[Build Log] - Project Big2Small

Bryan Kortez · 30 Jan 2015 at 18:59

[Build Log] - Project Big2Small (Prodigy ITX Build)

So, after building my Corsair Carbide 540 in the summer of last year, I decided it was looking to bulky and that was a good enough excuse to build a new PC.

The build is going to be done in stages, using some parts from my existing build while I learn about custom water cooling loops and decide on a new graphics card etc.

1 - Modification of the Bitfenix Prodigy (Side panels, front panels, relocation of power buttons etc)

2 - Installation of motherboard, PSU and basic components and create custom cables to avoid any excess cabling.

3 - A top mounted H100i I currently own will be used to cool the CPU until I learn about a custom loop and decide on which card to go with. I would prefer to go with an acrylic tubing setup rather than hoses, so as a newbie to custom loops, it's going to take some learning.

I have just started drawing out templates for new windowed panels and front panels.

The front panel is going to be 10mm thick acrylic in either black or very tinted so you can only see through it when there is a light source on behind it.

I am going to cut up the existing side panels and have some tinted side windows made up. These will be mounted using M5 bolts rather than double sides tap to get a better affect.

I will update as I go along. If you have any ideas or suggestions for my build feel free to comment.

Update 01-02-15

I've just cut the side panels using a Jigsaw.

Panels have not warped or bent from cutting. Fairly impressed with the quality of the metal work from Bitfenix. Need to clean off the remaining masking tape and sand the edges down a bit more. I was originally thinking I would have to repsray the panels, but i'm going to see if I can get away with a black marker pen and colour up the exposed edges.

colinmcr · 31 Jan 2015 at 09:27

Some nice ideas, look forward to seeing some images. Enjoy the build

I'm yet to attempt acrylic tubing but have what I need to start things, good luck with yours.

Mads1 · 31 Jan 2015 at 16:39

good luck with your build, there are a ton of videos on the web for bitfenix prodigy going through water loops custom panels to fittings etc, great case to work with.

here is a good one

Bryan Kortez · 31 Jan 2015 at 19:04

paulm71 said:
good luck with your build, there are a ton of videos on the web for bitfenix prodigy going through water loops custom panels to fittings etc, great case to work with. here is a good one

Looks very nice

I'm taking some ideas from that guys previous builds.

This is the board I am thinking about using http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-630-AS

The colour scheme of my build is going to be black and white. The red on the board is a bit of an off put for me, but i'm not sure what other options I have. Can anybody recommend me a similar board?

Mads1 · 31 Jan 2015 at 19:43

Bryan Kortez said:
Looks very nice

I'm taking some ideas from that guys previous builds.

This is the board I am thinking about using http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-630-AS

The colour scheme of my build is going to be black and white. The red on the board is a bit of an off put for me, but i'm not sure what other options I have. Can anybody recommend me a similar board?

the Evga z97 stinger is a good board. its got the post read out on the board and not on the I/O plate, like the Asus one, jameswalt1 used it in his parvum warfare build.

FL630 · 31 Jan 2015 at 19:50

Looking forward to seeing how this goes. What program are you designing in?

Bryan Kortez · 31 Jan 2015 at 21:17

paulm71 said:
the Evga z97 stinger is a good board. its got the post read out on the board and not on the I/O plate, like the Asus one, jameswalt1 used it in his parvum warfare build.

I'll check it out

I use Visi Vero from work to draw up designs.

Mads1 · 1 Feb 2015 at 23:38

try not to cut corners, no pun there but if you do a respray of side panels it will look better in the end.

Bryan Kortez · 2 Feb 2015 at 09:14

paulm71 said:
try not to cut corners, no pun there but if you do a respray of side panels it will look better in the end.

Ha

I'm just worried if I spray the panel, I may get some mismatch between the rest of the case.. Guess I just need to find the right paint.

