Mini ITX BitFenix Prodigy build - Gaming/Media under £500

David_VI · 13 May 2013 at 20:39

I built my PC about two years ago, my first build from scratch thanks to OCUK. I now shall move onto the other half's PC.

This PC is a Compaq bought from the purple shop probably 6 years old that i've upgraded with my leftover bits whenever i've upgraded my main PC.

My other half really likes the Bitfenix Prodigy cases so we decided to build a new long overdue new PC.

The current PC is in our lounge and hooked upto the TV via VGA for Steam Big Picture and watching films and other media.

I often use the other half's PC for playing games in the lounge and the other half plays Borderlands 2 (She enjoyed it on my PC all maxed out while I was at work

)

So for gaming and general media stuffs. Under £500 but saving money where possible!
Already have Windows, SATA HDD and a 560TI

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £179.99
1 x MSI Z77MA-G45 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro-ATX Motherboard £83.99
1 x BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX Cube Case - Magma Orange £69.95
1 x LG CH10LS28 BD-ROM 10x BluRay ROM / DVDRW SATA-II Optical Drive - Black (Retail) £63.98
1 x Corsair Vengeance RED 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMZ8GX3M2A2133C11R) £59.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430w Modular '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020058-UK) £39.98
Total : £497.88 (includes shipping : FREE).

I just made this on the fly, I choose the i5 2500k because I have one, I guess to save money an i3 would be alright for the purpose?
How about the memory? I'm sure most of the options have better value alternatives. Also picked the BD player as it might be useful with the TV but can give or take as VGA isn't really that great. Using HDMI on our TV isn't full HD and I swear it causes a delay when gaming which isn't great.. (Just realised BD drive isn't BluRay, amateur moment.. fixed it

)

Thanks for your help

David_VI · 13 May 2013 at 20:49

Ah cheers I knew I overlooked something, Its because I rushed it.. doh'!

honosuseri thats cool, could I go down to an i5 2500k or i3 and still max Borderlands 2? I kinda don't want my woman having a more powerful processor than I do.. mainly because i'll end up using her PC more than mine

I've read about some PSU's not fitting in the case.. Any ideas on this and how to be sure?

David_VI · 13 May 2013 at 21:01

Thanks. I'll probably go for the i5k with the 3570k as an option, just seems hassle!

Looks like a good build to start with and see if it can be improved. I thank you!

Will look at the individual components to get an idea

David_VI · 13 May 2013 at 21:15

honosuseri said:
You need a mini-itx mobo in the Prodigy

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £189.95
1 x Gigabyte Z77N-WIFI Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £103.99
1 x BitFenix Prodigy 'Yin' Mini-ITX Cube Case - White/Black £69.95
1 x XFX Pro 550W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £54.98
1 x Pioneer BDC-207DBK 8x BluRay ROM / DVDRW SATA-II Optical Drive - Black (OEM) £49.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX) £43.99
Total : £512.86 (includes shipping : FREE).

honosuseri said:
The i5 2500K is only £10 cheaper. The 3570K has lower power consumption has a bit more ooompf and a better IGP. The IGP is used by quick sync and providing your software supports it that can really help with encoding videos.

Intel has a new socket (1150) Haswell being released next month. Perhaps you'd like to wait and see what's what when it's lands?

I dunno, will it be much more expensive?
Is it possible to shave off some £ from that build without going i5 2500k? Don't really want to go over £500 even though it's only a touch over. The closer £400 the better.. £450 possibly.. I know its a hassle

Thanks

David_VI · 13 May 2013 at 21:32

honosuseri said:
We are hoping it will be priced close to Ivy. Might be a little while before Mini-itx mobos are seen though. I really can't say for sure buddy.

I would rather give you the heads up as if you buy into the 1155 socket, then the Mrs sees adverts for the new CPUs on TV you might cop some flak (I got your back son)

Haha cheers. I don't think she'l mind. Shes more interested in looks

(the orange case) then the actual insides, aslong as it runs games well enough and we can watch videos via TV on it it's perfect. This is why the 2500k is tempting, we never really encode stuff. Now there's a basis its all about budget squeeeezing!

After all this isn't a main gaming PC, want to save some money for my eventual upgrade.. who would want their missuses PC being more powerful than theirs?

David_VI · 13 May 2013 at 21:45

RJC, wasn't really thinking of OC'ing. Was considering just the 2500 to shave some pounds but OCUK don't seem to have it anymore? Just aiming for a rather simple system.

As someone with a Prodigy, how did you find the PSU? Is there more room than it looks? I worry about having a ton of leftover PSU cables stashed in the gaps in the case and it being quite fiddly.

honosuseri said:
In that case RJCs suggestion isn't too bad at all

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3330 3.00GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £149.99
1 x Asus P8H77-I Intel H77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 MiniITX Motherboard £83.99
1 x BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX Cube Case - Magma Orange £69.95
1 x Pioneer BDC-207DBK 8x BluRay ROM / DVDRW SATA-II Optical Drive - Black (OEM) £49.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX) £43.99
1 x XFX Pro 450W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £39.95
Total : £437.86 (includes shipping : FREE).

Yes I'd probably want the 550W but you wanted to see ways to cut costs. I take it you really want the Bluray drive too?

Yeah looking good. It's nice to know there are options making it cheaper. The BluRay drive is mainly because it's a nice novelty, we only have two Bluray disks we've never been able to watch haha. Most of the stuff we watch is online/downloaded. It's something we could swap out for a normal drive or use our old drive if we really wanted to save cash.

David_VI · 15 May 2013 at 12:57

Might order some of it shortly, however we have come across a problem.. The case is too wide to fit in our corner desk.. We need a new desk anyhow. IKEA to the rescue!.. sometime.