the back, with a 230mm front and 2x120mm top fans sucking air in.

Hopefully this will also create adequate airflow around the GPU area.
 
Have you measured up the case to check the size? In my book the Prodigy series isn't really that small (I have the Prodigy M) and the handles don't feel like they'll tolerate too much lugging about, the bottom ones cause the case to wobble if nudged. Also the panels are fairly thick steel so it isn't too light. I'll be looking to swap it when I get the chance.
 
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