Bryan Kortez · 2 Feb 2015 at 22:37

Need some opinions here.. I am thinking of going with a 240mm rad up front with fans pushing air in, and a 120mm rad on the rear exhausting. What would you guys do with the 2 x 120mm fan ports up top.. Leave them empty, exhaust or intake?

colinmcr · 2 Feb 2015 at 23:26

I'd go with exhaust mate

Mads1 · 2 Feb 2015 at 23:53

i would have gone 240 rad uptop exhaust, 180 rad in front intake, but as you have 120mm in front then 240 rad front intake ( push ) 120 rear exhaust 120's top intake or 120 rad uptop exhaust

Bryan Kortez · 7 Feb 2015 at 13:22

Got my motherboard, PSU and fans delivered the other day. I've taken measurements for custom cables but I am still undecided on how the colours are going to look..

(Sorry for bad quality pictures, haven't got any lighting setup and my iPhone is rubbish)

My original idea was white cables with some black strands thrown in the middle to break it up a bit. I am now thinking of black and red cables, and then maybe a UV Red coolant? What do you guys think?

Mads1 · 7 Feb 2015 at 15:24

Bryan Kortez said:
Got my motherboard, PSU and fans delivered the other day. I've taken measurements for custom cables but I am still undecided on how the colours are going to look..

(Sorry for bad quality pictures, haven't got any lighting setup and my iPhone is rubbish)

My original idea was white cables with some black strands thrown in the middle to break it up a bit. I am now thinking of black and red cables, and then maybe a UV Red coolant? What do you guys think?

buy a metre of black,white,red and see how it looks and play about with designs, thats what i did when i made mine up.

Bryan Kortez · 7 Feb 2015 at 15:36

Was just about to do that, but the company I have been looking at who supply some good looking braiding etc seem to be in Hong Kong, so I'm going to have to find somewhere else. Can't seem to get hold of MDPC any more and i'm put off by the telios braiding.

Bryan Kortez · 11 Feb 2015 at 21:30

So, I got my 2 side windows and front panel from my plastic supplier this afternoon.. Everything was looking good until I measured the figure 8 dimension. They have cut the diameters to 120mm instead of 114mm. Sent them an email informing them of their error, so I should get a replacement. But here is how it looks.

Hopefully I will be drilling the pin holes tomorrow to mount my side windows. I decided to use bolts instead of double sided tape or glue as I prefer the look it gives. Then, to sand down the side panels and respray them. Has anybody used the MTN 94 Spray Paint? I'm wondering if the matte black is the standard they use on the prodigy case.

Hopefully I will be jigsawing the front of the case up in the next few days so I can start assembling the case. Then to order the rest of my parts. I have decided to go with a 60mm top mounted radiator with fans exhausting (hopefully shouldn't foul on the GPU waterblock inlet/outlet).

Got my paracord to, very impressed by the quality.

FL630 · 11 Feb 2015 at 23:03

Looking forward to seeing how that front panel turns out, you're giving me some good ideas about modding the front of mine now too, not something I had initially intended to do.

I think the 114mm should look a bit nicer, do you mind me asking where you got the panel produced?

Bryan Kortez · 11 Feb 2015 at 23:08

FL630 said:
Looking forward to seeing how that front panel turns out, you're giving me some good ideas about modding the front of mine now too, not something I had initially intended to do.

I think the 114mm should look a bit nicer, do you mind me asking where you got the panel produced?

Looks like it should be better at 114mm. I was going to have a rad at the front, but decided to go against it, as I think it will look good seeing through the fans while they spin with the back lighting.

I got it produced by a company called The Plastic Man in Walsall. Google for the website as I'm not sure if I get in trouble for linking

They require .dwg files for quoting, and .dxf files for cutting. They seem pretty reasonably priced, half the price of the people in my home town, but luckly I work round the corner from them so picked it up at lunch. My side panels are a light tinted 3mm thick with 6 holes, rounded corners and a shaped side, cost me £13, about £7 for clear. I thought that was a bargain considering I would mess it up a few times myself as i'm useless with acrylic lol.

FL630 · 11 Feb 2015 at 23:56

That's very reasonable, including material costs?

How does the 3mm sit with the handles? I measured it at 2mm, but maybe wrong?

Bryan Kortez · 12 Feb 2015 at 00:00

Yeah that's including material cost. They have a calculator on their website to give you a cost. You enter material type, size, holes etc

Sit with handles, what do you mean?